Barcelona’s dizzying popularity in the 2000s was generally greeted with bemused pride by citizens. Tourism was the golden goose that prevented many bars and restaurants from going under during the financial crisis and would provide employment for tens of thousands of people. It’s hard to say when the turning point was. Maybe it was the… Read More »
“I think you have a great talent for love, and you’re trying to waste it and scatter it… because it’s been violated before. And if you continue like this, you’ll kill it. And… I think it’s a talent that would be death to hide.” So says a character in John Van Druten’s 1943 play The… Read More »
Baggage had accumulated at Manchester Airport this week due to delays and cancellations following a power outage that damaged the airport’s departure security and baggage systems. Meanwhile, British Airways passengers were forced to fly out of Heathrow without their luggage due to a technical issue that disrupted their systems. It’s surprising that anyone checks a… Read More »
As I was getting ready to go to the polls, my brain started to shut down. I’m now immune to some phrases like “number one priority”; Promises to fix the NHS, immigration, the economy and housing ring increasingly hollow in my ears. If our political parties had come together to raise a cry to solve… Read More »
Portugal has many strengths, but its beaches have to be its most remarkable feature. Not just for the dizzying choice and variety along its long coastline, but also for their exceptional quality and cleanliness. Isn’t it surprising that the majority of Portuguese spend every minute of their free time at school? PraiaThey were happy to… Read More »
James Loughran, who has died aged 92, served as principal conductor of the Hallé Orchestra for 12 years, succeeding John Barbirolli; he was also a popular figure at the Proms; he made at least 47 appearances, including five Last Nights, where he began the tradition of ending the season with a single audience for Auld… Read More »
With a heatwave in the forecast, the idea of going for a swim in the sunshine is now more appealing than ever. Despite our islands’ propensity for rain, the UK is full of outdoor lidos and outdoor pools that come into their own when the mercury rises. The golden age of lidos occurred in the… Read More »
There is a magic pool in Ballaglass Glen. Amid oak, larch and beech trees, it is carved deep into the ancient paving stone, fed by a waterfall, adorned with sunbeams and probably adorned with skins. idle vegetable – Manx Gaelic for legendary “little people”. I felt a sense of joy as I slid my tired… Read More »
The history of yoga dates back thousands of years to ancient India. Centuries later, it is still considered a universal remedy for all kinds of ailments. For decades, grief counselors after my partner died, oncologists when I had breast cancer, my doctor (for everything from depression to osteoporosis), and friends advised me to try yoga… Read More »
With hundreds of sun-drenched islands and a beach-filled mainland surrounded by dazzling blue seas, Greece is the perfect destination for those looking to relax with loved ones or frolic in the sun with adult friends. From tropical-inspired overwater bungalows to beachfront hideaways with cave suites, loved-up couples will find plenty of options for pampering and… Read More »