A good friend of mine once said “stereotypes are real and I love them”. At first I couldn’t help but laugh, because she said it with such passion and conviction, but the more I thought about it, the more I found the strangely profound truth behind this statement. As much as we try to dismiss prejudices as xenophobic poppycock, I can’t deny that some stereotypes have occasionally jumped out and smacked me in the face when I least expected.

Durham Cathedral is surely the greatest example of Romanesque architecture, certainly in England and probably the world. Begun in 1093 and completed in its essentials only 40 years later (later additions included the towers and cloisters) it is a remarkable survival of the years when Norman kings ruled England some 900 years ago.

Some residents and visitors will tell you the best thing about Bedworth is the ease of getting out. You might be forgiven for believing that. Admittedly, Bedworth isn’t known for its tourism or night life or, well, much at all. We do have good transport links with easy access to motorways. Regular buses and hourly trains run to our nearest town and city, with some buses going further afield. From the neighbouring town and city, commuters can travel on to Birmingham, England’s second city.

If I had to describe my city in three words, they would be: grim, ghost and film.

I wake up to the sound of Italians speaking at an unnecessary decibel, in my humble opinion. The chill in the air causes me to stay in bed longer and clutch my owl (gufo) blanket around my face. My blinds block out all outside light and I slide on my slippers to avoid the shock of my feet hitting the coldness of the floor as I clamber around for the window. Mentally, I start to prepare for the day’s adventure of searching for Christmas gifts at the open-air market in Piazza San Jacopo.

This picture says it all. A visible bit of beach trash, a peaceful and powerful existence, a calling and creation pointing the way. All the ingredients needed for a successful return to one's true nature. My Specialty, returning one to their true nature and brilliance.

This is one of my favorite little snapshots that I took from 2019, which was also one of my favorite places that I visited along my three-month travels throughout Europe with my boyfriend. I never thought that I would end up visiting Europe for another 20 years, yet alone visit 11 countries while I was there, including the Czech Republic!

Visitors to Berlin’s Charlottenburg Palace can not only enjoy the delights of its many rooms, now restored to their Baroque splendour after damage caused by a wartime air raid, but can also explore 55 hectares (136 acres) of gardens, lakes and other grounds at the rear of the Palace. These areas are free to visit and are an open space that is greatly valued by local residents.

Charlottenburg Palace is a remarkable ensemble of buildings and gardens that demonstrate the wealth and splendour of the Hohenzollern monarchy of Prussia during the 18th and 19th centuries. Situated in the northwest of Berlin, but within easy reach of the centre, it is well worth a whole day visit.

Quarry Bank Mill is a remarkable survivor from the Industrial Revolution, namely a virtually complete cotton mill that opened for business in 1784 and can be seen today – in many though not all respects – just as its original owners and workers would have seen it.