We begin to get the idea of the Cologne constitution from our fifth Kölsch. We are sitting in Päffgen, one of the traditional beer halls that produces the pale yellow beer typical of the German city. It comes in small, flat glasses (apparently the foam disappears quickly) and as each one is empty, a waiter… Read More »
What’s worse: a large, gray asphalt parking lot, or vehicles lining every road as far as the eye can see? That’s the question I ask myself as I stand on the hillside of Winnats Head and look out over the honeypot village of Castleton. Even though it is spoiled by the roads passing by cars,… Read More »
It’s great to visit amazing places and enjoy bucket list experiences, but what to do on those days when there’s nothing but the literal horizon? If you’re filling your shore days with once-in-a-lifetime activities, you might welcome the opportunity to get serious with Egyptian cotton sheets in your cabin. Or if you prefer to stay… Read More »
The flip side to Lisbon’s famously sunny weather is the need to make sure your hotel has a swimming pool, especially in the heat of July and August. A place to dive into after wandering the cobblestone streets and climbing up and down a few of Lisbon’s seven hills. Better yet, sit poolside with a… Read More »
Interior designer and former pop star Pearl Lowe is renting out her Somerset mansion to holidaymakers to offset the “extortionate” energy bills that come with owning a sprawling historic home. Wiltshire-based therapist Juno Shears hopes income from tenants staying at her five-bedroom former hunting lodge will cover the costs of a family holiday to the… Read More »
There are only 11 weeks left until the school summer holidays. However, if you haven’t booked your flight yet, fear not; There are still some excellently priced options available during the busiest months of July and August. We’ve looked at the 30 most popular summer holiday destinations in Europe for British holidaymakers. We also looked… Read More »
There is such a performance of truth in Benedict Andrews’ production. Cherry Orchard It takes your breath away. In the opening moments, June Watson squeaks across the stage as the old maid Firs: shuffling laboriously as if she were walking across the Russian steppes. Insulted (you bore me, a pampered teenager tells him), he finds… Read More »
You can’t beat an agriturismo. The rural locations, the owners whose primary occupation is farming, and the food and drink produced on site all contribute to a charming and informal stay experience. They rarely have a reception desk and there are dogs and crowing roosters to deal with, but they offer great food and a… Read More »
In 1961 future West German chancellor Willy Brandt declared: “The sky over the Ruhr must be blue once again.” His words were greeted with applause, but his audience was actually falling off their chairs. Because the Ruhrpott, or Ruhrgebiet, is a collection of industrial cities including Gelsenkirchen (where England will play the opening match of… Read More »
“Everyone is complaining, the situation is not good. Do not book Air Vanuatu.” These were the words of a taxi driver who left Vanuatu’s Bauerfield international airport in March and headed for the heart of Port Vila, the Pacific island nation’s oceanside capital. Two months later and the frequent cancellations and delays that have become… Read More »