We had heard that Dubrovnik was beautiful, and we were not disappointed. After our Mediterranean Cruise we caught a train from Rome to Bari on the east coast of Italy, where we then caught an overnight ferry to Dubrovnik. Luck was with us and we had a calm crossing, arriving in Dubrovnik on a clear and sunny Friday morning. Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, and prices in restaurants, tourist attractions and accommo...

We boarded our cruise ship, Norwegian Spirit, at Civitavecchia with minimum fuss and set about putting our complimentary drinks package into operation. This was probably a good idea as the captain advised that we would set sail under gale force winds. Having bought bargain basement tickets, our cabin was at the very front of the ship, the place where sea swell is felt most. We quickly fell into a deep sleep, surprised to wake next morning to calm seas, having sl...

Why on earth did we book a flight with a 2:30 am departure time? We boarded bleary eyed and lighted headed from lack of sleep (you know us - early to bed people), but once on the plane and the cabin doors closed on a near empty cabin, our joy knew no bounds. I staked my claim on an entire row of four seats, lifted the arm rests and slept fully reclined without having to pay a business class fare. Now that’s why a 2:300 am flight is a good idea - no one else ta...

I spent a day off a cruise boat in Christchurch in December 2010. It was not long after the September earthquake that caused quite a bit of damage, but not enough to spoil the beauty of this lovely city and its surrounds. It was, however, before the major aftershock a few months later that caused way more damage and took the lives of 185 people. This time I came with my mum to visit my brother and his wife who now live here and, although healing, the city wounds...

We arrived in Xian at midnight and awoke to see the sky for the first time since arriving in China. It is amazing how much a blue sky and sunshine can lift one's spirits. After Chongqing, Xian was a much smaller city of only 9.5 million people. It had a whole different feel about it to other places we have visited in China. It is flat and modern, with high rise buildings going up everywhere. The clear sky probably made the world of difference too. It was quite ...