Sante… say it before you take the glass to your lips and afterwards and raise a fat wallet to the host who has bought you the drinks. It’s Beer Day today.
What do you mean that’s just another name for Saturday?
Now that’s the way the Flemish toast. And in Ieper they go to Tom’s Bierhaus. Simon here has been there before and I dare say has drunk every one of Tom’s 120 or so beers at least once.
While you and I might have our own glass behind the bar, Simon, who is a guide with GTI The Group Travel Specialists whom I visited the World War I battlefields in Flanders and The Somme with a couple of years ago, has this wonderfully shaped drinking vessel. Visit http://www.gti-ireland.com.
And if you want to know more about how the soldiers relaxed away from the front, check out my review https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/firstworldwar-in-flanders-fields/(opens in a new tab)
Other great beerologists I know… the dude in Boulder, Colorado, who persuaded the University to employ him to go to the Middle East, Italy and Greece to research booze and the different recipes from the ancient tomes and then recreate them. Visit http://www.colorado.com.
Dragon’s Den, anybody? I’m in.
He’ll definitely be at the Great American Beer Festival, the largest in the USA, in Denver from October 4-6.
You can sample over 4,000 different beers.
Don’t tell Flemish Tom, or maybe do!
Find the lady
When my Dear Old Mum and Dad got to me, their youngest, they decided that the best way to ensure that they had holidays to themselves was to pack me over to my cousins in Dublin.
From where we would then head off to a mobile home in Salthill for our holidays.
Among the treats in store were a trip to Knock, swimming in Spiddal, and one of my faves, a trip to the Galway Races where I would watch in awe and lose a punt or two on the card hucksters who would lure you in with their Find the Lady scam.
If Galway Races are one of your must-do events of the summer then you’ll want a tip as to where to stay.
The plush Hotel Meyrick is in an ideal location on Eyre Square ad has fantastic packages during the week of July 29 to the last day of the races on Saturday, August 3.
For the full schedule of events, live music, dining options, information on this year’s Most Stylish Ladies Day event and the travel packages available at the hotel, visit http://www.hotelmeyrick.ie or call (01) 91564041.
I should be so lucky
As a bonzer Sheila, Kylie Minogue loves her sport so it should come as little surprise that she will be headlining the entertainment at the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens in December.
For AED400 (€96) for Friday or AED500 (€120) for the entire weekend fans at the 50th anniversary of the Dubai Sevens can enjoy a feast of music and sport.
Emirates Holidays is offering return flights from Dublin with Emirates, three nights at the four-star Zabeel House Al See with breakfast and entry tickets to the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens for Friday and Saturday which includes that unmissable Kylie concert.
The Sevens will take place from December 5-7 and the Irish team will be expected to be among the favourites.
For flights to Dubai direct from Dublin visit http://www.emirates.ie, for Emirates Holidays bookings including event tickets visit http://www.emiratesholidays.ie or call the Emirates Holidays call centre on (01) 800 800 740. Tickets for the events and more information, visit http://www.dubairugby7sc.om.
Shout of Africa
Congratulations to my friend, oft-time contributor to my Irish Daily Mail section when I was there and general Jacko of all trades, Michelle Jackson, on being shortlisted for the blogger’s award at the coming Experience Africa convention in London.
Jacko Kerouac, another name I have bequeathed her, is a great lover of South Africa, and I fell head over heels for the country too on my recent visit to the Eastern Cape.
I’d been told about the great rate of exchange and fantastic cost of living before I went and can now vouch too that the landscapes, history, culture and food and drink are only matched by the wonderful, open and smiling people.
Escape2.ie and Air France are offering a seven-night city break from €1,189pp staying at the 5* Taj Cape Town with luxurious spa and top-class dining. Depart September, prices from €1189pp.
Or spend ten nights combining Cape Town with a safari.
The Aquila Private Game Reserve offers a range of game drives, giving you the chance to spot lions, elephants, leopards and much more. Depart between September 2019 and April 2020, excluding December, price from €2059pp.
Visit http://www.Escape2.ie or call (01) 435 0096. And visit http://www.thenoveltraveller.com.
Spanish stroll
Ola Sara, mia amiga!
You’ll be glad to know that I’m off to Spain at the end of the month. Sara, the media darling of the Spanish Tourism Office in Dublin has long been chiding me that I am wont to send writers rather than go myself to Espana.
Mea culpa!
But I do love Spain, it’s just that when I do go there there’s a danger that I won’t come back.
All of which makes this Sunway offer all the more alluring as you do the major mainland attractions in just eight days.
Take in Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Valencia
Departure dates – June 29, August 10, 24, September 7, 14 and 21, October 12. Prices from €939pp, single supplement €375pp. Book (01) 231 1800 or check http://www.sunway.ie.
Say a little prayer
I need a miracle(s). And the best place for that is Lourdes.
I’m also reliably informed that there are a bevvy (if that’s the right collective noun) of Irish bars there… a lot of thirsty pilgrims I guess. All of which chimes in nicely with Beer Day.
So I’m going to fill myself with wholly spirit. See you next week. I’ll leave you in the capable hands of the Scary One.
