Train travel in Italy: how to start a conversation

Last week I took a train journey from Alessandria to Rome. The intercity 511 is now considered a slow train, since high speed trains can do the same journey in less than 3 hours.

Domodossola-Locarno by train with the Vigezzina

I love travelling by train especially when you have great landscape outside. The TV documentary below is about a journey between Italy and Switzerland with a train line called ‘Vigezzina’. It is only available in Italian but you can still grasp an…

Cruising the canals in Delft

A great way to experience the Netherlands is by water. I enjoyed a Friday evening still blessed with warm temperatures, and plenty of light to cruise by the pretty canals of the city of Delft. Getting close to its landmarks and through its many bridges on a canoe is something…

Fried yellow noodles with vegetables and seafood

There is magical place called Aow Leuk in the southern part of the island of Ko Tao in Thailand that really has something to offer.

A reasonably quiet beach (in July), transparent water perfect for snorkelling and…

Sacro GRA by Gianfranco Rosi

This film focuses on the lives of people living on the edge in every sense. Bizarre but real characters populate Pasolinesque scenes from the periphery of Rome, away from the glitter of La Grande Bellezza. Some are harsh, some are sweet, like the man living with his daughter…

Best reward for a long trip? Chang beer at the beach

One must taste the local beer. For me Chang beer is the best one, it kind of makes it difficult to try the other ones, which I will. So this definitely marks the beginning of the holiday, sitting on dark wood chairs meters away from the…

#NewMusicSunday: Black Sun by Death Cab for Cutie

There is whiskey in the water
And there is death upon the vine
And there is grace within forgiveness
But it’s so hard for me to find