Any Excuse to Travel

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Croatia

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Budapest

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Serbia

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Cuba

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Georgia

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Travel is one of the great joys in life, be it a train journey from Budapest to Belgrade, or a road trip across Costa Rica. The joy doubles when it’s shared. Here you will find hundreds of stories that will inspire you to seek out the unusual corners of our beautiful world, and will give armchair travellers hours of entertaining reading.

Latest blogs

Budapest, Travel

Currency exchange

Before we travel, we check weather forecasts. We check places to eat. We check museums, galleries, churches, places of interest. We shop around for places to stay. We research flights and itineraries. We check visa requirements. And, for more…

Europe, Ireland, Travel

Night life in Dublin

I find it hard to pass an open door. There's a curiosity about me that wants to know what's inside. This was rewarded last week when we ventured into the Customs House, and this week when we stumbled into the Liquor Rooms on Dublin's Wellington…

Europe, Ireland, Travel

By the Liffey in Dublin

Let's just wander, I said. And see where we end up. We were headed to the IFC in Dublin's docklands, down by the Customs House, to see the 140th annual exhibition by artists of the Dublin Painting and Sketching Club.* Way back in October of…

Dithering around Dublin 7

Visitors to Dublin can get caught up in the tide of tourists that flows around the hot spots like Trinity College and its Book of Kells. They dip in and dip out of the tidal pools neatly mapped on the hop-on-hop-off bus tours. They sip their…

Croatia

2017 Grateful 52, Croatia, Random thoughts, Travel

Rovinj - another Istrian gem

I’m generally quite positive, upbeat even. Except when I’m tired. Or hungry. Or feeling ill. Then I can’t stand to be with myself let alone socialise with others. I retreat inwards. Any attempt to boost my mood or chivvy me back to normalcy…

Croatia, Travel

On the olive oil trail in Istria

Years ago, when I was of drinking age, we’d go out on the town for the night. Invariably, the drink would hit someone harder than the others. The rest would smugly ask: Surely you ate before you came out? ‘Tis only asking for trouble to…

Croatia, Travel

Powdered wigs and sunsets

Poreč, a lovely town Istrian coast of Croatia is a great spot for festivals. If you're into electronic music, it's the place to be. MTV Summerblast is high on the calendar for enthusiasts. There's the Open Air festival of life with its offshore…

Slovenia

Europe, Slovenia

Magical forests and healing water in Slovenia

Dubrovnik is a city in Croatia. Dobrovnik is a village in Slovenia. Both have their attractions but Dobrovnik is really special. Magical even. I don't think I'll ever grow up. Not really. I might get a little more responsible, a little more…

Slovenia, Travel

Just over the road

What is it about men and maps eh? He's at his happiest when he's figuring out how to get to wherever it is we're going. And that Friday in Slovenia, he routed us through Kamnik, for little other reason than it was there, and we wanted to avoid…

Slovenia, Travel

Slap Savica

I send postcards. Handwritten. Probably illegible. I might forget to post them until weeks after I've been to wherever it is I've been, but I still send postcards. And I was dead chuffed to receive one from one of my nephews from Singapore -…

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, Random thoughts, Travel

A Little Time at Sea

Cappy got to us. We caved. Before heading cross country to Alajuela (with its fabulous cathedral) where we’d spend our last night in Costa Rica, we took him up on his offer. We had nearly three hours on the water. We caught a needle-nose but…

Costa Rica, Travel

Okay, so I was wrong...

The west coast fights back. Costa Rica has its say. Irish woman proven wrong. Pick your headline. I am suitably chastened. I said I was singularly unimpressed with the beaches on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. And while I'd still take the…

Costa Rica, Travel

When God finished painting the sky...

Mr Frommer (or whoever penned his guide to Costa Rica) describes the hike into the Rio Celeste as 'an easy trail' that could be jogged in 1 hour or 'strolled' in 3 or 4. We honed in on the words 'easy' and 'strolled' and adding these to the…

It’s all about the story…

Mary is a born storyteller. She travels often for work and for pleasure, and writes all the time. Whether you’re an armchair traveller who likes a good yarn, or a regular tourist seeking inspiration for your next journey, there is something here for you.

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What’s coming

This site is a work in progress. There is a wealth of travel stories here, which we are in the process of curating. We are going back through them to update pertinent information and add travel tips. Check back often.

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