In a handy neck of the woods between Houston and the North Barrier Coast, Pasadena (Texas) is close to the big bay-side landmarks like the Johnson Space Center and San Jacinto Battleground, but also a quick ride from Houston’s downtown and museums. Pasadena is one for people who can see the beauty in heavy industry, …
Hayward, California, is an affordable and convenient base that lets you explore every nook of the Bay Area with ease. You’re close to the water here on the East Bay and the Hayward Hills behind the city offer a clear panorama that captures San Francisco, Fremont, Silicon Valley and Oakland with one memorable view. The …
Educated, progressive, safe and awash with parkland, Springfield (Massachusetts) is a city shooting up the lists of America’s favourite places to live. Springfield often describes itself as the “City of Firsts” for its many innovations, the big ones being motorcycles and basketball. To recognise its origins the Basketball Hall of Fame is located in Springfield …
Zagreb is Croatia’s capital and largest city, marking the intersection between Eastern and Central Europe for more than a thousand years. For a modern capital Zagreb has a kind of small-town charm, with an expansive old hilltop district of cobblestone streets and squares lit to this day by gas lamps. Down the slope you’ll see …
Pushing out into the Adriatic and basking in one of the world’s most beautiful sunsets, the old town of Zadar in Croatia is almost overflowing with heritage. This small finger of land almost entirely encircled by stone defences and boasts more historic churches than you’ll be able to get through in one trip. In Zadar …
Split, on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, feels like a city that time has forgotten. The ancient centre is like nothing you’ll have seen before, with a whole district taken up by a sprawling Roman palace, going strong after 1700 years. Over the centuries this architecture has been kept intact and then incorporated into newer buildings, like …
01. Licorice Every citizen of the empire is forced to eat at least one bag of salted licorice a week, those that can’t keep a straight face while finishing the bag will be beheaded. 02. Nose picking From now on picking your nose in public will be acceptable behaviour. 03. The bicycle The bicycle …
Vlore is a harbour city that holds special meaning for Albanians, as this is where the country declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire at the start of the 20th century. So you can take a whistle-stop tour of monuments and museums celebrating the statesman Ismail Qemali’s first government, and in doing so get to …
Durres is a versatile port city with both a modern and ancient appeal. If fun in the sun is in order look no further than the waterfront, where Albania’s largest and liveliest beach buzzes with activity in summer. Durres is also replete with Roman and Byzantine heritage – you can discover the remnants of Albania’s …
Close to the border with Montenegro, Shkodra in Albania is the point of entry for the sublime natural landscapes in almost every direction from the city. East is Drin River that flows through canyons, right to the west is the Adriatic Sea and its sandy beaches, and northeast are the Albanian Alps where the country’s …