On the Trail of the Phoenicians – Sidon
One of many things that makes the Middle East worthwhile is the sense that you’re walking in history, amid names and places that are embedded...
Category: Mishaps
Roadtripping Lebanon: It’s Grand Theft Auto!
“Mum!” yells Z from the rear seat, an unusual position for someone who has pursued shotgun since shortly after he started talking. “This is TOTALLY...
Petrified in Petra (1)
Back in the UK, for our first visit after over two years travelling, at a goodbye dinner that was, sadly, kind of a “hello dinner”...
I Think It’s Time to Leave Egypt
We were supposed to have left Egypt a while ago, but we have overstayed, and overstayed, and overstayed, because, frustrating and downright irritating as it...
What Country Am I In, Again?
Still damp from the hot springs we have been swimming in, we are barrelling through the back streets of Siwa, an oasis town in Egypt’s...
Looking For Prehistoric Rock Art On The Nile
Given we had a felucca for three nights and — well, I could have sworn four days, but them’s the breaks, mustn’t grumble and the...
And, This Is Why Cairo Does My Head In
Cairo is a city of many wonders, endless fascination and, frankly, more than its fair share of hassles. I have met some wonderful Cairenes, and...
In Which I Lose My Child. Again.
“Yeah,” I say to Z. “It’s too cold to walk a mile in this. Let’s catch the Metro…” After our chilly arrival, we are beginning...
Yes, Minus 22 Degrees Is Pretty Chilly, Thanks
One of many difficult questions I faced in balmy, lovely Indonesia was: “Is it cold in England?” Because, what do you say to folk who...
A Day At The Races
The late, lamented Soho lush and gambler, Jeffrey Bernard, tells the story of a man named Antonio, a barman in one of his locals: “His...