dubai dune-bashing

Tackling soft sand dunes in a Landcruiser is unpredictable and hazardous. Our heads hit the roof as various spades and shovels flew around the back of the car. We slid sideways before getting enough traction to launch over the next ridge. The windscreen wipers had to be used as the orange dust washed over us. It was great fun, even though I threw up afterwards.

Gaj

The Atlantis Hotel

a night out in lisbon, portugal

At 4pm, the shops of Bairro Alto change shifts. The grocery shops close and the clubs prepare their ingredients for a night of mohitos and caipirinhas. Our drinks were served in plastic cups so that we could sip while wandering the streets to absorb the music. There are no "popular" tunes played here - it's all about original funk & groove, Brazilian beats and traditional fado. The huge communal crowd on the street radiates from tiny, distinctive bars. We listened to a Brazilian guitarist for longer than expected, then went back to the hotel and decided to go out again for more.

A street performer throws fire into the air

Lisbon has loads of beautiful street art. This stencil artist decided to fill in the gaps where the tiles were missing.

The ceiling of the kitchen in the Royal Palace, Sintra. The hole in the middle acts as a chimney.

A slightly more ornate ceiling in the Royal Palace.

york

The Minster - built on top of a Roman fort

There is a myth that this devil would come to life at night, then desecrate the bible which hangs over the bookshop doorway. Consequently, a chain was added to hold him down.

The Shambles - winner of the prestigious "Google Street View Most Picturesque Street in Europe" award

loch lomond

Have you ever felt like you're standing inside a painting?

edinburgh

We learnt about the Edinburgh's considerable literary history on... a literary pubcrawl. Yes, we paid an expert in Scottish history 10 quid, and he led us around the local pubs frequented by people such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, JK Rowling and Ian Rankin. We stood in the grounds of the hospital where Doyle got his inspiration for Sherlock Holmes - a man called Dr Joseph Bell, who was Doyle's tutor at medical school. Bell was well-known for his "grand conclusions based on mere trifles".

Claire and I stuck to our pact, which was to only drink scotch on the pubcrawl. A few locals were unhappy when I needed to add some water to their nectar. "You'll learn," they said, "you'll learn".

On top of Kings Arthur's Seat - the silhouette of Edinburgh Castle is in the distance

lake district

My beard at the height of all its powers

Eerie stone circle

snowdonia national park

Northern Wales is bursting with outdoor activities. Every second car is carrying mountain bikes or canoes, and hikers trudged past us with abseiling gear.

Yes, I was a bit obsessed with photographing the mountain.

folk music night in penmachno, northern wales

We could hear the occasional guitar riff and voice downstairs, but decided to take time to recover from our Snowdonia hiking. Outside our window was a small collection of grey, slate houses, huddled together despite the vast surrounding hills.

When we joined the party in the pub below us, the door could barely be opened. All the villagers were packed into a living-room sized space. Many of the patrons performed: a teenaged girl silenced the audience with her unaccompanied Welsh song; modern rock songs were played on harmonica and accordion; a tapdancer provided the percussion for a violinist.

We heard a saying:

"I was born rich. Not because I am wealthy, but because I am Welsh."

The music kicked on as we went to sleep... then they chanted "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, Oi, Oi!".

Claire and Gaj

Breakfast

Our view of the fields

oxford