It is not long before we reach the colourful seaside town of Dangriga.
It's been a gruelling journey that began on the Tube in east London and ended, four flights and 36 hours later, in a bumpy drive through the colourful shanty towns that line the road to Blantyre.
It was a remarkable scene, one that seemed to have instant resonance in the long and colourful history of Town Moor.
This may be a traditional-looking town – its colourful main square is like a miniature Krakow – but next year's new hotel opening is a little more modern.
It comes after the town's colourful elected mayor, English Democrat Peter Davies, said he wanted such a by-law to be introduced.
266 Rua Passos Manuel, caferestaurantesantiago.com rachelm25 The fish market in Aviero, a short train ride from Porto, is central and hard to miss, and Mercado do Piexe restaurant sits on top of the market hall with views over the town's colourful houses and canal.
Húsavik is Iceland's whalewatching capital – a fishing town of colourful houses huddled around a small harbour.
Colourful markets grace most towns (the daily one in Tours is worth a stop), with everything from rich, varied charcuterie to speciality cheeses - try Sainte Maure de Touraine, a popular crumbly goat's cheese.
Follow the ribbon-like Romantic Road as it twists and turns its way across the region, taking you to gorgeous castles you have never heard of in towns with colourful architecture straight out of a film set.
