Looking around Muscat it’s difficult to believe that just over a generation ago Oman was a country without a single luxury hotel and barely 10km of tarmac road. Times have changed markedly since July 1970, when Qaboos bin Said became the Sultan of Oman.
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Christian Jacques is an École du Ski Français (ESF) ski instructor working in the Alpe d’Huez grande domain Ski. Last week I spent time with the 57 year old, who’s in his 38th season as an instructor, exploring the 250km network of pistes in the French resort.
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Don’t believe everything you hear about deserts being wastelands devoid of beauty. Take a trip into Egypt’s Sinai Desert, for a walk along the Coloured Canyon, and you’ll see they can be sublime places.
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Looking for a memorable place to spend a few days with your friends or family? Last week I met with Ed Percival, the Landmark Trust’s Head of Marketing and Communications, to learn what his organisation has to offer travellers.
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The Serralves Foundation was established in 1989. Within a relatively short space of time, it became recognised as one of Portugal’s leading cultural and contemporary art institutions.
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Lisbon’s Oceanarium, the Oceanário de Lisboa as it’s known locally, is an example of a tourist attraction that successfully grabs and holds the attention of adults as well as kids.
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If you know India you’ll be aware that the name Chennai quickly gained acceptance after the city was officially renamed, from Madras, in 1996. This city, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is often regarded as the gateway to southern India.
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If you’re feeling positive you might be tempted to translate the name of Lisbon’s Forte do Bom Sucesso as ‘Fortress of Good Success.’ That would be a decent stab at a literal rendering though it’s usually known in English as the Fort of Bom Sucesso.
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In The Companion Guide to Northumbria Edward Grierson describes Warkworth as “one of the most exciting small towns in Britain.” After a stroll through this settlement of 1,000 people I’d probably have chosen the word ‘relaxing’ or perhaps ‘picturesque’ rather than ‘exciting.’
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I’ve pulled on a disposable overall, I’m holding a torch and have a camera slung around my neck. If it wasn’t for my floppy black wellies you might take me for a crime scene investigator. The kit is compulsory for tours of Antwerp’s underground canals, the ruien as they are known here.
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