Last of the summer rosado

How to make the most of winter sun in Barcelona with compras, cultura y comida – Ian Henderson enlists a home-grown local expert.

The wettest month in Catalunya is October. And once it passes, the days in Barcelona – while shorter and more subject to cold air currents – can be as sun-filled as the height of summer. On these days, the bars and restaurants adjust with more tables indoors and heaters on the terraces; the shops stay open just as late (with many still closed for the mid-afternoon siesta); the people put on an extra layer and carry on much as they do the rest of the year. It can be the best time to visit what is, in my view, the world’s second-coolest city.

Weather Island

The weather on the Skagerrak coast of Sweden, just south of Norway, blows in hard from the Atlantic. Ian Henderson heads to an isolated rock that gets it first - and finds it strangely familiar. 

Like the better-known archipelago on the eastern Baltic coast of Sweden, dotted with the red-painted summerhouses of wealthy Stockholmers, the western coast (known as Bohuslan) is a maze of channels, islands and picturesque harbours. But open to the Atlantic, Bohuslan is the tougher, hardier side of Sweden. It's also home to Aunt Jatt, who came back from Australia to her beloved Hamburgsund after her working days were done.

Thailand: tranquillity among the tourists?

Phang Nga Bay used to be where hippies went to find inner peace. But is karma still to be found in such a popular destination? Ian Henderson gets his chakras straight on Yao Noi island.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph CLICK HERE

Trufflehunting in Tuscany

With more truffles to be found in the British countryside, Ian Henderson unearths the secrets of the Tuscan truffle hunters.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph

I’m enjoying a breakfast of scrambled eggs with delicate shavings of ridiculously expensive white truffle. According to experts, it’s the perfect way to bring out the unmistakeable but undefinable flavor.

Cuba. Island of the obstinate.

There’s a lot more to Cuba than Communism, old Chevrolets and Caribbean beach resorts. Ian Henderson finds out how sixty years of being determinedly different has created a parallel future. 

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph CLICK HERE

Here come the thrillionaires

Ian Henderson finds out what thrill-seeking billionaires have to offer the rest of us.

This article first appeared in Sphere magazine

Airbus 380 etiquette

The Airbus 380 is a gorgeous aeroplane. It's incredibly quiet, and the onboard technology is a real advance. On Emirates business class through Dubai (to Phuket, on their new direct route) is even better - everything works and the service is flawless. But there's a problem.