I recently informed Mabel that we are going to Arran, Scotland for our holiday this summer. I described the mountains, the heather, and the beaches, and I asked her whether she would understand the accents of Scottish dog barks. She looked at me with those chocolate brown, cautious eyes, head slightly tilted, with an expression that […]
Read More How our rescue dog became our travel influencer
While other countries are rolling out the red carpet for international visitors there are suggestions that the US is putting up the ‘closed’ sign. As recent visitors to New York, this was not our experience. Quite the contrary, service was exceptional and consistent, with warm and friendly hosts at attractions, tours, restaurants, and sporting events.
Read More Postcard from New York: The warm, friendly, iconic NYC is open for business
I’ve been visiting Malta on field trips and holidays for many years. It’s like a second home. I take a little pride in knowing a few special places — you know, those “places tourists never visit” — and introducing students to them. The Maltese are proud of their islands, and tourism is a staple industry that has grown rapidly. Malta […]
Read More The good oil: Merill’s Maltese paradise
Over 12 months, I explored Benidorm with an open mind, aware that it hosts more Spanish than English visitors. I was curious about what remained of the ‘Pan-European Holiday Utopia’ envisioned at its inception. Benidorm’s reputation often precedes it, symbolising (and drawing criticism for) mass tourism. Yet, nestled between the Puig Campana mountain and the […]
Read More Postcard from Benidorm: ‘It takes all sorts, and that’s okay’
Thailand is kind of a second home for me. I have been visiting the country for more than 40 years. Although Thailand receives so many tourists every year, I realise that most visitors have no clue about the etiquette and way of life of the Thai. This is a shame because they miss the essence of Thai […]
Read More Postcard from Thailand: ‘Thai people are the kindest in the world’
Tourist websites list no shortage of “things to see and do” in Japan that are no doubt all worth it. But after visiting Japan — most often Tokyo — annually over the last 20 years, I have made a personal list of recommendations — places to go in Greater Tokyo — that don’t always appear on these websites.
Read More American cultural geographer picks three favourite places to go in Greater Tokyo
