Stories from travels in

Mary Murphy

Venice, Italy

Himself has a huge grá for Venice. Last time I went without him, he pointed me in the direction of Tintoretto, a man I’d love

Brighly painted terraced houses lining a small canal

Islands in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy

Visitors to Venice are often time poor or so focused on the city and all its splendour that they neglect the islands in the Venetian

navy blue sky frames a row of 17th century buildings lit up at night facing a large square

Verona, Italy

Romeo and Juliet? Truth? Fiction? Visiting Verona, I had to keep reminding myself that Shakespeare’s play was fictional. Yet the characters may well have been

Graz, Austria: Feeding the soul

When it comes to feeding the soul, there is no shortage of churches in Graz. The skyline is dotted with spires and steeples. Centuries of

Graz, Austria: Feeding the mind

I knew next to nothing about Graz before we visited. Until recently, it was only on my radar because it’s the hometown of one of

Graz, Austria: Feeding the body

Some menus ago, when in Oregon, USA, the lovelies T&C introduced us to the concept of a wandering dinner: starters in one restaurant, mains in

Coronation Plantation, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Back in the day, when anyone mentioned Wicklow, the inevitable tagline of ‘the garden of Ireland’ would immediately follow. It truly is a beautiful county,

Zalamerenye, Zala, Hungary

I love a good road trip. I like the freedom to be able to stop whenever and wherever takes my fancy. I’m fascinated by the

Azáleás-völgy, Zalaegerszeg, Hungary

Something magical happens in May in western Hungary. The azalea bushes start to flower. And in western Hungary, near Zalaegerszeg, the county seat of Zala

the Blue Church Bratislava

Bratislava – Feeding the Soul

I was brought up thinking that every time I visited a church for the first time, I got three wishes. And if I visited more