Articles written by Fiona Thompson - Page 34

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About me - Fiona Thompson

Fiona Thompson divides her time between England and Slovenia. Her passion is travel with a focus on eastern Europe and the former Yugoslavia. When not writing or reading, she is working to get fit enough to climb Slovenia's Mt Triglav in 2010.

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Arts & Humanities > International Writers & Literature Book reviews: Missing, by Karin Alvtegen: 3 of 3
Using a confidence trick to get a warm bed for the night Sybilla Forstenstroem, a young homeless woman, finds herself the chief suspect for the brutal murder of a businessman in Stockholm's Grand Hotel. Terrified she lies low hoping that the furore will calm down but when she meets Patrik, a young boy who is as much an outsid... More..
Travel > Bus & Train Travel How to follow train travel etiquette in France: 3 of 3
Taking the train is a great way to get around France and offers the traveler an opportunity to sit back and enjoy the scenery along the way. Buying tickets in person or on-line is simple but there are a few issues around train etiquette that will ensure that your journey goes smoothly and that you do not raise eyebrows among ... More..
Health & Fitness > Alternative Therapies Turkish baths: A guide: 2 of 2
The significance of the Turkish bath, or "hamam" as it is known, is twofold in Turkey. Firstly, Islam stresses the importance of cleanliness and this culminates in the ritual bathing on Friday before evening prayers. Secondly, in the past very few Turkish homes had bathrooms and so men and women would go to the hamam to bathe... More..
Arts & Humanities > British Authors Book reviews: Mrs Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf: 2 of 2
Virginia Woolf is a name which, like those of James Joyce or Joseph Conrad, often strikes terror into the hearts of usually keen readers. This is no doubt because of her use of the literary technique known as "stream of consciousness". To describe what this is, I am pleased to be able to refer to Educating Rita", one of my fa... More..
Travel > Europe (Other) Travel destinations: The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey: 2 of 2
Along with the Aghia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, no trip to Istanbul is regarded as being complete unless it includes a visit to the Grand Bazaar. It's fame is almost legendary but I have always found the response of tourists to be mixed; put simply you either love it or hate it.Always one to buck the trend, my reaction havin... More..
Arts & Humanities > European History Innovations of the Industrial Revolution: 2 of 2
Two features of the Industrial Revolution (and I am looking at the phenomenon from a British perspective) dominate above all others: the move from a home-based piece worker economy to a factory-based system, and the creation of a canal network to move both raw materials and finished goods around the country.The invention of s... More..
Arts & Humanities > Museums & Galleries (Other) Visiting the Statue Park Budapest, Hungary: 2 of 2
Perched atop a hill in South Buda, the "Statue Park" of Budapest is a small reminder of Hungary's recent past. With the collapse of the Soviet Empire the statues and sculptures dedicated to the Communist leaders and the memorials to the "workers" or the "Communist Martyrs" disappeared from the streets of Hungary; most were hi... More..
Arts & Humanities > British Literature Book reviews: The Outcast, by Sadie Jones: 2 of 2
Nineteen year old Lewis Aldridge is released from prison - for an offence we aren't fully informed of until much later in the book - and returns to Waterford, his childhood home where his stepmother is nervously expecting him. He receives a frosty welcome not just from his stepmother and his father, Gilbert, but from most of ... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice A tourist's guide to Paris' nightlife: 2 of 2
Paris is famed for it's legendary nightlife and, to use a time-worn expression, it has something for everyone. When the sun goes down the lights go on and it seems as if all of Paris is lit up and part of the show. Whatever your budget you can find something to occupy your evenings and an authentic Parisian experience should ... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice What to know about traveling in Bosnia: 2 of 2
The former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a dramatically scenic and culturally rich country that has plenty to offer tourists. Superficially it may not appear very different from countries of western Europe but there are some things that it is useful to know in advance that can make your trip more pleasant an... More..