Europe Archives - Page 2 of 99 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Let il treno take the strain

7th January 20267th January 2026 funtime65

And when you’ve only got pidgin Italian and you’re unsure if you’ve got a connection then… Let il treno take the strain.

And those helpful international travellers you find just when you need them most.

To tell you that the last train of the day will only get you halfway to your destination.

For the start of your Via Francigena last 100kms into Rome.

But that there is a bus for immigrants that does leave in the early hours of the morning.

This being Italy then a little local knowledge is everything.

And this would not be the first time that I would lean on helpful locals on the road back into La Citta Eterna,

Italian Sky is the limit

Now if a little local knowledge is a good thing just think how much more more local knowledge could be.

And that’s where our old pals at Tropical Sky come into play.

With their Italy by Train journeys for 2026.

And their designed twin and multi-centre itineraries that link the nation’s most iconic cities.

Every detail is taken care of, including first class train tickets and all mod cons as standard.

So travellers can unwind and enjoy the scenic journey.

Your seven-nighter through Il Bel Paese takes travellers from the ancient wonders of Rome to the artistic heart of Florence, with all travel and transfers pre-arranged.

Rome to Firenze

The experience begins with four nights at the elegant 4* Hotel The Guardian in Rome, with a rooftop terrace with sweeping city views.

Guests then continue to Firenze for a three-night stay at the restored central 16th-century Palazzo Lorenzo Hotel Boutique & Spa.

A beautifully restored 16th-century residence close to the city’s most celebrated sights.

The itinerary can be fully tailored with hotel upgrades, alternative transport options, or additional Italian destinations to suit individual interests and travel styles.

The seven-night Rome and Florence trip is priced from £979pps B&B basis.

Including a flight to Rome airport, a private transfer to Rome city, four nights at 4* The Guardian on B&B.

Private transfer from Rome hotel to Rome Termini Station, first class train from Rome Termini Station to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence.

A private transfer from Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station to Florence hotel.

Three nights at 4* Palazzo Lorenzo Hotel on B&B, private transfer from Florence to Florence Airport or Pisa Airport, and flight home from Florence Airport.

So let il treno take the strain.

And all because you can’t always depend on a kind-hearted and knowledgeable English speaker.

To point you in the direction of a special bus to get you to your destination.

Countries, Europe, Pilgrimage

May St Anthony guide you in 2026

3rd January 20263rd January 2026 funtime65

It’s never too early in the new year to be looking for inspiration so may St Anthony guide you in 2026.

And your travels as St Anthony is the Church’s torchbearer for travellers.

Now if the Christmas season is about Baby Jesus and the main saint is Nicklaus.

Then Saint Anthony is not far behind him.

Because as well as being the patron saint of peregrinators St Anthony is also the go-to man for lost causes.

And Christmas is definitely one of those occasions, as well as when you’re portable on holiday, when things go missing.

Under a pile of Christmas wrapping and bundles of new gifts.

Which is what happened to Herself when we repaired to go out for a tipple at the local North Berwick hostelry.

Only to realise that her keys were nowhere to be found.

Answer to our prayers

Of course, misplacing our valuables comes when we’re distracted.

And we are thinking about too much at the same time.

And I’m a master of both and have a mountain of possessions long since fenced by those little Borrowers blighters.

Now after Herself hunting high and low and sending me out of the house and the way.

I suggested we ask St Anthony as a last resort.

For a token fee, of course, in his collection box at the chapel.

Now disbelievers will scoff but the evidence is there and moments later She called to inform me.

That she had found them among the wrapping and tinnies in the bin.

With some story about the dog lead knocking them in there.

Man of charity

All of which mishaps among the merriment brings us to the hero of the moment.

No, not me, but St Anthony, and where we can find him to bank our favours for the future.

Well, for those who follow such things, St Anthony is often referred to as St Anthony of Padua.

Lisbon native Fernando Martins de Bulhões, having been as is so often the case, born from a privileged status.

But going on to dedicate himself to charity in the 13th century.

And preaching, and here is where this peregrinator, came face to face with the great man.

Or the closest thing to that with a reliquary of the Portugueezer in his adopted town of Padua in north-east Italy.

Now Anthony, his given monastic name, found himself in Italy after his ship was blown off course.

On his way back from Morocco, where he had fallen ill (been there, done that).

The trip of the tongue

And it was in Bologna where the legend of Anthony intervening when you lose something was spawned.

When Anthony lost his psalter and prayed to God that it would be found or returned.

And the thief was moved to not only return the book to Anthony.

With the stolen book now said to be preserved in the Franciscan friary in Bologna.

While St Anthony’s tongue and jaw bone which miraculously survived, while the rest of him turned to dust, is the sight of veneration.

In the St Anthony Basilica in Padua where pilgrims gather to pay homage.

And ask where they’ve left their keys, wallet, mobile phone or whatever is dear to you.

Asia, Countries, Deals, Europe, Flying

A flying horse the answer to your airport stress

30th December 202530th December 2025 funtime65

A flying horse the answer to your airport stress… and very little drachma.

And see what we’ve done there.

Because our old friends at Pegasus Airlines have put on some epic deals for 2026.

And flagged up Istanbul for special treatment.

We have take-off: The original Pegasus/Tulpar

Although we’re almost surprised they haven’t stuck with Constantinople, the Greek name for the Grand Old City.

Which our Athenian guides cling doggedly to when casting an eye east.

Now Pegasus is the half-man/half-equine begotten by Poseidon and Medusa.

When the Gorgon let her snake hair down.

On a wing and a prayer

Now we’re not sure what a sample £117.49 return is in old Socratearian coinage.

But in today’s money it’s classic.

And as far as what we call things around here well, potato, po-ta-to.

The Greeks and the Turks are cut from more similar cloth than they sometimes care to admit.

And where Pegasus gives the Greeks wings the Turks turn to Tulpar.

Faster and truer

Now we’re reliably informed that Tulpar flies between three ancient worlds, the upper, middle and lower.

Runs faster than the world and is the horse of batirs, or heroes.

Now as two things can be the same at the same time then Pegasus and Tulpar will fly you faster and truer.

Which is music to the ears for when you get to Istanbul/Constantinople and explore the city of two cultures, civilisations and continents.

Countries, Europe, Pilgrimage

Buon Cammino Pellegrino

29th December 202529th December 2025 funtime65

Buon Cammino Pellegrino and a shout-out to a Via Francigena friend I never knew I had but do now.

Philosopher Marcos Bulcao is a Brazilian brother pilgrim who has also walked the historic route from England into Rome.

Only while your favourite Bandanaman has traversed 100kms (in truth 120 with all the diversions) Marcos has covered 2,000.

And written about it for his new book The Philosopher Pilgrim which he has now flagged up to me through the community.

Follow the Yellowsign Road

Now Marcos, like most of us, took his first step on the Yellowsign road which is the Camino Frances.

And again did the whole thing from France while this peregrinos did the last 100km.

Before hearing about the 1,000-year-old Via Francigena.

Back in the days when small roads led to Rome.

Marathon man Marcos, of course, was never going to take any short cuts.

And so set out on his odyssey to Rome from the pilgrim city of Canterbury on England’s south coast.

Now, of course, every pilgrim’s journey is their own.

And I could have done with Marcos’s company on my stretch of the Lazio region.

Where for the most part I only had the birds for company, probably because I got myself lost in groves and forests.

No spoilers

Now I’ve regaled you with my own misadventures and how I nearly didn’t get started at all.

After getting stranded in Viterbo.

But if you want to hear about Marcos’s journey then you’re going to have to read his The Philosopher Pilgrim.

You may very well find a Marcos for yourself on your travels.

Because Brazilians are all over European pilgrimages.

And they are the friendliest of peregrinos.

Brazilian l’amore

As I discovered when Maria introduced me to her mother and father in the pews at the Cathedral of St James, my namesake, in Santiago.

After they had surprised her by turning up in Galicia when she ended her Camino.

And got a surprise they hadn’t been expecting when she introduced them to the man she had fallen for on the road.

Now to see if anything similar befell Marcos and for other tales of love, companionship and faith then I’ll be checking out The Philosopher Pilgrim.

Countries, Cruising, Deals, Europe

Going on an adventure with MSC on our minds

28th December 202528th December 2025 funtime65

And we’re back, Jack, Kate and the Good Ship Murder gang going on an adventure with MSC on our minds.

The British Channel 5 cruisedunnit is the perfect vehicle to promote our ship pals’ destination.

With the Christmas special dropping in on Alicante and behind the cloisters of St Ignatius Chapel.

Where Sister Tomasina has had an ‘apparition’ which has turned the Spanish town into a pilgrimage.

All of which asks for us to suspend our beliefs.

Mind you, in superstitious, religious Spain fact and fiction can meld and Alicante does have its own myth.

La Peregrina, or Pilgrimage of Santa Faz, which attracts thousands every year, on the second Thursday after Maundy Thursday.

Oui, we Cannes

Peregrinos walk eight kilometres from from the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolas in the historic cente to the Monastery of Santa Faz.

Where the cloth bearing the image of Christ’s face is preserved.

And that’s a mystery that retired tec/cruise crooner Jack and his wingwoman Kate the captain-in-waiting could surely solve.

Of course their Alicante adventure is a window for us to check out MSC’s packages.

The Good Ship wends its way to the French Riviera and glitzy Cannes where inevitably the credits roll on a film star.

Hamam’s the word

And then up the Bosphorus into Istanbul where a wellness guru gets it and the finger of suspicion points to a disgruntled patient.

Now if only they had just gone onshore to the Cagaloglu Hamam.

Where everyone from Florence Nightingale to John Travolta have soothed their weary bones and souls.

Jack of all trades: The Good Ship Murder

We’re promised Crete, Cape Verde, Valletta, Ibiza, and Ancona in the coming weeks,

Giving us all a virtual top up on our tans from the comfort of our own homes.

And prompting us to dip our foot in the sea, although, of course, we already have and can recommend the fjords with MSC.

Med up our minds

Answer to our prayers: La Sagrada Familia

We know you better though and that you need your sunny cruise, so we’re passing on to you

Guests travelling from Dublin can fly to Barcelona and enjoy a seven-night cruise on board MSC Grandiosa from €1,199 on October 29.

With ports of call including Cannes, Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia and Palma De Mallorca.

With the offer valid on new bookings made up to April 7.

America, Countries, Europe, Ireland, UK

St Stephen’s Day v Boxing Day which is better?

26th December 2025 funtime65

Straddling Britain and Ireland means switching Christmas hats… so St Stephen’s Day v Boxing Day which is better?

Just one of the many cultural differences between the two islands is in what we call the Day After Christmas.

Being the first Christian martyr, St Stephen, of course, came before the consumerist Boxing Day.

And he has the jump on the alternative by dint of being by appointment to the Almighty.

With the Church decreeing early that the first martyr should bank the day after the day of Jesus’s birthday.

While Boxing Day had to wait until 1833, with Queen Victoria’s seat still warm on the throne.

When the aristocracy handed down some crumbs from their table.

From Melbourne to Massachussetts

The upper classes would box up gifts and give them to their servants, the poor or tradespeople the day after Christmas Day.

Now as you’d expect Boxing Day took root in the countries of Empire, now Commonwealth, and are still celebrated today.

With Boxing Day in Melbourne, Australia, noted for its Test Match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or MCG.

Although England, on the end of an Ashes humiliation, aren’t doing much partying.

Randomly, there is a corner of America where Boxing Day is a thing and that is in the least likely, Patriots’ Massachusetts.

Where since 1996 it’s been celebrated, in response to the efforts of a coalition of British citizens to ‘transport the English tradition to the United States’.

Long to wren over us

Czech it out: On the King Charles Bridge in Prague

Stephen’s Day, on the other hand, is where the rest of the Christian world outside of the King’s hails the first Christian martyr.

And where the Good King Wenceslas first looked out in Prague, with his pizza deep pan, crisp and even.

The best tradition though, and we are biased here, is in Ireland.

Where Stephen’s Day is also called Wren Day… well, they would have two names for it.

It goes back to the legend that a wren’s cooing gave away Stephen.

And where Wrenboys, dressed in masks and costumes sang songs and played music for money,.

And used to hunt for wrens although now they’re carried around as stuffed or fake wren.

Then there’s the Mummer’s Festival, held every year in the village of New Inn, County Galway, and Dingle in County Kerry.

From Magyars to Murtys

While there’s also a Magyar Festival, a fertility ritual, which we discovered on our travels this year.

Where Hungarians wear sheepskin furs and use a bagpipe and a chained stick to make music.

Our household of all nations, for our part is called ‘You do the Christmas clean-up Day’.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Santa Turkey and the Land of Legends

21st December 202521st December 2025 funtime65

And as all eyes turn to the North Pole at this time of year and because we like to be obtuse we’re honing in on Santa Turkey and the Land of Legends.

Because as all traditionalists know St Nicholas, or Santa Claus, hails not from Rovaniemi, sorry my Finnish friends, but Turkiye.

And Demre (Myra) on Turkiye’s south coast.

Where the children’s friend, the former Bishop of Myra, is buried under the Saint Nicholas church.

St Nick pilgrims can visit a museum at his church and the the Lycian, Hellenistic and Roman ruins of Myra.

Now today’s offer is to Antalya and maybe not what you imagine as seasonal.

But then in Turkiye St Nicholas isn’t just for Christmas but for the whole year, and every year.

Just a Click away

Mapping it out: The Land of Legends theme park

Our friends at Click & Go have sent on their seasonal greetings all wrapped up in an Antalya package for next May.

Your 2+2 family will fly out of Dublin and stay at the 5* The Land of Legends Kingdom Hotel.

For seven nights on an all-inclusive basis from €1,369pp,

Fun, fun, fun: All stretching out before you

With free and unlimited access to the Land of Legends Theme and Water Park.

Which celebrates ten years entertaining kids and big kids alike next year.

And we imagine St Nicklaus would be front and centre of the fun if he lived today.

Sponge yourself down

The award-winning Land of Legends boasts the amusement park, water park, shopping mall and hotel and is the biggest theme park in Turkey,

So to boil it down, that’s Adventure Land, Masha and the Bear Land of Laughter and Nickelodeon Land.

Your kids’ eyes might very well alight on the SpongeBob SquarePants, Paw Patrol, and Star Trek: Prodigy.

The indoor SpongeBob SquarePants section includes an installation of SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride from Sally Dark Rides.

Which our theme park pals tell us makes it the first SpongeBob dark ride to open outside of the United States.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Food

A stack of Christmas Chimney Cake crackers

16th December 202516th December 2025 funtime65

And if you’re on the lookout for something new this time of year here’s a stack of Christmas Chimney Cake crackers.

Now our chums at Cassidy Travel know Hungary isn’t just for Christmas and they’re the gift that keeps on giving.

With their last-minute Christmas Gift city break to the city by the Danube the answer for those scrambling for presents.

And a two-night package on February 16 and staying at the 4* Royal Park Boutique Hotel.

With the stay and flights from Dublin coming in at a festive fun price of from €135pps.

And you’ll be located in Budapest city centre with the St. Stephen’s Basilica.

And its parliament on the shores of the Danube only five metro rides away.

Let us eat cakes

But make sure that you validate your ticket so you don’t get stung for an on-spot fee.

Which will kill your vibe after your pampering at the outdoor baths.

And goulash and Chimney Cake at the Great Market Hall.

Now your Chimney Cake if you’ve never been to Hungary (and you should) is a moreish pastry that everyone eats in cafes and we daresay at home.

Kürtőskalács as its called in the Magyars’ famously difficult language is, we’re told, easy to make.

Working it off: Hungarian open-air baths

And a special touch is to use empty beer cans wrapped in kitchen foil to wrap the cake around.

And then roll it in cinnamon sugar for a caramelised coating.

We can trust you, of course, to empty the beer cans responsibly and that you’ll try to make them Saproni or Dreher.

Now we’ve shamelessly sifted the Best of Hungary site for the recipe.

Chimney cake is smokin’

Sift the flour into a bowl and mix with the salt. Heat the milk until lukewarm, add the sugar and yeast, then cover and let it rise for 8-12 minutes.

Add the yeast mixture, egg, and melted butter to the flour and knead it into a flexible dough. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rest for 1 hour until the dough doubles in size.

Place the rested dough on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll it out to the thickness of your finger. Cut it lengthwise into 2 cm wide strips.

Sprinkle your fairy dust: On your Chimney Cake

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Wrap the empty beer can in kitchen foil and grease the foil using some oil. Take a strip of dough and roll it tightly onto the greased can. Brush the dough with oil then roll it in cinnamon sugar.

Place the chimney cake in an oven preheated to 200 degrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

We’re sure Santy will thank you after he slides down the sooty chimney to find the Chimney cake laid out for him at the bottom.

America, Countries, Europe, Flying

Aer Lingus is sticking it to the rest with its new routes

13th December 202513th December 2025 funtime65

WHEN did we stop parading our destinations on our suitcases… pah, Aer Lingus is sticking it to the rest with its new routes.

Ireland’s national airline carrier has six brand-new ones launching next year.

Taking off in time for summer 2026, the airline will commence five short-haul services from Dublin and Cork..

With the flagship transatlantic route four times weekly from May 25, Pittsburgh.

Where new friendships will be renewed following the historic NFL game between Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings.

Touchdown Pennsylvanians

Flying high: Steelers touch down in Dublin

The gridironistas will be back again in 2027 when the Pitt Panthers fly to Dublin to face the Wisconsin Badgers.

In the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Week Zero of the College Football calendar.

The new route brings the total number of routes Aer Lingus operates from Ireland to North America to 24.

Do the Continental

If you want to stay closer to home then the national airline carrier has expanded its options to continental Europe.

Customers departing from Dublin will have access to new destinations including Norway’s capital city, Oslo.

Majestic Montpellier in the south of France, and Asturias, a hidden gem located on Spain’s Galician northern coast.

And not forgetting Corkonians and the south of Ireland.

Who will benefit from services to Nice on the French Riviera.

As well as to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, offering convenient access to the Camino de Santiago.

And there will be plenty of space in the overhead cabins for those rucksacks and walking sticks.

Becherovka all round

Furthermore, Aer Lingus is extending its Cork-Prague service to operate throughout the year.

Which will give Czechiaphiles the chance to stock up on their Becherovka.

Which I do after the Son and Heir drained my Czech licquer with his pals on one of the occasions we left him with a Free House.

And he defensively told me that he would replace it after thinking that I would be duped by him and his Daft Pals leaving just a dribble at the bottom.

So if it’s Pittsburgh or Prague, Montpellier or Santiago be sure to get on board and get those stickers on your suitcase.

To show off, of course, but also to ensure your luggage stands out on the carousel.

Countries, Europe

More senhor moments on Portugal’s world-beating beaches

8th December 20258th December 2025 funtime65

And one from the vaults but one to reprise as we plan more senhor moments on Portugal’s world-beating beaches.

The news that the Algarve has been voted World’s Leading Beach Destination 2025 for a record fourth time, will prompt me into action.

Particularly as a short trip to Albufeira is burning a hole in a pocket of a jacket I haven’t used since my Algarve amigos rolled into Edinburgh recently.

Now, of course, winning best beachy destination for four years against the competition out there from literally the whole world is something to get the Vinho Verde out.

Surpassing as they have such as the Maldives and the Turks and Caicos Islands, both with three titles.

While Bahrain in the desert, who hosted the awards, know a thing or two about the sandy stuff.

Fight them on the beaches

For the record the Algarve beat off 19 nominated destinations this year.

And that included Porto Santo and other globally recognised beach destinations such as Thailand, Cancun, Seychelles, the Philippines and Zanzibar.

Now the Algarvians are right to point out too that they have ten awards as Europe’s Leading Beach Destination granted over the past decade.

Sands of time

Obrigado: With the Scary One in Portugal Centro

The jewel of south Portugal boasts 200kms of coastline and, of course, not every stretch of sand is award-winning.

Which we found to her cost when we rolled into Cabanas 33 years ago.

And we had to tiptoe across the sand to avoid shards of broken glass.

Of course that might just have been some unruly Brits.

And there was entertainment aplenty back at base with pool volleyball and karaoke.

Gee Wizz

On a winner: Jimmy in Quinta do Lago, Algarve

And lifelong friendships to be made with two Scottish-based Mancunian brothers.

Who were angry ginges long before some content creator used I’m A Celebrity to enhance his clicks.

But angry only when their favourite Manchester United didn’t win.

Because the joys of the Algarve will do that for you, give you unforgettable memories and people with whom you just click.

And gee Wizz but haven’t we found that you can fly with Wizz Air from Gatwick to Faro for £18.