Stories from travels in

Mary Murphy

Lioness in African sun

Light from a big sky

Late afternoon. April. South Africa. The African sun starts to set and this particular part of the world is bathed in a godly light. Cecile

elephant eyelashes

Playing with the elephants

A number of years ago, while sitting in her house in Slough, the indomitable EK promised that someday, she’d take me to play with the

Brittany, Bicycles, and Bales of Hay

In this particular part of France, in Brittany, you’re more likely to pass a bicycle on the road than a car, which somewhat explains the

birdwatching in South Africa

Birdwatching in South Africa

Since coming to terms with the fact that I fancied the geeky Malcolm (the birdwatcher in the 1980s TV comedy Watching) it’s been years since I’ve had

My Balkan affair

I think I’m in love with the idea of being in love. I’ve always been a one-man woman. I first realised this when I was

Geneva conventions

I was proposed to in Geneva. Earlier this year, in January. As I stood outside these very gates. And I was flattered. He described himself

Why I love living in Budapest No. 5

You just never know what you’ll find in this city. You think you have it sussed. You think you know your streets. And then, you

Stealing sins in the Czech Republic

Oh Lord, give me such signs in every foreign country I visit and I will be happier (if that’s possible), and more relaxed, and less