from around the world

    Victoria I was lucky enough to visit Victoria on a couple of different occasions in 2006, each time for just a day. It was never long enough to truly explore everything the city had to offer, but it was certainly enough to appreciate its charm. Victoria is one of those places that seems to make an immediate impression. Elegant, beautifully maintained and surrounded by water and mountains, it is an incredibly welcoming city, and even a single day there can leave a lasting memory. Nestled on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. It is a city where its colonial past sits comfortably alongside a vibrant modern culture and an extraordinary natural setting. There is an almost unmistakable British character to parts of the city, from its historic architecture and gardens to the graceful buildings surrounding the Inner Harbour. Victoria is often nicknamed the “City of Gardens,” a fitting description given its abundance of parks...

 The Panama Canal The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most remarkable engineering feats. Carved through the narrow Isthmus of Panama, the 82-kilometre artificial waterway connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, transforming global trade and travel by providing a shortcut between the two oceans and eliminating thousands of miles from many sea voyages. Yet the significance of the canal is about far more than the distance saved. At either end, an extraordinary system of locks raises and lowers ships, while beyond them lie the vast waters of Gatún Lake, narrow channels and dense, jungle-clad landscapes filled with wildlife. To travel through the canal is to experience an extraordinary combination of human engineering and tropical wilderness, a place where enormous ships are lifted and lowered through a series of locks while the jungle presses close to the waterway. Some ships make the full transit, which takes the ship across the entire canal, from the Atlantic to the Pacific or i...

  April 2026 It’s exactly 37 years since the very first time I set foot in Athens. Since then, I’ve visited Athens many times, but always for a very short time, a day or two at most, either on my way to or from Kos, where I lived for a few years, or while working on cruise ships. Athens was always somewhere I passed through, rather than somewhere I stayed. Over the years, there were so many brief encounters, a quick visit here and there, but never enough time to slow down and truly discover the city.  Until now! This year, we chose Athens for our city break. Sometimes, you have to come back to a place at the right time. As we reached Athens International Airport, we made our way to the Metro. It may seem a little tricky at first, but it’s actually quite easy to find. Here are a few simple steps: ✈️ Exit the arrivals hall and follow the signs for Trains/Metro . 🚶 Cross the pedestrian bridge outside the terminal. ⬇️ On the other side, take the escalator down to the Metr...