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Heists are not a victimless crime

20th October 202520th October 2025 funtime65

The roguish instinct in us is to smile at aristocratic misfortune but this is why heists are not a victimless crime.

Not that we’re suddenly siding with the elites but on the back of the Louvre robbery we’re reflecting on an attack on all art lovers.

Because make no mistake the assault will not just cost the museum but you and me too.

With ever-greater security checks, lines and higher cover costs and special exhibitions.

With entry to the Louvre costing us €22 and €31 for a combined ticket and guided tour.

Moaning Lisa

We all saw, of course, the dramatised reenactments of the seven-minute robbery of the priceless royal jewels.

And the hordes of visitors shepherded out of the iconic Parisian pyramidical building.

Many of whom could have saved up and waited years for their trip to Paris.

And the chance to see the Lady with the enigmatic smile.

An arm and a leg

And there are other draws, the one-armed Milo de Venus and Jacques-Louis David’s The Coronation of Napoleon.

And the Galerie d’Apollon with that collection of French Crown Jewels.

Art galleries are, naturellement, one of the great leisure activities available to us all.

With many free to the public.

Where you can see the great masters and art from your own country.

Contrast that with sports, music concerts or theatre experiences.

With the average cost of a ticket up the road in the Parc des Princes to see European champions Paris Saint-Germain £185.

The art of the matter

So while we enjoy an oul Las Vegas Oceans Eleven heist flick.

If you’re a tourist who loves their Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum, Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, Raphael Rooms in the Vatican or Louvre.

Just think again if someone comes up to you in the bar and offers a jewel from the Louvre for your amour’s finger.

That the cost and stress might come back at you because heists are not a victimless crime.

America, Countries, Europe, Ireland, Oceania, Sport

Here we GAA with sport’s biggest rivalries

30th July 202329th July 2023 funtime65

Ireland will come to a standstill today for Dublin v Kerry so here we GAA with sport’s biggest rivalries.

The two great Gaelic Football or Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) rivals have been facing off against each other since 1892.

So if you’re lucky, or you’ve planned ahead, then you’ll find yourself in Dublin on All-Ireland weekend.

When the Dubs and Kerry meet for the 14th time to decide who takes Sam home.

Sam being the iconic Sam Maguire after whom GAA’s most coveted trophy is named.

And paraded around the winning county’s clubs, filled to the brim with booze.

Croker is the real thing

Now seeing we live our lives by the mantra… go to where the locals pray and play we’d recommend the temple of GAA, Croke Park.

The 82,000 capacity North Dublin stadium affectionately known to locals as Croker which also houses the All-Ireland hurling final.

And Limerick’s hurlers are still in full party mode after beating their great rivals Kilkenny for their fourth title in a row.

Aussie rules

Famous travellers that they are the Irish took their Gaelic football with them when they were transported to Australia.

Where the sport developed into the Aussie Rules that it is today.

And the two countries play an international compromise series.

The biggest match of them all is the Grand final with Melbourne giants Carlton v Collingwood the fiercest match-up.

And every sports fan, and even those who don’t, need to visit the iconic MCG, the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It’s a thing that they play Aussie Rules on a cricket oval which I know from watching the action at London’s Foster’s Oval.

Boston’s team party

And when it comes to sporting rivalries then in America old historical rivalries run deep.

And when you add the snatching of a heroic player, Babe Ruth who you build your club around.

And curse their opponents then it’s plain to see…

Why the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees built up a grudge match.

Boston, of course, is one of America’s great sporting cities.

And its basketball team, the Celtics, have built up quite the history with the LA Lakers.

And its ice hockey team, the Bruins, with the Montreal Canadiens.

While Tom Brady and the New England Patriots built up a resentment from New York, yes, but right across the States.

El Classico

Now there are other soccer rivalries including Scotland’s Celtic and their Old Firm derby with Rangers.

But there’s only one El Classico… Barcelona v Real Madrid.

Although there are variations on that theme around the world this football classic allows you to sample the Iberian Peninsula.

And yes, you have to take sides, so full disclosure here it’s been Barcelona ever since I first helicoptered over the Camp Nou.

And got wrapped up in Messimania many years later.

Get in the hole

Now some old rivalries have enjoyed refurbs to become bigger and better than ever.

With the Ryder Cup, held for most of its history between GB & Ireland, now extended to include Europe.

All of which has meant that as well as the British and Irish heartlands.

We’ve now had Ryder Cups in Spain, France and this September in Rome.

Where we’re hoping that instead of the oft-exclaimed exhort of Fore! we’ll be hearing Forza! instead.

Back to the All-Ireland and if you’re not, or can’t be, at Croker today.

Then the big match is on RTÉ obvs but also now BBC Sport at 3pm.

It’s a good place to start as here we GAA with sport’s biggest rivalries.

Africa, Countries, Europe, Ireland, Oceania, Sport, UK

An Irish rugby conversion

30th August 2022 funtime65

As an Irish-Scot it’s when I’m at my most conflicted when it comes to international sports, but when it comes to egg-chasing mine’s is increasingly an Irish rugby conversion.

It wasn’t always so but then that’s 13 years in Ireland, and working in rugby heartland Ballsbridge in Dublin for you.

Scotland the grave

Scot the lot: Springjock Duhan van der Merwe

My own native land is Scotland of course, and let me remind you I followed them as a schoolboy through thin and thin in the late 70s and reported on them in even thinner times in the early 90s.

And now while the same can’t be said for Ireland in a football sense, in rugby the Boys in Green are actually for the most part Irish.

As opposed to a Scotland side which is filled with players who have been discarded by New Zealand, Australia and worst of all England.

In fact we’ve even coined a name for the legion of South Africans who have rebranded themselves as Scottish… Springjocks.

All of which running around aimlessly brings me to the imminent Rugby World Cup in France next year when I will more than likely be waving my Tricolour instead of my Saltire.

Now if you want to put yourself in the safest travel hands then get on board my old Irish pals Cassidy Travel‘s deals for France RWC 2023.

Deal us in

Cassidy’s packages include return flights, return airport transfers, hotel accommodation (unless it’s a day trip) and t tickets,

So, whether you want a quick day trip, a longer 2-3-7 night option or a bespoke tailor-made sport holiday then Cassidy have you covered.

Game on

So without further ado here are the matches you can be at, starting with the Romania mania.

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Ireland v Romania

Day Trip Package to Bordeaux!

9^th September 2023

Don’t have time to stay? No problem at all! Make it a day trip!

Ireland meet the European runners-up in Bordeaux.

Package Includes:

Return flights

Return Airport Transfers

Match tickets

All from €599pp!

Rand old team

Rainbow nation: South African support in the townships

Bok your team, if your team is Ireland, against South Africa.

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Ireland v South Africa

2 Night Package to Paris!

23^rd September 2023

The perfect two-night deal for rugby fans!

Package Includes:

Return flights from Dublin or Shannon

Return Airport Transfers

2 Nights in a 3* Hotel

Match tickets

All from €1099pp!

From Bok to Jock

And one where any Irish-Scot can’t lose.

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Ireland v Scotland

2 Night Package!

7^th October 2023

Two-night deal for you to enjoy one of the best

Rugby World Cup France 2023 events.

Package Includes:

Return flights

Return Airport Transfers

2 Nights in a 3* Hotel

Match tickets

All from €899pp!

Pieces of eight

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Quarter Finals!

Tickets to both matches included!

14^th & 15^th October 2023

Should they progress, Ireland will then meet the winners or runners-up of Pool A,

which includes France and New Zealand, at the Stade de France.

Package Includes:

Return flights

Return Airport Transfers

2 Nights in a 3* Hotel

Match tickets for Both Games

All from €1599pp!

And, of course, if Ireland beat the All Blacks (and everyone defeats them these days) they get to keep them!

So get your green out and support the Boys in France next year.

And that even includes Irish-Scots looking for a proper team to support… it’s an Irish rugby conversion.

Countries, Europe, Skiing

Take to the French hills

4th December 20214th December 2021 funtime65

The moronic variant makes you want to just get away from it all… and take to the French hills.

Which is what I intend to do in Val D’Isere next month.

But should you need to get the hell out of Dodge now a Joyeux Noel is waiting for you this season in France.

And you will be treated as a Very Important Person (as it should be) with VIP Ski.

What we all want to know (more the authorities to be fair) is how do we leave the variant in the slipstream?

The answer in a word is lodge.

Arc 1950 de Triomphe

Cold outside: Take a hot dip after the skiing

No, not that one. This is the 1950m (ah, that’s why) high Arc resort.

And they do love this styling of resorts as I found in the highest restaurant in Europe, Le 2,877 restaurant in the Pic du Midi in the Hautees-Pyrenees.

Of course there’s the skiing here in but there’s loads more winter sports activities too.

You’ll love the sled dog outings and the visits to the Igloo Village.

As well as the free daily entertainment or descents on the Rodeo Luge toboggan run.

Childcare is also available with VIP SKI to that you can get some grown-up time too.

Je suis un lodger

You’ll be staying in Bear Lodge which puts the friendly in family-friendly.

With rooms or adjoining rooms for mum, dad and teenagers.

This 30-bedroom hotel includes a proper sized pool you can swim in.

There’s also a spa with plenty of steam, piste-side kid’s’ space, gym and cinema.

Your own mini-resort then.

Grand, grand, grand, grand, grand Christmas

Rest the weary legs: After a day on slopes

So a seven-night stay, from 22 December 2021, costs from £5,297 for a family of four in a family suite with twin beds and a bunk bed den.

You’ll get cooked breakfast and dinner with choice of menu on seven days and return transfers .

Childcare from £279 for five and a half days childcare.

So if you want to get away from it all this Christmas why not take to the French hills.

You’ll be treated like a VIP

Countries, Europe, Food & Wine, Ireland, UK

Hungry and Thursday – Daddy/Daughtery Monaco cocktails

27th August 202027th August 2020 funtime65

And back in the day when Daddy’s Little Girl was littler I used to make her mocktails.

When I was making us ‘grown-ups’ Summer Breezes, Mai Tais, Tequila Mockingbirds, Singapore Slings and my go-to Strawberry Daiquiris.

Those cocktails have killed some brain cells and eroded my memory so I can’t quite remember what was in my Daylight Strawberry.

Of course Daddy’s Little Girl has moved onto big people’s drinks.

And we have clinked glasses around with my travel partners and friends around my erstwhile home, Dublin.

These days it’s the sleepy rugby and golf retirement town of North Berwick where we grabbed us some cocktails.

At our new local, the Fly Half bar at the Netherlaw.

Where confirmed dudeist that she is she went for a White Russian, in homage to her new favourite film, The Big Lebowski,

And I flirted with The Monaco which was listed on the menu.

A cursory look on Cyberspace pointed towards a drink with amber beer although my cocktail waitress reported that hers consisted of Prosecco and Chamboise.

Something lost in translation there… just like it was in Cannes where we went for Dawn drinks at some spanking hotel.

And the barman put a dash of Prosecco and Aperol and big scooshes of orange juice and soda and charged us €18.50.

I was doing them for less than €1 at home.

Better when you’re on the French Riviera, and you will be again, going to Mandelieu La Napoule.

MEET YOU AT THE BAR

Countries, Culture, Europe, Food & Wine, Pilgrimage

Hungry and Thursday – Pickle your Croatian walnuts

14th May 202014th May 2020 funtime65

It was a family tradition to bring home a bottle of liqueur from foreign shores.

But my parents” drinks trolly seriously lacked a bottle of Croatian Orahovaca.

Sure we had Dubonnet from thr Riviera The Boat D’Azur and https://www.google.ie/amp/s/us.france.fr/en/news/article/about-atout-france-0/amp made for a competition in 1846.

To provide the French Foreign Legion to take quinine to combat malaria.

And ouzo from Greece My Greek odyssey https://athensattica.com and Aperol in Padova https://www.google.ie/amp/s/jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/09/15/padova-city-of-frescoes/amp/ to name just a few.

But while we’ve all ventured through the Balkans on the other side of the Adriatic nobody dipped a toe in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Until I visited Our Lady and Medjugorje where they’re all Croatians, with Marian Pilgrimages https://marian.ie and https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.thesun.ie/travel/5132756/a-pilgrims-progress-in-medjugorje/amp/.

Now Medjugorje is many things other than a site to Mary… who am I kidding, it’s all about Our Lady.

But trawl the stalls and you’ll find some treasures other than the holy water and Virgin Mary that will get you into Heaven.

Such as Orahovaca which a Balkan trader up by the bus station in Medjugorje was showcasing.

I’ve been to a few wine-tastings in function rooms of hotels, so testing Maria’s samples from plastic cups was a different experience altogether.

But it was worth it and got the thumbs-up from the Scary One and Daddy’s Little Girl when I finally broke open the bottle yesterday.

We adapted the sweet walnut drink by having it on the rocks which meant we drank more.

But at about a fiver I can always stock up the next time I’m out there.

And at the end of it all we all felt filled with wholly spirit.

Caribbean, Countries, Culture, Europe

Give us this day – Hermits

19th April 202019th April 2020 funtime65

Hermits have been one of the most pilloried sections of society, though really their very raison d’etre was to be outside of society.

Which is where you want to be just now.

Now hermits fall into three categories: The Lost, The Saintly and The Imprisoned.

The first of which I definitely am, the second I strive to be and the latter which miraculously I’ve been evading all these years.

*Where is everybody? On the Via Francigena*

The lost: Which is where I normally find myself on my travels.

Particularly if they put 100kms between me and my destination.

Which is the case on the last leg of the Camino in Galicia in north-west Spain www.caminoways.com and A pilgrim’s prayer.

Ciao, Roma

And on the Italian Camino from Viterbo into Rome www.FrancigenaWays.com.

Probably more so the Via Francigena, to be fair, where the irregular arrows can leave you abandoned, alone, in an olive grove.

Still, more time to talk to the Lord while you can squeeze the olives onto those rolls you bought that morning…

A perfect accompaniment for that half bottle of wine.

And here’s a celebration of being alone on the road… Small roads lead to Rome.

For those who prefer the sea there are opportunities aplenty to get lost too.

Like Robinson Crusoe. Still there are worse places to get washed up on than Tobago.

He wasn’t totally alone though. Man Friday? No, the goats he trained.

And yes I got to race them… www.visittobago.gov.tt and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2020/03/17/ready-steady-goat-racing-in-tobago/

Halo there!

The Saintly: You can live like the Fast Set in Cannes and Mandelieu-la-Napoule.

Or like the Fasting Set on the hermit’s island of Ile Saint-Honorat where Saint Honoratus went for a little solitude and a natter with his boss.

Word got out and more of his monk pals came out…

He founded a monastery which drew the attentions of no less a luminary than St Patrick.

Today’s traveller skirts the island on a speed boat… well, you have to, don’t you?

Visit https://www.cannes-destination.com/discover and https://www.mandelieu.com and http://www.atout-france.fr/content/about-us.

And come join me as I make a splash on the Riviera The Boat D’Azur.

*You’ve found us: Napoleon’s island Saint Helena.* http://www.sainthelenaisland.info

Boney’s bones

The imprisoned: The best-laid plans des souris et Frenchmen gang aft a-gley.

And the most famous Frenchman of them all, Napoleon Bonaparte ended up here.

On Saint Helena, the second-most remote inhabitable island in the world.

Where I have been destined for this year.

No, not because after spending three weeks locked up with me she wants to send me 5,000 miles away.

But because I’d been planning a trip out there this year. See http://sthelenatourism.com.

MEET YOU ON THE ROAD

Uncategorized

Holiday Snaps – the WB Yachts

5th October 20195th October 2019 funtime65

In one of my more inspired moments I christened the new Irish Ferries ship WB Yachts, a twist on the Irish Nobel-winning poet WB Yeats.

They had invited us to give their new ship a name and were offering free travel for life to the winner.

And it had to be on an Irish theme, with their other ships already boasting literary names.

What’s in a name?

And so I lodged the name in my old newspaper column Holiday Snaps from where your even snappier Blog-ready Holiday Snaps derives.

Imagine then my incredulity when the less snappier WB Yeats won the competition.

Which was something I cheekily brought to their attention when they invited me on earlier this year.

WB Yachts, WB Yeats? It’s still an incredible boaty.

And you can get 10% off bookings next summer to France if booked before December 3.

Available on return bookings from March 28 until September 30.

The WB which carries 1,800 passengers from Dublin to Cherbourg in Normandy has as you would expect a Yeats theme running through it.

There’s the high-end Lady Gregory Restaurant, above.

The less formal but tasteful Maud Gonne Bar & Lounge, below.

And The Abbey & The Peacock Cinema and Lounge.

And here’s a couple of things that will really float your boat… unlimited luggage and free wi-fi.

Now Yeats is the only poet who I can recite a whole poem from which I can only verify by videoing myself and sharing.

But you’ll be happy to know that I won’t be inflicting my rendition of An Irish Airman Foresees His Death here.

I am reminded now of my old University lecturer George Watson.

A proud native of the North, he kept us enthralled with his witty takes on the great Irish writers.

And he cheekily ended his précis on WB Yeats’ love life by saying: ‘He never did get over Maud Gonne.’

For more information and to book visit www.irishferries.com.

And for more cruise and ferry news remember Tuesday is Cruiseday..

See https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/10/01/cruiseday-tuesday-hiya-hawaii/

As a winner of our French Travel Awards it is a country I know well and am getting to know even better…

French treats

See https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-boat-dazur/,

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/the-lourdes-prayer-pyrenees/

As well as https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/06/the-other-lourdes-a-castle-eagle-and-fish/

And https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/07/28/lourdes-pyrenees-give-us-this-day/