Robert Elms: My Life In Travel
'In Colombia we went to Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 60th birthday party'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.First holiday memory?
First holiday memory?
I went to Lloret del Mar on the Costa Brava with three school friends in 1975. It was the first time I had been abroad. I was trying to find barmen and girls who would say "yes"; I found the barmen, but not the girls.
Best holiday?
Spain is the country I love most. We have a house in Andalucia, so all our holidays have been there for the past five years or so and they have tended to be the best. But I have been to all sorts of places - Bhutan, Ethiopia, all over South America.
Favourite place in the British Isles?
I like Dungeness, it's a fantastic place, very bleak and beautiful. It also has the largest shingle expanse in the world.
Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?
I like a beach, but it really helps if there's a city nearby. I don't like manufactured resorts. I like going to football matches and bullfights.
Greatest travel luxury?
A short-wave radio. It's fantastic to be in a valley in Bhutan and hear London calling.
Where has seduced you?
Colombia is fantastic. My wife and I rented an 18th-century conquistador house in Cartagena for our 10-week honeymoon and our neighbour turned out to be Gabriel Garcia Marquez. We went to his 60th birthday party.
Worst holiday?
I've never had a disastrous holiday, but I'd never go back to Greece. Food is quite important to me and I really didn't enjoy the food there.
Worst hotel?
A hotel in Ethiopia that didn't have a roof because it had fallen in. It didn't have electricity either. Thankfully, it didn't rain while we were there.
Favourite walk/swim/ ride/drive?
My favourite walk is along the banks of the Guadalquivir in Seville. On the day of a bullfight, there's nothing I like better than to walk from my favourite bar to the ring. Everybody dresses up, including me - I've always got a suit on when I do that walk. There's no place I'd rather be than there at that moment.
First thing you do when you go somewhere new?
Go out and get lost. I like to walk with no idea of where I'm going to get a sense of the place.
Dream trip?
To really get to know Mexico. I'd love to explore properly, dressed as a Mexican cowboy!
Favourite city?
Mexico City or Seville. They are similar in some ways. They share similar manners.
Where next?
Venice, then Istanbul.
'The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads' by Robert Elms (Picador, £12.99) is in bookshops now
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments