I stepped out onto the terrace of my suite at the Jordan Wine Estate. The birds chirped excitedly as the sun slowly disappeared behind…
Velvet Escape travel blog
Plane views: Himalayas and Mount Everest
“Would you be interested in going on a scenic flight tour to Mount Everest?”, the gentleman asked. I was in Kathmandu, Nepal, for a…
Safari at the Gondwana Game Reserve
The light was fading quickly but we were determined to find them. Our guide expertly manoeuvered the jeep around a tight bend and stopped….
The best of Puglia – the ultimate guide
Puglia (also known as Apulia) is a stunning region nestled in the southern ‘heel’ of Italy. With its ancient towns steeped in history, diverse…
Ten things to do in Dresden
Dresden (map) is a historic city in eastern Germany, situated approximately 200km south of Berlin. Renowned for its historic Baroque architecture, the city is…
Exploring the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast
I recently visited Belfast for several meetings and since it was my first ever visit to the capital of Northern Ireland, I was determined…
On the frozen canals of Amsterdam
It doesn’t happen very often – in the past decade, the Amsterdam canals have frozen only three times, in 2012, 2018 and 2021 –…
Memories of Bora Bora
It was ten years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday. When I sat down to plan my round-the-world trip in…
Street art in Germany
I’m a big fan of street art. Not the ugly, meaningless signature-like graffiti that can be found in many cities around the world, but…
