Quirky Travel

10 Things I love about Reykjavik even though I can’t spell it

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:41 +0000

It’s not like the word for Iceland’s capital city is as difficult to spell as the one for their recently exploding volcano (Eyjafjallajokull). But still I have to search for it, copy and paste every time I use the word. It’s the y, k and j and scuppers me – sorry Reykjavik. Anyway, the reason [...]

The Stanley Hotel’s Haunted Past

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:40:04 +0000

The 1980 horror film ‘The Shining’ has only gotten more terrifying with age. While critics and audiences were initially put off by the slow pace and unanswered questions in Stanley Kubrick’s production, it’s now considered one of the best horror movies ever made—hypnotic in tone, beautifully open to interpretation, and a pitch-perfect example of the [...]

4 Worldwide Owl Museums to Visit

Sun, 06 May 2012 10:58:23 +0000

Owl Museum, Larnaca I was doing some research for an article for a travel site I contribute to, and came across an owl museum in Larnaca, Cyprus. It houses the largest collection of owls in Europe. What a niche subject for a museum! The collection belongs to Holy Bishop Kitiou and consists of 5704 ornaments [...]

4 Eccentric London Secrets

Fri, 04 May 2012 07:25:27 +0000

London is a dream for any tourist. There really is so much to see and do. But if you’re looking to stay away from the mainstream attractions do something a bit quirky in England’s capital city then here are four ideas for you. Dennis Severs’ House A visit to Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields feels [...]

French Election Commentary in a Toy Shop Window

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:18:00 +0000

These gorgeous pics were taken in the window of the Tout en Peluche (everything plush) toy shop in Montparnasse, Paris. They were taken by me back in March, and I presume they’re a playful take on French elections – possibly the presidential elections (?). There are militant anti-vegetarians in the form of spring onions and [...]

Offbeat things I want to do in Venice

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:04:42 +0000

Peggy Guggenheim in Venice, in her trademark winged glasses (Credit: www.artforune.com)I haven’t been to Venice yet, but will go in the next year or two. In the meantime, I’ve been doing a bit of research on what I’d like to do when I get there. Walking tour with a difference I’ve take a ghost walk [...]

Clapton Pond – A Gem in the Heart of Hackney

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:44:21 +0000

Thanks to a Hackney walk I printed off yesterday, I found something that has puzzled me for a while. Ever since the 393 bus route started up a couple of years back, I’ve been wondering about Clapton Pond (end destination in one direction.) Of course, it would’ve been easy enough to find out about it, but [...]

La Halle Saint Pierre, Paris

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:01:42 +0000

At the foot of Montmartre, before you mount the steps to climb to the big white church, is a former covered market called the Halle Saint Pierre. This building houses a museum, art gallery, auditorium, bookshop and cafe and specialises in fringe art (or art brut). This place is less than 20 minutes’ walk from [...]

A Gothic Delight: Holly Village, Highgate

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:58:40 +0000

After an afternoon visit to Highgate Cemetery, wander down Swains Lane towards Parliament Hill and you’ll come across a small estate of gorgeous Gothic houses. This is Holly Village. Erected in 1865 for philanthropist Baroness Angela Burdett-Coutts (grand-daughter of Thomas Coutts – founder of the bank which requires its new customers these days to have [...]

Tim Burton Exhibition at the Paris Cinémathèque

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:34:16 +0000

The Tim Burton exhibition, third most visited exhibition at MOMA, New York no less, opened in early March at the Cinémathèque in Paris and I’ve been chomping at the bit to go ever since. I got to see it this weekend, and was not disappointed. I have to own up, Tim Burton has been a [...]