HERE AND THERE

It's been 43 years* since we last visited Rome. We're back for another visit – together with a gazillion other tourists. Talk about overtourism. (Yes, I realise we are part of the problem.) While the stunning sights are still stunning, everywhere we go we have to fight our way through crowds. Other problems are construction and renovation projects with large hoardings in front of famous buildings, detours through narrow uninteresting roads, and massive traffic jams. Apart fro

Our carefully planned trip to Rome had included a few days in Dubai, to visit our Dubai family. But this itinerary was derailed by the deranged Trump war in the Middle East. So we're travelling (the longer and more expensive way) via Singapore and Frankfurt instead – the route less likely to be interrupted by missiles. Flying across peaceful Afghanistan and Georgia ... ! Our flight to Frankfurt was with Lufthansa, whose primary hub is Frankfurt Airport. Frankfurt Airport is t

We've been to Lord Howe Island before, in 2024.* We liked it so much that we have returned: not only to the island, but to the same accommodation, Pinetrees Lodge . They did a great job last time so they deserved a return visit. Lord Howe Island is about 800 km northeast of Sydney across the ocean, and is part of New South Wales. No passports needed. Has anything changed in the last two years? Not much, as far as we could see. Lord Howe Island has a permanent population of 40

Join us for a walk through Varanasi at 6 o'clock in the morning. Why are we up so early? We're heading to the river, along with all these people, before sunrise. At the start of the day, people bathe in the river and/or pay their respects to the gods. It's hard to imagine this city shutting down, ever. Varanasi is India's most ancient city, and one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities. Its ancient name was Kashi; the Mughals and the British called it Benares. Th