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

I'd like to write fiction. Perhaps at some stage.

There is a very big difference between American and British travel journalism, and that's this whole business of the assisted or freebie trip. In Britain we are unashamed about any travel company paying for you to go and then writing about it. That's the only way we can do it. But I have tried the same in the States, and I can't write for any sizeable American newspaper because they tell you to do it on this basis.

I wonder if this reason is partly geographical, that talk radio is so much more successful in North America than in Britain? People who are very remote - I'm thinking of Newfoundland - feel very connected though the radio.

I think one should express opinions and these books are relatively opinionated. They would be a bit dry without it.

The noise that we can expect in the future will only increase and we'll be wishing for rural Portugal or something like that.

In Western Civilization - America and Britain - if you see people talking and it becomes an argument and voices are raised, you are not surprised if violence follows. Hopefully it won't, but you are not surprised.