The kibbutz is experiencing a revival this summer, with a new Israeli marketing campaign which
high lights 140 communes across the country as travel destinations. Working on the collective farm
of a kibbutz was a hippy rite of passage in decades past, but Israel (whose second largest city Tel Aviv
is a bmi destination) now thinks today’s ecologically-aware young people may once again be up for
the challenge. Or is that just wishful thinking? For more information visit www.kibbutzvolunteer.com
House of the spiriti
Not everyone believes in ghosts, but you might still believe a long weekend spent looking for them is fun. With its faded grandeur and convenient location 50 minutes from Venice, Castle Brando (pictured) is one of the most beautiful but apparently spooky locations which the rather unusual travel company Haunting Breaks (www.hauntingbreaks.com) recommends to ghost-hunters. The 2,000-year-old castle’s former guests are said to have included Dante, Vivaldi and Casanova, so a classier calibre of supernatural presence may reside here. Cynics may find the paranormal investigation class, which includes the use of dowsing rods and crystals, too much to bear, in this life or the next. But founder Carol Bowen, who tells voyager she has been a psychic all her life, says: “Some of the most dramatic experiences have happened to sceptics who were just along for the ride.” So how does Bowen explain the appeal? “It’s something different for people who’ve already tried bungee jumping, go-karting and everything else. It’s a lovely weekend break but with a paranormal experience.”
Underwater love
When sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor built an underwater sculpture park in Grenada in the Caribbean, he attracted a wave of international media interest that landed him a seat on Richard & Judy’s sofa. Now, for the first time, de Caires Taylor has created underwater sculptures in south-east England. On the riverbed of The Stour in his hometown of Canterbury, Kent (an hour and a half by train from London’s Victoria Station), he has installed two new sculptures of female forms (one is pictured). Cast in concrete and recycled glass, they are illuminated at night. What’s been the public’s reaction? “It’s amazing in one day to meet someone who has stood staring in admiration for over an hour, followed by someone who asked if taxpayers are funding this rubbish,” remarks the artist. Well, voyager likes them, Jason; www.underwatersculpture.com
Send me a postcard
Photographer Martin Parr started collecting unusual postcards 35 years ago, but he didn’t imagine it would result in a horde of 20,000 cards. His new book features 750 examples, ranging from the historic to the eccentric, and while some are more worthy than others, together they form an interesting record of Britain’s ideas about travel. They also show that, in the email and texting age, perhaps there’s still no other missive quite as charming. Postcards By Martin Parr (£29.95; www.chrisboot.com)
Catch the bigger view
If you’re planning a trip to Edinburgh, make the time to get out of the city to see what its surroundings have to offer. Small business Wild Green Travel organises excursions starting and ending in Edinburgh, including a three-day seafood tour around the Highlands and Skye (£139), where you can meet local fishermen and, when back in the city, eat some of their catch. You can also request a bespoke itinerary; www.wildgreentravel.com
Women of the world
Independent women are getting out there and experiencing world travel by themselves, according to Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com). Women accounted for 67% of customers booking adventure holiday experiences through the website last year, of which 37% were booked by women travelling alone. “It’s long been recognised that women wear the trousers when it comes to holiday decisions,” says cofounder Justin Francis.Experiences in bmi destinations you can book through the site include a visit to the Grand Canyon (fly to Las Vegas) and the chance to bathe in the natural hot springs in Aleppo, Syria.
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