Lunchtime City tourism: Cannon Street’s London Stone November 19, 2024 You wouldn’t know it, but London’s heart beats from a small alcove just opposite Cannon Street station. The city’s heart is made of limestone, wrenched from Rutland and its beats are faint. But its power is unmistakable. Passing office workers fear it so much they’re reluctant to even look at it, let alone stand near it. [...]
Porsche 911 Targa by Theon Design review: Bright fantastic November 19, 2024 Back in the 1960s, Automobile Engineer magazine expressed its fear that dark paint colours made cars more dangerous. Shades such as grey and black, it reasoned, could transform a vehicle into a ‘camouflaged weapon’. The respected German car magazine Auto, Motor und Sport held a similar view. It suggested that sports cars should be [...]
New purist Porsche 911 Carrera T goes back to basics November 18, 2024 Want the purest Porsche 911 experience? The new 2025 Carrera T does without all-wheel drive or a towering rear spoiler. Instead, Porsche has gone back to basics, with an ‘emphasis on driving fun’. Most significantly, the PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox is not available on the Carrera T – even as an option. Every car will [...]
The music of Louis Armstrong in this stirring Democratic Republic of Congo documentary November 18, 2024 Music, history, and politics intersect in this dense Democratic Republic of Congo documentary that informs as well as overwhelms. A Cold War-themed story of rebellion, espionage, and geopolitical intrigue, Soundtrack to a Coup D’etat is set during 1960 as the Republic elects its first independent leader. At the same time, the US begins to send [...]
Italy holidays: swap the Amalfi Coast for this town with less tourists and beautiful vistas November 18, 2024 Italy holidays: In this quiet, Amalfi-adjacent coastal town, a much-loved Italian Count and his creations lie beneath a towering Christ the Redeemer WHERE: Swerving the Amalfi Coast, I took advantage of a new twice-a-week flight from London Stansted to Salerno and instead pivoted south on a spacious and picturesque 90-minute Italo train to Maratea, Potenza, [...]
Forget Paddington: Peru comes properly to life on a trip with Belmond November 18, 2024 En vogue right now due to Paddington, Peru is best seen by train, especially a Belmond train, writes Alexandra Pereira, who went on a pilgrimage in memory of her late friend A ruby-red Gothic typeface on the front of a bus adjacent to mine glows against the cornflower blue skies overhead as we creep into [...]
Memories of a Burning Body review: beautiful ode to women November 16, 2024 Three lifetimes of memories are used to inspire this novel docudrama from Costa Rica. Memories of a Burning Body incorporates interviews from three women over 65 about their lives, loves, and trauma. All three are encapsulated in the character of The Woman (Sol Carballo), walking around her apartment contemplating old age and the stories of [...]
Aston Martin Vanquish 2024 review: Veni, vidi, Vanquish November 15, 2024 Remember when Daniel Craig replaced Pierce Brosnan in the role of James Bond? Britain’s least secret agent was as sharp and urbane as ever, but a newly powerful physique lurked beneath his Savile Row suit. If Brosnan is the Aston Martin DB12, Craig is the new Vanquish. Positioned above the DB12 and replacing the DBS [...]
Gladiator II: 2024 sequel is bigger and bloodier, but Paul Mescal isn’t the best bit November 14, 2024 Gladiator II review and star rating: ★★★★☆ Of all the long-delayed comebacks this year, Gladiator II seemed the most puzzling. Mostly because the star of the original, Russell Crowe, was unlikely to return given his character Maximus very famously dies at the end. Nevertheless, 24 years on from the Oscar winning classic, a new take [...]
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button musical review: Intriguing but exhausting November 14, 2024 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button musical review: ★★★★ Let’s face it, when thinking about classic novels that stir the soul, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is among the weirdest. The idea of a bloke who ages backwards is unnerving, but nevertheless the novel – and subsequent film with Brad Pitt [...]