It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82, that you are in a sort of wonderland. Nothing is quite right: the buildings, they've got their own architecture, their own language; and everything is just a little bit off key.

Buenos Aires is my favorite city. I think it's fantastic - but is a troubled, sort of psychologically troubled city.

What I really like about Cuba is that you can go into a local bar in a provincial town and you'll get jazz played at the highest standard - played often a cappella, or certainly with no amplification or whatever. Even if you are not knowledgeable about music, and I am not, you can find yourself really enjoying it.

One does have to learn to travel with a degree of humility and that reflected in writing and personality.

I am always surprised when people do get upset. Perhaps its just the nutty people who write to newspapers who get upset.

Radio is very popular [in Britain], but it doesn't connect us in the same way. It seems to have this community function.

I would love to write a book that opens people's eyes to the more interesting side.