Vigo

Vigo

Today we are in Vigo, Spain, in the Provence of Galicia on the northwest coast. There has been a port here since the Middle Ages and there is a colorful if not rather violent history of attacks by Vikings, the English and the Turks, not to mention a period of French rule during the Napoleonic era.… Read the rest

Victoria Peak, Man Mo & The Star Ferry

Views of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak

It’s nearly 10am before we leave the apartment headed for Victoria Peak. So much for my daily schedule. Though I shouldn’t be too hard on us, we’re all exhausted after the Thursday night flight and did quite well to get through our arrival and first afternoon in Hong Kong relatively unscathed.… Read the rest

Kristiansand

Kristiansand

Kristiansand is a small, picturesque town situated on the tip of the south western coast of Norway.

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and there are several significant archeological findings dating as far back as 6500BC. More recently, the stone church dates to around 1040, with wooden churches believed to have been on the site before then and indications that a royal centre may have existed in the area from around 800.… Read the rest

Latin Quarter

Restaurant Au Port du Salut, Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques

The Latin Quarter in Paris is an area that takes in parts of the 5th and 6th Arrondissements on the Left Bank.  It is home to several higher learning entities, including the Sorbonne (the University of Paris), as well as lively bistros, shopping and of course the Pantheon.… Read the rest

Athens

Parthenon

The sun beats down on Athens and the temperature rises although I’m too preoccupied to notice.  Still high from the delights of Mykonos and keen to start exploring an entirely new city, I haven’t given much thought to the realities of today. … Read the rest

Tokyo In 12 Hours

Sensoji main building & gardens
Sensoji main building & gardens

Tokyo in 12 hours! Not ideal, but it’s all I have. I’m on a stopover on the way home and have been awake for 24 hours already. Having left the UK yesterday and now landed in Tokyo early this morning, I have a mere twelve hours to explore.… Read the rest

Karlstejn Castle

Karlstejn Castle

Karlstejn (Karlštejn) Castle is King Charles IV (1316-1378) original Gothic home. Founded in 1348, the castle served the King of Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire. It was a place for safekeeping the Imperial Regalia and the Bohemian Crown Jewels as well as holy relics and other royal treasures.… Read the rest