Uncategorized Archives - Page 4 of 54 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

I’ve been a bit tied up with Christmas.

Or at least I would be if I was living in the Ballkans.

Where today, the last Sunday before Christmas, it is tradition to tie your father up until he promises to bring presents on Christmas Day.

Mums don’t get away with it as they have to go through the same thing the Sunday before.

The old Yugoslavia is, of course, no more and proud old nations have reformed in the Balkans.

There are some cities in the world where you just feel the hand of history on your shoulder and Sarajevo is one of them.

With its Muslim and Christian traditions.

And for being the trigger point for the start of the First World War and the Siege of Sarajevo in the Nineties..

Both church and mosque sit side by side in the Bosnia & Herzegovina capital.

And while there are constant reminders of the conflicts in Sarajevo.

In its museums and beautiful City Hall people mix freely, just wanting to put past differences behind them…

Which I found first hand. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/21/sarajevo-the-scot-that-was-heard-around-the-world, https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/24/sarajevo-revisited/

The constant refrain is that their leaders let them down… www.visitsarajevo.ba

As do the two religions with Jesus a prophet in Islam and the Old Testament forming Muslim history too.

While, of course it is also the story of Judaism and Jesus is central to that story too.

And so while Christians celebrate Christmas as their own it is worth remembering too that we share Jesus with these two other great religions.

Like Sarajevo, Istanbul https://visit.istanbul.com is at the crossroads of the great religions.

With the Orthodox Church seeing Constantinople, one of its previous names, as the headquarters of their church.

While we all know about the Aya Sofya and the Blue Mosque… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/wham-bam-thank-you-hamam/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/30/voting-for-turkey/

And here’s some Holidos and Donts advice in the column which gives you a manual on how to thrive and survive on your travels…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/07/holidos-and-donts-saunas-and-hamams/

Jordan www.visitjordan.com is another ancient centre point for the world.

Where you can stand on Jordanian land and almost touch the Orthodox Christians bathing in the River Jordan.

Where the Israelis claim that John the Baptist baptised Jesus… the Jordanians claim it is on their side further back from where I’m standing here.

And, of course before all that there were the ingenious Nalbateans who built Petra.

Which we all know Indiana Jones came a-whip-cracking away up to.

Now what are my kids up to with that whip and ropes?

MEET YOU IN THE PEWS

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This Sporting Weekend – Darts

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Imaugural World Darts champion Leighton Rees’s fleshy jowls broke into the widest smile.

And no wonder, the Wales team he was captaining had just seen off Scotland in the Home Internationals at Cardiff.

A rookie reporter, I was thrilled to have grabbed the big man for a quick word.

Of course I didn’t understand a word of what he said.

But worryingly neither did he… he was speaking Welsh and when I asked him what he had said he just shrugged those big shoulders.

The World Championships have come a long way since Leighton’s 1978 triumph.

And just this week Fallon Sherrock became the first woman to win a World Championship match to a thunderous reception from the London crowd…

Welsh wizards

My meeting with larger-than-life Leighton Rees was just one highlight from a year in the Welsh capital.

Like the best of friends we often take them for granted and Ireland’s nearest neighbour, Wales, www.visitwales.com falls into that category.

But the ferry journey across to Holyhead is legendary and, of course, has been immortalised in song.

As would happen both combine with the launch of Stena’s www.stenaline.com new ferry from Dublin mid-January, Estrid.

Because my old pal, none other than PR Michael Rafferty of the Handsome Princes, promotes Stena.

Now that’s worth singing about.

Of course the smart money is on Dutchman Michael Van Gerwen to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Dutch masters

Now the Netherlands has some great pubs and they are big Anglophiles so I suppose it makes sense that they love their darts.

Raymond Van Barnevelt retired after being knocked out of the World Championships but having secured his place in the game’s pantheon.

The thing is though that those narrow Dutch bars don’t leave much room for anything else than an oche.

Here’s more shenanigans on Amsterdam… Two lips from Amsterdam, Pictures of Amsterdam, George Clooney and Amal’s Amsterdam hotel

And www.iamsterdam.com.

Now, I could go on and on about my darts brushes.

Bristow and I

Like the time I played the late, great Eric ‘The Crafty Cockney’ Bristow.

And he beat me, kneeling down and with his back away from the board.

But I won’t.

And will only leave you with my memory of an even earlier sports interview with the heroic Sid Waddell when I was in Aberdeen… www.visitscotland.com

Who repeated his praise of Bristow: ‘When Alexander of Macedonia was 33 he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer… Bristow’s only 27.’

MEET YOU ON THE OCHE

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Flyday Friday extra – Laid-back in Portland

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When the hippies had had enough of Haight Ashbury they moved up to Portland.

Which is what the cult American TV comedy series is all about which boasts the best of the Saturday Night Live crowd.

I know it’s my kind of place from their American Travel Fair parties www.ipw.com where we whacked back whiskey and ‘let her buck.’

And my Dad’s cousins are out there too.

Portland hoved into view with the announcement that British Airways www.ba.com will fly five times a week to beautiful Oregon from London Heathrow.

With return fares from €540 in World Traveller.

Visit www.travelportland.com and www.traveloregon.com. And it’s great for cruises… www.portlandspirit.com

Al have some of that

The Israelis are more used to waiting than the rest of us… in fact it’s the story of their people.

We in Ireland have been waiting too for a direct route out to Tel Aviv.

But it is now only a few months off with non-stop flights starting from May 26… http://www.elal.com.

The closest I got to Israel was 20ft across the Jordan and in the Red Sea in Jordan… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/petra-jordan-jesus-and-the-sands-of-time/. With G Adventures… http://www.gadventures.com.

Now to make that long-awaited next step.

Swede Christmas

It’s the time of year when you surf the channels trying to find something that hasn’t got Christmas lights on it.

Which is how I came across an Abba programme on Sky Arts.

Of course the Abba Museum is one of the most popular sites in Stockholm.

But it’s not the Swedish capital we’re flagging up here.

But hailing from a second city myself, Glasgow https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/04/15/sportstraveltraveltravel/ it’s second city Goteborg, or Gothenburg to you and me, that I’m flagging up here.

And Ryanair’s http://www.ryanair.com early Christmas presents…€9.99. While Frankfurt is the same price.

So let’s thrown in some Scandinavian and German memories here…

With https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-call-of-the-fjords/, https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/04/29/ich-bin-ein-hamburger/. And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/dresdens-renaissance-martin-luther/

MEET YOU IN THE SKIES

Uncategorized

Flyday Friday – The New Year Down Under

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The Irish diaspora is at dia’airport… one million and counting, coming home for Christmas from the four corners of the globe.

But we here at traveltraveltravel are about getting you away, away, away.

Because it’s all well and fine wrapping ourselves up in the romantic idyll of a white Christmas but it looks sunnier over there.

Which is the Caribbean from where I’ve just returned I should cocoa – Christmas in Tobago.

And Australia where it’s obligatory at this time of year to see beach bums on our TVs frolicking on Bondi Beach.

Get you in the mood for a trip down there next year?

Qantas www.qantas.com has a return ticket through Dubai to Sydney from €1187 between Monday, January 13-Wednesday, April 1. Ends Friday, January 1.

Me, I’ll have to make do with the annual Facebook pic of my old pal and boss Fugee in his boardies on Bondi.

Put those legs away, mate.

Winter sun

It’s an oft-asked question: ‘Where can I get some sun at this time of the year without having to fly too far?’

Well like most Travel questions the answer is Spain.

My own preference is Tenerife where it’s ‘taps off’ as we say in Scotlandwhere we share the same flag… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/02/tenerife-and-scotland-wave-the-same-flag/

And where there are beaches, yes, but more, much more… www.hellocanaryislands.com. And this is the whole story…

https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/tenerife-walk/Aer Lingus www.holidayswithaerlingus.com is, of course, flagging up its Spanish routes among its myriad European destinations.

And the Costa del Sol is high up among them.

Our national airline carrier is offering the Sunset Beach Club.

From €371pp for seven nights on February 5 for two adults with flights from Dublin.

Honeymoon with Emirates

Hope you’re all loved up this Christmas… and you might even be planning a honeymoon.

Emirates www.emirates.ie has reported a 20% rise in honeymooners from Ireland.

With a particular emphasis on two destinations in one honeymoon.

Our besotted couples are taking stop-overs in Dubai (Emirates flies direct from Dublin to Dubai twice daily) and then onto:

The Maldives (recognise him above, sarong but oh so right…

https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/12/atoll-tale-the-maldives/, South Africa (him again… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/homemyoffice/whats-new-pussycat/), Thailand and Bali.

Most honeymoons are booked six months ahead so there is great value to be had.

Return flights to Dubai from €499, Bangkok from €519, Bali from €748, Mauritius from €749, the Seychelles from €804 and the Maldives from €822.

MEET YOU IN THE SKIES

Uncategorized

Hungry and Thursday – Whisky and the water of long life

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The oldest person in the UK died this year at the grand age of 112.

And one only hopes that St Peter had a tumbler of whisky waiting for her when she arrived at the Pearly Gates.

Grace Jones attributed her longevity to uisce baitha, ‘the water of life’.

She took a Famous Grouse Scotch whisky every day with the blessings of her doctor.

She began the habit when she was 50 (why so late?).

All of which gives me ammunition if the Scary One pulls me up over my nightly dram.

Now I often get asked if it’s Scotch or Irish for me.

To which the diplomatic (and truthful) answer is: Both!

I’m reminded of a wedding guest I met at a friend’s nuptials.

We got talking about where we’d been on holiday and shared our experiences of Islay.

An island off Scotland which you can view from the North of Ireland.

And crucially has eight distilleries which for a population of 3,228 means one for every 430 people.

I asked the wedding guest if she had visited any of them on her travels and felt a little silly when she informed me that she was a whisky taster.

Hiding my jealousy, I asked if she chose specific whiskies depending upon her mood and the weather.

And she regaled me with a story of her visiting a rough and ready bar in Edinburgh’s port town of Leith.

Which she dropped in on on a cold and wet winter night.

The portly Fiftysomething barman asked her what she wanted to drink.

*Jocks on the rocks: Tom Sweeney and me*

And when she said ‘whisky’ he suggested ‘is that not a bit strong, dearie?’

To which my new friend rasped back by giving him tasting notes on all the bottles of whisky on the top shelf. Back of the net!

While you’re in Edinburgh best check out The Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

The world’s whiskies

Now I try the whiskies of the world wherever I find them and have become particularly partial to bourbon and rye from visiting Washington http://Easy DC and my cousin’s husband (he hails from Kentucky).

While here in Ireland there’s whiskey under your nose with https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/11/whiskey-irish-for-whisky/ and of course Scotland http://www.visitscotland.comwhere it was invented https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/04/15/sportstraveltraveltravel/.http://www.tourismireland.com

And in my popular drinks column which will return… it takes research! https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/12/jocktails-whisky/

Of course there have been strange places where I’ve discovered whisky and none stranger than at the top of the Swiss Alps…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/swhisskey/

And visit www.myswitzerland.com to learn more about this and that cool (well, it would be) ice bar.

MEET YOU IN THE BAR

Uncategorized

Holiday Snaps – Feliz Navidad

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Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad!

And that’s all you need for a grande old Spanish Christmas party.

The Christmas party season is upon us and I toasted it with fine Spanish white and red vino in Dublin.

I was, of course, one of nearly two million visitors from Ireland to Spain this year.

When I walked hill, glen, park, volcano and church tower in Tenerife with http://www.CanariaWays.com… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/tenerife-walk.

And I fully intend to be one of the two million going back out next year.

Thankfully our travel providers are all over Spain too so we bring you these offers out there.

I did, of course, also visit Barcelona https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/23/surfing-the-seas-in-barcelona/

But I’m not getting into that one here and say that I love Catalonia and Spain.

Click & Go http://www.clickandgo.com has a three-night Barcelona City Break for two adults with flights from Dublin from €231pp on February 4.

You’ll be staying at the Catalonia Born hotel which is within easy reach of the Arco del Triunfo and the Picasso Museum.

If you like your art then your in the right country.

And you’ll be with the right company with Insight Vacations’ Highlights of Spain nine-dayer on March 14 which is down from €1795pps to €1580pps.

Our friends at Insight have picked out as their particular highlight the world’s finest collection of Spanish paintings.

Plus an impressive foreign collection at the Prado Museum.

And you’ll also be wowed by Granada and the Alhambra Palace while you’ll also get Barcelona again.

Peniscola is best known from El Cid (ask your parents) while Valencia’s huge gates to the old town are the perfect welcome.

Aer we go

Seville’s showstopper is the Tomb of Columbus, held aloft by four kings and Cordoba with its 2,000-year-old bridge.

And keep your eyes on our airlines for the best deals and organise your own holiday.

I’m picking out Aer Lingus http://www.aerlingus.com and their Santiago de Compostela offer of from €39.99 from Dublin.

The Camino into Santiago will be one of the journeys of your life.

And here’s how it went for me with http://www.CaminoWays.com and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/camino-a-pilgrims-prayer/

While they fly from Cork to Gran Canaria from €69,99 and to Lanzarote from €69.99 and from Shannon to Lanzarote from €69.99.

Uncategorized

Cruiseday Tuesday – Sphinx I know her

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‘See the pyramids along the Nile’.

Herself has been holding out for the real Egypt, passing up on the chance to go to Sharm El Sheikh a few years ago.

And that’s exactly what Travel Department http://www.traveldepartment.ie will offer you with their Egyptian Adventure with Nile River Cruise.

You will begin your holiday in Cairo with a full-day city tour.

And there will also be the chance of half-day guided tour taking in the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx.

And before you know it, it’s time to rest back on your seven-day cruise.

Where you’ll enjoy all the luxury of the NS Radamis II meandering down the River Nile.

You’ll have a range of excursions along the way taking in the Temple of Horus, the Valley of Kings, the High Dam and the Temples of Karak and Luxor.

Of course while we all love a bit of Egyptology we also like the oil’ beach.

And to finish it all off you’ll get a three-night stay in Hurghada on the Red Sea coast.

Now because I’ll always find any old excuse to trot out this picture again, here’s snorkelling in the Red Sea in Jordan earlier this year,

While here’s a reminder of what else happened out there… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/petra-jordan-jesus-and-the-sands-of-time/

Prices start from €1799pp for 12 nights including return flights, transfers, full-board Nile river cruise B&B or half-board in hotels.

And there are excursions with expert local guides departing April-November,

My not so little Princesses

What’s better than a little Princess? Seven little Princesses. that’s what.

Princess Cruises has upped its deploymenent of ships to the UK and Europe for 2021 to seven.

The line has announced that its smallest ship, the 670-guest Pacific Princess will join six other vessels over here.

Pacific will set sail from June to October on a series of Med voyages departing from my favourite city Rome https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/04/see-rome-on-e50/ and Venice.

In the UK nearly 500 nights will be available across three ships – Grand Princess, Island Princess and Crown Priincess.

Princess Cruises’ three newest vessels, Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess will be based in Northern and Southern Europe.

They will have a series of cruises departing from Copenhagen, Barcelona and Athens.

And guess what? I know a thing or two about Copenhagen from catching up with my old mucker Tom on a stop-off on the way to the fjords… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/15/cruiseday-tuesday-trolls-and-the-fjords/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-call-of-the-fjords/

Rome I’ve told you about. But there’s also Barcelona… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/23/surfing-the-seas-in-barcelona/.

Athens is one of the world’s great cities, and you know it goes at a slower pace as is evidenced by its most famous site… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/21/acropolis-later/

While you all know by now… I am Medallion Man. And that serves me well on a Princess ship.

Princess Cruises has a 12-night Mediterranean Connoisseur cruise on Pacific Princess, departing August 15, 2021.

Sailing from Rome to Venice, calling at Portofino, Monte Carlo, Valletta, Giardini Naxos, Kotor, Split, Rijeka and Ljubljana (Koper).

Prices from €2529pp cruise only or from €2991pp inclusive of onboard savings package.

MEET YOU ON THE SEAS

America, Ireland, UK, Uncategorized

Love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas

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And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

While https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/05/in-new-duck-related-news-2/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/03/in-more-duck-related-news-2/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/01/in-other-duck-related-news/

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Bandanaman the star and the duck in Hollywood

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Which you can read here… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/belfastvanmorrison/. I do love Belfast and adopted Belfast boy Son and Heir even more…. https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/07/hastings-ulster-hotels-will-cure-your-snoring.

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

And then there’s the Europa Hotel where I enjoyed a cabaret jazz night in the company of Van Morrison…

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Which anyone who knows Belfast will recognise for its seahorse symbol, your compass for the city.

And then there’s the Europa Hotel where I enjoyed a cabaret jazz night in the company of Van Morrison…

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Having enjoyed a memorable stay at the Grand Central Hotel.

Which anyone who knows Belfast will recognise for its seahorse symbol, your compass for the city.

And then there’s the Europa Hotel where I enjoyed a cabaret jazz night in the company of Van Morrison…

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

If you have or are a regular reader of this blog then you’ll know how much of a fan I am of Hastings.

Having enjoyed a memorable stay at the Grand Central Hotel.

Which anyone who knows Belfast will recognise for its seahorse symbol, your compass for the city.

And then there’s the Europa Hotel where I enjoyed a cabaret jazz night in the company of Van Morrison…

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Or at any time of the year but this season when the turkey is celebrated as king of the birds, let’s hear it for the duck.

And Hastings Hotels, who by popular demand, have released the back story of their rubber duckies.

If you haven’t stayed in a Hastings hotel then why?

If you have or are a regular reader of this blog then you’ll know how much of a fan I am of Hastings.

Having enjoyed a memorable stay at the Grand Central Hotel.

Which anyone who knows Belfast will recognise for its seahorse symbol, your compass for the city.

And then there’s the Europa Hotel where I enjoyed a cabaret jazz night in the company of Van Morrison…

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Or at any time of the year but this season when the turkey is celebrated as king of the birds, let’s hear it for the duck.

And Hastings Hotels, who by popular demand, have released the back story of their rubber duckies.

If you haven’t stayed in a Hastings hotel then why?

If you have or are a regular reader of this blog then you’ll know how much of a fan I am of Hastings.

Having enjoyed a memorable stay at the Grand Central Hotel.

Which anyone who knows Belfast will recognise for its seahorse symbol, your compass for the city.

And then there’s the Europa Hotel where I enjoyed a cabaret jazz night in the company of Van Morrison…

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Or at any time of the year but this season when the turkey is celebrated as king of the birds, let’s hear it for the duck.

And Hastings Hotels, who by popular demand, have released the back story of their rubber duckies.

If you haven’t stayed in a Hastings hotel then why?

If you have or are a regular reader of this blog then you’ll know how much of a fan I am of Hastings.

Having enjoyed a memorable stay at the Grand Central Hotel.

Which anyone who knows Belfast will recognise for its seahorse symbol, your compass for the city.

And then there’s the Europa Hotel where I enjoyed a cabaret jazz night in the company of Van Morrison…

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/a-carer-sharer-belfast/

Hastings (and now I) have a flock of rubber ducks ranging from Rory Quackilroy to Duck of Thrones.

Although I still think that having had Prince Charles and Camilla visit they should bring out a Duck and Duckess of Cambridge.

Now there’s something about ducks which brings out the big softie in me… it’s something about the big lips. And this video is gorgeous… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlQ05_6jyHM

And my love for the Donald from my visits to Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.

Peabody quackers

But there’s another hotel which instantly comes to mind when I think of Hastings.

And fear not Hastings you have the Irish pond all to yourselves.

I refer, of course, to the Memphis Peabody Hotel ducks in America.Which you can check out at http://www.peabodymemphis.com

These are some quackers thoughts from America… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/disney-why-i-love-the-donald/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-promised-land-martin-luther-king/ Or https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/03/disneystarwarsopening-stair-wars/.

Which their Duckmaster parades through the Tennessee city’s hotel lobby.

The Duckmaster

So here’s a big shout-out to all our feathered friends in all their guises.

And a recommendation for a great Christmas present, a voucher for Hastings Hotels… www.hastingshotels.com.

Yes, I love a Belfast and Memphis duck at Christmas.

Uncategorized

This Sporting Weekend – winter golf

14th December 201914th December 2019 funtime65

Time was when the golf clubs got packed away in August only to appear again in April.

But as Tiger Woods and his pals thrash it out in the corporate President’s Cup in Melbourne it’s a reminder that golf is an all-year round game.

And although winter is well and truly biting here in Ireland and in the UK some other countries’ winters are sunny.

While for others still it’s summer.

Spain and Portugal are regular destinations, and I can highly recommend the Paul McGinley golf school on the Campus In Quinta do Lago www.quintadolago.com in the Algarve…

While I’ve also ripped it and gripped it in Cannes on the Old Course… www.golfoldcourse.com, the continent’s oldest golf course where, alas, I forgot to shout ‘Quatre’.

And then there was going for bust in Las Vegas www.lvcva.com and on a golf range with skyscrapers in the foreground, with a pitcher of beer as accompaniment.

It was there in a swinging bar off the Strip that I met a charming couple who asked me if I was enjoying myself.

And recommended an equally lively resort in Cancun in Mexico.

She looked like a librarian, he a golfer.

I tried, of course, to ignore the dig to my ribs and nods from my fellow traveller Martin who was standing next to me at the bar.

He was only trying to tell me that it was more than 3-irons that were swinging in their hotel.

Fortunately you’ll not have to contend with any such shenanigans and will be able to get in a round or two, and much more besides, at this Cancun resort.

Our friends at the ITAA have pointed us in the direction of Classic Resorts’ seven nights in Cancun for next September from €2049 inclusive of flights.

You’ll be staying at the Moon Palace. Receive $1500 resort credit which can be used for spa treatments, weddings, special dinners, tours. And here’s the dealmaker… the golf.

There is a 16% tax and fee which can be paid in resort by cash/credit card on all items.

For more information visit https://itaa.ie/2019/12/10cancun/-from-e2049pp/.

Uncategorized

Flyday Friday – Caribbean island hopping

13th December 201914th December 2019 funtime65

The best thing about giving advice, in this case aisle seats, is that you don’t have to follow it yourself.

And yes, I would have been better with a window seat so I could have looked out over Saint Lucia before we landed.

Jerry, the Big Rapper, who entertained us all in Wabi Rum in Jordan earlier this year, had promoted his island big time.

But here was I missing sight of the mountain that announces Saint Lucia to the world.

Saint Lucia is one of two alternative stop-offs on your Virgin Atlantic flight from London Gatwick to Tobago.

Tantalisingly, you wait on the plane for about an hour for a new crew to come aboard for the 20-minute trip to Tobago.

And never get off… still, can’t complain because Tobago is reward enough.

And yes, I’ve been entertaining you all with my adventures which put Robinson Crusoe’s to shame…

With It’s Robinson Crusoe’s very own Tobago, Ready, steady, goat… in Tobago and I should cocoa – Christmas in Tobago.

Virgin www.virginatlantic.com flies from London Gatwick from £496pp return. British Airways www.ba.com also flies from Gatwick, from £475pp.

The eleven hours will fly by with good food, wine and movies.

But I’m remembering why I prefer an aisle seat as my colleague Anthony was zonked out for most of the journey.

And I had to climb over him to get to the loo.

Thankfully he didn’t stir. Otherwise he’d have got a shock, waking up to me straddling him!

Ryanair’s Christmas gifts

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite on Pexels.com

I do wish airlines would stop putting on flights to the same city, London in this instance, on at the same time…

It was Athens with Lufthansa and Lufthansa and Aegean Airlines out of Munich during the summer… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/20/flyday-friday-averting-a-greek-disaster/.

And I was less lucky on that occasion, ending up missing my connection.

Either they all change or I grow a brain.

I got myself in a pickle (again) between the Ryanair flights to London Gatwick and London Heathrow.

Cut me some slack… I hadn’t had any sleep, it being the early flight.

Still Ryanair did help me out of a booking mix-up when I was arranging tickets from Dublin for my Tobago trip.

Connections? I’ve got a loose one.

Better direct flights then. Ryanair www.ryanair.com has these Christmas crackers for travel in the New Year.

London from €9.99, Goteborg (which you and I know as Gothenburg) from €9.99, Cologne from €12.99, Luxembourg the same and Warsaw and Santander from €14.99..

Now, I’ve a Travel buddy who says he won’t go to the US while ‘that man’ is in charge.

By the same principle he won’t then be going to the UK. London is one of the world’s great cities and whoever inhabits No.10 Downing Street you won’t keep me away.

And here are some precious memories… https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/06/23/carole-king-youre-beautiful/. And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/31/londons-punch-and-judy-show/

MEET YOU IN THE SKIES