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Toast Turkey

30th October 201930th October 2019 funtime65

Cumhuriyet Bayrami.

Or Happy Turkish National Day.

OK, I’m a day late with Turkey turning 95 yesterday but what’s a day between friends?

I’m sure they’ll forgive me for my belated birthday wishes.

I first fell in love with Turkey 16 years ago when our air hostess on our flight out to Bodrum mistook me for a Turk.

They took the Son and Heir for one of their own too on account of him being called Ally.

Istanbul in my heart

And every time we passed by the market the traders would call out his name with one even swinging him around.

I finally fulfilled a Travel dream this year when I got to Istanbul 26 years after I was supposed to.

So a day’s late birthday wish is but a passing moment.

The big romantic gesture of a romantic proposal was meant to take place on the Bosphorus.

But we ended up in Malta instead… I told you I was hopeless with directions.

I guess the then Miss F must have been expecting something because when I bent down to tie my shoelace…

She screamed ‘Yes’.

Malta has remained in my affections ever since, as has Miss F.

And I had the good fortune to get back out there a few years ago Malta easer where I learned ‘our’ restaurant is still there http://www.visitmalta.com.

And enough time has probably passed that I can pull that trick again to get a free bottle of Champagne.

My next attempt at getting to Istanbul was in 1997 when we visited Bulgaria.

But the distance (there was an option) and the small matter of the Son and Heir who was in his Terrible Twos put the kibosh on that.

Now that I’ve finally got a taste for Istanbul Wham bam, thank you Hamam, one of the world’s great cities http://www.howtoistanbul.com I’ll not leave it so long in future.

And when I do go I’ll travel with Turkish Airlines www.turkishairlines.com.

And I’ll dally in their award-winning Business Lounge and maybe pay a visit to their headquarters.

To catch up with old friends, play on the flight simulator, and this time ask if I can slide down the aeroplane chute.

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Boston is bustin’ for Paddy’s Day

29th October 201929th October 2019 funtime65

Did I ever tell you how I got banned from the YMCA in Boston and ended up living in the black ghetto, the Combat Zone?

Come again?

And you thought Boston was all Old Money, American History and Harvard.

Yes, it’s that too, which was why I stayed and worked for a summer after university.

I worked in Faneuil Hall, in a Mexican restaurant, Guadalaharry’s and did my share of the Revolutionary Trail.

But back to the YMCA and our first two nights in Boston when I arrived back after a sesh.

I’d like to say it was on the local beer Sam Adams.

But going through a cocktails stage (it’s lasted 30 years) it was Strawberry Daiquiris.

And that was my excuse for taking Manuel’s bed both evenings.

With time the story has become embellished.

And Manuel had become Pablo Escobar.

To book your room for the next night you had to book in at reception.

Queueing up, I fidgeted and played with the gadget on the wall which just happened to be a fire extinguisher which went off.

They not-so-politely recommended we take up the advert on the notice board for an unfurnished flat on Tremont Street.

Anyone who knows Boston will know that Tremont Street starts in town and goes out, and out, and out.

And as the day got darker, my very anaemic looking Glaswegian pal tugged at my sleeve and said:

‘Jim, we can’t stay here, I can inly see the whites of their eyes.’

True, and of course I sent postcards home saying it was a very different neighbourhood from what it was.

But for all the drugs being pedalled and gangstas it was a more authentic experience than I would have found in Cambridge.

And on the last night in Beantoen after we’d stirred up the courage to go into Alfie’s Bar we were welcomed with open arms.

Not least by the double bass player in the band.

The only other white in the bar, and probably the Combat Zone.

Our friends at the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) have flagged up Boston for St Paddy’s Day.

Four nights from March 15 in sports-mad Boston from €899pp, staying in the 4* Park Plaza Hotel. www.itaa.ie.

You might also want to pop in for a Sam Adams, or a Guinness, in the Black Rose pub.

Where the service has got a lot better since they emptied that Scotsman who kept getting the orders wrong.

I have come to love American black culture, I probably always did from music.

With the first record I bought Chuck Berry’s My Ding-A-Ling.

Here’s my tribute to The Deep South, my American Trilogy (thanks Elvis) The Promised Land, The story of the Blues and The King of Kings.

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Cruiseday Tuesday – Scotland is Arctic

29th October 201929th October 2019 funtime65

It can feel positively Arctic in Scotland so it should come as little surprise that Scotland is being billed as part of an Arctic cruise… with our old friends G Adventures.

G Adventures http://www.gadventures.com will be hosting us tonight in Dublin to reveal more of their wares as part of their G Stock Live road trip.

And I will be able to speak to them about their product with more authority (no comments, please) having been their guests in Jordan earlier this year…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/petra-jordan-jesus-and-the-sands-of-time/

Of course they cover the Seven Seas too and their Galapagos Islands and Cambodia packages from their current sale randomly jumped out at me.

As did their 16-day Cruise the Norwegian Fjords with Scottish Highlands package for May 17.

Which is reduced from €4899 to €4164.

Starting in Tromso, the gateway to the Arctic you’ll travel as far north as Nordkopp where the Atlantic and the Arctic Seas meet before hopping your way down the fjords.

And believe me they are full of myth and majesty as we found out…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-call-of-the-fjords/

*Light up, light up.* Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

You’ll pop in Shetland Islands, the most northerly point in the UK, whose nearest train station is Bergen in Norway, before finishing off in Edinburgh.

Heck, the Shetland Islands used to be Norwegian before being given to Scotland in a dowry in 1472.

Every day’s a school day on Cruiseday Tuesday!

Tenerife… I’ll be back

The sharp Norwegian winter air is bracing but if you prefer a winter warmer…

Then TUI has seven nights on January 17 in an inside cabin on the Marella Explorer from €879pps.

For more on the Canarian Flavours package visit https://www.tuiholidays.ie. Call 1850 45 35 45 or visit a TUI Store / travel agent.

A toast to the Canaries

Unless you’ve been hiding under a stone you’ll know that I’ve been in Tenerife this autumn.

Where I learned a whole lot of stuff… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/tenerife-walk/

Just promise me you’ll drink some of the Shakespearean wine, the Malvasia.

And eat some of their wrinkled potatoes with mojo mojo sauce!

Now if you like your TUI cruise, and why wouldn’t you, why not try Canaria Ways’ http://www.CanariaWays.com and read all about https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/tenerife-walk/

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Holidos and don’ts – Passports

28th October 201928th October 2019 funtime65

Why do we have to surrender our passports to hotels?

It’s not as if they’re national security and they can just as easily cover your expenses and the risk of flight with a credit card.

Because let me tell you you’re always safer when you’ve got your passport in your possession.

Preferably behind lock and key in the safe in your room.

Or if you need to take it out with you then you’ve only yourself to blame if you lose it.

Yes, it can be pickpocketed but I always think that your front pocket is the best place to keep the passport and the wallet.

And just make sure that you never come close to brushing people in a busy market.

So, why am I hot under the collar over hotels or guest houses taking your passport.

Because there is always the danger that somebody may pick yours up by mistake.

Which is what happened in Tenerife last month when a fellow British traveller picked mine up by mistake and then went walkabout in town.

Nor did the girl at reception seem particularly bothered as she continued to try to sell hotel goodies to people as I slowly boiled with frustration.

You’ve got my passport

My fellow traveller was deeply apologetic when everything was resolved but I didn’t necessarily blame him as accidents happen.

The thing is that the situation should never exist in the first place.

Of course, every holiday has its hiccups and it in no way marred a wonderful visit to Tenerife which is officially my favourite Spanish island now…

Follow www.webtenerife.com, and read my thoughts on this magical island https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/tenerife-walk/

Yes magical, but La Gomera and its whistlers may run it close if someone would care to invite me out there.

The old passport tripped me up again on my recent trip, out to Medjugorje in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Daniella took everyone’s passport in the party for safe keeping I guess but also for her own security, but she did give me mine back when I went to Sarajevo for the day.

I would need it for currency exchange.

Where it went wrong though was because I have another passport too .

And when I got back, tired, I got in a muddle…. all of which I can explain here. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/23/on-the-road-to-dubrovnik/

Medjurgorje, Sarajevo and Bosnia & Herzegovina should be on your list and here are a few sites to help you out… https://www.medjugorje.org, https://sarajevo.travel/en and http://www.bhtourism.ba/eng/

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Moanday Morning – Bank Holidays

28th October 201928th October 2019 funtime65

Yes, I grant you that it’s odd to rail against holidays in a Travel blog, but there you are, we lead rather than follow.

Bank holidays aren’t worth getting out of bed for which is why I’m not.

Besides, nothing is open. And why do bankers need extra days off anyway?

Do they not get enough already and did they not take enough off us anyway?

You might say that we all get the bank holidays off.

Well, no. When I was a wage slave I had to work them and I got them back in lieu but never when I wanted them.

*Let’s blow our own trumpets: National Days*

I’m not against holidays (as if) and national days are a focal point for people to reflect on their shared identity.

I’ve had the good fortune to be in many a country when they’ve been celebrating their national day and it is is a joy.

Last month it was German Unity Day when I was in Garmisch in Bavaria.

And, of course, the Bavarians need little excuse to slip on the lederhosen.

Either there or in Oberammergau where they are getting ready for the renewal of the Passion Play http://www.passionsspiele-oberammergau.de/de/startseite next year.

Next month it’s St Andrew’s Day in Scotland and I know you’re all wanting to know why St Andrew is our patron saint.

Flying the flag

Well, we have to go back to 832 AD and a village in the east of the country which was still to be formed into Scotland.

King Angus of the Picts (basically the Highlanders) and a contingent of Scots (Lowlanders) was invading the Lothians.

They were run by the Northumbrians who were helped by Saxons, led by Athelstan.

Keeping up?

Angus, fearing he would be overrun said his prayers (you would, wouldn’t you) and it seems that St Andrew was the saint who was up.

*Piping hot: At the Bagpipes Centre in Glasgow*

A white diagonal cross, that being the shape St Andrew was crucified on, appeared against the blue sky.

Angus was suitably inspired to vanquish his enemy and repaid St Andrew by making him the patron saint of the soon forming Scotland.

There’s the quaintest St Andrew’s Flag centre in a doocot (where pigeons live) in Atheltstaneford which is 15km south-east of Edinburgh… http://www.scottishflagtrust.com. It is open from April to October.

Wrapping myself up in the flag

St Andrew’s Day is November 30.

I like to wrap myself up in the Saltire as much as the next Jock.

And next to the St Andrew’s flag there is probably nothing more Scottish than bagpipes.

Except they’re Persian but let’s gloss over that.

Here’s what happened when I went to the World Bagpipes Championships a few years ago… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/04/15/sportstraveltraveltravel/

*Encore: At the French Embassy in Dublin*

It is Europe’s oldest flag and has inspired even the Tinerfinos, the Tenerife natives, who have the very same flag as us.

You want to know why? Here’s a couple of explanations…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/02/tenerife-and-scotland-wave-the-same-flag/

There’s not much else that we share but we do love to visit… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/tenerife-walk/

And you know how the French love avoir le denier mot. Well, they did when they won the World Cup two years ago.

And I was there at the French Embassy in Dublin which is technically France, and it was Bastille Weekend. Bravo! http://www.france.fr/fr.

And as a French Travel Writer of the Year winner you know Je t’aims La France…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-boat-dazur/. And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-lourdes-prayer-pyrenees/

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Give us this Day – Candles

27th October 201927th October 2019 funtime65

This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine,

Oh Let it shine,

Let it shine
Gosepl Spiritual

Yes, I’ve taken this little light around the world and am just back from Medjugorje in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Where I lit a candle for friends and family and the world.

*With Myrlie Evers at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum*

Candles flicker across all the religions of the world.

And none.

It is a mark of hope, of permanence and memorial.

The gospel spiritual ‘This little light of mine’ is on a spool in the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Cleveland.

Where I met Civil Rights legend Myrlie Evers who opened the museum.

And amid the boards with their personal testimonies of struggles, loss and redemption the song is a stirring backdrop.

The ultimate sacrifice: At Great Uncle Willie’s gravestone

Here’s where it stands among my memories… The Promised Land. And http://www.mcrm.mdah.ms.gov

In another land, amid the mud and blood of Passchendaele in Flanders,

I lit a candle to my Irish Great Uncles who had fallen there.

It sits on my desk and every Memorial Sunday in November I light it and sit in silent memorial for a minute.

And I thank them for their sacrifice… In Flanders fields and http://www.gti-ireland.com and http://www.visitflanders.com.

*Pilgrims: With Maria dos Anjos in Fatima*

We stand too in reverence at the Marian sites of Fatima, Lourdes and Medjugorje.

Secret Portugal The Lourdes prayer. And these websites http://www.centerofportugal.com and http://www.en.lourdes-infotourisme.com and http://www.lourdes-france-org.

And watch out too for my review of my Medjugorje pilgrimage with Marian Pilgrimages www.marian.ie soon in the Irish Sun.

Candles, of course, are not just a Western, a Christian, a modern phenomenon.

Light of our lives

Light and fire are primal forces which link us to the Earth and to the heavens.

And are common to other cultures, religions and countries around the world.

And those who claim spirituality but no religion.

To finish, a light-hearted story from my time in Medge.

From the beautifully beardied Franciscan monk Fr Columba.

Who told of us a candlelight procession in New York when his beard which stretches down to his navel caught fire.

Fr Columba is fireproof though, and can fix TV freezes too… Medjugorje story – a sporting passion.

MEET YOU IN THE PEWS

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Sporting Weekend – Rugby in the Welsh Valleys

26th October 201926th October 2019 funtime65

They’ll be singing in the Valleys… and in the Scottish Highlands and the pubs of Ireland, for Wales today to beat South Africa in the second semi-final of the Rugby World Cup.

It’s a Celtic brotherhood thing.

Although even brothers can fall out.

On my first weekend in my new home in Cardiff where I had gone to learn this scribbling Journalism thing I went to the local boozer and had cause to use the rest rooms.

Where a local turned to me at the urinal and asked if I was an English bastard, to which I replied ‘no, a Scottish bastard actually.’

Welsh history. *Photo by Krisztina Papp on Pexels.co*m

Without breaking a stride, he shot back: ‘Just as f******* bad, you cheated us out of two World Cup, you bastard.’

Which had some truth in it but I thought it best to leave it… I was a little exposed.

I had a great year though among the Welsh, although they did go onto win a Triple Crown when I was there and I watched at the Old Arms Park as Paul Thorburn kicked us to death.

Now, the Welsh aren’t the most magnanimous people in victory (I guess none of us are) and I took pelters.

Nor are the South Africans usually when it comes to rugby.

Their passage to this stage will come as something of a surprise to Iain, Camdeboo Game Reserve’s owner in the Eastern Cape, who told us that the Boys had no chance in the World Cup.

https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/home/whats-new-pussycat/

My enemy’s enemy

Whoever wins though you can be sure that my own native Scottish type people will be supporting the team that plays England.

It’s something that baffles my English wife (no, I don’t have wives from other countries too) and her family and our friends.

But it is a sporting thing with smaller nations which is shared by Canadians (USA), New Zealand (Australia) and Wales and Ireland (England).

All of which brings me onto Wales which is our nearest neighbour here in Ireland, we know so well but don’t talk about enough.

The Welsh have their own whiskey, but is it better? *Photo by Terricks Noah on Pexels.com*

So, what is it about The Welsh Valleys that has them all singing?

Well there’s Caerphilly Castle, Llancaiach Fawr Manor and Lido Ponty, the National Lido of Wales, Really!

The site Visit Wales http://www.visitwales.com is a great starting point and my eyes fell as they often do on the whiskey.

In Wales?

Reach for the skies. Photo by Ivandrei Pretorius on Pexels.com

Well, they’re pushing Penderyn Whiskey which they say draws 43,000 visitors a year. I do hope that they don’t make you listen to the whiskey-making process though.

And take you straight to the whiskey drinking.

The ghosties. Photo by VisionPic .net on Pexels.com

Which reminds me of a day we were given while at College in Cardiff at the Brain’s distillery where we were given an hour’s free drinking.

Which equalled about six pints then!

Scaring up a ghosty castle

And seeing that Halloween is hoving into view like a big Scary Thing then how about the most haunted house in the Principality?

Llancaiach Fawr Manor is the place to go where they promise you the rustle of petticoats, your hand being held or even the occasional smell of violets or roast beef!

And maybe even the spectre of rugby players past!

Flybe http://www.flybe.com has Dublin to Cardiff this month through Skyscanner http://www.skyscanner.ie from €95 and from €72 next month and through to March.

And with rooms from €63 a night hotel stays on the Skyscanner website.

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Holiday Snaps – Halloween in New York

26th October 201926th October 2019 funtime65

Or in the Big Dunkin’ Apple… New York does Halloween big time.

I visited NY with The Scary One, back when she was a little less scary, and my two little devils back in Halloween 2007.

When they were getting ready for the Eve of All Souls Day.

It’s a busy old time in the States with Thanksgiving only a few weeks away and with this being a Presidential election year too there were plenty of carved Barack Obama pumpkins.

Times have moved on and now we have Trumpkins instead of Obama faces.

We were fortunate enough to be staying near Greenwich Village where a million people gather to see the Halloween parade roll by.

It truly is a wonderful spectacle.

As was the gathering of Halloween dogs down at Battery Park.

All dressed up in their Halloween costumes and a couple of Supermen costumes too.

If you’re in NY for Halloween check it out.

NY is great any time of the year though and our friends at the ITAA (Irish Travel Agents Association) http://www.itaa.ie and Click and Go http://www.clickandgo.com have a great deal for us right in the heart of Manhattan.

Three nights, two sharing, in the 4-star The Gallivant Times Square for February.

You’ll be staying in a twin/double room on a room only basis.

Aer Lingus flights http://www.aerlingus.com from Dublin to NY. Visit https://www.clickandgo.com/design-your-own-holiday/details/2020-02-08/3/2::0/RO/DUB/0/7392/2119/519?search=all/New_York/2020-02-08/3/2::0//DUB/0.

And remember to bring your costume.

Here’s something to get you into the mood… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/21/old-new-york-hamilton/

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Flyday Friday – El Al

25th October 201925th October 2019 funtime65

Should you go to a country if you oppose their regime?

El Al’s entry into the Irish market with three flights a week from Dublin to Tel Aviv has unleashed a torrent of invective from the twiterrati.

I’ve heard similar moral standpoints from friends who refuse to visit Trump’s America.

And say that they won’t give ‘a dollar to that man.’

And, of course, standing on your principles is almost always something to be praised.

I try to take a view that I don’t define a people or a country by its leaders.

The rope that divides: The Israel side of the River Jordan

That it’s the people and the country I want to see and that when I get there I will make up my own mind from what they say to me.

And, of course, Israel being the one place in the world I definitely want to visit, I will reserve judgment until I go.

The flights which will begin on 26 May will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and to Dusseldorf on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Israel’s history. Photo by Mauricio Artieda on Pexels.com

The Holy Land is never far from my Travel thoughts and that was ignited among my Marian Pilgrimages tour http://www.marian.ie to Medjugorje this week.

I found Dublin to Tel Aviv from €377.56, departing May 26 and returning on June 2. Visit https://fly.elal.co.il/plnext/ELALonlinebooking/Override.action.

Now I’ve seen Israel from 50 metres away from the Jordan side of the River Jordan… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/petra-jordan-jesus-and-the-sands-of-time/

And now I want to see it first hand.

Christmas Hamburgers

It’s only 61 sleeps until Christmas and our airlines are already counting down… maybe their dedicated staff will get some much needed time off.

Lord knows, they have some difficult customers to deal with with difficult accents.

I’m thinking about the bearded Bandana-wearing Scot who asked for a tea and shortbread from his Aer Lingus air hostess.

Which came out to Irish ears as hot chocolate.

It was all resolved with a smile.

Aer Lingus have a range of destinations and deals for Christmas.

First up on their list which escalates in price is Hamburg from €35.99, a city myself and The Scary One love…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/04/29/ich-bin-ein-hamburger/.

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/09/the-beatles-in-hamburg-with-stefanie-hempel/.

Nice and easy does it

Nice one. Photo by Pierre Blaché on Pexels.com

It’s often the trips you’;re supposed to do but don’t for any number of reasons that get under your skin.

Dubrovnik where I had set out for but had to turn back on after just ten minutes on the coach for want of a passport is one of them.

Nice is another. Everything was in train for a visit there six months after the atrocity but it was cancelled.

I have been waiting for an opportunity since to right that.

And with Ryanair’s Warm Up Your Winter Flights from €17.99 for travel in November I have it.

Nice is from €18.99. Visit http://www.ryanair.com.

And if you like the French Riviera here is a little further taster… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-boat-dazur/

MEET YOU IN THE SKIES

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Hungry and Thursday – sausages

24th October 201924th October 2019 funtime65

This little piggy went to market… because he’s a Western piggy.

This little piggy stayed at home… because he’s Eastern.

And it’s not until you get pitched into the ‘other’ culture that you start to realise what a hold ‘the flesh of the pig’ has on us.

It’s the same with vegetarians. When Paul McCartney was asked what he missed most since turning veggie he said; ‘bacon sandwiches.’

It was his good fortune then to meet Linda Eastman who made a mean veggie bacon sandwich.

It’s bazaar: I’m a convert to Middle Eastern food

Now, don’t get me wrong, Middle Eastern food has in many ways much more variety than Western dishes.

As I experienced in a Middle Eastern restaurant that used to be a mosque in Amsterdam… Pictures of Amsterdam.

And George Clooney and Amal’s Amsterdam hotel.

But when it comes to sausages our Eastern cousins have to adapt with chicken sausages.

As I found out in Jordan, although they do know how to rustle up a carnivore’s dream with lamb and chicken in the desert…

Petra and the sands of time

Still on chicken… Desert Chicken is good, Chicken Fillets, Lemon Chicken.

Even Chicken Kiev.

But Chicken Sausages?

The kofta meatballs in Istanbul

Still, if we in the West have the better sausages our Eastern neighbours have the better, kofta meatballs.

As I discovered in Istanbul, where East really does meet West… Wham bam, thank you Hamam.

Best of all though is Sunday Sadie… the bacon, sausage, scrambled (or poached), beans and toasts.

That the Scary One serves every Sabbath.

I’d send her back to the kitchen if she came in with this!!!

And, of course, to stop her resting on her laurels, I do mention that the Sunday grill could do with some mushrooms.

Which brings me round to my fave veg… which I’ll get around to talking about soon.

MEET YOU ON THE PLATE