Countries Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

You can’t keep them out of the news but is Greenland the oversized prize… and what’s Africa’s beef?

Now unless you have just emerged from under an iceberg you’ll know that Donald Trump has been sizing up Greenland.

On account of it being the biggest island on the lot… although technically continents are just big islands.

Now parking that for now the unexpected reason why Africa have Greenland in their crosshairs is mapping.

And more precisely 16th-century Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator.

Which made him then a subject of the Spanish Netherlands.

And weren’t the Spanish busy conquering the continents of the world and mapping their new territories?

Bigging up the Old World

So we shouldn’t be surprised that they and other colonists bigged up their part in relation to their new subjects.

Which is how we got to where we are now with Africa measured the same size as Greenland.

Even though it’s 14 times the size.

But such creative drawing is now to be consigned to the 16th century after a Togo-led African charge got the UN to step in.

And adapt the ‘Correct the Map’ resolution, based we understand.

On Arno Peters’ map, a German historian, who launched the Peters world map based on the Gall–Peters projection in 1973.

And we’ve oversized perceptions too

New world: And Africa gets its proper place

Now because no man is an island we obviously want to redress other historical and geographical inaccuracies.

And sign up to Online campaign group #CorrectTheMap.

Who correctly point out: ‘You could fit the United States, China, India, Japan, Mexico and much of Europe into Africa and still have land to spare.’

It should come as little surprise then that the Commander in Chief’s people have belittled the resolution which is not binding.

With Yaryna Ferencevych, a US representative at the UN saying; ‘Instead of focusing on genuine problems of international peace, prosperity, or good relations.

‘The UN General Assembly is debating map projects from the 16th Century.

‘And their role in promoting reparations and ‘cognitive justice’.

Countries, Cruising, Ships

Get plastered around Drake’s Passage

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And before you judge us there are very good reasons to get plastered around Drake’s Passage.

Raise a glass of Prosecco to the penguins, for sure.

But if you want to be healthy enough to enjoy the full grandeur of the Antarctic plaster yourself up.

As cruise veterans tipped us off to avail ourselves.

Of either prescription-strength scopolamine (hyoscine) or over-the-counter herbal blends to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Cruise heads are well used to the vagaries of Drake Passage, yes, named after that one, explorer Sir Francis.

Between Cape Horn in Chile and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica.

Swan Hellenic the cool cruisers

Of course, Swan Hellenic will do all the heavy lifting so you don’t.

SH has a 20-night South Atlantic Cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Town, traversing three continents and two oceans.

Setting off in Ushuaia, the southernmost city on earth.

And crossing the Drake Passage before heading into the wilderness of Antarctica.

Capt it: With the Captain on Swan Hellenic

Where passengers can encounte icecaps and diverse wildlife, including several species of penguins and seals.

The voyage continues through the sub-Antarctic into the South Atlantic.

With calls at the isolated island of Tristan da Cunha, offering birds, marine mammals and stark natural beauty.

Before docking in Cape Town, the jewel of South Africa.

20 is plenty

Pooling our talents: With The Cruisey One

A 20-night South Atlantic cruise: from Antarctica to South Africa cruise, departing March 9, onboard SH Diana, costs £10,100 pps (was £13,100, saving £2,000).

You’ll stay in a balcony cabin on a Cruise Plus Basis.

This includes return regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation.

Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port, one-night pre-cruise accommodation.

A stay in a selected stateroom, all meals onboard plus most drinks.

A 24-hour room service, lecture programmes by experienced expedition team and guest speakers.

One selected shore excursion per port of call, standard Wi-Fi, and onboard gratuities and port taxes.

Countries, UK

Ushering in Scotland’s whisky man’s village with no bar

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And we’ll try to unpick this riddle for you after our visit to St Abbs, ushering in Scotland’s whisky man’s village with no bar.

Brewer Andrew Usher (see what we did there) is the man at the heart of the story.

Transforming a Scottish Borders fishing village from Coldingham Shore into the bustling tourist spot it is today.

Usher’s skills in decanting the then-harsh whisky into a product meant Scotland could sell their drink to the world.

Abbs Army

All of which made a pretty penny for Andrew who, proud Borderer that he is, put the money back into St Abbs.

Especially for the harbour and the village with St Abbs having suffered particularly badly.

In the storm of 1881 when 189 fishermen across the Berwickshire coast lost their lives.

With Jill Watson’s statue of women and children Women and Bairns at the head outside the visitor centre.

Capturing the loss poignantly of Black Friday, October 14.

A different world

At this point Victorian Usher considered his career of choice and decided not to have a bar in the village.

Now if you think St Abbs looks familiar you will have outed yourself as a comic books fan.

With St Abbs the template for New Asgard in the Marvel film Avengers: Endgame.

Today’s St Abbs is more a throwback to a gentler time than a futuristic vision.

And the best place to start is at the Visitor Centre where you can learn too of other notable St Abbians.

And 7th-century Northumbrian princess and abbess St Aebbe.

Who established a religious house at Kirk Hill, next to the rocky headland now known as St Abb’s Head.

Fishermen’s friend

And suffragette Isabel Cowe, the youngest of eight children of a fisherman father killed at sea.

And who campaigned and fundraised for St Abbs to have its own lifeboat.

She also took part in the rescue of passengers and crew from the ship Glanmire when it floundered in Coldingham Bay.

Now following the theme of if you want something done ask a busy woman Isabel wasn’t finished there.

Isabel’s pals: Noreen Thompson and Jill Watson in the Isabel Cowe memorial garden near St Abbs

And owned the St Abbs Haven boarding house from 1914 to 1931 and was a popular figure in the village.

While in her spare time she worked with her friend and activist Jane Hay in the Women’s Freedom League.

Cowe was an organiser of the 400-mile Scottish Suffrage March from Edinburgh to Downing Street in 1912.

And is now commemorated in the Isabel Cowe memorial garden near St Abbs.

And St Abbian and Abbianphiles

Centre of attention: St Abbs Visitor Centre

Now it is St Abbs way to mark St Abbian and Abbianphiles along their coastal walks.

All of which you will see for yourself on whichever way you take.

We took the gentle hour-long round-trip Coldingham Beach stroll from Ebbcars Cafe to the Coldingham Beach Cafe.

Stopping and yes taking a seat for a blether as recommended by Bill Gray.

Wherever you choose to go in St Abbs the locals will be glad to have a blether.

In either cafe, at the antiquaries hut, the Visitor Centre and all you meet along the way.

Ushering in a new era

And you’ll be glad, and we imagine Andrew Usher will to, to know that you can imbibe of bottled beer and wine at Ebbcars Cafe.

And before you reluctantly leave the village to return to North Berwick. 30 miles up the road.

Or 48 miles to Edinburgh while in the other direction you’re just 17 miles to the English border and 75 miles to Newcastle.

Perhaps raise a glass, and make sure you don’t flout the drink limits to Scotland’s whisky man.

Countries, UK

Treasure Island a rock in an Edinburgh private garden

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Now we love an origins row – the baptism of Christ, surfing’s home, Irish coffee’s creation and now Treasure Island a rock in an Edinburgh private garden.

Now our own stomping ground of North Berwickety, south-east of Edinburgh, has long since claimed Treasure Island for itself.

On account of author Robert Louis Stevenson holidaying to the seaside from Edinburgh as a child.

And looking out on Fidra island.

Only there is a rival story from Edinburgh itself.

Brought to us by adopted Edinburgher Cousin Eddie O, who talks up his front garden.

Everything in the garden is rummy

Or the private Queen Street Gardens where the good people of the uptown New Town get away from it all.

The story goes that Stevenson would look out on Queen Street Gardens.

From his home in Number 17 Queen Street.

And specifically what once was Farmer Wood’s cattlepond.

Which in the imagination of an adventurous young frail boy, brought up by lighthouse people, became Treasure Island.

Now today’s Queen Street Gardens stress that their park is particularly child-friendly.

And parents to keep an eye on them, possibly because of those 15 men on the dead man’s chest.

And the bottle of rum.

Open season

Now you will need to be in the Queen Street Gardens to subscribe, pay the fee and get to see Treasure island.

Unless you use this month’s Edinburgh Doors Open Days.

Or, of course, come to North Berwickety.

With Sula Boat Trips for a £20 evening cruise from the harbour

Countries, Culture, Europe

Make a tourism killing from the Fjords to Guadeloupe

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And as next big Nordic noir thing Randi Fuglehaug popularises Norway we explore where they make a tourism killing from the Fjords to Guadeloupe.

Now you probably know Randi from her young adult Netflix series Royalteen.

But you’ll soon be acquainted with her and her and her detective Agnes Tveit’s stomping ground of Voss in west Norway.

Normally a sleepy mountain town close to Norway’s Hardanger region Randi ramps it up.

With murders around an extreme-sports week and a sheep’s-head feast Ekstremsportveko, jazz festival Vossa Jazz and food fest Smalahovesleppet.

All standard settings for crime writers and a tourist board’s dream for promoting their region.

Elementary detective setting

We have, of course, seen Guadeloupe given the tourism treatment as the site of many a murder in Death in Paradise.

While here on this island and the rocks off it there is no shortage of murder capitals.

The actual English and British one where Sherlock Holmes’ fictional abode 221b Baker Street is a popular tourist spot.

While as far north as you can be in the Shetland Islands you can walk in Jimmy Perez and Ruth Calder’s footsteps.

C’est murder

While way south, almost France really you can soak up Bergerac’s Jersey.

Why not walk the rues of Paris and the Quai des Orfèvres, the historic police headquarters of Inspector Maigret?

Back on Holmes, you can pay homage to the Scots author in his hometown of Edinburgh.

And at the Conan Doyle boozer in the New Town.

And the scene of Holmes and Moriarty’s set-to at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland.

Wallander to Marlowe

Back in the frozen north you can visit Wallander’s favorite haunt, Fridolfs Konditori in Sweden and order a Wallander pastry.

While Istanbul, the crossroads of Europe and Asia is an obvious setting for detectives.

From Hercule Poirot on the Orient Express to today’s Turkish Detective.

And in America my uncle would dine out on when Kojak was shot in his Pirate’s Cove pub in Manhattan.

While if it’s old Californian tec vibes you want.

Then San Francisco is an enduring character for Sam Spade and Los Angeles for Philip Marlowe.

The fourth book in the Agnes Tveit set will be out early next year.

And it is set during a local football tournament.

Caribbean, Countries, Music, UK

Rainy Days and Songdays… five Notting Hill bangers

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And if like us you reckon that Ronan Keating says it best when he says nothing at all, you’ll join us on the truck for Rainy Days and Songdays… five Notting Hill bangers.

Because you don’t have to go out to the West Indies for the full Caribbean experience.

It’s just that London doesn’t have the natural beaches and palm trees, that’s all.

And so it was in Barbados where I got my first taste of carnival, Grand Kadooment, Foreday Morning and Mas.

Now to warm you up for that and educate you in Caribbean.

We have the annual Notting Hall Carnival, which this year celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

From Junior to the Clash

Police and Thieves: If there’s one anthem that has recognition from Carnivalites and non-Carnivalites alike it’s this anthem from Jamaicans Junior Murvin and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

The story goes that The Clash’s Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon got on the song for their eponymous debut album.

Because they were involved in a riot as part of the 1976 carnival.

Memorable line: And all the crowd come in, day by day/No one stop it in any way/All the peacemaker turn war officer/Hear what I say.

Jumpin’

Jump: And what would a carnival be without the jumpin’ and the chippin’?

This classic beat from Bajan soca star Rupee (real name Rupert Antonio Clarke) from the turn of the Millennium had us all, well jumpin’.

Memorable line: And the men, selling their craft/And don’t talk about the girls in the costume, yeahIt just does something to me and it makes me wanna/jump around the place.

Take note

If you don’t know me by now: And another which is as well known for its cover as its original.

Philly soul band Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes first had a stab at this plea for forgiveness back in 1972.

Before Simply Red reprised it in 1989, complete with Mick Hucknall flicking his carrot-top tresses around.

Memorable line: Oh, don’t get so excited/When I come home a little late at night/You know, we only act like children/When we argue, fuss and fight.

The OG

Jamming: And, of course, no celebration of the Caribbean would be complete.

Without a nod to the Great Man, Bob Marley.

And nothing is guaranteed to get the crowd going than this classic.

Whistle while you work: But it’s all play

Although you could say that about One Love, Three Little Birds… you name it.

Memorable line: We’re jammin’/To think that jammin’ was a thing of the past/We’re jammin’/And I hope this jam is gonna last.

And Ri-Ri

Man Down: And that’s me every time the Queen of Barbados (they got rid of the other one) trills at me in her velvety voice.

And although the lyrics are challenging, it’s in the spirit of I Shot The Sheriff, and who can’t resist the refrain.

Particularly as it has rum in it and we’ve plenty of experience of chippin’ to the rum truck.

Memorable line: Rum-pum-pum-pum/Rum-pum-pum-pum/Rum-pum-pum-pum/Man down.

America, Countries

Universal Orlando clown fixture scareactor

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Had the creative geniuses been there for my mock-up circus promo back then I’d be a Universal Orlando clown fixture scareactor now.

Nowhere does Halloween come around quicker than Universal Orlando.

With horror fans straining at the leash for today’s launch (in August!) of its 35th Halloween Horror Nights spooktacular.

When they will showcase sinister new experiences, ten haunted houses, chilling street experiences… and clowns.

Roll up for the Carnival

All of the fun unfolds within the Infernal Carnival of Nightmares.

A decrepit carnival overseen by Jack the Clown and his legendary rival, Dr. Oddfellow.

With old pals The Usher, The Storyteller and more.

While there’s no escape either on the streets where in Downtown Clowntown a troupe of maniacal clowns have taken over the New York area .

Horror fans will come face to face with the Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Art the Clown, and returning characters Chance and Eddie Schmidt.

CityWalk to CityStalk

The horror extends beyond the scare zones and into other areas of the park as the streets teem with even more lurking frights, including:

The hotels and entertainment hub CityWalk are, of course, all part of the party.

With the CityWalk’s Dead Coconut Club, which transforming into a Harvest Festival this fall.

And don’t you know our pals at themeland have only put on a scarily good offer here.

Deal me in

A 7-nighter in Universal Orlando Resort from £1,422.57pps.

With Virgin Atlantic Holidays, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic flights direct from London Heathrow to Orlando.

Room Only accommodation at Universal Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites.

The package also includes 14-day Universal Orlando All Parks Tickets and Halloween Horror Nights Single Night Tickets.

Price is based on a departure on 10 September and includes all applicable taxes, local fees, resort fees and fuel surcharges..

Book by 30 September 2026 to take advantage of Virgin Atlantic Holidays’ September Sale,

including a reduced £75 per person deposit and additional savings on selected Universal Orlando Resort holidays using promo code UNIVERSAL.

Asia, Countries

Easy tiger… sign up for an Indian safari

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They’re painted as villains in popular culture but as committed ailurophiles we say easy tiger… sign up for an Indian safari.

Tigers have always had a bad rap and it’s not as if they did anything dastardly in the Bible with fruit or swallow anybody.

Tigers at play: In Ayrshire, of all places

And so we get Shere Khan, Tiger Claw, Tiger Shark, Tigerstar and Tiger Woods.

With only Tigger fighting the good fight for the Great Stripey One.

Now tigers’ only crime, as far as we can see it, is being more solitary and prowling than those lovable lions.

When, for our part, we admire their independence and single-mindedness.

Safari so good

All of which you can decide for yourself.

When you get up close to the stripey ones on an Indian safari, taking in Jungle Bookland.

And Kipling Camp in Kanha National Park.

And nowhere can you see them as often on safari, and as regularly.

Golden Triangle

With Indian Safaris giving you three nights there.

As part of a 14 days Tigers and the Golden Triangle Tour from $4,052.

Now Indian Safaris bill this dream trip as offering excellent wildlife viewing opportunities in Pench, Kanha and Ranthambore.

And bird viewing in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

While away from the tigers there is, of course, the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

And, of course, there are other jungle animals are available.

So if you think like us that the wonderful thing about Tiggers are Tiggers are wonderful things.

Then join the pack and head out to India with Indian Safari and earn your stripes.

America, Countries

The young also rises in Florida Keys

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In the fiesta that is the Hemingway lookalike competition the young also rises in Florida Keys.

Because as the much lamented Dolly Parton, who was overlooked even in her own competition, reminds us you need to stick out.

And so white beardie Hemingways have become just too difficult to separate.

Kudos then to Chris Dutton, who made history by becoming the first Young Hemingway to win Sloppy Joe’s 45th Annual Hemingway Look-Alike Contest.

The Tampa native channeling Ernest’s earlier moustachioed days.

With, of course, the hairy top lip into the full bush face being a natural progression.

For all of us budding writers.

Importance of being Ernest

Now for those who wish to put their Hemingway credentials to the test and be judged by other Ernests.

Then pencil in July 21-26 at Hemingway’s hang-out Sloppy Joe’s in Key West.

The 39-year-old lawyer emerged from a field of 134 registered contestants, in two preliminary rounds.

Before defeating 23 other finalists to claim the title on his seventh attempt.

The tache Ernest wore: In his younger days

By making a pitch to the judges, or Papas.

All of whom evaluate resemblance to Hemingway, stage presence and character.

And the ability to represent a society devoted to preserving the celebrated author’s legacy.

A chunky white jumper

Sloppy drinkers: The hard-drinking Ernest

Now a good Hemingway chunky white jumper is sure to help.

And Chris had the very thing, a gift from an old Papa.

‘Papa David Douglas gave me this sweater,’ said Chris. ‘I’ve had it for a few years and I never told anybody.’

Now like the Great Man himself the Papas are famous for their generosity.

And after his first appearance at the lookalike contest, a past Papa invited him to Cuba.

Because a Papa is not just for Christmas, as somebody just said.

Papa’s brand new bag

The bell tolls: Skylar Massella of Delray Beach, Fla., Mari Portal of Miami, and Allison Plumadore of Key West.Picture: Carol Tedesco/Florida Keys News Bureau.

Chris now moves from contestant to judge, helping select future winners.

And supporting the Hemingway Look-Alike Society’s scholarship program, which has awarded more than $350,000 to Florida Keys students.

He also becomes one of the tradition’s ambassadors, helping ensure Hemingway’s enduring influence.

Hemingway lived and wrote some of his most famous works in Key West through much of the 1930s.

And he was a regular at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, where the contest was held.

The annual contest remains the signature event of the six-day Hemingway Days celebration honouring the 127th anniversary of his July 21 birth.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Cani-hiking in Avoriaz

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Munro bagger supreme Jimmy thinks nothing of climbing hills with his dog so cani-hiking in Avoriaz will be right up son mont.

Now granted the Pentland Hills which frame Edinburgh aren’t, or would ever claim to be, the French Alps.

See you Jimmy: With Jimmy, far left at Dunbar’s finest

But fear not you won’t have to haul, or be dragged by, Fido up the slope.

You’ll be equipped instead with a waist belt and elastic lead.

And Fido will gently pull you along and set the pace so you can enjoy the scenery.

Dog days

The experience lasts around an hour and a half and includes a break for refreshments for you and your dog.

And the chance to take photos with them.

Suitable for adults and children aged 10 and over, cani-hiking takes place in the late afternoon or evening.

To keep the dogs comfortable during the warmer months.

Available daily from June 25 to 29 August, so it’ll be a case of pencilling it in for next year.

The experience will cost you €30/£26pp.

Taking the lead

Get out for a stretch: No shortage of routes

Plenty of time then for you to get into training.

Although heads and paws up here, you will be provided with a dog, a northern dog… think huskies.

Now you’ll want to know where is best to stay around Avoriaz.

Your residence awaits

And we’ve been pointed to Résidence Pierre & Vacances Saskia Falaise for a seven-night stay.

Arriving 28 August and priced from £312 for a self-catered stay in an apartment sleeping up to four people.

With flights and transfers extra.

All of which we imagine are similar for next year.