By and large, I’m a solo traveller and I think it’s time I started emphasising that a bit more.
Back in the days when I could solo travel, I gravitated towards Iceland, Scandinavia and the Arctic, with occasional visits to places like the Baltic states and eastern Europe but you’ll find plenty of Paris and Switzerland and western Europe here too. Actually, my non-Wessex UK travels are here as well, so come with me to Scotland, London and a few other places around my own country.
Yes, I’m stretching the definition of “a long weekend” a bit. A month ago, I had about four days in Helsinki and so I thought I’d tidy up what I did and turn it into an itinerary to give you an idea of how to spend a few days in Helsinki in the summer. Mine… More A long summer weekend in Helsinki itinerary
I have a film camera. You may already know this – I did Russia on Film a couple of years ago and I’m genuinely surprised I didn’t do Rome on Film, since I took photos there. Long story short, I found three ancient rolls of film, bought a camera on eBay and snapped away. Actually,… More Helsinki on film
What’s more Finnish than a sauna? I’ve given this question a little consideration and I can’t think of anything more Finnish. I’m a bit of a fan of some spa and wellness and so went I went to test out my newfound language skills, of course I also wanted to try out a proper Finnish… More Löyly: a traditional Finnish sauna experience (for tourists)
I was last in Helsinki eight and a half years ago – and then only for a single evening – and things have changed a little since then. First, there’s now a nice easy train between the airport and the city centre. Second, there’s a floating geothermal pool in the harbour. Did I hear the… More Geothermal bathing in Helsinki at Allas Sea Pool
The week before I went to Helsinki, I saw that line as the title of a piece about Iceland, which is actually about Hvammsvik Hot Springs, which I discovered in February and adore. But with plans to go to Helsinki just four days away, the phrase “holistic & healing” jumped right out at me. I… More Helsinki is the holistic, healing holiday destination you’ll never forget
One thing I’ve meant to do in Paris for years is the Catacombs. I knew very little about them; only that they were underground and went on forever. When I went to Paris last month, I added them to my tentative to-do list, having discovered that tickets only go on sale four days in advance and… More There are 6 million dead bodies under Paris
Ok, I’m ridiculous. I decided to use the Coronation weekend to go to Paris. I’ve said on many occasions that I don’t love Paris but I like it more as I get to explore on my own terms and it’s a very quick hop over from Southampton Airport and quite honestly, I was never going… More A night at the Paris Opera
It’s mid-May – at least, in my plan it is – and I’m finally delivering the last of the February 2023 Iceland posts! Well, I still have plans to tear RE apart in a long essay but this is the last of the proper “what I did” posts. I hid from the snow and the… More Guaranteed Northern Lights at Aurora Reykjavik
On the far side of Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, in the Grandi district, in a big ol’ warehouse, you can meet a whale. You can meet lots of whales. If the weather is too bad, or you’re too emetophobic, or you’re dubious about the ethics, and you’re not going out on a boat to look for… More I met a whale! (at Whales of Iceland)
On a rainy afternoon, I stopped by the Settlement Exhibition right in the middle of downtown Reykjavik. It’s part of Reykjavik City Museum – there are five exhibitions in the group which also includes Árbær Open Air Museum, the Museum of Photography, the Maritime Museum over at Grandi and Viðey Island, which I did a… More Going back in time at the Settlement Exhibition