Marhaba from Dubai, A hilarious telephone call from the chap at reception, where I’d left a bag of clothes for laundry that morning: Was I aware that some of the socks and undies had holes in them? Should they proceed to launder them? After a moment: “yes, go ahead”, I chortled. Perhaps I’m unusual in …Read More
Selam from Addis Ababa, A visit to the Fistula Hospital was the main reason I travelled all the way to Addis Ababa. When I arrived in the taxi, the cautious guards politely advised that there was no entry without a prior appointment. “Hmmm, I’ve come a long way,” I said, worried that the journey had …Read More
ጤና ይስጥልኝ from Ethiopia, The devastating famine in Ethiopia in 1984 is etched in the memories of people who witnessed it from afar as well as those who were close. In Ethiopia itself, the need to drought-proof the country has become a national programme. The results – always likely to be a work in progress …Read More
Halló from Iceland It’s comforting to know that the puffins on Iceland are safe from encroachment of human development. Their saviour is the fact that they want land (steep cliff faces) that humans don’t. The increases in tourists to Iceland in recent decades have placed immense – and growing – pressure on most resources in …Read More
Buna Ziua from Transylvania in Romania, It’s a bit hard to know in which column the Transfăgărăşan road belongs: a total waste of resources or a stupendous tourist attraction? There’s compelling evidence for both. Just as in a court of law, one case considered in isolation to the other may lead to erroneous conclusions. During …Read More
Buna ziua from Bucharest, Romania, I’ve always argued – possibly as a minority of one – that retail assistants are entitled to a bad day once in a while. They’re allowed, so my thinking goes, to a bad mood as long as they don’t wittingly project their gripes onto their customers. What’s more human than …Read More
Merhba from Valletta, Malta, The George Cross is the highest British honour recognising bravery in war. It is usually conferred on individuals. The only nation ever to be awarded the Geroge Cross is Malta. In April 1942, King George bestowed the unusual honour on Malta “to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will …Read More
Olá from Lisbon, Portugal, At what point does a city give up on the fight against graffiti? It must be a drain on precious state resources when the graffiti keeps coming back. In Lisbon, the city has succumbed and there is a huge amount of it. Perhaps they argue that it’s urban art. We’ve always …Read More
Olá from Lisbon, Portugal, The evidence is unequivocal. Globalisation has brought both good and bad. In Portugal – first to navigate the oceans and colonise other parts (Let’s agree that was the first phase of globalisation.) – the benefits to contemporary culture are obvious. Portugal benefited whilst indigenes in hosts did not. Fado is a …Read More
Halló from Iceland, When Reykjavik was the venue for the 1972 World Chess Championship, that was during the height of the Cold War and Iceland offered neutrality when the two finalists were from each of the two superpowers. The building was pointed out . . . but it’s just a building: unremarkable really and not …Read More