Puglia (also known as Apulia) is a stunning region nestled in the southern ‘heel’ of Italy. With its ancient towns steeped in history, diverse…
Velvet Escape travel blog
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…
Ten things to do in Gdansk
Gdańsk (map) is a port city in northern Poland on the Baltic coast. The city’s rich and often tumultuous history, influenced by centuries of…
Matera – an extraordinary step back in time
I walked up the cobble-stoned road towards the Cathedral square. Ahead of me, I could see the towering Cathedral, cloaked in the warm, pinkish…
A luxury weekend in Amsterdam
If you’ve been reading my blog or following me on social media, you probably know that I live in Amsterdam and that I absolutely…
