“Are you going to the spa in Bucharest sometime?” It was just a comment on someone else’s Instagram, left over a year ago, on a post I shouldn’t even have been stalking but it set it all into motion. From the moment Therme BucureÈ™ti shoved its way into my consciousness, the biggest spa in Europe, … More Is the biggest spa in Europe overrated? My day at Therme BucureÈ™ti
Well, this wasn’t something that was in my initial plan for things to do while I was in Bucharest. I was quite contented with the massive spa, getting to know the city and succeeding in getting the train to BraÈ™ov. In the course of figuring out how to get to know the city, by reading … More I visited the grave of Vlad the Impaler
Because I had four days’ annual leave to use, a spa to visit and some mistakes to fix, I found myself in Romania over the autumn half term last week. BraÈ™ov was on my list of things to do and because it’s in Transylvania, it made sense to leave it as late as possible to … More Halloween in Transylvania (Bucharest to BraÈ™ov by train)
I think this is something I’d like to do for these Weekends Away, an itinerary detailing what I did (although the next two in my calendar aren’t really going to lend themselves to it). The thing is, I’m not sure my actual itinerary is one that other people are going to want to recreate, especially … More 48 hours in Paris: two itineraries
There aren’t many secrets in Paris. With 30-50 million tourists coming to the city of love each year, there’s very little left that hasn’t been discovered, dug out and paraded on social media. But I have found one thing that I’ve never seen anyone else do, that I didn’t even know existed – the Ballon … More The best kept secret viewpoint in Paris
While I was in Paris to visit Notre-Dame, I wanted to find some other interesting things to do. I tend to repeat the same circle of tourist stops: the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-CÅ“ur, the Arc de Triomphe, a boat trip. And while I enjoy those, I’m trying to do new things. Last time I was in … More A first-timer’s evening at the Moulin Rouge
Last weekend, I went off to Paris. Because these days I occasionally take inspiration from people rather than throwing a dart at Google Maps, this was inspired by Brogan Tate, who went to Paris earlier in the year for a press trip and put a picture on Instagram of her with Notre-Dame in the background. … More I went to the restored Notre Dame (don’t bother trying to reserve tickets)
If you’re looking for an easy hike in Iceland with something worth seeing at the end, you’re spoiled for choice. A popular one is Stuðlagil, which is about a 6km round trip from the lower, eastern car park and is pretty much flat and paved all the way. But today we’re going to a more … More Easy hikes in Iceland: Svartifoss
Imagine the shock I got on Monday night, lounging in the bath after walking a mile uphill from Rangers to be greeted on Instagram by an announcement from an unknown Earth Lagoon in Iceland. A new lagoon? How did I not know it was coming? The mystery was quickly solved: after 21 years in business, … More Mývatn Nature Baths becomes Earth Lagoon and other changes in Iceland’s lagoons
That was the question my boss asked as I signed off the day before I headed to London. “I want you to do me a favour. Tell me where you swim and tell me which is the best pool”. I already knew that was far too big a question to be answered with a single … More What was the best place I swam in Iceland?
I Am A Polar Bear 