"Are you up for a travel challenge? Here it is: could you travel anywhere in the world, taking only cabin luggage with you? It may sound impossible, but it isn’t. For years, I’ve been honing my approach to packing light, to the point where I only ever take a single bag. The upside? I zip through airports, often bypassing the check-in desks entirely if the airline offers mobile check-in. When I leave the flight at the end of the trip, I can walk straight out of the airport..."

"Most travellers arrive in London looking for history, but it’s also there on your way out. I’m sipping great coffee within the cavernous interior of Caravan, a sleek modern cafe on Granary Square at Kings Cross. The huge brick building it’s located in was once a storehouse for grain brought in by rail and barge. With that transport history, it seems the right place from which to set off on a grand rail journey to the Continent..."

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"Immersed in the brown foamy liquid, I can smell the faint aroma of what seems like wheat beer. Or a light pilsner. Included in the entry fee are two large steins of the real stuff from the brewery above, a cold full-strength brew which I sip while soaking in the tub. There’s beer inside and beer outside, and I’m feeling fairly mellow in the warm oily bath. The Czech geniuses who designed this spa have definitely figured out how to make 'wellness' seem appealing to blokes..."

"Plunging into a well-groomed residential quarter, we pass the beautiful St Catherine's Church and admire the flash apartment building bought into by Salander after she fleeced a dodgy businessman of his billions. Descending hillside steps to the square in front of Slussen Metro station, I feel the memorable scenes of the Millennium novels have been vividly filled out in my mind by the colours, sounds and smells of Södermalm's real-life streets..."

"In less time than it takes to say, 'I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do', I find myself signed up for the tour and standing under the lone oak tree in the courtyard of the Stockholm City Hall, alongside other ABBA fans. We're in the hands of guide Eva Palmqvist, who smiles and flips up a photo of the pop-tastic quartet at their youthful height, arms splayed and dressed in denim, with the dour brick bulk of the City Hall in the background..."

Joining the ABBA City Walk through the centre of Stockholm, Sweden.
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"A question occurs: when Swedes visit the biggest IKEA store in the world, do they order the famous 'Swedish meatballs'? Or is the dish simply 'meatballs'? I'm travelling through the drab south-west suburbs of Stockholm on a commuter train, looking for answers to the hard questions. I might not be Mikael Blomkvist, the Millennium series' detective hero who unravels mysteries involving psychopaths and dirty money, but I've read the first book, walked by his fictional address and visited his local cafe..."

"I'm sitting in a cafe named after an American city. It's decorated in a florid, over-the-top baroque style, all gilt-edged mirrors and extravagant chandeliers. And I'm in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This place is a mystery. A delightful, impressively appointed mystery, but a mystery nonetheless..."

"Pécs is a city with a history of conquest. In the 16th century the city was snatched from the Kingdom of Hungary by the invading Turkish Empire. They built a mosque in the middle of the square, which was duly transformed into a church after the Turks were ousted. Nowadays the Mosque Church is a museum, but it’s also a symbol of the waves of cultures which have washed through this town."

Exploring the attractions of sunny Pécs, in southwestern Hungary.

"I’m soaking in hot water in the grand Gellért Baths, and wondering whether my skimpy kötény was really a better choice of clothing than the swimwear worn by most of my fellow patrons. But when in Budapest, do as the Hungarians do, I reason... and this humble hired cotton apron is the traditional costume in single-sex sections of the country’s numerous thermal baths."

"It's not fun down here in the dungeon, and the screaming makes it worse. Not that anyone’s being tortured, thankfully. Instead, a shrieking group of schoolkids has joined our tour of Eger Castle, the enormous medieval fortress at the heart of Eger, a small Hungarian city in wine-growing country east of Budapest. The enthusiastic kids seem immune to the claustrophobia I experience as we head ever deeper..."

Enjoying the wine and history of the town of Eger, Hungary.
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"I’m standing in the light rain, holding an umbrella above the head of an artist as he paints a silhouette on the back of a painting for my wife. What’s the subject? Well, it’s a depiction of me holding an umbrella over him, with my wife Narrelle  standing nearby. Confused? So am I. But then I look up to see the beautiful lake before us, punctuated by an island topped with a small elegant church - itself dwarfed by a mighty castle on the sheer cliff above it - and everything seems just fine."

"There's a whole other Europe over there, with the same things that Western Europe is famous for - art treasures, fascinating castles, great food and wine, and character-packed villages. And there are two big bonuses in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Firstly, they're cheaper to travel in than the West. And secondly, they're dotted with weird and fascinating remnants left over from the 'reds under the beds' era."

"It's not every hostel room that features a demolition hole as a window. But then Hostel Celica is not the average backpacker's bolthole. 'The bed is shaped like a boat and one corner of the room is open from when they tried to demolish the building,' says Tomaž Juvan, director of Ljubljana's most cutting-edge hostel. 'The building started as an Austro-Hungarian military prison. In the end it was a political prison; our ex-prime minister was once held here.'"

"I’m standing two metres from the terrifying figure of a vampire looming over a defenceless white-clad maiden, blood dripping from its fangs... when the lights go out. It’s not just the vampire I have to worry about in the sudden inky blackness. Behind me is the infamous Countess Bathory in a bath dripping with virgins’ blood, and further on there’s a gent with a guillotine."

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"To say that the tourist trail through Western Europe is well-travelled is an understatement. In fact it’s so well-travelled it’s not a mere trail, but a six lane highway with frequent rest stops and peak hour traffic jams. So what can you do if you want the quintessential European experience without the expense or the mob scene? Easy – head east."

"As I walk around the grounds I begin to realise that the statues have an another, unexpected aspect. In a nutshell, they’re funny. Though designed to inspire fear, they also inspire humour. In fact, with their absurdly oversized limbs, stiff expressions and ungainly depictions of movement, the figures are nothing less than a po-faced set of posers who are begging to have the piss taken out of them."

"There’s a dumpling on my plate the size of a miniature football. In fact, it’s the shape of a football - which is why it’s called a cepelinas (zeppelin), after the famous airships. The pale, doughy exterior is made of potato, and it’s wrapped around a meat filling. On top is a sauce involving sour cream and pork crackling. It may not be the lightest meal I’ve ever ordered, but it would clearly be an unforgivable international snub not to try it."

Exploring the beautiful streets within the capital of Lithuania.

"It's the beauty of Budapest - both natural and constructed - that makes it stand apart. Straddling a gentle curve in the Danube, the city is flanked by the Buda Hills on the west bank and the beginnings of the Great Plain to the east. Architecturally it is a gem, with enough baroque, neoclassical, eclectic and art nouveau elements to satisfy anyone."

A full-colour guide to this Central European nation, with details of including attractions, accommodation, dining, nightlife, history and culture.

This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Not available for republication.

"Then a miracle happens. The dense cloud starts to dissipate under the sunlight's morning warmth, splitting apart to reveal a stark rocky peak way above us. Set within it is the cable car station, an improbable construction wedged into the rock, like the lair of a James Bond villain. As we reach it, I suddenly remember that there's nothing beneath our feet for a very long way, and then we gently ease into place, 2634m above sea level."

Ascending the mighty High Tatra mountains in Slovakia.
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Images available.

"A mention of the Cold War will more likely prompt thoughts of Californian indie band Cold War Kids than the dark days of the Berlin Wall. However, all is not lost. The Wall fell 20 years ago, but Central and Eastern Europe are littered with remnants from the strange, increasingly distant era of the Iron Curtain. That’s the beauty of this part of Europe..."

Detailing ten memorable communist-era relics in Central and Eastern Europe.

"Not that urban pleasures are neglected. Cosmopolitan Budapest is packed with world-class operas, monumental historical buildings, and the mighty Danube River flowing through its centre. Having established itself as a state in the year 1000, Hungary has a long history, a rich culture and strong folk traditions that are well worth exploring."

A guide to this Central European nation aimed at the budget traveller, including attractions, accommodation, dining, nightlife, history and culture.

This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Not available for republication.

"Where else but Hungary can you laze about in an open-air thermal spa in midwinter, while snow patches glisten around you? Following that, it's de rigueur to head to a local bar where a Romani band yelps while a crazed crowd whacks its boot heels, as commanded by Hungarian tradition. Or to go clubbing in an ancient bathhouse, where all dance waist-deep in the healing waters."

Outlines the cultural and natural attractions of this nation, along with details of accommodation, entertainment and dining options.

This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Not available for republication.

"It's the beauty of Budapest - both natural and manmade - that makes it stand apart. Straddling a gentle curve in the Danube, the city is flanked by the Buda Hills on the west bank and the beginnings of the Great Plain to the east. Architecturally it is a gem, with enough baroque, neoclassical, Eclectic and Art Nouveau elements to satisfy anyone."

A comprehensive guide to this Central European nation, covering attractions, accommodation, dining, nightlife, history and culture.

This book can be purchased online from Amazon.com.

Not available for republication.

"Given this tumultuous history, it comes as a surprise to discover how well the city's historic centre has survived the passing of empires. Its narrow, winding cobblestone streets, tiled roofs and baroque churches are a stereotype of visitors' expectations of a small European city.Vilnius is a shining example of what Michael Palin has called 'New Europe'."

How to get the most out of a day in the capital of Lithuania.
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"There's an odd mood of exhilaration in the air; I think, like me, everyone is thinking how improbable this all is, that human beings shouldn't be this high up from the earth, and certainly not sipping alcoholic beverages while doing so. We’re all braced by the strange mix of material comforts and an underlying sense of danger. I want at the same time to shout out 'Aren't we clever?' and 'Aren't we crazy?'"

Scaling the peaks and spas of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia.
Available for republication (print and Web).
Images available.

"The Republic of Uzupis has an honorary president, no standing armed forces, and a commitment only to art. When you learn its national day is April 1, you can appreciate why the Lithuanian government casts an indulgently amused eye over Uzupis, seeing its 'independence' as a great tourist attraction."

Exploring the eccentric Užupis district of Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Images available.

"You couldn’t say the same for the Criminal Museum of Vienna. This museum incorporates the former Imperial Viennese Police Museum, and exhibits the history of crime and justice in the grand city. There are weapons and uniforms, with a grisly emphasis on notorious criminal figures of the past."

Ranges through the world's oddest museums, exhibiting everything from sulphur to Spam.
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I also have a selection of high-quality digital images available, depicting a variety of international locations. 

If you'd like to republish one of these pieces, or would like a new piece written about the same location, please get in touch via the contacts below:

articles by subject:
Travel
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postal:
Tim Richards
507/225 Elizabeth St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia

email:
tim@iwriter.com.au

phone:
0411-242327
(international +61-411-242327)

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