Europe Archives - Page 10 of 104 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

This season of Keats and mellow fruitfulness

5th September 20255th September 2025 funtime65

Nobody has captured Autumn better and, as we kick through the leaves and conkers, take a tour with us celebrating the season of Keats and mellow fruitfulness.

Much is owed, or ode if you like to the Romantic poet.

For his 25 prolific poetic years on this Earth.

Not least for inspiring this Edinburgh Fringe poet who found beauty in his words, despite the mechanical teaching of school educators.

This year marks the 230th since the Great Man’s birth and centenary of the opening of Keats House in Hampstead, London.

A Regency house this splendid property is where Keats lived for two years in 1818 before he left for Italy.

And you get a true sense of time and place in the home where he wrote La Belle Dame Sans Merci, The Eve of St Agnes and Ode to a Nightingale.

Keats House at 100

Time capsule: Keats House, Hampsted, in 1925

The Hampstead House is key to the Keats story.

As his neighbours during these years were only the family of his muse and great love Fanny Brawne.

The new Keats House 100 exhibition and special displays will immerse you in how the house looked when it opened to the public in May 1925.

Entry to the exhibition is included in the £10 adults admission.

As are the 30-minute accessibility-friendly volunteer-led tours, which take place most Thursday, Friday and Sunday afternoons at 2.30pm.

The holy of holies. At the end of the Francigena in Rome

In the spirit of poetry too the curators offer an introduction into Keats’s life and work.

In a ten-minute film here and give an airing to the beautiful Ode to a Nightingale, written in 1819 in the garden at Keats House.

Now it would be all horses in Keats’ day but for those coming by train, the nearest stations are Hampstead Heath (Overground), and Hampstead and Belsize Park on the Northern Line.

While buses 1, 24, 46 and C11 all stop nearby and there is a car park on East Heath Road.

Keats’ Autumn town

All very helpful to plan ahead as is the excellent Keats Locations blog.

Which takes us further afield and even to the exact spot in Winchester, Hampshire, on the south coast of England.

Where Keats had repaired to for his health and wrote that it was ‘the pleasantest town’.

And we’ll forgive him for the arcane superlative we wouldn’t entertain today.

And again ‘on one side of the city there is a dry chalky down where the air is worth six pence a pint.’

Keats, we are told, took a regular walk through the Itchen’s water meadows.

To the Hospital of St Cross and then back up over the downs.

And that it was on one September walk, looking down from St Giles Hill that he wrote ‘To Autumn’.

Classic Keats in Rome

Steps back into time: Keats’ last home across the years

The beauty of our tour, preened from these expert sources, is that we visit La Citta Eterna, Rome too, where Keats spent his final days.

And 26 Piazza di Spagna, at the foot of the Spanish Steps.

This was, of course, the final dwelling place of John Keats, who died here in 1821.

And the patrons have preserved his bedroom in pristine fashion.

The Keats-Shelley attraction features a chain of beautiful rooms.

And a great many treasures and curiosities associated with the lives and works of the Romantic poets.

As well as one of the finest libraries of Romantic literature in the world, now numbering more than 8,000 volumes.

There are also two spacious terraces boasting stunning views, a book and gift shop.

And a small cinema room where visitors can watch an exclusive introductory film about the Romantics.

And for those really serious Keatsophiles they should take a trip to the city’s cemetery for non-Catholics, the Cimitero Acattolico in Testaccio.

So wherever you celebrate him make this the season of Keats and mellow fruitfulness.

Countries, Europe, Music

Haarlem Vinyl Countdown

3rd September 20253rd September 2025 funtime65

What goes around comes around which is where we’re at with the Haarlem Vinyl Countdown.

The Haarlem Vinyl Festival in the Netherlands from September 26-28 celebrates old-fashioned 33 and 45rpms.

And is billed as the first global festival to dedicate multiple days simply to the vinyl culture.

Time was, before Spotify, when you would go into town especially just to browse through the records.

And when you found yourself in a new city you’d head straight for the record store.

Record stores across the world

From Oxford Street and Camden Market in London.

To Grafton Street in Dublin to Greenwich Village and Harlem in New York.

Which brings us around to the original Haarlem which gave its name to the borough when New York was New Amsterdam.

Pressing on

The Haarlem Vinyl Festival will give you the chance to immerse yourself across music genres.

Join talks, singing sessions and concerts including the best Dutch acts and a Pussy Riots performance.

And guided tours at Record Industry where you can find out just what goes into the pressing of LPs, or long players.

The factory building houses a recording studio and cutting and mastering rooms.

Galvanics, DMM production, sleeve folding and gluing machines, vinyl pressing, packaging and a print shop.

We’re told that customers will be able to supply RI with an audio master and artwork and they take care of the rest.

From cutting the master to printing sleeves and assembling your product.

Cutting edge

And in their recording and direct-to-disc facility, Artone Studio, you can record your music straight to lacquer or multi track.

All of which reminds us that we’re still waiting on our recording of our John Lee Hooker cover from the Grammy Museum Mississippi.

Spoken into a box or boom, boom, boom, boom box, which I’d put my email on.

But hey, it might not have passed a quality test.

So we’re ticking down the days in the Haarlem Vinyl Countdown to a celebration of the long-playing record.

Now Haarlem is just 20km from Schiphol Airport so plenty of time to explore Amsterdam.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Skiing

Get inter intermediate Andorra skiing in Andorra

1st September 20251st September 2025 funtime65

It is not, no matter what they say, like falling off a bike, which is why we’d advise you get inter intermediate Andorra skiing.

Skiing, for us, more follows the course of if you don’t use it, you lose it.

So if, for whatever reason, you’ve been off the slopes for a few years but still know how to snow plough.

You’re skilled enough to leave the starters on the nursery slopes and join the middle class.

Andorra’s box of options

Now the Pearl of the Pyrenees mountainous adventure spot claims, with good reason, to have cornered the market in families’ beginners’ skiing.

With Solos ramping it up with their Beginners Ski Week in Arinsal.

And following it up now with Arinsal Intermediate.

Andorra’s Vallnord-Pal Arinsal ski resort offers 63 km of pistes linked by 44 lifts.

The resort caters for all abilities, though intermediates will especially enjoy the wide selection of blue and red runs.

Cool for school

Now my past having caught up with me I’ve been hived off to personal tutors, saints all, in Soll and Val D’Isere.

But you’ll get to enjoy the camaraderie of ski school.

With guests joining a group led by expert instructors to develop technique.

Guests will stay at the Yomo Patagonia Hotel, a modern property set at the foot of the resort.

Just 50m from the main six-seat ski lift.

With ski-in access, comfortable rooms, and excellent facilities, Solos is pledging a convenient and welcoming base.

Count us in

A seven-night Arinsal Ski – Intermediate Week trip, departs on 1 March 2026, from £2,099pp.

With flights and transfers, airport taxes, a twin room for solo use, breakfast and dinner daily.

A welcome drink, six-day ski pass, six-day silver ski hire (skis, boots, poles and helmet).

Five days of ski school (three hours per day) and an accompanying Solos Tour Leader.

Countries, Europe

The hills are alive now with Salzburg Autumn

28th August 202528th August 2025 funtime65

The hills are alive now with Salzburg Autumn and these are a few of my favourite things about Bauernherbst.

Now we can’t remember the Von Trapps’ decorative hay-ball.

Which indicated that the innkeeper is offering regional produce on the menu.

Blow your own trumpet: The Austrians in traditional mode

So let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start.

This is the 30th Bauernherbst, Salzburg’s Harvest Festival which runs until 31 October.

Picking the long straw

Where as you enter the 74 villages in the region you’ll find displays with figures made of straw depicting farm life.

And be invited to join in the parades, traditional music, dance, and bustling markets with seasonal produce.

From roasted chestnuts and hearty pumpkin dishes to freshly pressed cider and regional schnapps.

You can watch artisans weave baskets, embroider, spin yarns and carve wood.

Salzburgers in their dirndls and lederhosen dance to Austrian melodies.

And raise their steins, look into each others’ eyes and swig the official Stiegl beer barrel as it’s tapped.

Suite living

For those looking to pair the celebrations with breathtaking autumn scenery and contemporary Alpine luxury.

WIESERGUT in Hinterglemm in the Leigang region, with its 24 elegant suite is the perfect base.

Days can be spent exploring harvest festivities or hiking through forests.

Twirl power: The youngsters of the village set the lead

Before returning to the hotel’s serene spa, with its spring-fed indoor and outdoor pools, pine sauna, and steam bath.

Before feasting like a native with produce sourced locally or grown on the hotel’s own farm.

From homemade breads and jams to eggs from free-range chickens.

So the hills are alive now with Salzburg Autumn and with all major airlines serving Austria airports then you should sample Autumn in the valleys.

A sample three nights comes in at €3,906 per room next month.

Countries, Europe, Ireland

Bucking Fastard… this is the most incredible cave in the world

27th August 202527th August 2025 funtime65

And as our own Scottish story is said to have been formed in a cavern with a future king and a spiky spider you’d think we have the claim, but Bucking Fastard… this is the most incredible cave in the world.

No, not our way of getting around the censors but citing acclaimed Hollywood director Werner Herzog.

Who we’d hope has been to Rathlin Island, off the coast of the North of Ireland, or King’s Cave in Arran in the west of Scotland.

Where a defeated Robert the Bruce is said to have been inspired by a spider weaving their web.

To try, try and try again and eventually defeat England and gain Scotland’s independence.

The bold Werner though passed over the Bruce locations though when choosing his location for his fantasy film.

Which stars Rooney and Kate Mara and Orlando Bloom and Domnhall Gleeson, and plumped instead for Slovenia.

Slovenia’s slithering dragons

And the Postojna Cave whose magic we have flagged up here before.

And which has had a house of dragons long before Game of Thrones was ever being hatched.

As well as extraordinary formations and fauna, which you might expect, but also an underground train.

And the only still-operating underground post office anywhere.

And a dash of Irish

Rooney, Rooney: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

If the stunning setting of a Slovenian set isn’t enough for you, then Bucking Fastard also accessed the magical properties Ireland also has to offer.

Including Dublin’s Pigeon House film studios and on location in Capel Street and in Naas, County Kildare.

Werner shared with us that Bucking Fastard explores the search for the meaning of life.

And that: ‘We cannot see the world as Jean and Joan Holbrooke (Kate and Rooney) see it, but we do see how the world reacts to them.

‘Through the courts and the press, through those that want to help and those who want to use them.

‘Through the eyes of beasts both tame and wild, and even through their own echoes in the core of the earth.’

We are still awaiting release dates for the movie but keep your eyes peeled.

Going underground

But, of course, we can see Postojna for ourselves.

And perhaps, just like Werner and no doubt the Mara sisters, exclaim: Bucking Fastard… this is the most incredible cave in the world.

We’re told that there are eight airlines that fly from Ireland to Slovenia.

And the flight takes 5 hours 29 minutes one-way and costs £436 round-trip.

America, Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying

Today’s Roman Holiday at 1950s Norwegian prices

26th August 202526th August 2025 funtime65

And as La Citta Eterna has always been on an American’s bucket list we bring you today’s Roman Holiday at 1950s Norwegian prices.

The beauty of Rome, of course, is in its sobriquet, it really hasn’t changed since Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck’s days.

As a crown princess and American photographer whizzing about the piazzas in a Vespa.

And thanks to budget transatlantic airline Norse Atlantic Airways we can have our own Roman Holiday from $129 from New York to Rome.

Although you might prefer to travel like Princess Ann which Norse offer in their premium class.

Do it yourself

Ann and Joe’s adventures were, of course, self-guided and we’d advise that too.

Having used the day and a half at the end of our Via Francigena pilgrimage into the Vatican to explore Roma a piedi, on foot.

Our friends at gpsmycity have mapped out a suggested Roman Holiday itinerary.

Chief among them the Spanish Steps, where Ann scoops up gelato.

Full Ponte: Your view from the Sant Angelo Castle

Romanophiles will tell you it is one of the best vistas in the Italian capital looking out on to the Vatican.

Scoping the other way atop Sant Angelo Castle has been the prime location of popes and plebs.

And where Ann and Joe indulged in mischief under the twinkling lights and shared a dance on the banks of the Tiber.

Fountain of truth

Of course, nobody, American or otherwise, princess or pauper, can visit Rome without throwing three coins in the fountain.

To ensure that you’ll return, and we will.

Although, whisper it, we can’t recall the barber shop near the Trevi Fountain still being there.

From when Ann shed her royal tresses.

All part of your GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet.

But it’s still today’s Roman Holiday at 1950s Norwegian prices.

Countries, Europe, Food

FellowSwiss of the Ring

24th August 202524th August 2025 funtime65

And seeing you need a hearty meal if you’re going on a long trek with little feet we bring you Merry and Pippin’s FellowSwiss of the Ring.

Frodo’s friends, or more accurately the actors who played them, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, are munching their way around le monde.

For their new Amazon Prime series Billy and Dom Eat the World and we join them in Verbier in Switzerland.

As they tear into the seven, count them, meals a hobbit eats.

Which is breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper.

Fondue memories

Our furry-footed fréres, well used to climbing the Misty Mountains, visit the snowy peaks of the 3,300m Mont Fort on their adventure.

But their alter egos coif champagne fondue at the Igloo, Europe’s highest fondue restaurant, rather than the hobbits’ favourite ale.

They also roll up their sleeves to bake bread at the Four Banal in Vollege.

While becoming part of the Brotherhood of Bread (see what the programme-makers are doing there).

The great adventure: For Merry and Pippin

With a time-honoured flour ceremony.

Something’s always brewing though when there are hobbits around.

And Merry and Pippin dig out and artisan brewery Amicale des Brasseurs de Vollèges.

All to wash down their flipping good crêpes at Verbier Milk Bar.

Cheese crackers

Now we all know the hobbits love their rustic food.

And there has been much debate among fans of Middle-Earth about their favourite cheese, with Red Leicester much favoured.

But we can just see the playful hobbits getting hours of fun out of Raclette AOP du Valais dripping down their chins.

Our dynamic duo spend time with big cheese Marc Dubosson crafting Bagnes cheese at Laterie de Verbier.

And they meet Roboclette, the first machine in the world capable of scraping melted cheese, part robot part raclette maestro.

The pair stay overnight at 100-year-old Cabane Mont Fort, perched high above Verbier at 2,457m.

All of which culinary exertions is a gear-change for our usually lazy hobbits.

Having a ball

And the programme makers get their value out of Merry and Pippin by asking them to try their hand at cooking Swiss Rosti and preparing croissants at 4am.

In a departure from the food theme, the pair also cosied up to skiers in gondolas and cable cars to reach the top of the mountain, climaxing with a snowball contest.

The 50-minute episode is one of an eight-part series featuring destinations such as Costa Rica, Japan, Manchester, California, and Texas.

A glowing Dominic waxed lyrical about his adventure: “Such a fantastic experience to be chilly outside and be able to eat melted cheese and drink hot chocolate.”

While buddy Billy added: “We wanted this show to be a way to get to see a country and its people through food. Switzerland did not disappoint, such a beautiful country, amazing food and wonderful people. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality”

The production was secured by our old pals Heaven Publicity, the promotional agency for Verbier Tourisme in the UK.

And produced by Dash Pictures, an Emmy award-nominated TV production agency with a global distribution network.

Countries, Europe

The Lord moves in mysterious ways in Sweden

19th August 202519th August 2025 funtime65

Prisa Gud, the Lord moves in mysterious ways in Sweden, where a church, on a mine, is being transported three miles en masse.

All to avoid subsidence, or maybe Satan, who also moves in mysterious, and more sinister, ways.

The vast red timber 1925 place of worship in Kiruna in north Sweden was hoisted on giant trailers.

Moving serenely at 500m an hour towards its new place of worship in two days’ time in the new city centre.

But not before vicar Lena Tjärnbergand Bishop Åsa Nyström of the Diocese of Luleå blessed the journey.

Arctic expedition

Kiruna Church 145km north of the Arctic Circle is 115ft high and 120ft wide and weighs 672 tonnes.

Being the last big item from the old settlement to move it has proved the hardest (and isn’t it always?)

Now having moved around my own islands of Britain and Ireland more times than I care to remember.

Then living on a house with stilts is probably the way forward.

And then when you need a change, or fancy one, then there’s no need for delivery men.

Because you can hoist it on a trailer and bingo.

On the move in Chile

Of course, it helps in any house move if you’ve got good neighbours to chip in.

Better still if you’re fortunate enough to have good neighbours who you can take with you.

Which is, of course, the case in the islands of Chiloé in Chile.

Where Chilotes are known to move en masse for new pastures because of erosion or rising tides.

A phenomenon known as a minga.

Modern mingas originated in the 1950s, with the creation of roads on the islands to link them to better opportunities.

The spirit of Chile housemoving

Water move: Chiléo. Picture: Francisco Negroni/Alamy. Atlas Obscura

All of which also gets you around upsetting the spirits.

Such as El Caleuche, a local ghost ship staffed by drowned fishermen.

It is believed that the collective Chilote spirit resides within the home.

So leaving a home for a new one would be to abandon a vital part of their cultural identity.

Now if you’re ever faced with the dilemma where you like the home you live in but need to move away.

Then enjoy the best of both worlds and literally house move.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Myth busting and Maltese sand between your toes

18th August 202518th August 2025 funtime65

And because you should never listen to the naysayers, some myth-busting with Maltese sand between your toes.

Because the Mediterranean island isn’t all rocks and shingle as many would have you believe.

As anyone who has kicked up the golden grains at the island’s biggest sandy beach Mellieha Bay will tell you.

On the north of the island, it boasts crystal clear waters and is ankle deep for 50m out… perfect for the kiddies.

Close to the village of Mellieha. It stretches along the Ghadira Nature Reserve.

Knights tales

If it’s history you want then, of course, this small but powerful island is associated with St Paul, Knights and beefed-up sailors.

And you can channel your Medieval chevalier in Mellieha.

At the Red Tower and its bastioned watchtower with amazing views from its turreted roof.

Where you’ll be able to gaze out over Northern Malta, Comino and Gozo.

Muscle in on Popeye Village

The archipelago has long been a favourite for movie locations.

And you can muscle in on one of our absolute favourite cartoon heroes.

In the Popeye Village, a purpose-built film set that has been converted into an attraction.

Loveholidays bill Mellieha as its top pick and offers a room for seven nights at the 4* Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa.

With flight with Ryanair, departing from Dublin on August 26 from €799pp.

Maltese crossings

Now, of course, we’re happy to carry the recommendations of the experts here.

Who point Malta lovers and those who are just waiting to get out there.

To sister islands Gozo and Comino.

Or take a ferry from Valletta to Sliema for its charming shops and local cafes.

The Blue Grotto Sea Caves on Malta’s southeast coast are perfect for the spirited.

While the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens are also worth a visit.

Offering breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour and Valletta.

So find out the real Malta and get myth busting with Maltese sand between your toes. And much else besides.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Spike in volleyball and why we now dig the Alpine alternative

14th August 202514th August 2025 funtime65

It’s the versatile holiday game we can all play which explains the spike in volleyball and why we now dig the Alpine alternative.

Volleyball has its roots in the YMCA world of 1895 Holyoke, Massachusetts.

When William G Morgan, a disciple of basketball inventor James Naismith, invented a new easy to play parquet sport.

Which easily translates to the beaches of Hawaii where it is said to have taken off 20 years later.

And pools although it took the Disneyfication of the activity to propel it into a sport just 40 years ago.

Around the time of the Club 18-30 craze.

The young set in the Algarve

With all young package holidaymakers soon wading through the waters like we did on our first couples holiday in the Algarve.

The beauty of water volleyball, of course, is its inclusivity with anyone invited to join in.

With it being particularly popular as I found out, with Americans in Barbados.

Who prefer to stay in their resort rather than getting out and meeting Bajans.

Before dosing off in the back seat in the minibus home,

And involuntarily daydreaming that you’re back in the pool and trying to make that dig.

And jolting your fellow party reveller next to you and having to explain your dreamy stupor.

Courting Kitzbuhel

All of which meanderings is stirred by the news that our Alpine amis have taken to volleyball.

From 5 to 7 September, Kitzbuhel will host the Austrian Beach Volleyball Championships in the Alps for the first time.

The Kitbuhel Tennis Stadium will be transformed into the largest beach volleyball venue in the country.

Under the motto ‘BEACH. GAMS. GROSS’ top-level competition, entertainment, and the Alpine setting will come together.

Party on Austria

In addition to elite matches featuring Austria’s best beach volleyball teams, visitors can expect a diverse supporting programme.

Including free sundowner parties, camping at Lake Schwarzsee, youth training sessions, and a clear focus on community and inclusion.

A three night stay at HENRI Country House, arriving 5 September, is priced from £278pps. B&B. Flights and transfers extra.

All of which we hope explains the spike in volleyball and why we now dig the Alpine alternative.