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Albania

This wasn't my best trip by a long shot. We started off heading South East from Tirana towards Lake Ohrid and the days were long without much to see. It wasn't until we arrived in the south - from Gjirokaster onwards that things started to pick up. Albania is desperately trying to shake off its history of communism and dictatorship, but I think, at least outside of Tirana, it still needs sometime to recover. The Albanian Alps in the North are meant to be stunning but unfortunately we didn't have time to…

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October 2024

Travel Photos

Prague Revisited

This was my second time in Prague in what is now Czechia. I was last there in 2008 and the difference was stark. Despite both times being over the summer, this one early summer, last time late summer, visitor numbers seemed far higher this time. The main old square (containing the famous Astronomical Clock) and the ever popular Charles Bridge were heaving with tourists. If you were in the square on the hour when the clock chimed and the apostles appeared, good luck, the crowds were so dense you wouldn't be moving…

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June 2024

Travel Photos

Algeria

Algeria, a North African gem bordering the vast Sahara Desert and sparkling Mediterranean Sea, boasts a rich history waiting to be explored. From ancient Berber kingdoms and Roman influence to the vibrant era of Islamic dynasties, Algeria's past is etched in its architecture, traditions, and breath-taking landscapes. In May 2024 I visited, exploring the coastal cities or Algiers and Oran, visiting magnificent Roman ruins near the "City of Bridges" Constantine, and spending some in the oasis towns deep in the Sahara desert. On this trip I also took a new gadget -…

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May 2024

Travel Photos

Northern Pakistan

In 2023 I travelled to Pakistan. The day before I was due to leave I was a little nervous as the ex-PM had just been arrested there and all sorts of violent protests were kicking off and the police had blocked many roads, including in Islamabad where I was flying in to. However things had died down a little by the time I arrived although the 40 minute drive from the airport to the hotel took more than 2 hours due to roads still being blocked! We primarily explored Northern Pakistan, initially…

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June 2023

The view over the old part of Khiva from the watch tower on the city walls.

Travel Photos

Uzbekistan

Part of the ancient silk road between China and Europe. The ‘stans are somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for a while and there’s still a few others to explore. Many Persian cities took advantage of the commerce between East and West as the Silk Road developed and in Uzbekistan Bukhara and Samarkand eventually became extremely wealthy cities. In 327 BC Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great conquered the region, followed by 7th century conquests by the Araba who brought Islam to Uzbekistan. In the 13th century Genghis Kahn invaded and the region changed with culture…

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April 2022

View out over the ironstone covered hills in the desert

Travel Photos

Sudan

Sudan, a country with more pyramids than Egypt but which few people travel to. The country is full of amazingly well-preserved sandstone temples, tombs engraved with images of the pharaohs and pyramids, including the stunning Royal Necropolis of Meroe. At times this trip felt like you were a Victorian era explorer, cresting a dune to find a temple complex in-front of you and feeling like you were the first to discover it!

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December 2018