2018 has been fantastic, we have travelled a lot and made the most of the time we have off. We’ve had some fantastic experiences, ticked off some bucket list items and laughed almost every day. Of course there has been a lot of time that we’ve spent sat behind a desk or doing laundry but I suppose those moments help give clarity on the moments that really matter. 2018 Top Experiences: Each year just keeps getting better and better! Check…
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Our day started with a travel let down and ended with a whiskey in a castle. What more could you want from a day on the emerald isle? As ever with travel there are circumstances and places that you go to where you think what on earth were people thinking when they recommend this place. We felt that way about Kinsale. Perhaps a bit harshly but I just couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. Kinsale is well known…
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How to spend 24 hours in Cork, Ireland. You’ll find a mixture of museums, church bell ringing, a prison and some general adventure.…
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After spending a great few days in Dublin we were ready to head out into the Irish countryside. I love nothing more than setting out on a road trip to see more of a country, although sometimes stressful I’ll opt for a road trip whenever I can. Our first intended location was the town of Kilkenny which is a couple of hours outside of Dublin. The driving was pretty uneventful but I’ve read that many visitors who are used to…
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After an action packed first day in Dublin our second day was a little more sedate, plus it was Stuart’s birthday so an excuse for some celebrating! Our morning began much like many mornings in Ireland, with an Irish breakfast. We wanted to head back to Tang but it was shut, today we were lucky enough to get a table at Beanhive. The breakfast was tasty and the weather blissful. After we filled up on food and coffee we began…
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As a lover of maximising my time in a destination we opted to fly from London to Dublin late Friday night to be ready to begin our week long Irish trip on Saturday morning. That plan worked perfectly apart from the fact our hotel (as gorgeous as it was) basically became a night club on a Friday and Saturday night. We woke a little tired but ready to get going. Of course, first up was some food as exploring on…
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Cuba is overwhelming, it is a culture shock for those of us who live in the UK, they speak a foreign language and the weather in warm. All in all after 2 weeks of on the go travel we knew we would need a rest. We went to an all inclusive resort in Mexico for our honeymoon so thought we would give it another go. Varadero is renowned for being the all inclusive centre of Cuba. It’s not far from…
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As I mentioned in post about what to do while you’re in Trinidad, it stole my heart. I still think about spending time there now and it was 100% my favourite place in Cuba. So, you know how to spend your time there but what to do when you fancy stopping for some food and drink? Small disclaimer – I am rubbish at taking photos food and drink and I am not a food blogger so you’ll have to take…
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Part of Trinidad’s charm is that it’s a small city that has plenty of roads to wander, parks to sit in and architecture to admire. It also has its fair share of museums and things to do but if I’m honest my favourite thing was just sitting and watching the world go by. I feel head over heels for Trinidad. We spent a good few days here so got to know it’s streets and it’s quirks more than the other…
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I have to remember that comfort zones are there to be stood outside of. Becoming braver has enabled me to see the world. I still panic, I still have anxiety and at least one meltdown per trip BUT without that I wouldn’t feel the highs.
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Much like Cienfuegos, Trinidad is a great place to base yourself for some day trips. We ventured to Santa Clara and also into the sugar mill area around just outside of Trinidad. Our first stop on our half day excursion was the lookout point at Mirador del Valle de los Ingenios. A great stop where you can climb up to the top of the hill and look out over the Cuban countryside. If you’re up to it you can take…
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It’s important to remember that travel can make you complacent. It can make you view the world in a skewed way, just catching a glimpse of a place or a few weeks in a country. Stereotypes can build. It isn’t just for those who stay at home.
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Santa Clara is located in almost the centre of Cuba in the province of Villa Clara. It was founded in 1689 but is perhaps most well known for its part in the Che Guevara story. Santa Clara is home to the last battle of the Revolution in 1958, two groups of guerilla fighters attached the city to gain control. One group was led by Camilo Cienfuegos and the other by Che Guevara. They first gained control of the Formeto garrison…
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The further outside Havana you get the less and less tourists you find. If you head all the way down to Santiago-de-Cuba then you’ll barely find any. One stop that is popular but not as much as nearby Trinidad is Cienfuegos. A small town that’s had a varied history. A UNESCO heritage site known as the Pearl of the South, it’s famous for its French architecture that populates most of the town. It’s different and a refreshing change from the…
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I’ve been struggling recently with this whole blogging thing. There are so many blogs in the universe with travel blogs becoming so much more popular, add in the constant need for social media updates it can be overwhelming to say the least. I have to remember that I’m doing this for me, I’m unlikely to ever have a career out of it, I’m never going to get massive amounts of page views or comments but what I can achieve is…
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Our last day in Havana was pretty action packed but we wanted to make the most of our last evening before moving into the country. After a brief rest (read nap) we got ready and flagged down a taxi collectivo to take us to a restaurant for some dinner and drinks before seeing what all the fuss was about at the FAC. The taxi ride was entertaining trying to give directions to someone who obviously couldn’t really understand what we…
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After the events of the previous day our final day in Havana was filled with a hop on hop off bus tour, amazing cocktails and an evening in an art gallery. Our day began with a Havana Bus Tour which we picked up from Revolution Square. The square itself is MASSIVE and could fit thousands and thousands of people, mainly used for state speeches, and the occasional public mass by a Pope! It really is a space to see. More…
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Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the home of the European Union, consists of a historic centre and a range of additional regions around the edge. Home to around 172,000 people it’s pretty small as capital cities go which definitely has its advantages as you can get a good feel for the city in a short space of time. Of course you cannot do everything Brussels has to offer in 36 hours but you can tick a few good items…
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Our second day in Cuba began much like the first with a lie in at our casa but today we decided to skip breakfast and caught a taxi collectivo into central Havana. This required a bit of help from our casa owner Cary as catching a local taxi is a bit of an art. It was well worth it when a 1950’s battered old car pulls alongside so we could scramble in alongside other local Cubans to go to where…
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