Travel and Lifestyle Blog
On the last day of a holiday, are you wishing you could stay a bit longer or raring to get to the airport? I think its probably a sad day for many – but I’m curious to hear whether you agree.
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Warm hugs and a big thank you to ‘Travel and Share’ for this Liebster Award nomination – very kind of you!!
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Push the guide books aside, here’s my first hand round up of thoughts and observations after a first and very worthwhile trip to India.
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I felt an almost unbelievable sense of being in an entirely new world, a world with ‘ways’ that are not to be labelled or ridiculed, but simply accepted as ‘the way’ for where we were – a different way to what I was used to seeing or experiencing.
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A Valletta show that leaves you staggering out of the cinema, a church with enough gold to go head to head with Buckingham Palace (no doubt) and those iconic streets of Valletta that seem to come alive at night – interested? Then read on.
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If you’re off to Morocco for the first time you might want to note a few things, including the weather, cats, haggling and ‘Morocco belly’
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Eleuthera is a charming island in The Bahamas, with beaches that will leave you speechless and a peacefulness that makes it hard to leave.
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The Bahamas has a lot more to it than just beaches – including pineapple festivals, pirates, wine cellars, and snow.
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A few ideas to help you plan your Bahamas list of things to do; such as mingling with flamingos at the Adastra Gardens and Zoo, shopping in Bay Street, and wandering through the aquarium at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.
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Calm, relaxed and at peace, that’s how I feel when I’m near the sea, hearing the waves, feasting on an infinite ocean view, my mind is clearer and thoughts come to me more easily. The sea seems charged with emotion, sometimes it’s still, unassuming and beckoning, then within hours, minutes even, it develops an almighty […]
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Farewell Morocco, I’ll always have fond memories from our time together, from the Sahara to the souks, High Atlas Mountains, snake charmers, belly dancers and generous tagine!
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Loved by movie makers and tourists alike; take a walk through the narrow clay community. Ait Benhaddou is home to a small number of Moroccan families and was used as the setting for a long list of big screen films.
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If you’re visiting Marrakech, curious about African history and berber life with a soft spot for cosy museums crammed with lots of interesting things, you’re going to really like Maison Tiskiwin.
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A pretty palace in Marrakech decorated with impressive mosaics , imposing doors, high arches and artistic ceilings.
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Women busy crushing nuts all day, a spot of wine tasting and some hand made ceramic souvenirs.
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Extreme haggling is highly likely in Marrakech, it wore me flat out – and I think the souks should come with warning signs for getting lost and suffering from haggle exhaustion.
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So you want to go camping with Moroccan nomads in the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, ride camels for transport with a camp fire warm you up and the stars to keep you entertained at night. Well you can in Zagora, Morocco.
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A few more snapshots. Mont Choisy Beach A more low key version of Flic en Flac beach. Views from the highest point on the island… Just around the corner – a craft and specialist cashmere outlet.
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Let’s talk trains, bugs, migrants, rain and tea while we have a natter about Mauritius.
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La Vanilla Nature Park in Mauritius, is home to all sorts of animals including crocodiles, racoons, monkeys, bats, giant tortoises and a range of tropical plant life.
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The Mauritius ebony rainforest sits in he south of the island, home to the protected ebony tree, the forests are in the Chamarel region. It’s incredible to think that almost all the island used to be covered with ebony trees, before the Dutch exploited it in the 17th century. It was a cloudy, rainy day, […]
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Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius is a bustling world away from the idyllic white beaches and turquoise waters we know and love. Tall office blocks, locals out shopping and working in the city is more the Port Louis scene.
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Next, a quick visit to one of the best sugar factories I’ve see on my travels so far, (well actually it wasn’t quick, it was a pretty long visit given the size of the factory and outside grounds) an interesting tour at the L’Aventure du Sucre (Sugar Adventure), in Pamplemousse Mauritius. You’ll learn some of the history behind […]
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All this sightseeing works up quite an appetite, so it’s time for some lunch, followed by a bit of rum and jam tasting in Chamarel. The jam was more my thing, I couldn’t resist coming home with a few jars – the guava jam was really really good! But after a while I realised they […]
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More sightseeing in the south western region of Mauritius, enjoying the views from the popular Black River Gorges National Park, with it’s vast expanse of rainforest before taking in the wonder of the seven coloured earth, at Chamarel. Seven Coloured Earth, Chamarel. Black River Gorges National Park
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Photographs from a visit to the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Pamplemousse, north of the island, and a rare glimpse of hindu worshipers in the south, by the sacred river in Grand Bassin in the south west. Hindu worshipers at the sacred river, in Grand Bassin. Ganga Asnan is the colourful hindu festival that runs through […]
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Well all the guide books, blogs, reviews and word of mouth echo the same thing really – ‘when in Mauritius, Flic en Flac beach is the beach of choice’, it’s on the west coast and rated as one of the best beaches in Mauritius and a must on your list of places to go whilst […]
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First stop, first impressions – beautiful, and a welcome sight after an 18 hour haul. The Veranda Grand Baie in Mauritius is set amongst lush green surroundings and giant palm trees. Rooms look like little cottages (reminiscent of the Veranda Resort & Spa in Antigua). A huge selling point with this hotel is it’s proximity […]
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This small fish market on the mauritian sea front of Grand Baie caught my eye with the dazzling rainbow of colours laid out beautifully for sale, local fishermen gather here most afternoons to display and sell their day’s catch.
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Apparently, Wales consumes more oven chips than any other part of the UK, and Mount Everest was named after a welshman – interesting facts!! Here’s more from my welsh galavants this summer……. The UK’s smallest city – St David’s St David’s is more like a village but technically it’s a city because of it’s catherdral. […]
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When in Wales, you never get tired of castles, so here’s another magnificent beauty, Carreg Cennen Castle, in Carmarthenshire near the River Cennen. Building began around the fourth century, yet it’s ruins are incredibly well preserved, and majestic. It’s a steep walk, great for the legs and the views are worth every step. “One of the […]
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Adventure junkies, beach bums, sun seekers….whoever you are, how do you cope with the lull when there’s no trip in sight?
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Well actually the weather was pretty good considering it was still the latter part of the Turkish winter season (March/April). This was a very last minute Easter getaway and the sun had his hat most of the time, thankfully! It was cold and pelting down with rain in London as my plane took off – […]
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Tourist trap? Varadero might be beautifully beachy, but if you want to experience Cuba properly you need to venture away from this artificial beach strip, and explore the ‘real’ Cuba.
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My favourite part of my trip to Cuba were the days spent in the Cuban town of Trinidad. The pictures may not convey this but ‘what a dramatic place’ frozen in time and bursting with life, colour and charisma. The atmosphere is just fantastic, live music and vibrancy everywhere you look. I loved Trinidad instantly, […]
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The Iberostar Grand Hotel Trinidad Cuba, has to be in one of the best locations in Trinidad, centrally located and surrounded by lively cobbled streets buzzing with locals and tourists alike. It’s an adults-only hotel and serves more as a city-stop type of accommodation, since there was no outdoor areas or pool – probably because you should […]
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More insights from the beautiful island and people of Cuba. Cienfuegos actually means ‘one hundred fires’. Cienfuegos is where the revolutionary uprising against Fulgencio Batista took place.
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Walking on water! I saw three men walking on water – it’s not brilliant but watch the hastily filmed clip! I’m not sure if he stepped on a jellyfish or what but something startled him…..in Cayo Ensenachos. I tried to rescue a Jellyfish This is the first jellyfish I’ve come face to face with, it […]
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After lunch at the Los Tainos restaurant at the Hotel Los Caneyes, Santa Clara – we were on the road again heading for the small Cuban off-shore island of Cayo Ensenachos to the Iberostar Ensenachos Hotel. It’s quite secluded, there is no nearby town to walk to – just beautiful beach and plenty of mangroves, […]
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Well I didn’t actually go skiing. After a hearty lunch in Kalambaka, I found myself in Metsovo, part of a Greek ski resort area in Epirus, which in a few more weeks would be white with snow. It was a flying visit really (as part of a wider excursion), but it was lovely to get […]
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Perhaps the prettiest place I’ve ever had lunch – shielded by the golden shimmer of the trees against the sun as the odd leaf drops and floats down the river. The sound of the water was the only music needed – and the clinking plates as we ate in the woods felt magical! Out and […]
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Licking a fire lollipop and warming it up where the sun doesn’t shine…. Sal, Cape Verde talent
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Watch the fish come in fresh off the boats as locals prepare and sell them against a back drop of blue seas, and Santa Maria beach surfers.
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A few snapshots taken while wondering around the Santa Maria, the main tourist hub in Sal, Cape Verde. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave
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It’s not all turquoise beaches and tourist resorts. Cape Verde is slowly developing and building its tourist industry, but still suffering deeply with poverty. The buildings are very colourful, there never seemed to be two buildings the same colour side by side. The roads are not all typical tarmac, sometimes a left or right turn takes […]
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Literally on the lower end of St Lawrence Gap, Barbados with more nice blue seas and soft sand, and plenty of shade. Dover beach seemed a bit more relaxed and quieter than Accra beach (which is off a busier main road).
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The capital of Barbados, a hub of busy hustle and bustle, compared to a lot of other caribbean islands, Barbados seemed to have very big ‘town centre’ with lots of little back streets and side shops. If you’re an avid browser, you can go on and on in Bridgetown, as long as you can take […]
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Budget friendly, highly praised and value for money I’m a stickler for reviews, Trip Adviser etc…and was really impressed with the overwhelming positive feedback on the Yellow Bird Hotel Barbados. Furthermore, it’s very reasonably priced in comparison to the big east/west coast, all-inclusive resorts. If you’re on a tight budget, or want to claw back more […]
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Rustic atlantic waves Popular with surfers – hosts annual surfing championships SaveSave
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At one with nature It was like walking through a scene in a fairytale. Monkey’s swinging all over the place, various animals wandering around you as you take in everything the reserve has to offer. Please watch your step, and don’t tread on any passing turtles like I almost did, they are everywhere, and will […]
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Oistins fish fry is an absolute must, especially when you’re in Barbados for the first time, along with the likes of Harbour Lights. Oistins is a fishing village in Christ Church, Barbados (not far from St Lawrence Gap). The food may not be free but you pay nothing for the music and atmosphere. The vibe […]
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Sometimes you just get a feeling about something, someone or somewhere. There is no logic to the feeling, you only know the feeling is real and strong. For me, the grounds leading to Harrison’s Cave felt like a scene from a James Bond film; I’m not sure which film but I could just picture Bond running around […]
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Since I’d never been on a submarine before, and I adore tropical fish – this seemed like really good excursion to cross off the list whilst in Barbados. Now we cross over from our boat to the submarine Down the hatch (not for the claustrophobic) Know your fish. At this point or commentator starts to suggest […]
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Anyone who knows anything about Barbados will be familiar with all the hype surrounding St Lawrence Gap. Party scene Clubs Bars Restaurants Nightlife Street vendors All things touristy Down to earth Affordable hotels Lively vibe Dover beach Close to Oistins and Bridgetown It just wouldn’t be right not to spend at least a few nights in the […]
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Make the night before your flight as stress free as possible with these tried and tested tips.
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A popular hotel in Tobago, close to the airport, right beside Store Bay, with a small private beach and cosy rooms.
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RIU hotels are known for being pretty standard wherever you go and this one in Negril, Jamaica was a typical all inclusive beach front style with spacious rooms , mountains of food and brilliant entertainment each evening. Rooms were spread over four blocks along the beach strip with a fair bit of walking distance between […]
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Margaritaville is a 5 minute drive down Norman Manley Boulevard from the Riu Negril resorts. Some hotels, like Riu Negril, will call the Margaritaville bus to come and pick you up from your hotel and the drop you off again at scheduled times throughout the day/evening. Here you will find miles of beach to wander, […]
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Tobago is a small quiet Caribbean island, physically separate from Trinidad, but part of the same country – Trinidad and Tobago, where calypso and the steel drums began. I read somewhere that Trinidad and Tobago is good for mud spas – I didn’t really come across this but I can confirm that Tobago is an […]
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Despite the frightening March 2015 incident that took place in Tunisia’s capital a week before, we went ahead with our all inclusive holiday to Sousse (just under 2 hrs from the capital, in one of the quieter tourist areas). On reflection we thought it was probably one of the safest times to visit as security […]
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