San Marino is a fascinating stopover in the centre of Italy. I took a train from Florence, and then jumped on a connecting bus that gradually wound up to the summit of a hill where the tiny fortified republic lies. This tiny country swarms with tourists strolling the cobblestone streets packed with quality shopping, gorgeous cathedrals and stunning views of the surrounding Italian countryside from the citadel walls. San Marino is easy to get to, and definitely worth a visit if you are in the region. To recap from the previous journal, dear reader, I've been a busy adventurer since leaving Rome. I caught a train to Naples, which is a bustling city in southern Italy. The traffic is quite…

All roads lead to Rome, the lovely reader. So I'm walking along a road ... in Rome yeah, and suddenly found myself heading towards another city. Now I've done my share of boning up on ancient history, so how could this be happening? Oh, hang on ... now I get it, the road was heading for the fortified Vatican City deep within the bosom of the eternal city. Vatican city is an independent city-state and the home of Il Papa, who continues the ancient tradition of leading the Catholic Church, while ably protected by implacable Swiss guards. I arrived recently on a flight to Rome and invite you to take a walk in my shoes, as I embark on new…

African travel is a humbling experience. I've arrived in the beautiful country of Malawi, as my second visit to the dark continent draws to a close. Malawi is often described as the warm heart of Africa, and travellers are sure to receive a special welcome from the Malawians who are famed for their friendliness. In hindsight though, if someone were to stop me in the street to ask the question: Hey Tom, you're an experienced traveller now, what are your views then on the future of Africa? Unfortunately my response would be that I'm stumped for an answer. Africa ... fascinating, infuriating, scintillating, excruciating and ever mysterious, the birthplace of mankind still faces a perilous future while the rest of…

Kruger national park is a world famous game reserve, dear reader, and this impressively run park is north east of Jo'Burg. It features a huge variety of wildlife, often at very close quarters. Game spotting is one of the most enjoyable experiences in life, and if our encounters in the park are an accurate guide you won't be disappointed! We spent three days in the Kruger park, which is South Africa's most famous tourist attraction, and we left one of the world's oldest wildlife parks exhilarated by our viewing experiences. There are an incredible number of animals to spot, and it's a wonderful privilege to be in their world as nature intended. To recap from the previous journal, my American…

The kingdom of Swaziland is a little jewel in the crown of southern Africa. This small country has a long tradition of kings ruling the country from the Ezulwini valley, and gained independence from Britain in 1968. The original constitution was largely modeled on the English system, however it has subsequently been abolished, and the king now rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch. The famous reed dance is an annual ceremony where the king chooses a new young bride from the naked girls who dance before him. Swaziland is surrounded by South Africa, and the border with Mozambique to the east. A visit to the kingdom provides a relaxed and modern stopover for visitors to southern Africa, where travellers enjoy…

Mozambique has had a tough time of it lately, dear reader, in spite of the enormous strides made by her people towards a peaceful society since the conclusion of the civil war fifteen years ago. Leaving aside the serious floods in the year 2000; the last few months has seen a munitions factory on the outskirts of Maputo go up in flames and subsequently turn the city into a mini war zone, then a category five cyclone with 300 kilometre an hour winds ripped through the resort town of Vilankulo. These setbacks are hitting the local population hard, but the people of Mozambique are still smiling and laughing in spite of difficult times. The last journal left off in Tofo,…

There is something magical about Africa and her people, and after a week back in the mighty continent the people of Mozambique have rekindled the magic. It comes from the easy laughter of the locals who are always joking and laughing whatever the occasion; whether they are riding on the minibus, browsing at the markets, or walking along the beach. Mozambique is a portugese speaking country in Southern Africa, which is a little more than a decade out of civil war, and heading into a brighter future with the encouragement and support of South Africa just across the border. I flew from Sydney to Johannesburg, the lovely reader, and then took a connecting SAA flight to Maputo, the capital of…

Well, er ... not really to be fair, constant reader. People like Muhammad Ali whom I quote are born to greatness, others have greatness thrust upon them, and then there are the rest of us who just aren't so great! There has been, however, a powerful synergy to this European trip that I hadn't fully realised when planning my itinerary in Sydney. I've arrived back in Germany where my European travels began, and on to fascinating Berlin. But in hindsight I realise my trip has followed in the footsteps of great and terrible men; men such as Napoleon and Hitler, and like them I've been drawn inexorably towards the East. The main difference is I didn't enter Eastern Europe and…

The vast stretch of land linking Finland and Russia forms the largest border in Europe. The border between the two countries was only fifty kilometres from St Petersburg in 1940, and this is believed to be a major reason for the Red Army attacking and defeating Finland during the early stages of World War ll, despite heroic resistance from the Finns. I took the six hour train trip from Helsinki to St Petersburg, which starkly illustrates just how close St Petersburg is to the rest of Europe. This strategically important and beautiful European city is very rich in history. In 1941 the Nazis suddenly invaded Russia, thereby breaking the non-aggression pact between the two great powers. Yet they failed to…

I arrived in Helsinki on the ferry from Tallinn with a brand new Lonely Planet in hand, and ahead of schedule. It's not often a traveller has the opportunity for further exploration, and I was keen to make every post a winner. I'd intended to visit Helsinki for a brief stopover visit only, yet here I was with a week to explore the pristine countryside of Finland. But something was missing, what I needed was a plan! My first night in Helsinki at the Hostel Errottajanpuisto provided me with the solution, from where it was all systems go for a wonderful Nordic adventure. Luckily in my dorm room I met a friendly and helpful Finnish businessman, we also chatted with…