Estonia Travel Part 1 : Tallinn Old Town and Telliskivi
Mark Bibby Jackson explores Tallinn Old Town, Telliskivi and Fotografiska while discovering the great food scene and remarkable culture in the Estonian capital. It is not every day you go…
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Mark Bibby Jackson explores Tallinn Old Town, Telliskivi and Fotografiska while discovering the great food scene and remarkable culture in the Estonian capital. It is not every day you go…
On her family Naples city break, Maria Boyle discovers you bypass the southern Italian city at your peril. “This is the most undiscovered city in Europe and also the coolest,”…
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best festivals in February 2024 across the Globe, from Mongolia to Easter Island, so wherever you are you just can’t help celebrating the…
From naked men to setting off fireworks and lots of sake, here is our round up of Japan Winter Festivals ranging from the quirky to the strange. Matsutaki Festival…
Lovers of the classic 1993 film will lead little introduction to Groundhog Day Punxsutawney Phil. The movie shot the small town of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania to fame. However, many of you…
On his first visit to Tynemouth and Newcastle upon Tyne, Mark Bibby Jackson receives a hospitable welcome at the Tynemouth Castle Inn. The recently refurbished, Tynemouth Castle Inn is a…
On his first visit to the Baltic nations, Mark Bibby Jackson visits Gulbene, Valka, Valmiera, Cēsis and Riga while discovering the things to do in Latvia in five days. Many…
Robert Spellman discovers amazing diversity on his Michigan road trip. Well, this was a hiccup: arriving at Detroit’s Motown museum and nobody home. The weather had done its bit –…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise stay at Il Relais Castelvecchio while enjoying a Verona city break in Italy’s most pleasant city. With its majestic Roman amphitheatre hosting spectacular floodlit opera, its…
Travel Begins at 40 rounds up the best festivals in January 2024 across the Globe, from Benin to the Shetlands, so wherever you are there is no reason to avoid…
Robert Spellman travels to Haarlem city in the Netherlands and discovers a city rich in culture and a laid-back attitude. I’m at a point now where “could I live here?”…
On her recent visit to Verona Italy, Judith Schrut found much, much more to love beyond those star-crossed lovers. I love, adore and have a massive soft spot for Italy…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise stay at The Kensington hotel in London and take in the Chanel Exhibition at the V&A. The Irish are surely the perfectly-equipped hoteliers. The national…
Neil Hennessy-Vass discovers the cultural attractions in Durham, a county that has a wonderful cultural past, present and future. The LNER train took me from Kings Cross in London to…
January sees two of Geneva’s most exciting art events making this an ideal time to visit the Swiss city. Geneva Lux festival will take place between 19 January and 4…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Barnard Castle, The Auckland Project and High Force while staying at Headlam Hall Country Hotel & Spa, Durham. One of the most rewarding aspects of being…
From the India to Turkey and Colombia to Belgium, we bring you the best festivals in December, including where to ring in the New Year, and that is not even…
Winti Pré is a celebration of cultural heritage and ancestral spirits. It is sometimes written as Winti Prey and means “Winti preparation” in Sranan Tongo. An annual festival, it honours…
A celebration of freedom, Keti Koti, means “broken chains” in Sranan Tongo. It is an annual celebration held in Suriname to commemorate the abolition of slavery in 1863. This festival…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the seaside resort of Le Touquet on the Opal Coast in the Pas de Calais, France and feels back home. In retrospect it is a tiny…
From the Day of the Dead to Christmas markets and Thanksgiving, November is a month that celebrates the emergence of winter. Here is our selection of the best festivals in…
Mohammad Reza Amirinia travels to Borneo to visit the Rainforest Music Festival and stay at the Damai Beach Resort. It’s June 2023 and I’m heading to Sarawak on Borneo Island…
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Lithuania has a captivating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty that beckons travelers to explore its wonders. Nestled in the heart of the Baltics, this enchanting destination has gained…
For many an appreciation of the culture of the country or community that you visit on your holidays is a major part of the travelling experience, especially for the more mature traveller.
Whether you are taking a short city break to Amsterdam or Paris, or going on a longer trip to a distant and exciting land, your experience is enriched by an appreciation of the local culture.
Ideally, time your trip to coincide with a major festival. At Travel Begins at 40 we have a whole section devoted to some of the most colourful and spectacular festivals from around the world. So whether it is the whirling dervishes of Konya, Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, the Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia or Benin’s Voodoo Festival that tickles your cultural fancy, let us guide your way.
Visiting an unfamiliar country can lead to a bit of a cultural shock, but don’t let this put you off making that special journey. Often it is when we leave our comfort zone that we reap most rewards.
Not that we always have to travel that far to have a rich and rewarding cultural experience. Hull is the current city of culture in the UK, and a trip there can be a surprisingly rewarding experience. Enjoy it.