Smag31

Wondering where to holiday at home this summer? Head to the south- west, says Emily Mathieson, and rent one of these 10 houses for a classic British beach break in style. Marver House, Mawgan Porth  Marver House luxury 6 bedroom holiday house in Cornwall Two years ago, Marver House was in a dilapidated state. Half … Read more

Stunning structures Qurum Beach The Muscat Opera House demands attention with its beauty. The palm trees swaying around and the hills enhance its charm. This attractive white complex witnesses many concerts and ballet shows and is one of the favourite tourist hang-outs. A little further is the Qurum Beach with a large stretch of sand … Read more

Muscat is a delightfully beautiful city endowed with many natural and man-made wonders Muscat is the starting point of any tour in Oman. It is a city of hills, forts, sands and beaches. Unlike in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the skyline here is not cluttered with skyscrapers competing with each other to touch the sky, … Read more

Love There is a lot to love about Ethiopia but do not expect it to be love at first sight. It is not a country for the faint-hearted, although I’d most certainly be able to escape to the fabulous Kuriftu Resort & Spa for a week or so. (I still pine for my room’s balcony … Read more

Pray Religion is part and parcel of daily life here. To really feel part of it, you need to get up early. In Bahir Dar I was up and out by 5am, in time to hear the call to prayer from the mosque and to see the Orthodox Christians appear, wrapped in white muslin, in … Read more

Elizabeth Gilbert could have saved herself a lot of Travelling if she’s gone to Ethiopia. In fact, it is a country with its own calendar (it’s 2004 there) and clock, which means she could have added time travel to her list of Experiences Eat At Kuriftu resort & Spa at Debre Zeit The biggest eye-opener … Read more

Places to Eat Isami One of the best Japanese restaurants in the city, but tiny so book ahead. Good choice of sushi. 4 quai d’Orléans, 75004 01 40 46 06 97 Closed Sun, Mon, Aug (3 wks) No disabled access Le Fin Gourmet Excellent bistro in a 17th-century building. Expect dishes such as scallops with … Read more

A Day on the Islands Morning Arrive at Notre-Dame by 8am to beat the crowds and appreciate its magnificence, then head for the fragrant Marché aux Fleurs. As well as flowers, you can buy all kinds of garden accessories and seeds. Return to Notre-Dame if you want to ascend the towers, which open at 10am. … Read more

Paris was born on the Ile de la Cité. The first settlers came to this island on the Seine in 300 BC  and it has remained a focus of church and state power through the centuries, with the great cathedral of Notre-Dame and the law courts of the Palais de Justice commanding the island. This … Read more

Lambeth Palace The Archbishop of Canterbury’s official London residence is a famous riverside landmark. It dates from the 13th century, but it is the red-brick Tudor Gatehouse, dating from 1490, that gives the palace a distinctive appearance. Lambeth Palace Road SE1 Closed to the public Tudor gatehouse, Lambeth Palace Houses of Parliament Savoy Hotel London’s … Read more

Science Museum Natural History Museum Madame Tussaud’s One of London’s most popular attractions, this is where you can see everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Queen. A Spirit of London ride takes you on a whistle-stop tour of the city’s history. The famous Chamber of Horrors puts you face-to-face with London’s most infamous criminals and … Read more

A Day in Charlottenburg Morning Begin your tour of Charlottenburg at Breitscheidplatz and stroll down Kurfürstendamm in a westerly direction. Turn left into Fasanenstraße to visit the Käthe-Kollwitz-Museum and to see the Literaturhaus. You could stop for a mid-morning breakfast at Café Wintergarten in the Literaturhaus, before going back up Fasanenstraße in a northerly direction. … Read more

Sophisticated Charlottenburg is a haute bourgeoisie enclave and was the only district of Berlin that did not rub shoulders with the Wall. The historical streets off Ku’damm feature small cafés, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques, based in stout residential houses from the beginning of the 20th century. These streets and Charlottenburg’s proud town hall remind … Read more

Whatever you’re looking for in a tropical island family holiday, you’ll find it at Club Med Phuket. 1.    Sun and water Club Mcd Phuket lies right on the kilometer-long stretch that is the beautiful Kata Bay in the Andaman Sea. The balmy water of the bay is perfect — we floated on the gentle swells … Read more

A Day South of Tian’an Men Square Morning Start on Tian’an Men Square, at the southeast corner beside the stripey brick Old Qian Men Railway Station, built by the British in 1901, partly to bring military forces straight to the assistance of foreigners in the event of a repeat of the siege of the Boxers. … Read more

The Qian Men (front gate) at the southern end of Tian’an Men Square was once part of the inner city walls. These divided the imperial quarters of the Manchu emperors from the “Chinese city,” where the massed populace lived apart from their overlords. Walking south from the gate you are immediately plunged into a network … Read more

Named after the ring of elevated train tracks that encircle it, this is downtown Chicago’s core, and the city’s financial and governmental hub. Abuzz with laptop-toting business folk during the week, the Loop is transformed on weekends when a veritable shopping frenzy erupts along its famous State Street. Those thirsty for culture also come flocking … Read more

On Shrove Tuesday, ski carnival is celebrated in the Alps. The best known is held at Firstalm – there’s a prize for the best costume. Curling and a trial of strength called Fingerhakeln (finger wrestling) are traditional Bavarian sports. Schäfflertanz Every seven years, the Dance of the Coopers is performed to commemorate the end of … Read more

Sport & Wellness Allianz Arena The Allianz Arena in Fröttmaning, in the north of Munich, was built for the city’s two football clubs. Designed by architects Herzog and de Meuron, the transparent façade can be illuminated in white, red, or blue (the colours of the clubs). Holding 66,000 spectators, the stadium includes an enormous food … Read more

Downtown Shopping Spree Mid-morning Stop at Westlake Center and grab an espresso and pastry at the stand in the plaza before window-shopping Westlake’s indoor mall. Inside, Made in Washington offers a large and creative inventory of regionally produced merchandise. Walk across Pine Street to find Nordstrom’s spacious flagship store, stocked with top designer brands and … Read more