Hotel Review: Antica Samarkand, Uzbekistan –  a cosy unique guesthouse

Hotel Review: Antica Samarkand, Uzbekistan – a cosy unique guesthouse

Samarkand is a large city and it is harder to find charming accommodation close to the major sights. The Antica Samarkand is a welcome exception.  Samarkand hotels are typically large, business-orientated and geared towards tour groups. But if you are looking for somewhere individual on 

Two Days in Samarkand: What not to miss (Part Two)

Two Days in Samarkand: What not to miss (Part Two)

I had the opportunity to fulfill a big dream, thanks to an unexpected week off work and the end of the Uzbek visa rule in March.  And I had to act fast before this gift of extra time was to be booked up. Quickly I 

Two Days in Samarkand – what not to miss (Part One)

Two Days in Samarkand – what not to miss (Part One)

My impromptu Silk Road trip to Samarkand and Bukhara lasted six days, including two long flights, and time was a bit of an issue. What to do if you have limited time, want to see everything, but don’t want to spend a ton of money 

Hotel Rahmon, Samarkand: A model of hospitality

Hotel Rahmon, Samarkand: A model of hospitality

On my recent flying visit to the Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, my first contact with the locals was in this guesthouse I had just booked quickly in order to crash somewhere upon arrival. I had already booked some fancier hotels in Bukhara 

Travelling to Uzbekistan in 2019

Travelling to Uzbekistan in 2019

Uzbekistan has been a rather difficult country to travel in the past.  Most of us would need to apply for a visa, customs rules were extremely strict, immigration was difficult. And once there, you had to change currency at an unfavourable official rate in a 

Hotel Review: Hotel Reina Cristina, Algeciras

Hotel Review: Hotel Reina Cristina, Algeciras

“What on earth are you doing in Algeciras?” you might ask. This port city is mostly known as a passing through place en route to Morocco and the Spanish Enclaves, but not as a tourist sight on its own. What makes it a great place 

Hotel Review: Hotel Palacio de Los Salcedo, Baeza

Hotel Review: Hotel Palacio de Los Salcedo, Baeza

On our recent honeymoon driving round some of lesser known Andalucia, we thought we book ourselves a special treat. We checked into a real palace in Baeza. This town in Northeastern Andalucia forms an impressive coherent architectural ensemble of Renaissance buildings unique to Spain.  It 

What to buy in Andalucia

What to buy in Andalucia

When I travel I  cannot resist a bit of shopping. Having just returned form Spain, here is my guide on what to buy in Andalucia. I’m in a holiday mood, that money just sits a little bit looser. And I like nice things to remind 

Our Andalucian Honeymoon

Our Andalucian Honeymoon

“Why forever roam and waver / see what is good lies so near thee!” That quote of Germany’s man of letters, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, should account for our wedding and honeymoon. After having lived in so many places, we wanted our honeymoon… a bit 

Haiku No. 8 or: an Odessa haiku

Haiku No. 8 or: an Odessa haiku

Odessa. An Odessa haiku Just like yesterday water colours turned solid I walk and wonder Did you know that from November, Ryanair will fly from Berlin (TXL) to Odessa twice a week? I took the opportunity to nudge you to consider visiting this beautiful city, 

Hotel Review: Hotel Alcoba del Agua, Sanlucar de Barrameda

Hotel Review: Hotel Alcoba del Agua, Sanlucar de Barrameda

Back from Spain for two, weeks,  a new job to settle into, house a mess and two bored cats – not the best circumstances for writing a long post. However, there is always a little time to write about Hotel Alcoba del Agua, one of 

It’s Oh So Quiet (but March 2019 was rather happening)

It’s Oh So Quiet (but March 2019 was rather happening)

It’s been quiet here but in reality, March was rather busy. So, to not let things slump a bit round here, I try to catch up. So, what’s been happening in here while there was radio silence in the blog? I quit my job Well, I 

My favourite honeymoon destination –  the dreamy and the realistic

My favourite honeymoon destination – the dreamy and the realistic

I found this in some leisurely after-work travel surfing session and it strangely spoke to me… Well! We are getting married in a few days time and while our honeymoon is all bottled up (just!), here is my bit on how we found our favourite 

Arcadion Hotel Corfu Town: A Central and Classy hotel

Arcadion Hotel Corfu Town: A Central and Classy hotel

On our spontaneous trip to Greece and Albania in autumn 2018, we were lucky to book late and still stay in consistently good hotels. The Arcadion Hotel Corfu Town is one of my favourited from this trip.  We usually look for somewhere mid-range and non-generic, 

Haiku No.7

Haiku No.7

Lists grow long and fast We catch our breath and smile the sun peeks laughing It’s been a little quiet here, but only because extra shifts at work and a slow but sure transformation into Bridezilla are taking up all my time here. Being too