Going Local Travel

You may have seen a wonderful inspiration series of articles in the Guardian by Mark Boyle – a man who has spent a year living without cash. This doesn’t mean he’s just put it all on his credit cards like other recession-struck folk. Mark has given up money in all its forms. He lives through [...]

What do murder rates tell us about a country? So asked the Guardian yesterday in a blog listing global homicide figures. I’d like to turn that round and ask: what does a murder rate tell us about tourist safety?

I don’t have an iPhone, or any sort of wifi-enabled mobile phone. It’s not any sort of active protest (more the fact that it’s not really a priority for me and if I had one I’d probably leave it on a bus anyway). However, I admit I quite like that I draw a line at only web-surfing when I’m at home. When I’m out and about, I’m happy to be net-free.

There was an interesting (and, as ever, entertaining) article by David Mitchell in yesterday’s Observer. He tackles something I’ve also been thinking about recently: the British obsession with holidays. Going abroad is not a luxury for us; it’s a need; it’s our right. As Mitchell says: To deny us them is like a Roman emperor [...]