The best places to visit

Cycling the ancient cobbled streets of Ferrara, Italy Italy | Europe Published: December 2018 Disclosure: My accommodation was provided by the Blogville project | This post contains affiliate links With Aperitivo hour rolling in, and one distracted-by-architecture crash under my belt already, it was time to park up our bicycles and settle in for a Spritz, and our now nightly pre-dinner snack fest. Janet and I had spent the day exploring Ferrara by bike, from it’s cobbled Roman streets to its renaissance palace. Ferrara might not be as famous with travellers like Bologna, Modena, or other cities in the Emilia Romagna region, but it makes for an ideal day-trip from Bologna, or an unexpected overnight stay, if you over-indulge in said Spritzs and miss the last train… my bad. Este Castle in Ferrara A relatively compact city, Ferrara’s architecture tells two sides of its history. With both renaissance and Roman art and architecture to celebrate it, Fer...

Vineyards, Relaxation and Star Gazing: A weekend in Alentejo, Portugal Portugal | Europe Published: May 2018 | Partner content produced on assignment with Lonely Planet + Booking.com In south-central Portugal, to the right of show-stealing Lisbon and above the summertime fun of the Algarve, the underrated and understated Alentejo region packs a punch. Technically two regions, Alto and Baixo translating to higher and lower, The Alentejo is awash with Roman and Moorish history, designated dark sky star-gazing reserves and countless grapes hanging from vines ready to be turned into one of Portugals greatest exports, and my favourite refreshment, wine. The visitor count might not be as high here as other parts of the country, but that is very much its charm. Cruising along a near-empty motorway for a weekend escape, the rolling green countryside of vineyards with the odd castle provided a refreshing vacation from the bustle of the city. I was on a mission to unearth a unique plac...