HALLOWEEN
It’s hard not to love Halloween, but the origins of Halloween are a little darker. Today, it’s a time for celebration, jack-o’-lanterns, and of course, …
SUNSET CLAUSES
I have written before about the utter stupidity of “Sunset Clauses”, which appear to be the modus operandi these days for legislators who want to …
BRINGING BACK BUTTONS
Bringing back buttons is an idea that is gaining strength in, of all places, the automobile industry. No, it is not just a “retro” movement …
MULTIPLE TIMELINES
This somewhat tongue-in-check article on multiple timelines, written in 2023, caught my fancy this week, particularly as it was sent to me by one of …
THE RHINE CYCLE ROUTE
Spanning 1,450km from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps, the Rhine Cycle Route is 87% car-free, culturally rich and surprisingly accessible. This article, by …
ADVENTUROUS TRAIN JOURNEYS – PART III
ADVENTUROUS TRAIN JOURNEYS – PART III: THE ARCTIC CIRCLE NIGHT TRAIN, SWEDEN TO NORWAY The Route: Stockholm, Sweden to Narvik, NorwayDuration: 1215 miles, 18.5 hoursThe Fare: 136 USD …
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
I had to write a blog this week about the continued integrity of the Nobel Prize Committee in selecting Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan democratic …
VICARS CLOSE
Vicars Close is a dead-end street in Wells, Somerset. It is, reportedly, Europe’s oldest residential street, with the original buildings still intact. John Julius Norwich called it “that rarest of survivals, a planned …
NEVER BELIEVE
Many years ago, I was given a phrase that has served me well ever since. “Never believe anything until it is officially denied”. That sounds …
TITANIC OF THE PYRENEES
Once hailed as the “Titanic of the Pyrenees”, Canfranc International Station, in northern Spain, has been plagued by disaster, derailment and decades of abandonment. Now, …