The acclaimed author shares his love of Tuscan holidays, his hometown of Edinburgh and football “I love travelling, and try to see as much of the world as I can. But in my younger years, it was all about trips to Ibiza with my mates. I love house music, and getting together with a bunch of friends and going nuts in […]

DIGESTIFS Experts we’re not, but we’ve still got an opinion 1 A BIT WHISKY Glayva What? A Scottish blend of whisky, herbs and honey, first created in the 1930s. Verdict: Reminiscent of Grand Marnier, Glayva was smooth, though some found its sweetness a bit cloying. Did you know? Glayva derives its name from the Gaelic phrase “glè mhaith”, meaning very good. 2 […]

European skyscrapers [ in no order whatsoever ] TORRE VARESINE 1 MILAN This skyscraper is the perfect spot from which to watch the Versace clan arrive in a fleet of black limos during fashion week. The sleek, 50-storey beauty is expected to top out at 175m when it is completed next year. TORRE CAJAMADRID Almost finished and mere centimetres taller than the city’s […]

Facts, figures and fun from the Ryanair world of travel Rites of Passage Random customs, rituals, festivals and superstitions GIOSTRA DEL SARACINO AREZZO, TUSCANY, ITALY It’s a jousting tournament and it’s pretty insane – every year on the first Sunday in September (that’s the 7th this year), Arezzo’s main square goes all medieval. Every local boy (and sometimes girl) worth his/her salt takes part […]

With prices holding fi rm, could Sweden prove to be a safe haven for property investors? By Shane Mcginley Sweden is somewhat of an anomaly in the property world. It’s the third-largest country in Europe, yet is only home to 9 million people. While this gives it an average population density of 20 people per km², nearly 85% of Swedes are crammed into the urban […]

It’s a city of many faces and names, relecting a love of food, learning and even basketball. Nick Haslam spends some time there to found out why it’s the perfect way to spend my last morning in “La Grassa”, or the “Fat One”, as Bologna – famous throughout Italy for its rich culinary traditions – is affectionately known to most Italians. In the […]

Summer on the party island of Ibiza isn’t just about the music, DJs and parties. Charlie Dawson flies to Ryanair’s newest destination to meet the ‘Needle King’ Imagine being condemned to wear your 1984 experimental mullet for the rest of your life. Picture yourself in skinny jeans when you’re 60. A tattoo is for life, not just your holiday, so it’s […]

With numerous phobias and usually about as active as a slug, Lin Fou conquers some fears and gets physical in the south of France I hate heights. Yet here I am, 30ft above the ground in a tree, standing on a narrow platform barely large enough to accommodate a grown man. The image of Johnny Weissmuller’s 1930s Tarzan, […]

When it comes to Florentine motoring, small IS beautiful. Alex Jackson hits the road in a classic Fiat 500 to see the city from a local’s perspective. Photography by Tim White T ourists in Florence are like the waters of the Arno river in full flood – they swamp every road, square and alleyway, as they slosh about dazed and dazzled by the […]