Podworld - Exploring interesting places

For the western tourist the Japan there are any number of stories of visitors being left high and dry due to the signage being in Japanese script. Let me put you at ease. Getting around Japan, especially on public transport is relatively easy. You just need a little preparation, an understanding of English and a touch of patience. Japan and especially Tokyo is a crowded country which can be overwhelming at first sight but spend a few days in the country and you gradually get use to it. My top tip for anyone planning to get around by rail is get a JR rail pass in your home country before you travel. I paid extra for a 'green' ticket - first class to you and me because the price was not significantly higher than the standard price. There is small caveat to this. To travel in a green car you must have a reservation and this you can get from the JR ticket desks at all the main stations in Japan and also at Narita and Haneda airports. These are also where you transfer the vou...

A cold misty March day It has become one of the most talked about television dramas and across Europe tourists flock to the locations where it has been filmed. Game of Thrones is a medieval fantasy conceived by George RR Martin about dynasties, wars and mythical beats. From Iceland to Croatia fans of the show travel to look for themselves what represents the Wall and Kings lLanding. The drama's producers have also filmed extensively in Spain and its about one of their locations I have a particular interest in. This is the castle of Peniscola, about a one hour 15 minute drive north of Valencia. My interest in the castle was stimulated initially not by Game of Thrones, but by a previous production filmed half a century earlier. The movie "El Cid" starring Sofia Loren and Charlton Heston was filmed extensively around the castle and, what was then, an undeveloped sea front. See the difference in the stone work The story goes that when Hollywood was scouti...

The Easter holiday week is the most important period in the Spanish Christian calendar. From the northern most villages to the Andalucian south, Easter week, or Semana Santa, is celebrated with a variety of parades and festivals. If you are in Spain during this period, you will find one close to you, probably based around a church or monastery. For this blog though we are going to focus on one of the biggest and most extravagant parades in the country. It takes place in the Murcian city of Lorca. The main street through the centre, Av. Juan Carlos I,  is lined with terraces of seats for the parade which takes place on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as the sun sets. It is advisable to book your seats in advance with the most expensive to the front and the cheapest towards the rear. The street is split into white and blue ( blanco y azul ) and where you sit depends upon where you purchase the ticket from (see links.) Prepare then of a parade which combines an historic re...

Andalucia offers the explorer many fine places to discover as this blog has previously explained. Away from the major cathedral cities of Malaga, Sevilla, Granada and Cordóba, what else lies within the province? Travel a little further and the port city of Cadiz comes into view. Look familiar? It doubled as Havana in Bond's Die Another Day  Cadiz is a remarkably easy city to explore. For the reasonably fit, it can all be done on foot. The city lies on a peninsular with the walker and cyclist well catered for and you stroll out with the sea on one side. The many fine buildings is a reminder if Spain's affluent past when the riches of the New World arrived first in the port before distribution to the other areas of Spain. On Sunday mornings, especially in spring and autumn, Cadiz is the playground for those seeking redemption through fitness.  Joggers, cyclists and power walkers use the city to get them in shape. It's easy because it is flat. A great place to ...

It's a bit tucked away and slightly ignored but Dundee has big plans for the future. No longer a stopping point between St Andrews and Aberdeen, Dundee is carving out a destination to be in its own right. On leaving the railway station (if that's your prefered method of transport  East Coast Trains ) you will be struck by the masts of a mighty vessel. This is Robert Scott's antarctic explorer, Discovery. For many years tourists could visit the ship when it was moored on the Thames in London. Why Dundee? Because she was built here and a visitor centre will guide you through its history(. Discover Visitor ) The next delight is Dundee's ambitious V&A project where the city beat off fierce competition to bring the Scottish version of the famous London museum to the Tay. Rather than is staid London surroundings, the  V&A Dundee  embraces modernity and opened in September 2018. Click on the link to find out more. One of the pleasures of Dundee is that i...