Travelweekly

  It was the first time that I went to Venice at night, and it was not intentional. I just lost my way just pushing along with a half melted gelato and a map that resembled a puzzle rather than a guide.   But to lose one in Venice, is nearly a pleasant command and, later in the evening, the city began to change softly around me. After the crowds had swept off, Venice appeared to be relieved. The canals became calm and black, with the small lights of the balconies warping to the stars.   I happened to be on a little bridge where the only thing heard was the gentle wave of the water on the boats, and my own footsteps as they bounced off the walls.   Side note: If you are travelling for a short period then you can book meet and greet at Luton .   I felt I was being permitted in a personal entry, by an open door in the city, in that moment, revealing a side of the city that is known only by the exhaustion of the day. As I went further into the silence I came...

  Every person who has visited Italy will recall a moment. It is the very first occasion when you come to the bar, can hear the hiss of an espresso machine, can smell the roasted coffee beans in the air and you suddenly notice that coffee here is not just a beverage.   It is a rhythm. It is a break in the midst of a hectic morning or an instant burst of energy and then moving on to the day. This small ritual can be quite confusing the first time when you arrive in Italy, and when you grasp the idea, you start to feel that you are a part of something quite local. The first one is that coffee in Italy is nearly always taken on the move at the counter. They enter the shop, shake hands with the barista, order a small cup of espresso, gulp and get out after enjoying it in some very relaxed sips. It is fast but never rushed.   No one expects to linger unless they please to, and the atmosphere is most marvellous and unpretentious. You can observe people wearing suits, le...

  Coffee in Bucharest is not just about the morning ritual, but an experience and a transition between the historical city and its present day dynamic. In this case the scent of freshly made espresso flows over cobblestone streets, Belle Epoque facades and each cafe is a story some of them are there to be told while some are just starting to be told. From Tradition to Trend   Years past, coffee in Bucharest was consumed in a discreet way and usually in small cafes run by families where the time appeared to stand still.   The residents would spend hours there, arguing about politics, poetry, and life over plain cups of strong and dark coffee. Most of these traditions are still there but the new generation of the city has made this coffee love creative and stylish.   Note: to begin your trip at a relaxed pace, always book  airport parking Heathrow   and travel in style.   The coffee culture of Bucharest is a combination of the past and the pres...

  I learnt this lesson the hard way — somewhere between Florence and regret. The photos online looked perfect: stone walls, breakfast in the courtyard, the word “luxury” scattered everywhere. But when I opened the bathroom door, it was the size of a wardrobe. The shower dribbled, the tiles were colder than reason, and the mirror was placed conveniently at shoulder height. I’m five foot nine. It’s funny now, but at the time, standing under that reluctant trickle of water, I promised myself one thing: always read the bathroom reviews . Because the bathroom tells the truth. You can fake good lighting in a bedroom photo, you can hide noise with clever captions — but bad plumbing? That’s a secret no hotel can keep for long. Think about it. A good bathroom means someone cared — about the details, the comfort, the way hot water actually reaches you before you lose hope. It’s the space where tired travellers reset after flights, where mornings begin and evenings exhale. Whether you’re on...

  Fika is one of the few things on which Swedish life is based. It is not merely a coffee break, a moment to have a rest, a moment to attach to each other, a moment to be, in no haste. The very initial time I did it was when I sat in a quiet cafe in Stockholm covered with my coat yet the snow was falling lightly outside. People were not that attached to their phones or hurrying through their beverages around me.   They were chatting, laughing or simply enjoying themselves in a comfortable silence, holding warm cups of coffee in their hands and the general feeling that everything was okay in the atmosphere. A fika may occur anywhere, whether in the home, the workplace or in some warmer section of a nearby bakery, however, the will with it is the key. No, it is not about caffeine, it is about connection.   Note: Always check  long stay parking Luton   before travelling and book according to your needs.   The fika usually consists of coffee and a pastry,...