Chocolate brownies.

Five things I learned this week – 23 June 2025

Airport hotels, chocolate brownies, the Ark of the Covenant, the White Stripes and an annoyingly long fact check on the flag of Belize feature in this week’s slightly interesting discoveries. Hilton’s claim to the first airport hotel is complete nonsense The Hilton chain has long…
The Brno skyline

Brno, Czechia: A travel guide for first time visitors

Czechia’s second city does things differently – and specialises in unusual attractions. What is Brno all about? Beyond the big capitals, worthwhile destinations tend to fall into one of two categories. They either have not much to do but are great to hang out in…
Plaza Mayor in Valladolid, Spain.

A first-time visitor’s guide to Valladolid, Spain

Valladolid encapsulates High Spain – and is a fine place to learn about Cervantes and Columbus. What is Valladolid all about? Spain is a difficult beast to get a handle on – partly because there are so many different versions of it. Andalucia has the…
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

A guide to Granada, Spain, for first-time visitors

The Andalucian city of Granada is home to one of Europe’s top attractions – the Alhambra – but there’s much more to it than that. What’s Granada all about? If it was just about backdrops, Granada would be worth visiting – it sits in front…
The Alcazaba of Almeria.

Almeria travel guide for first time visitors

The Andalucian city of Almeria has a fantastic fortress, a lively tapas scene and an unexpectedly impressive movie heritage. What is Almeria all about? For the Europeans who provide the bulk of Almeria’s visitors, the climate is the main draw. It is reputedly the hottest…