history

Some Places Have It All

Milan, Italy

July 2013

In the European summer of 2013 I made my first foray into solo travelling. I had four days to fill somewhere in Italy between the day my family returned home to Australia and the day I would be meeting up with a friend in Germany. So where to spend it? Northern Italy was my preference, in order to avoid the heat of the south and lessen my travel time between Italy and Germany. I quickly ruled out a beachside location, as going to the beach is never as fun without friends. I wanted to go somewhere with a focus on culture and plenty of indoor activities and attractions, as I find that these are often more enjoyable solo than outdoor adventures. After much thought, I eventually settled on Milan. I am so glad I did. Milan, in my opinion, is a perfect destination for the solo traveller. To put it simply, Milan has it all.  (more…)

When Home is Your Castle

Amboise, France

June 2015

I’ve heard it said that a man’s home is his castle, but it’s not that often that someone’s home really is a castle. That’s the case at the Château de Cheverny (pictured above), which has been continuously inhabited by the same family for over 600 years. Cheverny was one of six châteaux (castles, broadly speaking) that I visited in the Loire valley on a two-day extravaganza with Loire Valley Tours, starting out from the beautiful town of Amboise each morning, then spending the day exploring castle after castle in the frankly stifling heat of a French summer heatwave (40oC each day). The weather was hot, the walking distances were long and the schedule was busy, but these castles, brimming with history, were worth it (the air-conditioned van also helped).  (more…)

Seaside Sunsets

Darwin, Australia

July 2012

In Darwin the sun sets quickly. That glowing orb of burning gas plummets towards the horizon, crossing the sky in what seems like mere minutes. As it does so, it colours the evening in shades you wouldn’t believe. The vibrance of an artist’s palette, warm hues blending together as the sun sinks into the sea. That’s a tropical sunset for you.  (more…)