anyone
who’s ever played with Airfix models
should recognise that distinctive plastic frame.
All the parts for the Spitfire, submarine or
whatever toy you were building were attached
to it, and the first job was to break them off,
before sticking it all together with superglue,
often along with your fingers.
This month, we’ve used the concept to
illustrate our 50 greatest travel experiences,
because, like Airfix, there’s a strong do-it-
yourself element to the selection. With just a
plane ticket and a sense of adventure, anyone
can build their own amazing trip – whether it’s
trekking inside a volcano, viewing the sunrise
over Petra or just eating the world’s best pizza.
I hope you have as much fun reading it as we
did putting it all together. It starts on page 74.
Did I mention how chuffed we were with
the cover? One of the reasons is that it’s not
a product of Photoshop wizardry. We actually
built the model for real using a process known
as 3D printing, where a solid object can be,
quite literally, printed off from just a computer
design. It’s pretty spectacular technology –
and geeks predict it won’t be long before we all
have such printers in our homes, churning out
everyday objects and saving a trip to the shops.
We also think it’s the first time any magazine
has ever used the technology to make a cover.
Read the full story on page 8.
You might have noticed some other big
changes too. Not only have we increased
the page size and freshened up the look,
but we’ve got some great new features that
really highlight how accessible, diverse and
whimsical travel can be. These include a
monthly challenge (in this issue we sent a
writer to Budapest to spend three days using
dice to make every decision, p47) and a regular,
called Perfect 10, which reveals exactly how to
have a perfect day out for just €10. This month:
Venice (p37). Enjoy the issue and happy travels.
/
simon kurs
Can you tell
what it is yet?
E D I T O R ' S
L E T T E R
I’m talking, of course, about this
month’s rather splendid cover.
Word from
Traveller HQ…
The things exciting
us this month
ILLUSTRATION ANNEKA LANGE. COVER PHOTO PIXELEYES
Star quality
The early leaking of Michelin’s
2013
guide had us scrabbling
to see where next to head for a
culinary city break. One of the
least surprising inclusions was
London’s Dabbous. Now, it’s
going to be even more difficult
to get a table…
Joy ride
The dapper black bikes you can
hire at Copenhagen’s Avenue
Hotel (complete with basket)
were a fabulous way to explore
the city while there on our
The
Killing
Tour. Read all about it on
page 56.
Shaken and stirred
Not only does
Skyfall
mark a
return to form for 007, it’s also
a globetrotter's dream. From
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the
Scottish Highlands, it's like one
big advert for the highlights of
our network.
Chilling read
We’ve scared ourselves
silly with
I Remember You
,
a
terrifying ghost
story from Iceland’s
most famous crime
writer. Apparently
a film version is in
the pipeline too.
We can't wait.
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W E L C O M E
