Tom Flanagan

Journalist. Writer. Sub-editor. Music. Food. Books. Cities. In search of curiosities and nostalgia.

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3 mythical islands that actually exist

Islands have long been the canvas onto which dreams, legends and purgatories have been projected; some, in particular, featuring in enduring myths that have been passed down through generations. But rather than being purely fiction, some of these island stories were in fact inspired by real events and places. Mythological savants and enthusiasts take note – we’ve found three legendary islands whose history is more than just myth.
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A walking tour beyond Amsterdam's city centre

Most Amsterdam visitors tend to gravitate towards its Red Light District (known as De Wallen) and old city centre of rickety townhouses and concentric canals. But the neighbourhoods beyond this are filled with lesser-known delights that are worth exploring. We looked at data detailing the places travellers frequent outside of the typical tourist zones and mapped out a walking route highlighting the west of Amsterdam – here are the essential sights, bites and stops to make time for.*
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City walks for hopeless romantics

Get swept up in the romance of some of the world’s finest city walks, meandering through historic, narrow alleyways and across archipelagos with rousing panoramas. Here are three of the world’s most seductive urban walking trails. For the romantic, walks in London invite you down hidden passageways and up ambling paths. One such route goes from the Strand in central London all the way up to panoramic Primrose Hill. Start on the steps of the neoclassical St. Martin-in-the-Fields just off Trafalg
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A food lover's guide to northern France

Perhaps no country has a history quite so steeped in gastronomic tradition as France does. Knowing where to go and where each dish originates, is crucial to successful feasting in this culinary realm – which is why we’re put together a list of the regions and their signature foods, starting in northern France. France’s most northwesterly region is the land of the crêpe. This paper-thin, delicate batter is adored all over the world, and there’s no better place to try it than at a crêperie in Bri
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Rising cities: French travellers

Travel is often associated with change and rejuvenation. So for travellers seeking new beginnings, we decided to look into the destinations around the world that have recently enjoyed something of a renaissance themselves. Thanks to periods of economic boom, artistic injection and favourable political landscapes, these cities have been catapulted into the travel-loving public's conscience. Continuing our series, we’re turning to French travellers and the global cities increasingly on their rada
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Breaking bread: a history of Montréal’s bagels

The Montréal-style bagel (or simply the Montréal bagel) is distinct among the extensive bagel family. Unlike its infamous New York-style cousin, the Montréal variant is an entirely different but equally delicious eat. But where did it come from and where can you go for the very best bagel? We’ve looked into this iconic baked treat and its history, and have gone in search of Montréal’s winning combinations. The bagel has become synonymous with Montréal, but its rise to iconic status is a hazy ta
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Italy's most romantic destinations

Italy has an innate sense of romance; crumbly lemon-coloured homes clinging to jagged cliffs, remote fishing villages, and misty lake towns only reached by boat. It’s a country with the power to move you and these hideaways prove that at least in Italy, romance is alive and well.* Colourful, mountainous and iconic, Portofino is a masterclass in Italy’s incorruptible elan. A small, picturesque fishing village, its patchwork charm has magnetised the world’s elite and honeymooners to its once hidd
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Breaking bread: the history of the pretzel

The pretzel has a history as twisted as the snack itself. Baked in knotted, figure-of-eight designs, it’s an ever-evolving foodstuff. Continuing our series on global bread culture, we’ve looked into this beloved bake and its history, and have gone in search of the very best pretzels out there. The origins of the pretzel have been heavily disputed, and its evolution no less tumultuous. Certain (unverified) sources claim the pretzel first appeared back in 610 AD, when a monk in Italy baked strips
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Explore Poland's timeless milk bars

Poland’s culinary renaissance is in full swing and its milk bars remain a staple in the food scene. Ubiquitous across the country, milk bars (or Bar Mleczny in Polish) are simple, unpretentious cafeteria-style eateries serving affordable, traditional and nourishing food. A symbol of old Poland, the milk bar has trodden a precarious past back into the present. We’ve looked into its humble history and a few of the best places to try. The very first milk bar opened back in 1896. The brainchild of
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Steins and summer days in Germany's beer gardens

Beer gardens have reverential status in Germany. Originating in Bavaria, beer gardens – biergartens – grew from the need for shaded areas that would keep the beer cellars below them cool. The custom of drinking beer outdoors soon grew in popularity and thus the beer gardens were born. These days not much has changed, and when the sun comes out, you’ll find flocks of locals congregating in the sunshine with hefty glass tankards in hand and sizeable portions of hearty German food. If you’re looki
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On the rise – Toronto’s booming craft beer scene

Toronto has carved out a reputation as a destination for craft beer. Microbreweries and brewpubs seem to be sprouting on every avenue and street corner, giving you endless choices. There’s no harm in trying them all, but we’ve whittled down our list to the absolute winners for when you’re in The 416. Bonds run deep at Blood Brothers Brewing, and nothing, it would seem, unites people more than a perfect brew. Formed by two brothers who wanted full creative control over the brewing process and fl
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Epic and enthralling hiking trails in Canada

The hiking options in Canada are endless. Its dramatic landscape has led to the creation of innumerable trails that weave through the land, dedicated to those in search of true wilderness. Where to begin and where to end can be an impossible choice, which is why we’ve picked five walks guaranteed to amaze and enthrall. Clinging to North America’s easternmost coastline, The East Coast Trail is over 300km of spectacular maritime trail. Along it, towering salt-crusted sea stacks, lonely lighthouse
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Where to drink Guinness in Ireland

It’s true what they say – Guinness does taste better in Ireland. It’s the nation’s most popular drink and there’s much to be said for the way it’s poured and the spirited atmosphere it’s served in. For creamy pints and more, these are the hidden away places that prove Guinness is more than just your everyday stout. Dubbed ‘the home of the pint’, Mulligans is renowned for the quality of its Guinness. Established by the Mulligan family in 1854, this pub has seen the likes of Judy Garland, JFK and
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Discover the world's oddest animal adventures

Intrepid explorers and animals lovers alike know that spotting wildlife or stumbling upon a magnificent creature in its natural habitat is a big proponent of travel. And while all sights are spectacular in their own right, in the animal kingdom, some are more unusual than others. These trips prove just that. Play with puppies at the Golden Retriever Festival in Alva, Scotland Arguably a contender for the world’s most adorable festival, the Golden Retriever Festival in Scotland is a must for an
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A tour of Europe's most spellbinding deserts

Europe has an abundance of natural beauty, and while you may not think it, deserts do in fact dot the continent’s landscape. For nature enthusiasts and adventurers planning their next trip, stop by one of these deserts for an altogether alternative experience. Poland may summon visions of the glittering Masurian lakes and the rugged Tatra Mountains, but it’s also home to the Błędów Desert. Dubbed the “Polish Sahara”, it’s a tidy area of sand squashed in between the villages of Chechło and Klucz
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Canada's 5 most beautiful islands

Imagine pine-clad archipelagoes and lonely isles cupped by the waves and shrouded in low-lying mists. A trip to Canada’s many islands is a journey into nature’s most contemplative side. Here are five of the best. Arguably Canada’s most renowned island, Vancouver Island is a snapshot of the supreme beauty of the Canadian outdoors. Swathes of pine forests crest rocky mountain tops while below, sleepy fishing villages dot the shores of the inky waters that envelop the island. Vancouver Island is
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Plan a Brothers Grimm route through Germany

Once upon a time the Brothers’ Grimm released their iconic collection of folk stories Children’s and Household Tales, inspired by the fantastical German landscape. For an alternative introduction to Germany, take the official Fairy Tale Route and stop by some of the places that inspired The Pied Piper and Little Red Riding Hood, and spin yourself a Grimm tale of your own – just with a happier ending. Birthplace of the Grimms in Hanau, Hesse The birthplace of the Brothers Grimm, Hanau is also
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7 strange and spectacular Japanese islands

Japan is a blend of eclecticism and natural beauty, and its many islands perfectly embody this unique character. For those heading to the Land of the Rising Sun, these strange and spectacular islands are not to be missed. Far-flung, mysterious and unmissable, Aogashima Island is technically part of the Tokyo prefecture – even though it’s 358 kilometres south of the capital. Notoriously difficult to reach, it’s a volcanic island with a distinctive look; mossy cliffs rise in a circle around the i