Malta & Gozo Prehistory and History

Malta & Gozo Prehistory and History:
A thousand years before the Great pyramid at Giza was constructed, people on the tiny island of Malta were moving stones weighing up to 50 tonnes, to make the oldest surviving free-standing structures in the world. Decorated with some of the most extraordinary art to be found anywhere in the Mediterranean, they were made by a society intensely engaged in the practice of ritual and ceremonial activities.

We will never know for sure why this extraordinary culture developed, and the only intriguing glimpses we have of the early people are in the well-proportioned figures found as statuettes at some of the temple sites.
It was a valuable prize to be coveted by all the powers through history, and the island became famous as the Headquarters of the Knights Hospitallers of St John.

To understand Malta’s subsequent history you have to see the mighty harbour at Valletta, a safe and secure haven in the middle of the busy shipping lanes of the Mediterranean.

It was later a treasured gem of the British Empire, leaving a legacy of familiar landmarks of times gone by such as red telephone boxes.

Hadrian's Wall, walking coast to coast

The new Hadrian’s Wall footpath crosses wild and beautiful terrain, its route covering the shortest distance coast to coast across the country, following Hadrian’s ambitious frontier.

The Hadrian’s Wall footpath crosses wild and beautiful terrain, its route covering the shortest distance coast to coast across the country, following Hadrian’s ambitious frontier. Take advantage of the opportunity to walk the wall with a Roman military expert.

We are walking west to east, starting gently along the shore of the Solway Firth, watching for the first surviving traces of the wall and its structures east of Carlisle, and ending with the excavated fort and reconstructed bath-house by the shipyards at Wallsend, with an expert to explain the archaeology.

The Hadrian’s Wall footpath is well-defined, but can be rough underfoot and steep in places. However, there are superb views over the Cumbrian and Northumbrian countryside, once important for strategic reasons, now a wonderful bonus for our walk. You will come away with a very different understanding of Hadrian’s gigantic undertaking.
This is a real walking holiday (up to 12.7 miles per day every day). There is a coach pick-up each evening and a return to a comfortable hotel, but should only be attempted by regular walkers who can manage hilly terrain and a variety of sometimes difficult stiles.

Central America and Mexico

Central America and Mexico: Exploring Mayan sites, colourful markets, local homestay, vibrant nightlife, swimming in the Caribbean's crystal blue waters, wandering the cobblestone streets of colonial towns, sampling new food and drink.

Live like you mean it on a legendary 46-day journey through six countries. Swap San José's bustling streets for lush jungles, Mayan pyramids and amazing white sand beaches. Share coffee with the locals or—if it’s to your liking—toss back a tequila in a colonial plaza and experience Central American culture with others who share your appetite for adventure. Perfect for the adventurer on a shoestring who wants to explore the region’s diversity, this trip will provide a sampling of the best of Central America.
As it is located in the central highlands, San José enjoys a moderate climate. The heat and humidity of the coast and lowland areas may affect you with a general sense of lethargy and/or loss of appetite. This is no cause for alarm, it is simply a reaction to the heat. Be sure to drink plenty of water (cold bottled water is available everywhere) and do not attempt too much in any given day.

Like most cities, San José has its good and bad sides. It is the centre of government, theatre, and art, as well as of air pollution and congestion. It has beautiful parks and museums, and a few beggers on the streets. It is big and often noisy, but even from its crowded downtown streets, you’ll often enjoy a view of the surrounding lush mountains.

Probably the hardest thing you will do in San José, other than get safely across busy streets, is keep the street numbering systems straight. Street and avenue numbers are posted on buildings at the corners of some intersections. Keep looking as you walk, and you will eventually find one.