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The Irish Sun
3 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Marcus Rashford's on-off romance with childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi from LA engagement to Barcelona reunion
MARCUS RASHFORD not only sealed his dream move to Barcelona this week but also his reunion with childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi. The forward has Advertisement 9 Marcus Rashford has rekindled his relationship with Lucia Loi Credit: Getty 9 She was often seen at games supporting the forward Credit: Getty 9 Rashford and Lucia started dating when they were at school Credit: lucialoi/instagram 9 However, their relationship has not been plain sailing Credit: Getty Rashford, 27, will be hoping the move to Spain can see him regain the form that made him one of the best in the Premier League. And he will have plenty of support from the pitchside from partner Luica. She was present while Rashford took part in his SunSport understands that the Red Devils exile asked Lucia, 26, to help him settle in Spain to allow him to focus on football. Advertisement READ MORE ON SPORT They were spotted together at the recording of his Barcelona announcement video. PR guru The couple first met while they were attending Aston on Mersey School in Manchester. They were in a relationship as Rashford made his stunning debut for Man United in the Europa League against FC Midtjylland in February 2016. Advertisement Most read in Football SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN It was a memorable match for the forward as he marked his competitive debut with a brace during the 5-1 win at Old Trafford. The relationship hit a rocky patch in 2021 during the Covid pandemic as they split, but only to reconcile the next year. Barcelona announce loan signing of Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford In June 2022, Advertisement He shared a picture of the moment on social media, which showed the pair sharing a kiss. The smooch was snapped as they stood in front of a stunning heart-shaped flower arrangement. Lucia was a regular backer of Rashford as she was often spotted in the Old Trafford stands cheering him on. 9 The couple got engaged in 2022 Credit: Instagram Advertisement 9 Rashford proposed in West Hollywood, California Credit: INstagram 9 Lucia was spotted with Rashford as he recorded content with Barcelona Credit: x 9 Rashford has joined the Spanish giants on loan Credit: Getty However, their Advertisement At the time, Lucia had gone on a social media blackout but The couple stayed in contact and even had dinner in Manchester later that year. Rashford was at the time romantically linked to model and former Love Island contestant . Advertisement A source has said that despite the fizzling of their engagement, they have continued to remain friends and have grown close again. They added: "Marcus knows that some of the best moments in his career have occurred when Lucia has been at his side. "They got together when they were very young and have had ups and downs, but a friendship has always remained. 9 Advertisement "He knows that she is good for him and she is one of the few people in the world he knows has got his best interests at heart. "She is very sensible and helps keep him grounded." Meanwhile, Rashford will be the first England international to wear Barcelona colours since Gary Lineker. The former Match of the Day host played there for three years between 1986 and 1989. Advertisement And he has been rewarded with the club's iconic No.14 shirt that has previously been worn by the likes of Johan Cruyff and Thierry Henry.
Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Are tour guide bots the future of Dublin tourism?
My tour guide Brendan greets me warmly. 'It's grand to see you,' he tells me, and promises to introduce me to the 'historical, cultural and iconic spots of Dublin'. The young man is vaguely hipster-ish, wearing a snood, with red hair in a trendy undercut, perfect teeth and a distinct Dublin accent, boasting of the 'magnetism of my city' with a playful glint in his eyes. He's about to take me on a tour of some of the capital's most historic and interesting buildings, filling me in on their cultural and significance. Rose Mary Roche with Brendan at Christ Church. Pic: Tom Honan But most intriguingly of all, Brendan is not real, he's completely computer-generated. Dublin City Council recently launched a new app in conjunction with CityMe that features Brendan as Dublin's first AI tour guide. CityMe describes itself as an 'artificial intelligence urban tourism audio company' which develops 'local' AI guides. Its tag line insists: 'With CityMe AI-guides, any city is your city.' Pic: Getty Images To date, it has created city guides for London, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and Seville with future plans for Berlin, Rome, Malaga, New York and Cadiz. The dominance of Spanish cities reflects that CityMe is a Spanish company. The Dublin app was developed in co-operation with Dublin City Council's Smart Dublin initiative, which aims to use tech solutions to improve services and quality of life in the capital. Once you download the app to your mobile, it gives access to over 540 locations across Dublin city. There are six tour neighbourhoods – Stoneybatter/Smithfield, The Liberties, City Centre North/O'Connell Street, Old City/Temple Bar, Stephen's Green/Portobello, and Trinity College/Docklands, with each having a dedicated introduction and options to explore individual locations in detail. Rose Mary Roche with Brendan at Dublin Castle. Pic: Tom Honan By using geolocation and the latest in AI audio tech, Brendan will provide real-time narration in what is described as a 'warm, locally-informed storytelling style' about these places, which include eateries, museums, galleries and theatres, bars and nightlife venues, streets and monuments and shops. The response from Dublin's human tour guides to Brendan has been mixed. Pat Liddy, a famous tour guide who runs walking tours in Dublin is not against the idea. 'I have absolutely no problem with this Brendan AI,' Liddy, who has over 20 years of experience, observes. 'It will be great for independent travellers. I don't anticipate it replacing the need for tour guiding as many people, tour operators and corporates still appreciate the human interaction and the great depth of knowledge and flexibility of our tour guides.' Garvan Rushe of Dublin Walking Tours, who provides private bespoke tours of Dublin, doesn't feel threatened by apps like CityMe, but stresses that they miss out on the human connection that most tourists want. 'Thinking that tourists are coming here and they just need a live version of a guidebook is kind of superficial,' he says. 'It doesn't really understand that yes, for some people maybe reading a guidebook or having the AI equivalent is sufficient, but more and more people are seeing the benefits of having a tour guide. 'For us it's more about connecting with the person than it is about giving them information, So that's kind of another level. 'When I started tour guiding I came from a history background so for me I thought the most important thing was history. The more I did it, the more I realised that it is about talking to people and connecting with people. That's what people want, they want to meet real Irish people.' Garvan emphasises that people want to immerse in a culture. 'I think all tourists would like to not be in a tourism bubble, and meeting a local, meeting an Irish person, having them talk to you about their city, their culture, their history, their everything, gives so much more fulfilment and contextual information than an AI tool, or any sort of tool that ostensibly tries to replace living tour guides. 'There is a place for it – these apps are always going to come along, so it's interesting to see what they do. From my point of view, as a tour guide who does private tours, I'm don't feel threatened by it, and I feel like even in 100 years people will be travelling to different countries and desiring human connection rather than just information. 'In seeing a city without connecting with the people, you might as well be visiting a ruin, because a city without its people, that is called a ruin.' To test the accuracy of Brendan's abilities as a tour guide, I visited five of the locations he describes on the app to evaluate his performance. This has been a religious site for over 1,000 years and Brendan correctly identifies that it is 'one of Dublin's most historic buildings' with a structure on the site since 1030. He goes on to highlight the mummified cat and rat on display in the crypt – which were found preserved in an organ pipe in the cathedral – and the stunning views of the city from the tower. He omits to mention that Christchurch was the burial place of Strongbow, aka Richard de Clare, leader of the Anglo Normans, who captured Dublin in 1170, or that it also reportedly holds the heart of Saint Laurence O'Toole, patron saint of Dublin, who was buried in France in 1180 but whose heart was brought back to Dublin, stolen in 2012 and then recovered in 2018. Some major omissions here, I think. Dublin Castle is described by Brendan as at the heart of Dublin city and 'steeped in power, intrigue and transformation' and that 'every step echoes with history'. He correctly states that the original castle was built in 1204 by King John and that the only surviving part of the medieval structure is the Record Tower, which dates from the 13th century. I learn that the castle was the workplace of the Dracula author Bram Stoker from 1871 to 1878, when he was a British civil servant, and that its gloomy corridors might have influenced his description of Dracula's Transylvanian lair. I was aware already of the unsolved theft of the Irish Crown Jewels from a locked strongroom in the castle in 1907, so it was good to hear this highlighted by Brendan. He also stressed the symbolic importance of the handing over of the castle to the new Irish Provisional Government in 1922 as 'a powerful moment marking the end of British rule'. Overall, a scant summary of the castle and its role as the symbolic seat of British power in Dublin. This famous hostelry, named for its locale, sits in what Brendan calls 'the most vibrant and historic of neighbourhoods'. He explains that the entire area is named after William Temple, and that throughout the centuries it has gone from a rough patch of land beside the Liffey to a wealthy neighbourhood to a red-light district and today, to a tourism hotspot. The Temple Bar, open since 1840, is he says 'a mecca for music lovers' with live trad music daily and over 450 types of whiskey where 'the craic just never stops'. He describes it as possessing 'the soul of an old-school Irish pub' but it presents more as a dedicated tourist operation to me. Brendan omits that the pub building is listed by Dublin City Council on its Record of Protected Structures or that the Guinness World Record for the longest guitar-playing marathon was set by David Browne at Temple Bar back in 2011. Nor is the Dublin entrepreneur Hugh O'Regan, a former co-owner, mentioned having been instrumental in fighting to save the area from becoming a bus station and securing EU funding to restore Temple Bar. Brendan's description of Trinity College is effusive, identifying it as a 'prestigious university' where you need to wear your 'best garb' and that it was founded by Elizabeth I as part of a campaign to create Protestant institutions in Ireland. He names former pupils including Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and Eavan Boland, but doesn't explain that the Eavan Boland Library is the new name for the main library, formerly known as the Berkeley Library. The building was recently re-named due to controversy about George Berkeley's status as a slave owner during his life. Brendan correctly namechecks Trinity's architect as William Chambers, describing its classical design with 'impressive porticos' and the 'soaring ceilings' of its famous library that houses over '200,000 priceless volumes' including the Book of Kells created in 800 AD. He does not go into any detail however about the ban imposed by the Catholic Church, forbidding Catholics from attending Trinity without special dispensation, which was not lifted until 1970. He concludes that it is a 'must-see', which is hard to dispute, but it is a pretty superficial summary of the college. Oscar Wilde is described by Brendan as a 'brilliant, flamboyant Irish man who was unapologetically, flamboyantly gay', an assertion that omits to mention his marriage to Constance or his two sons. He goes on to say he 'dismantled hypocrisy with elegance, humour and style' in famous works like The Importance of Being Earnest, The Happy Prince and The Picture of Dorian Gray, and briefly references his downfall due to his homosexual affair with Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosey), which was 'criminalised by the laws of the time'. He then describes the statue of Oscar by Danny Osborne as 'delightfully unconventional' but omits that it was commissioned by Guinness or that it wasn't erected until almost 100 years after his death, due to the lingering scandal. He does say it is as 'clever and layered as the writer it celebrates' and captures the 'flamboyance and genius of the man himself'. He also describes Oscar as a GOAT (the greatest of all time), which strikes me as inappropriate, bearing in mind Wilde was a writer with a rapier wit and not a heavyweight boxer. While the CityMe app is easy to use and the information seems largely accurate, the audio excerpts describing each location are brief, most are one to two minutes, and with repeated listening sound increasingly generic and repetitive. Everything is described in terms of uncritical hyperbole and there is no acknowledgment that history is messy, complicated and layered. I suppose the absence of nuance and context are a feature of the AI nature of the 'content' but I don't see Brendan posing a substantial threat to experienced flesh-and-blood tour guides with a deep knowledge and love of Dublin. On the plus side, for solo travellers with limited time or resources, the app could serve as an introduction to the events and people that have shaped our capital. I have found myself dipping into it regularly since downloading to check out familiar Dublin buildings or landmarks that I have always wondered about. Especially for smaller, quirkier places like the Sacred Heart Shrine in Pimlico, the Sunlight Chambers decorative panels on the quays and the Jesus of the Taxi Drivers of Cathal Brugha Street, it answers questions about how and why they came to be. If Brendan can encourage more of us to be tourists in our own capital, then he can be a positive by helping us to appreciate the vivid and varied history of Dublin. But from my own experience, visiting foreign cities and having them brought vividly to life by fantastic guides with a passion for their subject, I would always opt for a human to educate me about a new place, not an AI-generated spectre. Sorry, Brendan.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
We swapped cocktails in Ibiza for summer holiday in Afghanistan… why it's become unlikely tourist hotspot for Brit women
STROLLING along a pristine street adorned with shrines glittering in the sunshine and cafes offering tasty local delicacies, Carrie Patsalis snaps a photo for her holiday album. But this isn't a city break in the Advertisement 21 Carrie Patsalis swapped cocktails in Ibiza for a holiday to Afghanistan Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Unlike local women who aren't allowed out of their homes, Carrie was able to soak up the culture and enjoy local delicacies Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie visited cultural monuments and shrines during her trip to the country, which is under strict Taliban rule Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Despite its oppressive regime and appalling human rights record - and an advisory against all travel to the country from the UK government - Carrie is one of a growing number of British women who have swapped cocktails in Ibiza for a holiday in one of the world's top terror hotspots. Only 691 tourists are believed to have visited the country in 2021, but this rose to an estimated 5,200 in 2023 as the government is trying to encourage more tourism. Earlier this month the Taliban launched a warped campaign to lure more visitors, complete with a bizarre video showing spoof hostages and gunmen in the back of pick-up trucks and frolicking in lakes amid stunning mountain scenery. Ever since Afghanistan - which doesn't have a British embassy - was seized by Taliban authorities in 2021, its citizens have experienced Advertisement READ MORE FEATURES In August last year women's voices were banned from being heard outside of the house and they are not allowed to visit public parks, gyms or use transport without a male chaperone. Authorities dictate how they dress, and Afghan women do not have access to education beyond primary school level. Anyone who is critical of the Taliban regime faces being tortured. However, it is slowly becoming an unlikely destination for brave travellers looking for a true culture shock. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Home-stays are not allowed and tourists can only stay in hotels verified by the Taliban. Carrie, a media producer from Wanstead, London, travelled by herself to Afghanistan for 10 days, accompanied by a male tour guide. Taliban launches warped Afghan TOURISM campaign with vid of brutes posing beside 'hostage' in ISIS-style mock execution Just six days after she left, a terrorist attack saw three Spanish tourists killed in the Bamiyan province, the largest in the Central region. A tour guide Carrie met during a trip to neighbouring Pakistan encouraged her to visit Afghanistan, insisting it would 'blow her mind'. Advertisement But it took two years before she even considered it as she didn't want to support the controversial Taliban regime. She eventually decided she wanted to see for herself what local life was like for Afghan people. After extensive research she found a local guide she felt comfortable with who helped her book the trip and answered questions over FaceTime. Carrie told The Sun: "He said, 'You've got to come, it'll blow your mind, it's not what you think.' Advertisement 'I was like, 'No way, absolutely not.' I felt like if I went I was supporting something I don't agree with. The first thing that struck me was how super clean the streets were. Everything was very quiet and calm. You'd imagine it would be carnage and it wasn't Carrie Patsalis 'It took me a lot of time and consideration, and then I just thought, 'Maybe if I go, I can see how local life is and we can talk about it on social media.' "It was a risk but I felt I'd done enough research." Carrie only told her husband and 16-year-old twin sons about the trip to avoid scaring the rest of her family. Advertisement It cost her just over £1,100 for a return flight to Afghanistan, and she stopped off for two days in Dubai to collect her visa which cost around £220. Landing at Kabul International Airport on May 2 last year, she was surprised to be greeted by 'massive smiles'. She recalled: "I was nervous flying in as there is no British embassy. Hospitals are not well-equipped at all. I took my own medical supplies in and I went in very, very steady. "The first thing that struck me was how super clean the streets were. Everything was very quiet and calm. You'd imagine it would be carnage and it wasn't. Advertisement "Afghan people are very kind, sweet and shy. You notice immediately there are no women on the streets." Unpleasant encounter 21 Carrie visited 'White Flag Hill', home to a large white flag raised by the Taliban that features the Islamic declaration of faith in black writing Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie was shocked when a local man asked her for a picture, only to be escorted away by Taliban guards Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media During her stay in Kabul, the capital, she visited stunning shrines, reflected on the impact of War at Babur Garden and tasted local delicacies. Advertisement One day she visited 'White Flag Hill', home to a large white flag raised by the Taliban that features the Islamic declaration of faith in black writing. Feeling out of place as the only woman up the hill, she was shocked to witness a local man be punished simply for asking to take a photo with her. Carrie said: "I noticed that the men up there were intrigued [by me] but also backing away from me. "One young guy came up to me and was like, 'It's amazing to see you here' and we had a chat. Taliban guards were floating like sharks. Advertisement 'He said to me, 'Can I take a photo with you?' "The Taliban guard came and pushed him in the back of the head and took him off. I assume he got his photo deleted and we have to hope that nothing more happened. 'It's a real shame because for me in my world, everything he did was normal. White Flag Hill was not pleasant." Days later she took a one-hour flight to Kandahar, a city Advertisement I noticed that the men up there were intrigued [by me] but also backing away from me Carrie Patsalis With Taliban checkpoints and patrols, Carrie was 'nervous' about stepping foot in a place with such strict government control. 'It just felt a lot more serious there,' she said. Sniffer dogs and armed Taliban guards lined the airport and Carrie was struck by the heightened security checks for tourists, which saw her bag checked five times. She feared one of her camera sticks could be mistaken for a weapon, but it wasn't that which generated panic. Advertisement Carrie said: "I remembered the very last thing I'd shoved in my bag was a purple Victoria's Secret bra. "One of the guys managed to pull the bra out by its strap so it dangled lengthways in the air for quite some time. "The remaining four men looked horrified and clearly didn't know what to do with themselves. "The main guy had seemingly frozen and suddenly he dropped the bra as if it was a grenade." Advertisement The incident ended up cutting short what could have been a gruelling search process - as guards accepted Carrie's offer to help repack the offending garment and the rest of her bag. Trailed by Taliban guard s 21 In Kandahar, Carrie's tour guide drove her through the lively city for a day of visiting the beautiful mosques and historic landmarks Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie was trailed the whole day by a man on a motorbike, seemingly a Taliban guard keeping an eye on her Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie captured the man on the bike on her camera Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Local Afghan women are denied an education past primary school age Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media In Kandahar, Carrie's tour guide drove her through the lively city for a day of visiting the beautiful mosques and historic landmarks such as the Friday Mosque, known for housing the cloak of the Prophet Muhammad. During the six-hour trip, the tour guide parked up the car to allow Carrie to admire the historical shrines. Carrie was trailed the whole time by a guy on a motorbike, who she figured was a Taliban member linked to the tourism office, ordered to keep an eye on her. Advertisement Carrie said: "He was always at a bit of a distance but he was always there. Every time we went to a shrine he was there about 10 or 20 feet away. "If I turned my head he'd turn and pretend to be looking at the mosque. He obviously assumed I was oblivious. The guard was always at a bit of a distance but he was always there. Every time we went to a shrine he was there about 10 or 20 feet away Carrie Patsalis 'When we went for lunch he parked down the side of the restaurant and sure enough drove out when we drove off. "He followed us for the rest of the day and then went off." Advertisement Carrie realised she was an 'unusual' site in Afghanistan given the lack of tourists and freedom for women. "Obviously they're wary of me,' she said. 'They've been bombed for years so they're not going to just let anyone in. "If you go in knowing and understanding why they might be frightened of you then you will understand why they are following you. "I'd rather the Taliban know where I am because they can see I'm not doing anything dodgy. Advertisement "It's really easy to wrap up an entire nation with a regime but actually most of the people, even if they work for the Taliban, they work for the Taliban to put food on the table. "It doesn't necessarily mean they support the oppression of women." Foreign privilege 21 Throughout her travels Carrie couldn't forget her 'foreign privilege' as unlike local women, she could visit public places Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Carrie said her trip to Afghanistan was incredibly rewarding and she wants to go back Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Carrie recommends anyone interested in travelling to Afghanistan does their research beforehand Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Throughout her travels Carrie couldn't forget her 'foreign privilege' as unlike local women, she could visit public places, which she admitted 'didn't sit right'. While she encourages others to experience the country's 'beautiful culture', she urges people to be 'completely aware of the risks' before travelling there. Carrie said: "My trip to Afghanistan was incredibly rewarding and I do want to go back. Advertisement 'What I wouldn't do is say, 'Sure, go and book your flight now.' 'It is a regime that is not recognised politically by many governments around the world. If you go you must be completely aware of the risks and it must be a risk you are willing to take. "But when we only talk about the Taliban and women we lose the opportunity to celebrate what is a beautiful culture." 'No more dangerous than UK night out' 21 Zoe Stephens has visited Afghanistan three times between August last year and June 2025 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Zoe travels with a group of up to eight women and with local female tour guides to get a glimpse into the daily lives of women and girls living there Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe sticks to following cultural norms to avoid unwanted attention Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Zoe Stephens, 31, who works for Koryo Tours and lives in Crosby, Liverpool, has visited Afghanistan three times between August 2024 and June 2025. She travels with a group of up to eight women and with local female tour guides to get a glimpse into the daily lives of women and girls living there. Advertisement It took a year of researching and planning, which included a research trip in August 2024, before she was able to safely take her first tour group there. Zoe said: "Everything is a risk in life. For me, the risk of going to Afghanistan is no more dangerous than walking the streets of a bustling city centre on a dark night. "People always think they know better. They always warn you against going to these places. "I'm confident in myself to go to these places because of my ability to handle any tricky situation, and if I didn't then I wouldn't go. Advertisement Everything is a risk in life. For me, the risk of going to Afghanistan is no more dangerous than walking the streets of a bustling city centre on a dark night Zoe Stephens 'I had chatted to other travellers who'd been there and done my research. I wanted to see what it's really like." Zoe doesn't let any of her group walk around alone and sticks to cultural norms to avoid unwanted attention. Recounting her first-hand experiences with the 'morality police' - a law enforcement body which implements strict interpretation of Islamic morality - she said: 'They're the ones you have to watch out for. "It's not allowed for women to go into public parks. There are a couple of instances where they very politely enforce these laws. Advertisement 'If you're a woman and you're there then they may come up to you and politely ask you to leave. "It's a very brief insight into the daily life of what the women there have to deal with. "The biggest rule is how you're dressed. I always go on respecting and trying to blend in rather than sticking out and challenging any cultural norms. 'That would be to wear clothing down to your wrists and ankles and having your hair covered at all times. Advertisement "The main thing is modesty, not just in clothing but in behaviour as well. I wouldn't recommend going around singing and dancing." Pro-tourism 21 Zoe saw first-hand how the Taliban are trying to encourage more tourism Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe says visitors must be wary of the 'morality police' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe said the Afghan women she came into contact with were ' so similar to us' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement Zoe and her group took part in traditional embroidery and cooking classes with local women and visited a women's retreat centre. She said it allowed her to see a different side to the lives of Afghan women. "When all we see in the media is Afghan women as shapes behind cloth, that's all we see them as,' she said. 'The Afghan women that I know and have seen and danced with, gossiped with and laughed with, are women who have great ambition and are so similar to us. Advertisement "But the reality for some people is they're not allowed to leave their house. It's about seeing these different dimensions." The traveller says she saw first-hand how the Taliban are trying to encourage more tourism. The Afghan women that I know and have seen and danced with, gossiped with and laughed with, are women who have great ambition and are so similar to us. But the reality for some people is they're not allowed to leave their house Zoe Stephens During her stay in Kandahar, a government minister decided to film her group as part of a 'propaganda video' by the Taliban for its X account. But she wasn't allowed to be part of it because she is a woman. Advertisement Zoe said: "At the moment, for a traveller, the authorities are on your side. It's in your favour to cooperate with them. It was a surprise during my first visit. "When you speak to them you realise there are varying levels and not everyone subscribes to certain ideologies. "The minister wanted to get us on camera and make films, literal propaganda videos. They're very pro-tourism.' Zoe would recommend Afghanistan as a travel destination to Brits to better understand the culture and people - but she advises caution. Advertisement 'Afghanistan has quickly become one of my favourite countries. You need to experience it to believe it,' she said. "The amount of things the Afghans have been through compared to their warmth, resilience and friendliness, they're just incredible people. "Do your research beforehand, and if you're not willing to follow the cultural norms and be respectful, then don't go.' 21 Zoe and her group took part in traditional embroidery and cooking classes with local women Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media Advertisement 21 Zoe says Afghanistan is one of her favourite countries to visit Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 21 Zoe would recommend Afghanistan as a travel destination to Brits to better understand the culture and people - but she advises caution Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
