A Mediterranean Adventure on Bolette

From Malta to Montenegro, Croatia to Corfu — a wonderful voyage through some of the most beautiful corners of the Mediterranean, with more than a few connections to the movies along the way.

There’s something rather special about travelling to places you’ve spent years talking about on screen.

During 24 wonderful nights aboard Bolette, we sailed from Liverpool through the Mediterranean and into the Adriatic — visiting Gibraltar, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, southern Italy, Corfu and finally Tangier.

And, inevitably, I kept finding connections with the movies.

Malta was a perfect example. Its extraordinary architecture and coastline have appeared in films including Gladiator, Troyand The Count of Monte Cristo. Walking through Valletta, it’s very easy to understand why filmmakers keep returning.

But there was one excursion I was particularly looking forward to.

When we reached Brindisi, I had planned to hire a car and drive to Castellaneta, the small town in Puglia where Rudolph Valentino was born in 1895.

After spending so much time researching and talking about Valentino, the chance to see where his story began was irresistible.

There was just one problem.

The Valentino museum was closed on the day we were there.

So Valentino will have to wait for another journey!

That is one of the things I love most about travelling. Sometimes it takes me somewhere completely unexpected; sometimes it brings me face to face with a story I already know — and very often, I come home with ideas for another talk.

I wonder where the movies will take me next.