With sites lighting up in green for 2026 including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Empire State Building in New York, Niagara Falls, the CN Tower in Canada.
And The National Wallace Monument in Scotland, Heidecksburg Castle in Germany, the Cibeles Fountain in Madrid, La Croisette in Cannes, the Grand Place in Brussels and the Sky Tower in Auckland.
Green for go
Take off: The ski jumpStone me: The Jelling Stones
Of course, each new year Tourism Ireland persuades more countries to bring new landmarks to the party.
Last year it was the polar bear sculpture in Longyearbyen in Norway.
And one of our favourites The Kelpies, the largest equine statue in the world, in Falkirk.
And you can put money on Jessie Buckley gushing about being a mum in her Oscars acceptance speech, and while Hamnet is a tour de force, here are our five fab films for Mother’s Day.
With a nod, of course, to the mumdoms where they ruled the roost.
Let’s start at the very beginning
The parent Von Trapp: In Austria
The Sound of Music: And if a mother’s love is unconditional then all the more credit for women who take on another man’s children.
From the Pueblos of New Mexico to the Hualapai Nation in Arizona and the 39 distinct Tribal Nations in Oklahoma.
The road is a gateway to a vibrant, modern Indigenous landscape.
With Sherry L. Rupert (Paiute/Washoe), CEO of the American Indigenous Tourism Association painting another picture.
‘For too long, our stories were treated as an afterthought or a marketing gimmick. The American Indigenous Tourism Association is proud to provide the tools for travelers to journey with intention.
‘Honouring the sovereignty and resilience of the Native Nations who remain the heartbeat of the Mother Road.’
And your Indian guides
Know your history: Stops along the way
With the centre of the initiative AIT’s guidebook, American Indians and Route 66 originally published for the 90th anniversary in 2016.
This comprehensive travel guide, created in partnership with the National Park Service is funded in part by the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program.
It provides historical context on the road’s impact – both the economic opportunities and the challenges of land displacement – and offers travelers essential etiquette for visiting tribal lands.
Digital footpring
To support the centennial, AIT has launched dedicated digital resources to help travellers plan their Indigenous-focused road trip:
Dedicated Route 66 Portal:Visitors can access a wealth of historical materials, trip-planning guides, and educational resources.
Route 66 Events: Discover ways to celebrate this road-tripping milestone with Only in Your State, the official publishing partner of the Route 66 Centennial.
Geordies are oft tagged Scots with their heads bashed in… now add to that their claim that the world’s oldest check tartan really is English.
The back story is that we’ve just spent International Women’s Day with The Scary One and her mum in their English homeland.
In Alnwick in Northumberland, only an hour and a half from our North Berwick home on Scotland’s south-east coast.
Book station: Barter Books
And learning about how fluid our stories are, with Northumberland having changed hands countless times in Borders skirmishes.
Which must explain how check tartan plaid first showed up in the third-century AD before more northern peoples took it on.
On track in Alnwick
Write stuff: Oor Wullie and The Broons
It has in truth been a two-way street between Scotland and the north-east English county.
And our venture into the Alnwick institution that is the repurposed train station and now bookshop/cafe, closed after the war, Barter Books … and which reveals all.
The best story: With the Scary One and her mum
With iconic Scots Oor Wullie and The Broons showcased on the shelves and Billy Connolly to the fore.
Read all about it
On the shoulders of giants: The greats of literature
Barter Books is of course, more than a second-hand bookshop.
One of the biggest in the country and expanded since it first opened 35 years ago.
With its most notable addition its renowned buffet from a room they never even knew they had but fell upon a dozen years after first opening.
Your table is ready: If it’s busy
And which we sit in today by an open fireplace and historical pictures from Northumbrian yore with The Top-Hatted Station Master purveying the scene.
The rest is gravy: The famous roast beef sandwich
It is here that we sit eating our roast beef and onion gravy sandwiches, recommended as indeed Barter has been by Daughterie, and coffee stout.
Everybody screams for ice cream
Topper: The Top-Hatted Stationmaster
And if that doesn’t fill you up you can reward yourself with ice cream, cakes or speciality coffees from Paradise, the former Stationmasters office.
We are glad to have got a table at all as Barter Buffet can become busy and visitors have been known to queue to get in.
Perhaps it is because regulars to BB, 45 miles north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, clearly linger over their food, with a good book from the shop.
Kilt it: Northumbrian tartan
Of course, in the best company, it would be rude to read although when the conversation drifted I took in the artefacts, the top-hatted lamp shades.
And the pictures of what look like Scots but are really Northumbrians in those 3rd-century black-and-white check tartans.
Wham bam Bamburgh
Dramatic: Bamburgh Castle
Now you can easily spend the whole day, and Barter is open every day but Christmas Day, but any day tripper must take in the dramatic Bamburgh Castle before heading home.
Of course, we haven’t left ourselves enough time, and anyway we must always leave ourselves another reason to return and we will.
But before we go we take in the celebrated wooden-panelled Copper Kettle cafe in the quaint village.
And high teas with pots of tea that would sate any hungry hiker and scones and jam reserves or cake treats.
And the Guinness Storehouse within strolling distance for the best panoramic views of the city from the Gravity Bar, and best pint of plain.
Although family loyalties will always mean we point in the direction of the Liffeyside institution that is the Workshop bistro bar, next to the Tara Street Dart (or train) station.
Fill up your cart: Strawberry theme
While if you’re wanting some culture, or just get away from the crowds for a breather.
Then Trinity College and its Book of Kells and the National Gallery are havens of peace.
Of course, it’s no coincidence that the Ruby group dedicated their hotel to arguably Dublin’s most famous citizen, one Molly Malone.
Molly’s Dublin
Green for go: Cocktail hour
As its location in Oxmanstown on the north of the river is solid market trading land.
Where you’d not be surprised to find Mrs Brown or her boys.
Once the site of an abbey, the rediscovery of parts of its vault in the 1880s, 7 feet under the street, adds to the mystical allure surrounding the hotel.
Drawing inspiration from the vibrant covered market of 1892, Ruby Molly channels former market trader Anna Lawlor’s story.
Balcony seat: And view of Dublin
A place where farmers sold their fresh produce.
Including the much-coveted strawberries that adorned the tables of Dublin’s finest hotels.
And well-endowed Dublin lasses sold their cockles and mussels, alive-oh.
Rates from €345 (16–18 March). Images and further details available on request.
Sister Michael, or Siobhan McSweeney as she is known in some quarters is back for a second season as host of the international phenomenon that is The Traitors game show.
And participants and viewers alike have been caught up in all the shenanigans that take place in its gilded quarters.
Now the good news for us is that you don’t need to be a Traitor or a Faithful to sample what the competitors do.
Because the Co. Meath estate, 35 miles north of Dublin, is open to visitors to enjoy its charms or channel your inner game player as part of the Slane Castle Collection.
With anything from a three or five-bedroom apartment to taking out the whole castle.
Slayin’ it at Slane
King and queen of the castle: Slane
Yes, you read that right, you can now play lord or lady of the manor for the first time in the Georgian demesne in the Boyne Valley.
The Retreat includes exclusive hire of three storeys of the Castle.
With six bedrooms located on both the first and second floors, sleeping up to 15 guests.
As well as reception rooms (dining room, drawing room and main hall) on the ground floor.
Groundbreakers: Thin Lizzy at the start
The ballroom and morning room event spaces can be booked as part of an additional event hire booking.
And the Conyngham family will cater for breakfasts as well as half to full board once the accommodation is booked.
The castle also has a 60-seater restaurant (Gandon Room).
And 20-seater bar (Browne’s Bar) on the lower ground floor as well as its own nightclub in the basement.
The stage is set
On a pedestal: Phil Lynott in Dublin
Now if Slane or the Conyngham family rang a bell with you long before its Traitors iteration then we’re not surprised.
As Slane has long been associated with big music festivals.
With it being 45 years this year since Irish rock pioneers Thin Lizzy played in the castle grounds.
In the years since a who’s who of musicians have made Slane Castle a must-play venue.
Including the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, David Bowie, Guns N’ Roses, Robbie Williams and of course U2 who have played Slane three times.
There have also been iconic sets from Madonna, Oasis, Bon Jovi, Eminem, the Foo Fighters and Harry Styles.
While this summer you can see Country superstar Luke Combs on Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19.
With local favourites The Script among the support acts.
A Celtic connection
Harry’s game: Slane superstar
Now if you’ve Scottish and Irish blood running through you you will be in good company.
As so do the Conynghams are of similar Caledonian and Donegal stock as ourselves.
Which is probably why they turned on the taps and let the whiskey flow at their distillery and invited us down to partake.
All of which, in music and Slane Castle folklore remains in Slane Castle.
It’s one love that Jamaicans and the Irish share which is why we brought our evening of travel networking to a bass jumpin’ climax Dub jammin’ with Celtic reggae.
Two islands forged in struggles against the British Empire it was natural that the Godfather of Reggae Bob Marley should gravitate towards Ireland.
And play his last outdoor concert at Dalymount Park in Dublin in the summer of 1980.
The One Love or An Afternoon in the Park gig on July 6 of that year.
I’m all right, Jack: A pirate of the Caribbean
When he braved his failing health to play before a packed stadium, generously charged as little as I£7 to see a global superstar.
Back in the day when any superstar would bodyswerve Ireland in favour of Britain.
The Irish, of course, never forget and Bob remains such a hero today that the Bohemians football club commemorated the concert with a special football shirt of the Great Man.
Let’s get together
Best bar none: Reggae in Dublin
Whisper it but our tickets were even cheaper for our celebration of all things Bob, Reggae and Jamaica.
With a home-grown Celtic Reggae band at the Botanical Garden Opium at the end of our annual Meet the Media networking travel fair.
And don’t worry, nothing that strong was inhaled!
Jamaica has become a growing market, for the reasons of kindred links, love of music, drink, partying and sun… well, OK, only one of the two islands has that.
The action gets underway on the Wednesday, February 11 with the Carnival Queen Gala.
After a night of revelry, guests can retreat to the boutique Sir Anthony Hotel.
With its ocean-view rooms and private plunge pools.
The Opening Parade (Cabalgata Anunciadora) is on the Friday.
Guests at Spring Hotel Vulcano can toast the day from the UP! rooftop terrace or unwind by the pool.
And try the pilates, yoga, meditation, and spa treatments.
Super trouper
Get your steps in: To party at Carnival
Ready for Ritmo y Armonía Parade the next day.
Glad you asked… well, it’s high-energy Latin dance troupes along the seafront.
Mediterranean Palace offers children (those who insist on coming along) the Club Mare Kids while you relax by the pool.
Or unwind in the spa and saltwater pool.
After giving worship at your kilted Jesus Mass you’ll be cleansed for the Daytime Carnaval.
The Apoteosis
Reign and my parade: The Grand Parade
Guests staying at Spring Hotel Bitácoracan continue the Carnival energy in the south on the UP! rooftop terrace.
A new week and the fun keeps coming on Carnaval Monday.
Wellness is the order of the day at Arona Gran Hotel or if you’re the active type hire a bike to take a spin along the coast.
All to give you energy for Tuesday’s Coso Apoteosis (Grand Parade/Main Parade).
With its fantastic floats, comparsas, music, and fireworks.
Before setting off your day with a rooftop sunset at the Spring Hotel.
Sardines and other fishy tales
The scales of it: The Burial of the Sardine
Well into the ways of the locals you’ll be exercised by now at what to do with your sardines!
Don’t be… the islanders host the Burial of the Sardine on the Wednesday.
A playful, theatrical farewell blending theatre, satire and tradition.
Back in the south, carry on the party in the Piramide de Arona at the Mare Nostrum Resort (beside Cleopatra Palace).
Then it’s back to your Spring hotel for downtime.
The Festival of Rondallas & Children’s Carnival Parade spans the next two days.
There’s still a weekend to go and we won’t take any flagging now.
Take it all out on Piñata Weekend on the Saturday and Sunday.
While for the more grown up there is the Exhibition and Parade of Vintage Cars.
Take a plunge
Luxurious: Spring Hotel Vulcano
Seven nights Half Board at 5* Hotel Sir Anthony departing London Stansted on 11 February 2026.
Superior Double room with Sea View and Private Plunge Pool from £2,305pps with Jet2holidays.
Seven nights B&B at Spring Hotel Vulcano departing London Stansted on 11 February.
Standard room. From £1,113pps* with Jet2holidays.
Seven nights B&B at 5* Mediterranean Palace departing London Stansted on 11 February.
Standard Twin room. From £1,082pps* with Jet2holidays.
Expansive: But not expensive at the Cleopatra
Seven nights B&B at 4* Cleopatra Palace Hotel departing London Stansted on 15 February.
Standard Twin room with Pool View. From £1,197pps* with Jet2holidays.
Seven nights B&B at 4* Spring Arona Gran Hotel & Spa, Los Cristianos, Tenerife, departing London Stansted on 11 February.
Twin room with Side Sea View. From £1,122pps* with Jet2holidays.
Seven nights Half Board Plus at Spring Hotel Bitácora, Playa de las Américas, departing London Stansted on 11 February.
Sharing a Standard room. From £1,131pps* with Jet2holidays.
T&Cs
Cross dresser: Jesus in Tenerife
●All prices correct at time of writing and include Jet2holidays’ promotional offer (January payday offer of £100pp off all holidays, plus an extra £100 off per booking).
Prices include 22kg checked baggage per person, 10kg hand luggage per person,
All of which is laid out in minute and everyday detail.
In the Quarter’s museum and honoured in the architecture and tributes around Dohany,
Been there bought the T-shirt
Got it covered: The Just Jew It take
Of course, the greatest answer to the ravages of the Holocaust is for the survivors and their descendants to live a good and full life.
And that means celebrating your heritage.
Which we discover when we visit that the Jews of Hungary do with self-effacing humour.
With T-shirts and mugs of the famous Michael Jordan leaping logo with Just Jew It written on them.
Answer to our prayers: The synagogue
It is a side of Jewish people which most will not reflect on today.
But we are reminded of one of the most memorable and heart-rending scenes in any film on the Holocaust.
Life Is Beautiful
Moving: La Vite E Bella
From La Vita E Bella (Life is Beautiful) when father Guido uses humour to protect son Giusue’s innocence.
Explaining that the signposts ‘No Jews, No Dogs’ and we are reminded that similar prohibitions throughout history have included ‘No Irish’ are a joke too.
And that when they will go on to open a bookstore they will erect a sign saying ‘No Visigoths, no Spiders.’
And by joking that the rules of the camp are a game.
Read all about it: A Tora in the Jewish Quarter museum
Where you can accumulate points by obeying the draconic, inhumane regulations.
While when the guards come for Guido at the climax for execution and he sees Giusue hiding in a box.
He deflects with wit by winking at him and goosestepping.
The humanity of humour
Roll of honour: Artists in the Jewish Quarter
That people use gallows humour in their worst moments is a uniquely human coping mechanism.
And one which Jews have consistently turned to in the face of victimisation.
With Mel Brooks ridiculing Hitler and anti-semitism and Woody Allen celebrating the eccentricities of his own culture.
While a list of great Jewish comedians rolls off the tongue.
The shoes fit: By the Danube
Jackie Mason, George Burns, Groucho Marx, Rodney Dangerfield and Joan Rivers.
To today’s powerhouses of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Sarah Silverman, Adam Sandler, Billy Crystal, Sacha Baron Cohen and Jerry Sadowitz.
World Holocaust Day is, as it should be, a difficult one for us to get through.
Worship: My tribute
None more so than those Jews, Gypsies and other cultures who suffered more than most.
But this year I will reflect on the shared humanity of humour.
Which I encountered in that small piece of Jewish-American fusion of culture I saw in the Magyar capital by the Danube, complete with its emotional shoes statue.
Which is still the only skyscraper in the City of Light and soars to 688ft.
Now to get the full panoramic experience of the French capital you’ll have to get moving, though.
Les Enfants: Dans Paree
With the Observatory due to close on March 31 for years of renovations.
The closure precedes the launch of a major renovation program aimed at completely transforming the building and its surroundings.
Highful in the Eiffel
Naturellement the Eiffel Tower is the biggest draw for visitors to France.
Many of whom, like ourselves with our then young family, will climb 674 stairs to reach… the second floor.
Because you can’t scale the 1,665 steps and will instead have to take the elevator, although you can skip the lot and get the lift from the ground floor.
What you might not know is that that other grand edifice by the Seine, the Paris Montparnasse Observatory, boasts the fastest elevator in Europe to get up to its observatory on the 56th floor.
Which more than 30 million visitors have taken in since its opening in 1974, offering a 360-degree view of Paris and its suburbs.
Now with such a vista you won’t be surprised to learn too that the Observatory has hosted more than 3,200 cultural, artistic, and institutional events at the top of the tower.
It has notably served as the venue for concerts by internationally renowned artists such as Justin Bieber, Soprano, Indochine and Feu Chatterton.
As well as events open to the general public, such as temporary recreational installations, an ice rink, a temporary roller skating rink and fashion shows during Fashion Week.
C’est Magnicity
City of Light: Paris
The renovation project will involve a complete transformation of the building and its surroundings.
Mais non, it’s not adieu though, only a bientot.
And Magnicity, which has owned and operated the Paris Montparnasse Observatory and its floors for 53 years, will continue to operate its other panoramic sites internationally.
