Tag: www.caminoways.com

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Holiday Snaps – Is it Pee for Prague?

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It is one of the world’s great statues and on a similar theme to the better known Manneken Pis in Brussels – the Prague statue ‘Piss’.

You’ll no doubt go to the Astronomical Clock when you’re there and it is worth it, although hellishly busy.

But you should have a ‘Piss’ stop at the statue outside the Kafka Museum near the river.

David Cerny erected (sorry, I should probably say built here) ‘Piss’ as a satirical statement against politicians in 2004.

The fountain’s basin is made of bronze and shaped like the Czech Republic.

The two mechanical men stand in the fountain, opposite one another, 6 ft 11 in tall with bronze penises, urinating.

Every country should have its own Piss statue and demand that politicians visit.

And why am I telling you this? Because Click&Go has three nights in Prague in November from €189pp http://www.clickandgo.com.

And also because I can reprise my Prague article… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/24/czech-it-out-2/

Corfu love island

Refelections of Corfu. Photo by Alexander Mils on Pexels.com

I was spoken for, but that didn’t stop the keyboard singer at the bar who was glancing our way on our honeymoon in Corfu.

The besotted newly titled Mrs M drew my attention to the singer’s attentions.

With the ouzo filling my bladder I then had cause to pass the crooner by on the way to the rest room .

Where I noticed they were still smiling at me on my way back.

At which point I needed to inform my new wife: ‘Sorry, he’s not looking at you, it’s me he likes!’

Again, I’m only telling you this as a lead-in to an offer. TUI http://www.tui.com has seven nights S/C at the 2* Ekati 2, Kavos from €399pps, departing Dublin on September 13.

Which corresponds with our 25th wedding anniversary.

I love Malta

Bay of plenty: Valletta. Photo by ines bahr on Pexels.com

You’d think that there was an imaginary hand of fate at play… or that the Scary One has been phoning around my Travel buddies.

Malta was where on a hot, hot day, I bent down in exhaustion and she screamed YES.

We were particularly taken by Malta’s smaller sister island of Gozo.

Now I’m going to fly a kite here and suggest that the Scary One would like to return. And fly a kite…

The second edition of the Gozo International Kite and Wind Festival will take place there form October 18-20.

Concorde Travel http://www.concordetravel.ie has seven nights B&B at the 4* Seashells Resort, Qawra for €599, depart Dublin on October 14.

Or you can depart Cork on October 17 and stay at the 4* all-inclusive Seabank Resort & Spa, Mellieha for €769.

And they’re off

The Prancing Horse. Photo by Zachary DeBottis on Pexels.com

It was from my Dear Old Dad that I inherited the love of sport. That said neither of us got motor racing.

Apart from commonly repeated allusion I never heard him show any interest in the sport, and I use that term loosely.

The one reference point he had was in his common jibe at my Mum’s driving: ‘Stirling Moss,’ he would shriek and laugh uproariously.

He always enjoyed his own jokes, though my sainted Mum never did see the funny side.

As Formula 1 returns after its midseason break and Lewis Hamilton has a procession to his 72nd title it’s as well to flag up a motor racing holiday thrill.

Cassidy Travel http://www.cassidytravel.ie/ (01) 6265100 has a three-night break to PortAventura World Salou. And of course Ferrari Land.

From €245pps based on a family of four you will be staying on site in the 4* PortAentura World Salou on a B&B basis.

With entry to the theme park for the duration plus one day in Ferrari Land.

Flights from Dublin to Barcelona, part October 20.

I’ll drink Canarian dry

I’m coming up behind you!

God being good, I’ll be off to trek the Canaries tomorrow. But I’ll leave you in safe hands with Mrs M.

The CaminoWays.com team is launching the latest arrival to its family of active holidays and I’m road testing it and Tenerife’s bars.

 CanariaWays.com is focusing on the spectacular walking tours in the Canary Islands.

And to kick it al off they’ve got 10% off all bookings until the end of September using the CODE: CANARIAWAYS19.

And all bookings will go into a draw and two travellers will have a chance to get their holiday for free.

So let me tell you about their ten-day Walking Trip: Grand Walking Tour of Tenerife.

You’ll see the whole island, from Mount Teide National Park to Garachico and Anaga Rural Park.

The price is €1017pps, including nine nights’ accommodation with breakfast, luggage transfers and transfers to trail heads when needed.

As well as holiday pack with practical information. More details: Tenerife Grand Tour.

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Moanday morning – it’s cats v dogs

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You’re either a cat person (and my kind of human being) or a dog person (and probably not).

No doubt if I google it I’ll be able to find out what a cat person is and what constitutes a dog person.

Equally there’s bound to be some kerching mug, plate or tea towel saying why dogs are better than men and also cats. In fact I know there are.

Now don’t get me wrong I love dogs (most of them) but it’s just their owners.

Have you no respect?

Let me kick off with their extendable leads.

What was wrong with the small leads? They didn’t stretch far enough I hear dog owners scream.

But then what are you meant to do when you’re walking along the pavement?

Minding your own business, and you get your way blocked by Fido or Rover?

You’re forced into the road where you step on Fido’s do-dos.

Puss in books

OK, there’s less of that now, but the sight of dog owners earnestly and smugly gathering their pet’s poo in an outpoured plastic bag (and don’t get me going on plastic bags).

Or using that pooper scooper.

Cat’s litter

I mean why can’t they do like cats and do it in a tray or in someone else’s flower bed (I know I do, the last bit anyway, or at least I used to as a student).

And then you can’t get past two dog owners who meet in the middle of the pavement and start pawing each other’s pets.

And again you never get that with cats.

Spot the human: In South Africa

I was reminded of cats’ superior place in God’s choir by an old pal and fellow felinophile.

He was responding to my recent review on Istanbul by lauding the Turks, not least for their love of cats.

Bazaar cats

And yes, I was taken by the cats sprawling over the book stalls in the Grand Bazaar…

Something you definitely wouldn’t want a mangy old dog doing.

Join me in celebrating our furry friends and Turkey https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/wham-bam-thank-you-hamam/. And here’s where to find out more about Turkey https://www.goturkeytourism.com.

That engine is purring. On the Via Francigena

In fact I’d say that in my travels my best animal experiences have been with cats.

There were the cats that joined me on the Camino https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/camino-a-pilgrims-prayer/ and the Via Francigena https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/small-roads-lead-to-rome/. http://www.caminoways.com and http://www.FrancigenaWays.com.

Doggone it!

Although I will give the dog who photobombed my pic of a Camino cross by piddling on it an A+.

Although I doubt it would have helped him getting to doggie heaven.

And my fur is growing… on the Camino

And, of course, I’ll always purr at the memory of our beloved First Born, our cheeky, too brave for his own good tabby Celtic.

He incurred the wrath of a particularly menacing crow – I think he was eyeing up her baby bird.

My cuddles

But the most majestic of all animals are the big cats and I will treasure getting this close to these pussycats on safari in the East Cape in South Africa.

MEEOW!

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Hungry and Thursday – Spanish pulpo

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Now this one’s got legs and will run and run… it’s Spanish pulpo, or octopus!

Walking the last leg of the Camino with www.caminoways.com involves you getting a car ride from Santiago airport to Sarria 100kms away.

My driver speaking little to no English and me poco Espagnol it was a long journey.

Ole: Spanish cooking at the Cook’s School

Broken up only by looking out onto lush Galicia and the roads I imagined I would be trekking.

In truth they were more forested and open plained and even more beautiful.

And the couple of Spanish words I did pick up from the driver.

Albergo and pulpo.

Horsing around: On the Camino

Albergo I figured out was ‘hostel’ from the driver pointing at them on the journey.

But ‘pulpo’ I had to figure out for myself.

Pulpo is octopus and is a specialty of the Spanish region.

Made it: Santiago

I still lick my lips at the memory of sitting up on a tall stool in Santiago de Compostela at a round bar table.

Picking my way at the pulpo and its tomato sauce… no Heinz or YR this.

Pulpo was my reward for completing the 118km stretch from Sarria to Santiago which entitles you to your certificate.

You get a stamp in your Camino passport at every 15km or so stop-off.

Where you will stay in a hotel and have your luggage taken to the next accommodation.

Even the animals are friendly

I walked on pure adrenaline, fuelled on sardines and cerveza (beer), water, home-made sandwiches from the supermarket, Starburst sweets and Garribaldi biscuits.

Show me how pulpo is done

And the good will of my fellow peregrinos who will greet you at every step with a hale and hearty Buen Camino which gave me an extra spurt.

I got a chance to see how pulpo is made when I attended a Spanish Tourist Board sponsored cookery class at Cooks Academy in Dublin http://www.cooksacademy.com.

Best leaving it to them. And they’ll talk you through how to make it.

If nothing else you’ll look the part in your natty apron and you can even borrow the chef’s hat.

I walked again with www.CaminoWays.com from Viterbo into Rome and will take to the Tenerife roads in a couple of weeks.

It was the only seat left

Camino Ways is offering €50 off per person for your next walking trip in October, a quieter and cooler time to walk.

Quote the code OCT19 when requesting your itinerary at www.CaminoWays.com and www.FrancigenaWays.com.

And walk with me on https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/camino-a-pilgrims-prayer/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/small-roads-lead-to-rome/.

Remember because it’s cocktail hour somewhere in the world right now…

And today is Jocktails day with us looking at the Bajan Monkey… and why not. See https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/15/jocktails-bajan-monkey/

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Moanday Morning – the weather

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The world’s greatest comedian Billy Connolly argues that there is no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes.

I rarely get it right though, wearing far too many layers.

While our youngsters wear too few, and hardly ever raincoats.

Welcome to Ireland, the only country I know where you regularly need to go out with a brolly and a pair of sunglasses.

So what’s my Moan this Moanday Morning? Only the national obsession… talking about the weather.

Jump for joy: In the Pyrenees with a light cagoule in the summer

You know the type – ‘Oh, I’m not sure what the weather is going to do today.’

No. Of course you don’t… unless you’re Michael Fish (maybe wrong choice as he got Black Friday wrong) or Heather the Weather.

A weathered old excuse

When I asked a former colleague why the need to exchange amateur weather predictions I was told it was to fill the empty air in the conversation.

And I thought that was what ‘Hello’ was for.

The right trousers: On the Camino

So taking Billy’s advice I’d recommend these ‘right’ clothes – light easy to fold up cagoules for hot countries (or shelter) www.northface.ie

And trousers you can unzip around the knees.

They work particularly well on Caminos and I’ll be taking them with me on my hike in Tenerife in a couple of weeks.

Check out www.greatoutdoors.ie And for more guidance and a tempter for your Camino… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/camino-a-pilgrims-prayer/. And also visit www.caminoways.com

A toast to the cloak: At Harry Potter World in Universal in Orlando

Of course common sense is needed – don’t wear a ski jacket in the hills and valleys in Switzerland in the summer.

A heavy load to bear

Just because they worked on the snowy mountaintop at the top of the Jungfraujoch the day before.

But do wear a light fleece, both in the mountains and in the valleys. They’re both very user-friendly.

In my defence I had slept in on the day I picked out the ski jacket for our hike through the valleys and packed in a hurry.

And I ended up having to cram said jacket into my backpack.

And that was a hefty, and sweaty, weight to cart around those hills.

Well it makes a story… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/swhisskey/

And if you want an explanation for this picture below… well, there is none. But it’s in the Maldives.. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/12/atoll-tale-the-maldives/

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A neat Segway

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It’s 20 years old this year and it’s still making progress… albeit at 15kph.

One of the daftest (but enjoyable) forms of leisurely transport, it feels like the Segway has been with us way longer than that.

I first got on a Segway four years ago on the island of Gozo in the Med and was immediately hooked.

And I was surprised to find that despite standing still it is a good form of exercise as the leaning forward makes your calves work.

So here’s a Segway twirl around the world. Me, I’ll always LEAN towards my first: Gozo. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/malta-easer/(opens in a new tab)

Washington DC:

I had the chance to take a Segway tour of Washington when I visited a couple of years ago… but as you can see I was unfortunately too busy with matters of State such as by making Ireland the 51st State, by Presidential decree.

Washington is an absolute jewel with the White House and the Capitol building, obviously, and its Smithsonian but it can be tiring.

The three-hour On the Go Tours takes in those iconic buildings and the National Museum of National History, Ford’s Theatre (where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated), the National Air and Space Museum, the Washington Museum and much more.

From €68.07. Visit http://www.onthgotours.com.

Amsterdam:

Watch out: There’s something coming

Why should the angry cyclists have all the fun?

It was the one big difference I witnessed between my first time in Amsterdam in 1990 and when I returned last year… the bicycles didn’t have it all to themselves.

Segway City Tours Amsterdam offers an hour and a half ride for €59. You’ll whizz through Jordan, the Dam Square and by the Rijksmuseum and among others. Visit http://www.segwaycitytoursamsterdam.com.

Rome:

Now if you find yourself wandering aimlessly around Rome then you’re doing it right. When in Rome and all that. The Romans love to amble along.

I found myself doing just that spending a day and a night doubling back and retracing my steps around the city centre at the end of the Via Francigena and a 100km walk into the Eternal City. With CaminoWays.com http://www.caminoways.com.

Equally I could have taken any one of a number of themed Segway tours that day which would have saved on the shoe leather.

Bookmundi.com pitches among others Ancient Rome with Segway, a two-hour trip from €68 which will take you to Trajan’s Column and the Capitol Hill, the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, Aventino Hill and the Garden of the Oranges. Visit http://www.bookmundi.com.

And watch out for my Rome on €50.

Hamburg:

The beauty of Segways is that they take the strain off your feet… as does lying back on a double bed in a beach bar (really) by the dock in Saint Pauli.

Mindways Segway Citytour Hamburg is a two-and-a-half hours saunter around this buzzing port city taking in, of course, the riveting Reeperbahn.

With typical German efficiency they will ask you for your driving licence. From €64.80. Visit http://www.segway-citytour.de.

BARCELONA

La Sangria Familia… as I like to call it.

Barcelona is a sprawling old city and exhausting in the sweltering heat we had earlier this month.

Best let the Segway take the strain.

Barcelona Sun Segway has a 150-minutes Gaudi’s Works Segway Tour (12kms) with a discount from €65 now down to €59. And you’ll get entrance to the monuments too.

These, of course, are just some of my favourite cities, and you’ll have your own favourites, so tell me about them. Visit http://www.barcelonasunsegway.com.

And here’s a nod to Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway. Move slowly, my friend.

I’ll wait for you: Dean Kamen