Anafiotika: a Greek Island in the foothills of the Acropolis

Hi Frugalistas!  When I visited Athens recently I was disappointed that I didn’t have time to fit in a visit to the Greek Islands.  I’d sailed in the Cycladic Islands many years ago and had fond memories of those glorious blue and white houses festooned with bright bougainvillea and geraniums.  Then upon studying my guidebook […]

The Athens fruit and vegetable market

Hi Frugalistas!  A more “gentle” Friday fotos this week as we visit the Athens central fruit and vegetable market.  Like many European cities fruit and vegetable stalls and small markets are dotted around the city in Athens.  As part of our Culinary Backstreets walk we visited the slightly larger produce market directly across the street […]

The Athens meat and fish market

Hi Frugalistas! Armed with my new camera, and some wonderful photos from Athens I’m bringing Friday fotos back for a new series.  First up, the Athens meat and fish market.  A word of warning though – the meat market is very, well, meaty.  A far cry from shopping in your local supermarket.  So if you don’t like meat […]

My 5 favorite buildings in Europe

Hi Frugalistas!  One of the things I love most about Europe is its architecture.  Coming from a relatively young country, with homogeneous building styles, I love the regional and historical variation found in European architectural styles.  I love the sheer age of the buildings.  Early nineteenth century?  That’s a “new” building!  Choosing my favourite buildings has […]

Real life one bag travel: choosing a camera for one bag travel

Hi Frugalistas!  Regular readers will know that I recently upgraded my camera. Choosing a new one left me with a dilemma – how do I buy a camera with the functionality I was craving, without foregoing one bag travel? I knew it was a difficult balancing act. Numerous readers had posted on my packing posts […]

Why I need to revisit every place I’ve ever visited before

Hi Frugalistas! Regular readers will know that I don’t consider myself much of a photographer.  Up till now I’ve travelled with a tiny little Canon IXUS point and shoot camera.  When I started out it was enough for me – I wasn’t a great photographer, but by taking loads of shots I managed to find […]

Walking the Cinque Terre

Hi Frugalistas!  I’ve written at some length about the Cinque Terre.  It’s one of my favourite parts of Italy.  Based on your feedback and the enduring popularity of my posts, it seems you do too.  The Cinque Terre is world renowned for its hiking.  Despite a number of the trails still being closed since storms […]

Canary Wharf: a different view of London

Hi Frugalistas!  Think of London….eyes shut tight….what is in your mind?  Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Harrods?  Pomp and ceremony, double decker buses, and who can forget those glorious afternoon teas?  When I last travelled to London it was for work that was in the Docklands area of East London, so I needed to look further […]

Paris in the spring

Hi Frugalistas!  You know I love Paris.  I regard it as my spiritual home in fact. Spring is probably my favourite time to visit Paris.  Sunny days, not too warm, not too crowded, the gardens in bloom.  What’s not to love?  Here are some of my favourite things in Paris in the spring…

The Istanbul tulip festival

Hi Frugalistas!  I noticed it as soon as my bus left Istanbul airport – tulips.  Lots of tulips.  Every April Istanbul welcomes spring with a tulip festival.  Tulips are a traditional flower in Turkey and feature heavily in Islamic art.  The whole city goes made with tulips in every colour and every design.  From humble […]