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Send us Fan Mail Is Paris worth the hype? From the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre to café culture and a night at the Moulin Rouge, Malcolm and David revisit the French capital with humour, hazy memories and rather different levels of enthusiasm. This week on Unravel Travel, we look back on Paris city breaks, an Interrail adventure and business trips that involved rather more eating than sightseeing. David needs convincing about the city’s charms. Can Malcolm’s memories of art, riverside walks and Parisian cabaret change his mind? Our first visit involved an overnight train from Nice, climbing the Eiffel Tower, visiting Jim Morrison’s grave and a dangerously literal approach to crossing the road at the Arc de Triomphe. There was an underpass. We discovered it eventually. Malcolm then recalls a three-day trip to Paris with Petra just before Christmas, travelling by Eurostar and exploring much of the city on foot. From the Champs-Élysées to the banks of the Seine, we discuss the pleasure of simply wandering, the crowds around the Mona Lisa and why the Louvre deserves more than a quick dash between its most famous exhibits. There’s also Impressionist art at the Musée d’Orsay, memories of Notre-Dame before the fire, and an evening of dinner and cabaret at the Moulin Rouge. Add snails, oysters, champagne and time spent watching the world go by in cafés, and Paris starts to make a stronger case for itself. Along the way, we talk about: • Visiting the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. • The Louvre, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and exploring beyond the busiest galleries. • Musée d’Orsay and its Impressionist paintings. • The Moulin Rouge cabaret experience in Paris. • Café culture, French food and our questionable schoolboy French. • Travelling from London to Paris by Eurostar. • The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye as a trip beyond central Paris. We finish with a taste of travel elsewhere in France: camping near Bordeaux, the Mediterranean coast around Perpignan, walking in the Dordogne, prehistoric cave paintings and the medieval citadel of Carcassonne. One spectacular thunderstorm leads to a rather undignified return to a campsite… Whether you’re planning a Paris short break or remembering your own French adventures, join us for personal travel stories, friendly disagreement and plenty of laughs. Does Paris live up to its reputation for you? Share this episode with your travel companion, and follow Unravel Travel for more trips, stories and conversations with Malcolm and David.  One small recording correction: at around 16:10, the Musée d’Orsay building is discussed—it was originally a railway station, opened in 1900.  Hey, you can't be right all the time... If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Planning a York city break or a holiday in Yorkshire? Malcolm and David explore things to do in York, walking in the North York Moors and places to visit along the Yorkshire coast — with personal travel stories, childhood memories and plenty of humour. David reports back from a weekend in York, while Yorkshire-born Malcolm explains why his home county deserves its “God’s Own Country” reputation. Expect medieval streets, Viking history, ghost stories, dramatic coastline and the occasional disagreement about just how wonderful Yorkshire really is. In this episode: • YORK CITY BREAK IDEAS — Exploring York on foot, admiring York Minster and choosing a favourite stretch of the city walls for views across the historic centre. Plus the confusing business of gates, bars and streets. • FREE THINGS TO DO IN YORK — Wandering the Shambles, relaxing around the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey and discovering artists and makers at the York River Art Market beside the River Ouse. • VIKINGS, GHOSTS AND RAILWAYS — Visits and memories from the JORVIK Viking Centre, Treasurer’s House and the National Railway Museum, alongside an evening walk through York’s darker history. • FOOD AND WINE — David’s experience at 22 Yards wine bar and memories of dining at Melton’s, with time to enjoy York beyond its headline attractions. • NORTH YORK MOORS WALKING — Moorland scenery, railway connections and memories of a pre-Christmas trip together. We discuss combining walking with visits to places such as Pickering, Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay. • THE YORKSHIRE COAST — Whitby’s Dracula connections and ruined abbey, Scarborough, Bridlington and Flamborough Head. There are mentions of Bempton’s puffins, coastal coves, sea fog and the distinctive sound of a foghorn. • HULL AND THE HUMBER — Art, poetry and memories of Hull’s City of Culture celebrations, The Deep, the Humber Bridge and crossing the estuary by ferry before the bridge opened. • MORE YORKSHIRE DAYS OUT — Malcolm’s enthusiasm for Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield, plus memories of Mother Shipton’s petrifying well, Fountains Abbey and Aysgarth Falls in the Yorkshire Dales. Whether you’re planning a weekend in York, looking for Yorkshire holiday ideas or simply enjoy a funny travel conversation between old friends, join us for a personal tour of this much-loved corner of northern England. Useful visitor note: general admission to York’s National Railway Museum is free. See the museum website for visit information and tickets: https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/ Follow Unravel Travel for more travel stories, destination ideas and good-humoured debate with Malcolm and David. Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating or review, share it with a fellow traveller and tell us which Yorkshire favourite we missed. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Which Thai island should you visit—and is James Bond Island really worth the journey? Malcolm and David return to Thailand to share memories from Koh Tao, Koh Chang, Koh Lanta, Phuket and the spectacular limestone scenery around Krabi and Phang Nga Bay. David recalls a stormy journey to Koh Tao, learning to scuba dive in three and a half days, spending Christmas walking through the jungle and discovering an ocean-view bungalow that cost almost nothing. There are also tranquil mornings on Koh Chang, decidedly less tranquil scooter adventures and thoughts about returning to Koh Lanta for its beaches and diving. Away from the islands, we kayak through Krabi’s mangroves, encounter a barracuda and some persistent macaques, then venture into Khao Sok National Park. Floating cabins, hornbills, a bat nursery, a deadly snake and a swim through a dark jungle cave make this rather more than an ordinary beach holiday. Malcolm takes us back to Phuket in the 1990s and a longtail-boat journey through Phang Nga Bay, stopping at a floating fishing village before reaching James Bond Island—the setting for Scaramanga’s hideaway in The Man with the Golden Gun. The famous location may be crowded, but the extraordinary journey through the limestone islands proves to be the real attraction. Expect honest travel memories, practical observations, spectacular scenery and the usual Unravel Travel humour. Follow Unravel Travel for more entertaining stories and ideas from around the world—and please share the episode with anyone planning a trip to Thailand. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Havana is a city of glorious contradictions: elegant Spanish colonial squares and grand hotels, crumbling balconies and improvised daily life, vintage American cars kept running with replacement engines—and music, rum and conversation around every corner. In this episode of Unravel Travel, Malcolm takes David back to his 2016 visit to Havana, Cuba. From the bureaucratic chaos of the airport and the challenge of finding a hidden Cuban homestay to touring the capital in a classic 1950s American car, Malcolm recalls a city that looked remarkably like the Havana seen in films—and unlike anywhere else he had visited. Along the way, Malcolm and David discuss: Drinking a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio and a daiquiri at El Floridita, following in the footsteps of Ernest HemingwayThe colonial plazas and restored streets of Old HavanaCrumbling apartment buildings, precarious balconies, chickens and bread delivered by basketDriving along the Malecón and through MiramarThe faded glamour of the Hotel Nacional de CubaHavana’s classic American cars and how Cubans keep them runningLobster, black beans, plantains, sugar-cane juice and the unexpected appearance of sponge cake at breakfastCuban rum, cigars and sunset beside Havana harbourThe Museum of the Revolution, Cuban art and a gallery roof leak that might almost have been an exhibitPlaza de la Revolución—and the unfortunate timing that meant missing the Rolling Stones in HavanaReading Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana and Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the SeaDavid asks the questions while Malcolm explains why Havana’s crumbling magnificence, street life and sense of living history made such a lasting impression. There is also the usual diversion into alcohol, communism, fishing and whether Hemingway’s reputation as an expert drinker makes him a reliable judge of cocktails. This episode is based on Malcolm’s personal experience of visiting Havana in March 2016. Conditions, currencies and entry requirements may have changed, so check current official travel advice before planning a trip. And this is only Havana. A future episode will follow Malcolm and Petra beyond the capital and into rural Cuba, with mountain scenery, coastal villages, snorkelling and diving. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail How did we travel before smartphones, Google Maps, WhatsApp and instant online booking—and was it actually better? In this nostalgic and frequently funny episode of Unravel Travel, Malcolm and David climb aboard a metaphorical TARDIS and return to the days when independent travel involved physical travel agents, paper maps, enormous guidebooks, travellers’ cheques and a considerable amount of guesswork. The memories include a travel agent nearly booking the wrong Palma—or Parma—an overnight Italian train journey spent on the floor of the baggage carriage beside a dog, and the questionable wisdom of tearing unwanted countries out of a guidebook to save weight. David recalls arriving in Burma, now Myanmar, for a month-long trip with unusable travellers’ cheques and only $100 in cash. With Western email services blocked, even telling the family they were safe required the help of an internet café owner, a borrowed email account and a message written in Dutch to prove they had not been kidnapped. Malcolm remembers pagers, airmail letters and travelling around Singapore and the wider region before mobile internet. There are also tales of finding accommodation by walking the streets with your luggage, navigating unfamiliar bus routes by asking local passengers, and attempting to read an actual road map. Of course, modern technology has not eliminated travel chaos entirely. A more recent Wizz Air flight produced two passengers with exactly the same allocated seat—proving that possession may still be nine-tenths of airline law. Alongside the humour and inevitable digressions, Malcolm and David consider what has genuinely improved. Online booking, Google Maps, ATMs and WhatsApp make travel much easier—but have convenience and constant connectivity removed some of the spontaneity, human interaction and adventure? A funny and affectionate look at travel before the internet, backpacking in Asia, old-fashioned European journeys and the remarkable ways independent travellers managed without an app for absolutely everything. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a summer of UK walking holidays turns into plans to spend most of the winter travelling around Asia? Malcolm and David pause their usual destination-led episodes for a catch-up on where they have been—and where they are heading next. David looks back on walking holidays in the Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and Mendip Hills, including Whernside in glorious sunshine, an exceptionally hot walk through Swaledale, Dovedale, Kinder Scout, Cheddar Gorge and Ebbor Gorge. There is also a useful tip for seeing Stonehenge from the surrounding public-access landscape without buying the standard visitor ticket. They discuss the realities of leading group walking holidays: choosing routes around the weather, carrying enough water, protecting a troublesome knee and understanding why a familiar walk can sometimes give guests a better experience than an entirely new one. Meanwhile, Malcolm has been preparing his Cotswolds home for Airbnb guests as part of a plan to spend around half of each year overseas. He also reveals the logistical challenge of organising a 40-person party at his remote Czech cabin—including camping, beer, transport, an unavailable army tent and the questionable wisdom of lighting a large fire in a very dry meadow. Looking ahead, David is planning an extended winter journey through Chiang Mai and Pai in Thailand, Lombok and Gili Trawangan in Indonesia, and Delhi, McLeod Ganj and Goa in India—followed by a return to Bali. Malcolm is considering road trips through Slovenia and Croatia, plus a possible winter escape to Greece. Along the way, they ask whether travellers should continually chase new destinations or return to places they already know and love. In this episode: Walking Whernside and Swaledale during a heatwaveDovedale, Kinder Scout and Jacob’s LadderCheddar Gorge, Ebbor Gorge and the Mendip HillsWalking to Stonehenge from AmesburyA short visit to York and its darker historyRunning group walking holidaysPreparing a Cotswolds home for AirbnbOrganising a cabin party in the Czech countrysideWinter travel in Thailand, Indonesia and IndiaChiang Mai, Pai, Gili Trawangan, McLeod Ganj, Goa and BaliPossible road trips through Slovenia and CroatiaWhy returning to a favourite destination can beat starting againIf you enjoy Unravel Travel, please follow or subscribe, leave a rating and share the episode with another traveller. This episode is brought to you by Chiltern Walks who provide guided walks and walking holidays around the UK. If you'd like to be added to Chiltern Walks mailing list to receive details of our walking holidays please follow this link to join the Chiltern Walks WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/I6e0xptc88z0B27aJlEHNw If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Perth may be one of the world’s most isolated major cities, but Western Australia is anything but empty. In this episode, Malcolm returns to 1997, when he travelled from Singapore to spend two weeks with friends living near Scarborough Beach. Dave wasn’t on the trip, so he supplies the questions, reactions and occasional disbelief as Malcolm retraces his journeys around Perth and across Western Australia. The adventure begins in laid-back Perth, beside the Swan River and its black swans, before heading to Rottnest Island for beaches, cycling and an introduction to the island’s famously friendly quokkas. Travelling south brings an unexpectedly green side of Australia: forests, vineyards, wildlife and the Margaret River wine region. In Pemberton, Malcolm tackles the Gloucester Tree—climbing towards its former fire lookout using metal pegs spiralling around the trunk. Going up is one thing; getting down while other people are climbing towards you proves rather more alarming. The landscape changes again heading north. Malcolm visits the strange limestone formations of the Pinnacles Desert before undertaking the much longer drive towards Shark Bay and Monkey Mia. Along the way are Shell Beach, wild dolphins and the extraordinary stromatolites of Hamelin Pool—living structures offering a glimpse of some of the earliest life on Earth. There are also small hire cars, enormous distances, an improvised roadside repair and a confusing encounter with an Australian speeding ticket. Malcolm finishes by recalling later visits to Perth, including watching Ashes cricket at the old WACA Ground, before he and Dave consider whether Western Australia should feature on a modern Australian itinerary. Places and subjects mentioned  Perth and Scarborough Beach  Swan River and Perth city centre  Rottnest Island and quokkas  Margaret River and Western Australian wine  Pemberton and the Gloucester Tree  The Pinnacles and Nambung National Park  Shark Bay and Monkey Mia  Shell Beach  Hamelin Pool stromatolites  Western Australian wildlife  Driving distances and road trips in Western Australia  The WACA Ground and Ashes cricketIf you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail A trek to K2 Base Camp is difficult enough with an organised expedition and a team of porters. In 1994, aged just 21 and with very little overseas travel experience, Stewart set out with four university friends to carry everything they needed through Pakistan’s Karakoram mountains. In this episode, Malcolm and David are joined by Malcolm’s brother Stewart, who recounts an extraordinary journey towards K2 involving rockfalls, landslides, dangerous river crossings, severe illness and some decidedly improvised expedition planning. The episode opens with the tragic news of the Broad Peak avalanche that killed mountaineer Nirmal Purja and nine other climbers. Broad Peak stands close to K2 in the Karakoram, overlooking the same remote glacial landscape through which Stewart and his companions travelled more than 30 years earlier. Their adventure began with a gruelling journey from Islamabad to Skardu along the Karakoram Highway. From there, jeeps and sections on foot took them towards Askole, the last village before the traditional K2 Base Camp trekking route. Unlike most expeditions, the group had no porters. They travelled with an experienced local guide, Mansur, but carried their own tents, food, climbing equipment and supplies for a journey expected to last around three weeks. Even reaching the starting point proved dangerous. Landslides had destroyed sections of the mountain road, forcing the group to cross unstable slopes while rocks continued to fall around them. One large rock narrowly missed a team member’s head and struck his backpack instead. Beyond Askole, the route followed river valleys towards the enormous Baltoro Glacier and the mountain amphitheatre around Concordia. This is one of the most dramatic high-altitude landscapes in the world, surrounded by K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. The group encountered broken paths, exposed ledges hundreds of feet above the valley floor and an improvised wire-and-basket crossing over a raging glacial river. At night they experienced bitter cold, while the days could be intensely hot. In the distance, flashes and artillery fire provided a reminder of the continuing tensions along the nearby Pakistan–India border. The expedition began to unravel when their lightweight water filters became blocked by glacial silt. Stewart was eventually forced to drink water treated with purification tablets but not properly filtered. Several days into the trek, he became seriously ill with what was later diagnosed as both giardiasis and salmonella. Dangerously dehydrated and losing weight rapidly, Stewart had little choice but to abandon the attempt. He and the group’s designated medic, Mark, turned back while the remaining three trekkers and Mansur continued towards their objective. After several difficult days, Stewart and Mark reached the camping area at Jhola, where they waited for the others to return. With no means of communication and no idea whether their companions would arrive in hours or days, they created a chessboard on a sleeping mat and improvised pieces from playing cards. Feeling slightly better—and apparently having learned very little from his illness—Stewart then set off alone to climb a nearby mountain, sleeping overnight on a ridge before returning to camp. The group also encountered remarkably tough local porters, some crossing glaciers in little more than sandals while carrying enormous loads. At one point Mark used much of the expedition’s medical equipment to treat a porter whose badly injured foot had become dangerously infected. Stewart reflects on the expedition’s rudimentary planning, the mistakes they made and the experience of travelling through one of the remotest mountain regions on Earth. He also explains how the journey influenced his attitude towards risk, adventure and preparation for the next 30 years. In this episode Planning a K2 expedition before internet researchTravelling from Islamabad to Skardu on the Karakoram HighwayTrekking from Askole without portersCarrying three weeks of food, tents and equipmentCrossing landslides, exposed ledges and glacial riversWalking on the Baltoro GlacierWater purification problems in the mountainsContracting giardiasis and salmonellaTurning back while the rest of the team continuedMeeting climbers returning after losing teammatesThe lives and extraordinary resilience of local portersWaiting without communications at JholaHow extreme travel changes your attitude towards riskPlaces and subjects mentioned K2 • Broad Peak • Karakoram Mountains • Baltistan • Islamabad • Rawalpindi • Skardu • Askole • Karakoram Highway • Baltoro Glacier • Concordia • Jhola • Gasherbrum I • Gasherbrum II • Pakistan–India border • K2 Base Camp trekking • high-altitude illness • unsupported trekking If you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail A cabin in the woods sounds wonderfully romantic—but what is everyday cabin life really like when there is no mains water, electricity or sewage, and the nearest regularly occupied neighbour is around two miles away? In this episode of Unravel Travel, Malcolm takes us inside the remote cabin he has owned for around nine years in the Czech Republic. David, who has visited the cabin six or seven times, contributes the perspective of a regular guest who knows both its pleasures and its practical challenges. Beginning with Henry David Thoreau’s Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Malcolm and David discuss the Central and Eastern European tradition of escaping from city apartments to simple weekend cabins in the countryside. Malcolm’s cabin is more isolated than most: hidden in woodland beside a river and reached by a rough track, it can sometimes feel completely cut off from the outside world. Malcolm explains how the original two-room building—with no chimney, running water or indoor toilet—has gradually been enlarged and improved. Water still arrives in 50-litre containers, power comes from a generator and a small solar-powered 12-volt system, and cooking ranges from a camping stove to surprisingly ambitious meals prepared over an open fire. There is also an honest look at the less glamorous side of off-grid cabin life: mowing a meadow full of ticks, keeping food away from mice, emptying wastewater buckets, running out of cooking gas and maintaining a composting toilet. More successful innovations include solar-powered lighting, USB charging, an outdoor shower using a rechargeable pump and a winter bath beside the wood-burning stove. Along the way, Malcolm and David share stories of enormous campfires attracting the attention of low-flying helicopters, an emergency bottle of seriously out-of-date beer and the difficulties of keeping food cold without a permanently running fridge. Malcolm also recounts his latest journey to the cabin by e-bike, travelling partly by train through Znojmo before cycling the final 40 kilometres. His return journey covered approximately 100 kilometres in six hours and provided a useful test of the bike’s real-world battery range. Away from the practical work, the cabin offers what matters most: long walks, swimming, music around the campfire and the freedom to explore the Czech countryside. A 15-kilometre woodland walk leads Malcolm to otters, signs of wild boar, a secluded lake and an active beaver habitat hidden away from the main paths. For anyone interested in cabin life, off-grid living, slow travel, Czech Republic travel or a different kind of European countryside escape, this episode explores both the inconveniences and the considerable rewards of having a place in the woods. Topics covered: Cabin culture in the Czech Republic and Central EuropeMalcolm’s nine years of owning and improving the cabinLiving without mains water, electricity or sewageSolar panels, batteries, generators and USB chargingOutdoor showers and composting toiletsCooking over an open fireFood storage, water supplies and cabin planningTravelling to the cabin by train and e-bikeHiking and navigation in the Czech countrysideBeavers, otters, wild boar and woodland wildlifeWhy winter cabin life deserves an episode of its own (and many more)Mentioned in the episode: Walden; or, Life in the Woods by Henry David ThoreauThe Czech Republic/CzechiaZnojmo - historic and beautiful border townwww.Mapy.cz - free and perfect for walking or cycling routes and navigationRechargeable camping showers - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laserbeak-Camping-Portable-Handheld-Electric/dp/B0744938XLE-bike touring and battery managementSolar-powered cabin lightingCzech/Moravia cabins for sale -  https://jiho.moravskereality.cz/prodej/chaty-chalupy/?sff=1  (warning this is a rabbit hole) 28czk=£1 If you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Can a music festival replace a traditional summer holiday? In this episode of Unravel Travel, Malcolm and David revisit more than three decades of festival travel, free concerts and trips built around live music. Their festival memories begin at Glastonbury Festival in 1992, reached from North Lincolnshire in an ageing Mini with camping equipment—and a portable toilet—strapped to the roof. They recall James, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine and several emerging performers they failed to appreciate fully at the time, including Blur and PJ Harvey. Malcolm returned to Glastonbury in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1999. He remembers the smaller stages, comedy, crafts and bars beyond the main programme, as well as the festival’s increasingly formidable fences and ticket arrangements. His memories also include Tom Jones, a burning wicker figure, comedian Rob Newman, or was it? Malcolm’s first major festival was Reading Festival in 1991, where he attended on Sunday to see The Sisters of Mercy. Only afterwards did he appreciate what he had missed on the other days—including Nirvana. It demonstrates one advantage of attending an entire music festival: discovering performers you did not originally plan to see. And a guest appearance by John Peel. The episode then travels to Rock Werchter in Belgium, where David saw Metallica, Neil Young with Booker T. and the MG’s, Faith No More, Lenny Kravitz, the Levellers and Sonic Youth in 1993. Compared with major British festivals, tickets, food and drink in Belgium were surprisingly affordable. After starting a family, Malcolm returned to festival life through the family-friendly Wychwood Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Between approximately 2010 and 2013, the family saw performers including the Waterboys, the Damned, the Levellers, the Saw Doctors, Dodgy, Dreadzone and the Human League. Wychwood combined live music with comedy, crafts and children’s activities. Free festivals also feature strongly. David recalls the 1994 Carnival Against the Nazis in Brockwell Park, featuring the Levellers and Manic Street Preachers, and seeing John Cale with the Soldier String Quartet at Belgium’s Lokerse Feesten. At Gentse Feesten, the historic centre of Ghent becomes a ten-day city festival of music, theatre, circus and street performance. Although, not quite offering the same vibe the same vibe, the rise of one day festivals like British Summertime Live (Hyde park, London), usually offer great line ups and give a great reason to visit a place and hook for a memorable trip which can include other activities in nearby locations. Finally, Malcolm and David discuss travelling to see bands, including The Wedding Present in Ghent, New Model Army in Brno and concerts at venues such as Nottingham Rock City, the Marquee and Wembley. They finish with memories of the Great Xpectations Festival in Finsbury Park and the pleasure of discovering free local live music such as the summer delight of Cap r live music in Breclav, Czechia. Places mentioned  Glastonbury and Pilton, Somerset  Reading  North Lincolnshire  Cheltenham and Cheltenham Racecourse  Brockwell Park, London  Finsbury Park, London  Hyde Park, London  Ghent, Belgium  Werchter, Belgium  Lokeren, Belgium  Brno, Czechia  Bradford  Bristol  Nottingham  Wembley and Hammersmith, London  Singapore  New York Other subjects and performers mentioned  Festivals as alternatives to conventional holidays  Travelling overseas for cheaper concerts  Discovering unfamiliar performers  Festival ticket ballots and security  Glastonbury’s fences and unofficial entry  Camping equipment and the portable toilet  Arriving early and leaving after the crowds  Family-friendly festivals  Free festivals and politically motivated music events  Following New Model Army around Europe  The Wedding Present in Ghent  Festival camaraderie  Famous music venues  Pulp and David Bowie  James, Carter USM, Blur and PJ Harvey  The Sisters of Mercy and Nirvana  Metallica and Neil Young  John CaleGreen Day The CureThe Damned The Levellers and Manic Street PreachersIf you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Peru and the Inca Trail: Lima, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Amazon In this episode of Unravel Travel, we revisit an organised group trip to Peru, built around the legendary four-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. The full journey lasted around 17 days and took in several of Peru’s most memorable travel experiences: the humidity and history of Lima, the altitude and strangeness of Lake Titicaca, the relaxed beauty of Cusco, the physical and emotional challenge of the Inca Trail, and an Amazon extension filled with night boats, jungle walks, macaws and football in unlikely places. This is a classic adventure travel episode: part travelogue, part cautionary tale, part celebration of one of the world’s great walking routes. We talk about altitude, camping, group travel, porters, local food, jungle wildlife, and the moment when Machu Picchu finally appears beneath you after days of trekking through the Andes. What we cover in this episode Starting in Lima The trip begins in Lima, Peru’s coastal capital, where the first impression was the extraordinary humidity. We talk about arriving in a city that feels heavy with heat and history, and visiting Lima Cathedral, with vultures circling overhead and adding a slightly surreal edge to the scene. We also visit the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History, one of the key cultural stops in Lima, with collections ranging from ancient textiles and ceramics to Inca stonework and other pre-Hispanic objects. It is a useful grounding point before heading deeper into the landscapes and stories of the Andes. Train to Lake Titicaca From Lima, the journey moves towards Lake Titicaca, one of the most famous high-altitude destinations in South America. At over 3,800 metres above sea level, the lake is often described as the world’s highest navigable lake, and the first real experience of altitude can be dramatic. We discuss what it feels like to be at altitude for the first time: the breathlessness, the strange physical sensations, and the way even simple walking can suddenly feel much harder. The episode also covers the Uros Floating Islands, the man-made reed islands of Lake Titicaca. Built from totora reeds by the Uros people, these floating platforms are one of Peru’s most distinctive cultural sights. We also visit Taquile Island, where a training hike in beautiful weather helps prepare the group for the Inca Trail. Cusco: churches, cafés and altitude Next comes Cusco, the old Inca capital and one of the great travel cities of South America. After the intensity of Lima and the altitude of Lake Titicaca, Cusco feels sunny, warm and relaxed. We talk about Cusco’s mix of churches, cafés, plazas and mountain light, and the way the city gives travellers time to acclimatise before heading onto the trail. There is also a personal “John Peel” moment in the notes: a reminder that travel memories are often tied to music, atmosphere and tiny details as much as to monuments. Cusco becomes the pause before the hard part: the gateway to the Sacred Valley, the Andes, and the trek to Machu Picchu. The four-day Inca Trail trek The heart of the episode is the four-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. This was the classic group adventure: camping, mountain paths, porters, altitude, basic toilets, tired legs and moments of real wonder. We talk about the mistaken confidence of thinking that football fitness would be enough. The Inca Trail is not just about being generally fit; altitude changes everything. Even people who feel sporty at home can find themselves struggling once they are walking and climbing at over 3,000 and 4,000 metres. There are also the practical realities of trekking: camping, tiredness, shared routines, and the unforgettable toilet tent. The notes include a collapsing toilet tent, a hole in the ground, and a personal toilet faux pas — the kind of travel detail that may not appear in the brochures but often becomes one of the stories people remember most. One of the lighter moments is playing football against the porters on an old camping field. At altitude, even a casual kickabout becomes exhausting. The porters, of course, are operating in their natural environment and are usually far better adapted to the conditions than the visitors. The hardest physical point is Dead Woman’s Pass, or Warmi Wañusqa, the highest pass on the classic Inca Trail at around 4,200 metres. It is the point where the trek becomes a serious test of lungs, legs and morale. Arriving at the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu After days of walking, the emotional high point is arriving at Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. This was the ancient ceremonial entrance to Machu Picchu for those approaching on the Inca Trail, and for modern trekkers it still carries a powerful sense of arrival. The first view down onto Machu Picchu is one of the great travel moments: the famous lost city below, the mountains around it, and the sense that the effort of the trek has built towards exactly this reveal. We talk about the spiritual feeling of reaching the Sun Gate, the first sight of Machu Picchu, and why walking there gives a very different emotional connection from simply arriving by bus or train. After exploring the site, the group takes the bus down to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes: hot shower, hot springs and beer After four days on the trail, Aguas Calientes feels like luxury. The first hot shower in days becomes a major event. So do the hot springs and a beer. This part of the episode captures the strange pleasure of basic comfort after a trek: clean clothes, warm water, a proper bed, and the feeling that every ordinary thing has become special. There is also a classic Peru food moment: guinea pig for dinner. For many visitors, trying cuy is part curiosity, part cultural experience, and part test of how adventurous they really are. Amazon extension The journey then shifts from the Andes to the Amazon, adding a completely different side of Peru to the trip. After mountain walking, altitude and Inca history, the Amazon brings heat, water, jungle sounds and wildlife. We talk about a night boat trip looking for caiman, the excitement of scanning the water in darkness, and a jungle hike that was meant to be about seeing giant river otters but ended up becoming a macaw experience instead. The notes include macaws at a salt or clay lick, a tame macaw at the jungle lodge, and another unlikely football match — this time with the macaw somehow becoming part of the story. It is a reminder that organised trips rarely unfold exactly as described in the itinerary. Sometimes the thing you expected to see does not appear, and something stranger or funnier becomes the real memory. Key places mentioned Lima Lima Cathedral National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History Lake Titicaca Uros Floating Islands Taquile Island Cusco The Inca Trail Dead Woman’s Pass / Warmi Wañusqa Inti Punku / the Sun Gate Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes Peruvian Amazon Why this Peru trip stayed memorable This journey stays memorable because it combines almost every kind of travel experience in one country. There is the capital city of Lima, the history of Peru’s museums and cathedrals, the thin air of Lake Titicaca, the charm of Cusco, the effort of the Inca Trail, the emotional arrival at Machu Picchu, and the wildness of the Amazon. It is also memorable because of the contrast between the grand and the ridiculous. On one hand, there is the spiritual feeling of reaching the Sun Gate and looking down on Machu Picchu. On the other, there are toilet tents, football at altitude, hot showers that feel like miracles, guinea pig for dinner, and a macaw that somehow becomes part of the story. That is often what makes travel powerful: the famous places bring you there, but the odd details are what you end up retelling years later. Keywords Peru travel podcast, Inca Trail podcast, Machu Picchu travel, Lima Peru, Lake Titicaca, Uros Floating Islands, Taquile Island, Cusco travel, Dead Woman’s Pass, Warmi Wañusqa, Sun Gate Machu Picchu, Inti Punku, Aguas Calientes, Peru Amazon, Amazon jungle Peru, caiman night boat, macaws Peru, organised group travel, adventure travel Peru, altitude sickness Peru, trekking podcast, travel stories Peru, Unravel Travel If you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Alcohols of the World: Beer First, Then Spirits of Travel Specific episode mentions Hook Norton Brewery tours -  https://www.hooky.co.uk/visit-us/book-a-brewery-tour/ That bar in Bratislava - ZilVerne Craft beer pub  - https://www.beer4you.sk/zil-verne/  El Floridita  - The Hemmingway bar - https://www.barfloridita.com/ The Raffles Long Bar - https://www.raffles.com/singapore/dining/long-bar/ De Trollekelder (The Troll Cellar) is a legendary, troll-themed pub in the heart of Ghent, Belgium, located on the historic Bij Sint-Jacobs square. Famous for its impressive menu of over 300 Belgian beers, its defining features include its cozy, 15th-century medieval cellar and quirky troll-themed decor. https://share.google/q0ht1pvIWfGRCrZ03 Belgian Trappist beers Chimay Westvleteren Orval Rochefort Westmalle Achel The lovely craft gin made in Goa: Stranger & Sons Gin Episode summary In this episode of Unravel Travel, we explore the drinks that become part of the travel experience, starting with beer around the world before moving into the stronger stuff: local spirits, national cocktails, fruit brandies, rum, aniseed drinks, rice wine, and after-dinner liqueurs. The first half looks at beer culture and brewery travel, from traditional brewery tours such as Hook Norton, to Belgian beer, IPA, Singapore’s Tiger Beer, and the fun of beer discovery in places like Bratislava. In the second half, we move into spirits of the world, including Central European fruit spirits such as slivovice and hruškovice, Cuban rum, Peruvian pisco sour, Greek and Cypriot ouzo, Italian limoncello, Vietnamese rice wine, arak, Metaxa, and the Singapore Sling at Raffles. This is a travel episode about taste, place, memory, hospitality, and the caution sometimes needed when trying local drinks abroad. What we cover in this episode Beer, breweries and drinking culture We begin with beer as one of the easiest ways to experience local culture when travelling. Beer is often tied closely to place, whether it is a village pub, a historic brewery, a Belgian beer café, or a city where you simply order something unfamiliar and see what arrives. We talk about brewery tours, including places such as Hook Norton Brewery, and the appeal of seeing how beer is made, tasting local styles, and understanding how brewing traditions become part of a destination’s identity. The conversation also covers Belgian beer, strong ales, specialist beer cafés, and the difference between old brewing traditions and newer beer trends such as IPA. We touch on the rise of beer tourism and why travellers often remember the setting as much as the drink. We also include Bratislava beer roulette, where the fun comes from choosing unfamiliar beers, taking a chance, and discovering something unexpected. Beer can be a low-pressure way into a place: casual, social, and often very local. Finally, we mention beer in wider travel settings, including Tiger Beer in Singapore and the role of well-known local lagers as part of the travel experience. Spirits, cocktails and stronger local drinks In the second half, we move from beer to spirits and cocktails. These drinks often have stronger cultural rituals around them, and sometimes much higher alcohol content. We start with the powerful fruit spirits of Central Europe, including slivovice, hruškovice, apricot spirits, walnut liqueurs, sour cherry spirits, lemon drinks, date spirits, and other homemade or regional varieties. These drinks are often offered as a sign of hospitality, but they can be stronger than expected. From there, we travel to Cuba, where rum is central to the drinking culture. We discuss mojitos, Cuba Libre, and the famous Hemingway bar in Havana. In Peru, we look at the pisco sour, made with pisco, egg white, bitters, and lemon or lime.  Around the Mediterranean, we cover ouzo in Greece and Cyprus, Metaxa, and the wider family of aniseed drinks including Ricard and Pernod in France. We also stop on the Amalfi Coast for limoncello, a drink closely tied to lemons, sunshine, and Italian coastal travel. Further east, we discuss arak, Vietnamese homebrew rice wine, and the need to be careful with local spirits in Southeast Asia, where homemade alcohol can be unpredictable in both strength and safety. We close with Singapore’s more famous cocktail culture, including the Long Bar at Raffles and the Singapore Sling. Why beer and spirits matter in travel Beer is often the social entry point into a place. It can lead you into pubs, breweries, cafés, beer halls, bars, and local conversations. A brewery tour or a simple glass of local lager can become part of the memory of a trip. Spirits can be more ceremonial. They are often offered after meals, poured at family gatherings, or linked to national pride. A glass of homemade plum brandy, a mojito in Havana, a pisco sour in Peru, or limoncello on the Amalfi Coast can connect taste, place, and story in a very direct way. But drinking around the world also requires judgement. Some local spirits are very strong, some homemade drinks are not regulated, and travellers need to understand local customs, personal limits, and safety risks. This episode is not about drinking heavily. It is about how beer, spirits, cocktails, and local drinking rituals help tell the story of a place. keywords alcohols of the world, beer around the world, travel drinks, brewery tours, Hook Norton Brewery, Belgian beer, IPA, Bratislava beer, beer roulette, Tiger Beer, national drinks, local spirits, slivovice, hruškovice, pisco sour, Cuban rum, mojito, Cuba Libre, ouzo, Metaxa, limoncello, arak, Vietnam rice wine, caipirinha, cachaça, Singapore Sling, Raffles Long Bar, travel podcast, Unravel Travel If you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail Bath vs Bristol: Two Cities, Two WorldsEpisode summary In this episode of Unravel Travel, we compare two of the great West Country city breaks: Bath and Bristol. They sit close together on the map, yet they feel like completely different worlds. Bath is elegant, Georgian, polished and deeply historic. Bristol is colourful, creative, messy, musical and restless. We start with a contrast inspired by Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” and Massive Attack’s “Protection”. Both songs suggest urban life, vulnerability and atmosphere, but in very different ways. That contrast becomes our way into the episode: two cities that almost touch, but are a world apart. Bath: Georgian architecture, Roman history and classic English elegance We begin with Bath, a city that offers one of England’s most recognisable historic city-break experiences. If Bristol feels loose, urban and creative, Bath feels composed, classical and straight-laced. Bath is famous for its Georgian architecture, and we talk about some of the city’s best-known sights: Royal CrescentThe CircusPulteney BridgePulteney WeirBath Abbeythe elegant streets and squares of the old cityUnlike Bristol, Bath is not a city covered in graffiti and street art. Its beauty is more formal and more immediately recognisable. For many visitors, especially international tourists, Bath may feel like the more “classic England” experience. We also discuss Bath’s major attractions, including the super historic Roman Baths, the Thermae Bath Spa, the city’s links with Jane Austen, and its smaller museums and galleries. There is a sense that Bath works very well as a refined weekend break: a B&B stay, a canal boat trip, a walk through the old town, a visit to the spa, and perhaps a rugby match at The Rec. Bristol: street art, music, harbour life and creative energy We then turn to Bristol. Malcolm has been visiting Bristol since the early 1990s, first through friends and nightlife, and more recently on trips with Petra. Today, Bristol has become one of his go-to cities from the Cotswolds. We talk about Bristol as a vibrant, alternative and slightly hippy place. It has always had a strong music and club culture, from legendary venues like Thekla, the boat-venue in the harbour, to memories of St Pauls in the 1990s and the city’s wider live music scene. There are also personal memories of seeing bands around university refectories and student venues, including Radiohead on The Bends tour. Bristol’s art scene is another major part of the discussion. The city is inseparable from street art, with Banksy works such as The Mild Mild West and Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, but the real appeal is that the art is everywhere. Bristol is a city where walls, streets, galleries and public spaces all seem to contribute to the atmosphere. We also cover some of Bristol’s major visitor highlights, including: SS Great BritainClifton Suspension BridgeBristol HarbourArnolfiniM ShedRoyal West of England Academythe pleasure of simply wandering around the cityFor us, Bristol is not just a checklist city. It is a place to drift through, look up, get lost, find a bar, cross the harbour, notice a piece of street art, and feel the city’s energy. Practical travel notes: visiting Bath and Bristol Both cities work well as day trips or short breaks, but they offer different experiences. Bath is probably better if you want beautiful architecture, Roman history, elegant streets, spas, museums, tea rooms and a more traditional city-break experience. Bristol is probably better if you want nightlife, music, street art, independent culture, harbour walks and a more alternative feel. It rewards repeat visits and aimless wandering. We also touch on the practicalities of visiting, including driving, parking and using park and ride options, especially in Bath, where the city centre can be awkward by car. So which is better: Bath or Bristol? The real answer is that Bath and Bristol are best understood together. They are close enough to visit on the same trip, but different enough to feel like two separate worlds. Search themes: Bath travel, Bristol travel, Bath vs Bristol, West Country city breaks, UK city breaks, Cotswolds day trips, Bath Georgian architecture, Bristol street art, Bristol music scene, Roman Baths, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge. Episode keywords: Bath, Bristol, Bath vs Bristol, UK travel podcast, West Country travel, city break, Bath architecture, Bristol street art, Roman Baths, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Royal Crescent, Massive Attack, Tears for Fears. If you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode 27 we go back to Sri Lanka to discuss how Malcolm visited in the early 2000's with a very young family.  Many shared perspectives and a few differences and an exploration of a different side of Sri Lanka.  This has much more cricket in it, not all of it good. A guide to the nicest and most unusual p;aces to stay in Sri Lanka, look around there are some absolute delights to be found. We both agree Sri Lanka is one of the few places we would both go back too, simply amazing.  It is the Jewel of the Indian Ocean. If you have any question on this or another travel topic, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode 26 we thought we would address the backlog of questions from listeners leading a to a diverse episode covering a range of topics, some on which we agree and some on which we don't. How different is it to live overseas, rather than just to visit? How often do you still travel together and what trips are you planning? How to progress from snorkeling to scuba diving? Tips on connectivity? How do you handle medical issues? If you have something you want to ask for the next questiontime, just contact us at [email protected] Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/