When Volvo flirts with sexy May 3, 2011 BIG, boxy, boring was the image of past Volvos, particularly Volvo estates. Known for protecting passengers above all else, they were solid and reliable and were a safe, if unexciting, option for car buyers. But thanks to a fundamental rethink about how Volvo’s look and drive, Volvo cars have been evolving from a simple, practical [...]
CAR TALK May 3, 2011 SPECIAL EDITION CATERHAM SEVENS British sportscar company Caterham Cars has been bought by Formula One outfit Team Lotus and to celebrate, the company is building a limited run of just 50 Team Lotus Special Edition Sevens. For an additional £3,000, Seven buyers can buy a car painted in the famous green and yellow colours of [...]
Fuerte Grazalema 4* May 3, 2011 Surround yourself with the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park at this lovely rural hotel. Nature lovers will adore being out in the countryside here, with so much to see and do. And if you’ve filled your day with outdoor activities, Fuerte Grazalema provides the luxuries you need to relax afterwards, like a splendid outdoor [...]
Hotel and Spa Sierra de Cazorla 4* May 3, 2011 Amongst the Carzola Mountains lies this luxurious hotel and spa. In such a serene location, with olive trees all around, you can’t help but feel totally away from it all. Take in the panoramic views from the terrace of your gorgeous room, available in four styles; Mountain, Moroccan, African and Tibetan, and then indulge in [...]
Cortijo Balzain Casas Rurales (3 Key Rating) May 3, 2011 Rustic is the word for this country resort in the Sierra Nevada National Park – and we mean that in the most complimentary way. A collection of nine self catering cottages plus a farmhouse for up to 31 people, this traditional complex is just delightful. The beautifully restored 17th century buildings have retained all their [...]
Where the scenery is matched by the history Into the heart of Spain’s most captivating region May 2, 2011 YOU don’t have to head far out of Malaga airport to see the pernicious influence of British tourism on the Spanish coastal landscape, where the piled-up encrustations of holiday homes, apartment blocks and bargain hotels cling to the coastline like guano on a cliff face. Head past Marbella and turn inland, however, and it’s a [...]
THINK ROOMS… with LateRooms.com May 2, 2011 FUERTE GRAZALEMA 4* Baldío de los Alamillos|Carretera A-372 | Km 53|Grazalema |11610 Surround yourself with the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park at this lovely rural hotel. Nature lovers will adore being out in the countryside here, with so much to see and do. And if you’ve filled your day with outdoor activities, Fuerte Grazalema [...]
TRAVEL NOTES May 2, 2011 DISCOVER THE BALKANS The historical and cultural richess of the Balkans may have been shrouded by darker shadows in recent decades, but they are increasingly on the agenda for inquisitive travellers. Cultural specialist tour operator The Traveller offers several fascinating trips to the region, each guided by an expert lecturer, of which the pick could [...]
Taking the big ideas to infinity and beyond April 27, 2011 VOTING systems, Socrates, gravity, time, sex. What do these have in common? Physics, of course. More specifically, certain ideas about science, humanity and progress flowing from the mega-brain of David Deutsch, the Oxford physicist who pioneered the field of quantum computing, and wrote the 1997 cult favourite, The Fabric of Reality. Certainly, without a deep [...]
OUT OF OFFICE: ROYAL WEDDING SPECIAL April 27, 2011 If you’re keen to get in the spirit of the royal nuptials but still haven’t decided how or where, here’s a few places getting in the spirit. The Narrow,Gordon Ramsay’s riverside pub overlooking the entrance to Limehouse Basin is holding a “BBQ and Bunting” party from midday onwards, with a menu including blasts from the [...]