I went to Rome specifically to see the Sistine Chapel and having accomplished that, I didn’t really have much interest in the rest of Rome. But the Colosseum was only two stops up from my villa on the metro, or half a dozen tram stops so I thought I’d pop up and see it. What … More The colossal Colosseum by rain and night
The K has come round very quickly and other contenders for this letter included the Krafla power station, the imminent eruption of Katla and the explosion crater Kerið before settling on the Kjölur route. There are a handful of roads running across Iceland’s Interior, also known sometimes as its Highlands. It’s a very wild area, … More The A-Z of Iceland: The Kjölur route
Most people don’t start the Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman machine with Long Way Down. It’s a sequel to their 2004 motorcycle adventure around the world, Long Way Round, where they rode from London to New York via Siberia and Mongola. That was a big deal and a big adventure and I don’t think Long … More Travel Library: Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman
At the weekend, I went to Rome. I booked the flights on the morning of April 16th – that’s the morning after the Notre Dame fire, because that Monday evening I realised that those huge historic permanent monuments that are part of our very existence are not as permanent as I thought. The Sistine Chapel … More On the Ceiling: I went to the Sistine Chapel
What do Icelanders wear? Knitted Icelandic jumpers with a pretty ring pattern around the neck! These things, these traditional Icelandic jumpers, are called lopapeysas, known for short as the lopi (although strictly speaking, lopi is just the wool). It’s oh-so-traditional, dating back to somewhere around the early-to-mid 20th century. That’s less than one hundred years. … More The A-Z of Iceland: J is for jumpers
You may already know that when I was a student, I was a very keen caver. That all ended twelve years ago with graduation and I’ve been back twice since then, the last time being four and a half years ago. I just don’t get to go anymore because you need someone to go with … More Cavers do it in rubber socks: a half day in Goatchurch
If you’re out and about in Iceland on your own – and by on your own, I mean without a professional guide/driver/tourist personnel – you should know about ICE-SAR. That’s the Icelandic Association for Search & Rescue. They’re the people who will come and rescue you if you decide to have a picnic on an iceberg … More The A-Z of Iceland: I is for ICE-SAR
This month’s book from my Travel Library is more adventure than travel. Sometimes it’s impossible to say which of those a story falls into, which is why this blog is loosely themed around travel and adventure. In this case, All At Sea (original title: In The Bath) by Tim FitzHigham is definitely an adventure. It’s … More Travel Library: All At Sea by Tim FitzHigham
Last week I went to West Sussex for a couple of days of training. I’ve talked before about my forays into becoming a casual (read: occasional) outdoor activity instructor (archery | fencing | selection day) The full-time instructors were over at the training centre for two weeks (depending on what they were already qualified in) … More Bushcraft training day
One of the things you’ve probably heard about Iceland is that all the people believe in elves. Well… it isn’t quite as simple as that. In Iceland, the beings in question are called the huldufólk, the Hidden People. Some say that it’s a euphemism for elves or that you shouldn’t call elves by their real … More The A-Z of Iceland: H for Hidden People
I Am A Polar Bear 