The Caffeine Chronicles: Kapihan

UPDATE: Unfortunately, this location of Kapihan has now closed permanently. But they have reopened at two locations on Battersea Park Road.

Two recurring themes in my London coffee shop write-ups during these 18 months of COVID have been: the power of coffee shops to connect people amid the loneliness of lockdown, and the ability of coffee shops to transport you and allow you to experience other places and cultures even when travelling is harder than it once was. Both of these ring true at Kapihan, a Filipino coffee shop and bakery close to Battersea Park, which I visited again at the weekend.

How To Spend Nine Days in Malta

This my final post about my recent trip to Malta, rounding up my overall experience: my itinerary and how it worked out, where I stayed, what I did and how I travelled around. You can also read my other Malta posts here: Valletta city guide; day trips from Valletta; and four days on Gozo.

How To Spend Four Days on Gozo, Malta

This is the third of four posts about my recent trip to Malta. You can read the other instalments here: Valletta city guide; day trips from Valletta; and how to spend nine days in Malta.

Gozo, known locally as Għawdex, is the second-largest island of the Maltese archipelago, lying just north of the island of Malta and about 50 miles south of Sicily.  I spent four days on Gozo after my time in Valletta; read on to find out what I did.

Three Great Day Trips from Valletta, Malta

This is the second of four posts about my recent trip to Malta. Check out the others: Valletta city guide; four days in Gozo; and how to spend nine days in Malta.

Malta is small — the main island is just 17 miles long by 9 miles wide — and because it's easy to get around by public transport, I based myself in Valletta and took day trips to three amazing places. Read on for turquoise waters, ancient fortified cities, stunning geological features and perfect sandy beaches!

City Break in Valletta, Malta: Bex's Guide

After I got back from Edinburgh, I had a day to repack for nine days in Malta, my first trip out of the UK since Seattle in February 2020. I'd booked a shorter city break to Valletta, Malta's capital, for March 2020, but for obvious reasons, that didn't happen. Luckily, I could reschedule my hotel booking and extend the trip to include a stay on the island of Gozo when I was eventually able to travel again. 

How To Spend a Long Weekend in Edinburgh

This month I spent four days in Edinburgh with my parents, and while we only scratched the surface, we had a grand time and packed a lot in. We had decent weather too. A return was long overdue since my last visit was on a family road trip through Scotland, almost three decades ago! All I remember from the trip is the Scottish National Gallery, Greyfriars Kirkyard and an over-exuberant walking tour guide shouting, "Gardyloo!" I had a lot of ground to make up! 

11 Specialty Coffee Shops To Visit in Edinburgh

If you've been following my Instagram, you'll know I've just got back from a holiday in Malta, which I'll be writing about in due course. Before that, I spent a few days in Edinburgh. It was my first trip to the city since 1994 so I had a lot to catch up on, and was delighted to have so many excellent coffee shops to visit.