After a leisurely breakfast at the aptly-named Splendid Hotel, we stroll into the village of Baveno. The neon display on the pharmacy informs us that it is already 33C, so we take it slowly. The first point of call is a store to buy a hat because Tom left his at home. No matter, because he did get himself a jaunty hat, which will keep the sun at bay. We wander through the narrow passageways, where there are plenty of nooks and crannies that deserve further exploration. But we

13 July 2026 My birthday! And what a wonderful place to celebrate! It had been very disconcerting last week when bombing between Iran and the United States resumed in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. We had been booked to travel on Qatar Airways with a stop in Doha, so the last few days before flying were a little stressful as I wondered whether our flights would be changed at the last minute. Despite the conflict, our flights are uneventful and arri

I have only ever visited Italy in the winter, so this trip will show me a completely different view of this wonderful country. It is almost 49 years since my first trip to Italy with my family in December 1977. We covered a lot of distance by car; two adults and four kids squished on the back seat. That trip was probably the inspiration for National Lampoons European Adventure. My second trip was almost 10 years ago, in December 2016. Tom and I took a Trafalgar tour through I

8 August 2025 And so, pulling our suitcases after us because we have an early morning transfer to Gatwick airport, we barely give the...