It's pretty cool how the internet has made the world smaller. If you want to take a 'virtual' trip- somewhere then just by looking up a webcam you're there in seconds seeing the place as it really is.


As a Netherlands obsessive I'm always checking out the country on various tourist sites and there's often a webcam or list of webcams at various famous areas. There's something exciting about seeing a city street from afar, traffic and pedestrians in motion, all watched by a tiny camera that nobody ever thinks about or notices.

The other thing about the internet is that it's also made booking holidays very easy. No need to go into town and queue at the travel agents, you can get everything from cheap ferry tickets to  detailed maps online, putting you in a position where you can plan a trip and buy tickets without any effort at all. And if you have a smartphone or a netbook, you can even do so on a whim while you sit in your favourite coffee outlet, sipping a cappuccino and dreaming about your upcoming adventures!

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam