Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

The Thinking Traveller

The Thinking Traveller

Irony Curtain

At its heart, Russia is a fabulous place.  With so much history, expansive terrain and the sheer diversity of its population, its lure as a place to visit is often obscured by politics and other kinds of maneuvering. When we talk about history, we must remember that the Soviet era is now history, too.  And,…

Read more

You see Phou Si

Asia has so many wonders, and so much rich and deep history. One that is well-known, but not always on at the top of everyone's list is Mount Phou Si in Laos.  It is a 100 m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang in Laos. It lies in the heart of…

Read more

King of the road

We are writing this post when - it appears - the the Covid-19 pandemic is starting to abate, and that many of us can, once more, open our doors, step outside and begin to enjoy life again. And what can be more life-affirming than getting out into nature, and breathing in the air?  That is…

Read more

The warped self

Levi Jed Murphy smolders into the camera. It’s a powerful look: piercing blue eyes, high cheekbones, full lips and a razor-sharp jawline – all of which, he says, cost him around £30,000. Murphy is an influencer from Manchester in the UK, with a large social media following. Speaking on his approach to growing his fans, he…

Read more

Take you on a slow boat to Stratford

All apologies to Ella Fitzgerald. England is surrounded by water.  And, as you might imagine, there are rivers and streams that course through the country. Some are tiny and some are navigable. Even better, some are big enough to accommodate boats.  And even better than that, some of these boats have beds and kitchens and…

Read more

Tsk! Kids, these days

First, they want an Xbox.  Then they want a car.  And now they want to roller-skate in an airport!  What's next? Well, the rather great TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York (we wrote about them here) are actually featuring exactly that - A 50-minute skating session costs $20 per adult and $16 for…

Read more

Oh, the urbanity!

For those fancying a trip from Liverpool to Belfast or Barcelona to the Balearic Islands but concerned about the carbon footprint of aeroplane travel, a small Bedford-based UK company is promising a surprising solution: commercial airships. Sustainability is no longer a nice to have. It is a global imperative. The company (HAV) Airlander is by…

Read more

Don’t falter in Gibraltar

Gibraltar, colloquially known as The Rock, (or simply 'Gib'), is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom sitting at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Spain to the north and the people of Gibraltar are ferociously loyal British citizens despite being bilingual in English and Spanish.  When you step inside, you'll feel like you're on…

Read more

Young, fast and scientific

Let's face it - finding travel deals is not easy. There are not enough hours in the day for most of us.  And it's a moving target. Well, let's give a big thank you to our affiliate friends CheapAir.com have created their annual Cheapair 2021Annual Airfare Study. You don’t have to feel stymied by convoluted…

Read more

Yes you can, mama in Panama

Panama is world-famous for its 48-mile canal that connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean. Each year, over a million people visit the canal and are able to witness this engineering marvel at work. Panama is very proud to have this magnificent creation operating 365 days a year, enabling the world's cargo to be…

Read more

OK, we take it back. The Airbus 380 will NOT be leaving the skies.

GEEK ALERT:  if you visit this website often, you'll know how much we love technology, especially aircraft. We've recently written that one of the giants (literally) of the skies, the Airbus A380 might be heading off into the sunset, to fly no more. As the world gets smaller and aircraft get better (ie: better fuel…

Read more

Let’s be specific: Oregon’s mid-Willamette valley

Many Americans have a way of saying where they live in this format:  "Oh, I come from West Irishtown in the upper Cuyahoga Valley" instead of saying "Cleveland."  Many non-Americans sometimes get confused with that very specific sentence structure.  It's an endearing thing, but it can baffle others. So this article follows that pattern in…

Read more

There’s a snake in my boot

Are you tired of the same old holiday?  That is, sitting on the beach, looking at statues, ziplining, etc? Do you fancy yourself as a cowboy?  If so, then we have some ideas for you. There are places around the world where you can stay at a ranch, rustle cows and wear a hat.  But, if that…

Read more

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

I've suffered for my art.  Now it's your turn. Hope springs eternal when it comes to budding entrepreneurs.  "Build it, and they will buy it." But sometimes, maybe not.  There is a museum in Miami focused on vehicles that, on balance, just did not make it.  And the museum is a rollicking fun-filled afternoon of almost-rans  and…

Read more

No future tense

The European Union is a marvelous thing.  Twenty seven united countries.  Almost as many different languages, customs and levels of advancement. An estimated total population of about 447 million. One of its main tenets is to make all countries equal, with good social health and freedom for all.  Equals among equals.  And it does a good job…

Read more

Wild in the streets

Ahh Monaco.  Glamour, money, riches, style, more money, stars, even more money . . . and skids marks. What are we talking about?  The annual Monaco Grand Prix.  International racing in the second smallest country in the world. Drivers come to Monaco from all around the world to battle for to vie for the top…

Read more