Accommodation Review – Ermitage Bouquet, Rouen, France

The last place I visited in France before heading off to Japan was the small city/town of Rouen in Normandy. It's quite a nice little place, with a few things to see none of which take an awful amount of time. It had its old town which is genuinely very attractive and lovely to walk …

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Sunday Spotlight – Hoi An, Vietnam

Yes! Sunday Spotlight is back! And today a trip for me down memory lane (has it really been that long?) to 2011 and my visit to Vietnam. Sort of halfway up the coast is the little town of Hoi An, with a charming old town, welcoming tourists happily and with welcoming arms. It’s a great …

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On the Shinkansen

It seems odd that I’ve never done a post specifically on the Shinkansen before. One reason is that I didn’t have ANY pictures despite having used the Shinkansen many times since first visiting Japan in 2011. So today’s Train Journeys is going to look at this Japanese marvel of modern technology getting you from A …

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Train Journeys – Ekanterinburg to Moscow (Final Leg Trans-Mongolian)

My final journey which completed my trip from Beijing to Moscow began early morning in Ekanterinburg. Luckily my hotel was just opposite the train station, and I was there around 7am in the morning, an hour before the train left. In all cases I was advised to get to the station an hour before the …

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Accommodation Review – Marins Park Hotel Ekanterinburg, Russia

After a couple of hostels and a yurt, I found myself in the rather wonderful business hotel 'Marins Park Hotel' in Ekanterinburg. Okay, it wasn't the most amazing stay I've ever had, but it ticked all the main boxes and I left feeling pretty satisfied with my stay and choice. I had a basic double …

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