Spanish steps
Rome’s Spanish steps are an iconic image of the city. People have loitered on the stairs since the 16th century. Not everyone knows the reason behind the name. Why would it be the Spanish steps when it’s in Italy?
The truth behind the Sudetenland
Before living in Prague I thought I knew about the Sudetenland and how Hitler annexed it before World War II. There’s a lot I’ve learnt about the nuances of history in the region/s that carry this name. This article is my attempt at straightening out the facts from the commonly-held myths.
The Revolting Slaves of Malta
Malta is not known for its revolutions. Unlike other countries, the people preferred other ways of changing history. This article describes one unsuccessful plot to overthrow the Knights of Malta.
The Lasting effects of the Thirty Years’ War
I've written plenty of articles about the effects of the 30 Years' war on Prague and Czechia in general. I knew bits and pieces of the story so I decided to put all my research into a larger article to put things into context.
For people interested in World War II stories
There's a plaque on the wall in the castle in Ghent, Belgium, thanking the city for the symbolic establishment of the SAS. In Belgium. The SAS? Symbolic establishment? I started digging deeper to find out what this was all about.
How did the British take control of Malta?
I often discuss Maltese history with others and have written about unusual parts of it here. Often people claims that ‘the British illegally took control’ of the Maltese islands. This is not true, but few are aware of this part of our history.
Sychrov Chateau: A Czech-French Chateau
Picture the situation: It's the French revolution and you are a member of the French nobility. What's the best way of making sure your head doesn't end up on the chopping block too? Why, escape to another country and buy a château there of course!
The con man who sold the Eiffel Tower
One of the smoothest con men who ever lived managed to fool people into buying France’s Eiffel Tower from him. Twice. His name is Victor Lustig and he was Czech.
How to Drink Coffee Like a Local
You can study the tourist guide as much as you like, you can make sure to avoid looking at a map when you’re on holiday and you can even perfect your
Simple and Stylish European Travel – Eurostar
When based in Brussels, one of the joys of life was hopping onto the Eurostar and cruising to London. I often did it for work but I took advantage of it for pleasure