Mieka Smiles

Local Matters

- 

STILL remember the moment I caught a glimpse. It had taken me until the age of 42 to finally visit, after seeing the world's most romantic city used as a backdrop in my favourite TV shows and films a million times.

But then, in an unplanned moment, I spotted it. And even as a tough Middlesbrough lass, my throat tightened and my eyes welled up. La Tour Eiffel. Wow. We all have memories like this from places across the world - from standing beneath the Colosseum in Rome to gaping up in amazement at Giza's pyramids. These moments connect us all. We have awe-inspiring landmarks in abundance here at home too from Big Ben to the Angel of the North.