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Countries, Europe, Flying

Get off to a flier with twin trips

10th May 202610th May 2026 funtime65

And as our own race across the world continues here’s how to get off to a flier with twin trips.

All of us know that burning curiosity of looking out over to the next field.

Before finding out for ourselves how green it is.

With visitors on our loveholidays odyssey to Rhodes availing of the hop, skip and jump to Marmaris in Turkey.

Symi, see you: And Turkey on the horizon

And sailing into Turkish broadband space in Greek Dodecanese Island Symi.

Just as we found on the Jordan side of the world’s waterway the Red Sea when we entered into Israeli broadband space.

While we looked out over the Jordan river itself at the site of John’s baptism of Jesus to Israel.

Broadening our borders

There are many ways to cross a border, some more hospitable than others.

And we’ve climbed every mountain to walk unopposed through a metal gate from Austria into Germany.

And will walk across the International Bridge from Valenca do Minho in Portugal to Tui in Galicia in north-west Spain on Camino.

With La Raya/A Raia (the border) Europe’s oldest, dating back to 1297.

So now we’ve outlined some of the walkable borders.

We move on to those we can traverse by train and plane.

Now our friends at our local Edinburgh Airport have pointed us in the direction of these top twin trips.

From Berlin to Biarritz

Now Poznan’s charms have naturally long been known to Poles.

But for the rest of us we only came to love the western Polish city at Euro 2012.

With their fans’ backs to the action goal celebration.

Join the Poznan wave yourself by taking a three-hour train journey from Berlin.

While Austria and Hungary are linked by proximity and politics.

And Vienna and Budapest are just two and a half hours apart.

Of course, some countries’ borders are always disputed.

And people on one side share more in common with those across the border than the rest of the country they inhabit.

As is the way of it with the Basque Country, separated by the French and Spanish border.

But, of course, you can enjoy both by train from Biarritz to San Sebastián in just over an hour.

Countries, Culture, Deals, Europe, Food & Wine, Music

Efharisto Rhodes you are Colossal

21st April 202621st April 2026 funtime65

Efharisto Rhodes you are colossal and as we say Yassas at the end of our loveholidays odyssey we reflect on the legends we have met.

Michael, the pick-up driver who took us on our first night to the Amphitryon Hotel.

May you make enough from your driving and your day building job to realise your ambition to settle down and slow down in your 40s.

Manolis, our bar manager who patiently and smilingly put up with this Bandanaman mangling his language.

To you and those who fed us so fully a Yamas (or cheers).

Over an ouzo with the best Greek traditional band Bouzouki playing in the background.

Yamas to new friends

To the new friends we met, the Three Yorkshiremen and Jay, Cherry and Jane.

And thanks for the offer of your room on the day of your check-out Jane.

Only I am still haunted by another invitation from my Athens odyssey.

And Toy Boy Brian, OK, he’s a fellow Sixtysomething like myself but travels the world selling vintage toys.

And meets celebs and gets the VIP treatment, hence him meeting the Bandanaman.

Then, of course, the army of cats who responded to our cheery kalimera.

Even when noon had passed and it should be a kalispera.

Especially Symi2, our forever friend who took residence of our laps.

And whose picture will now occupy a place on our crowded fridge.

Legends carved in rock

It is back now to chilly North Berwickety in Scotland where Rufus Rules now has a lot of living up to and explaining.

But not before a nod to the legends who come out at night.

Now Rhodes is clearly not shy of gods carved into rock.

But Nicklas and Despina are the god and goddess of rock at the Legends Rock Bar in Old Rhodes town.

Downing shots as they serve and producing a bottle of Bunnahabhain smoky Islay whisky and testing me on my Scottishness.

By asking me to pronounce it which incidentally is Bunahaveain.

And all the time Nikos the singer, of course, belts out the standards from across the rocky lane.

Reading the words perfectly from his screen which is no mean feat when it’s Cher’s warbling.

Kalinihta and dreams of gold

I leave with a kalinihta and breathe a sigh of relief that I have not said anything inappropriate.

As happened when I greeted the concierge in Rome with a buona notte e sogni d’oro.

But come to think of it, good night and dreams of gold does sound a fitting farewell to Helios, the Sun God’s island, Rhodes.

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Sport

Fun and Games in Rhodes

20th April 202620th April 2026 funtime65

And as stadiums go this one has real history, where the locals have been coming for 2,500 years for fun and Games in Rhodes.

And apologies here for breaking with tradition and keeping my kit on at the Rhodes Acropolis.

The original Halieia athletes going commando for the 600ft race in honour of Helios the Sun God.

There was, of course, a time as a Scottish Cross Country champion when I held high hopes of an Olympic future.

But while I puff and pant for picture purposes a local hero barely breaks a sweat circling the stadium.

Unfortunately for Dimitrios there are but one or two in the stone seats today where once 30,000 cheered on their heroes.

The future champions

Greece lightning: Running is in the blood

The Stadium and the Acropolis complex on the outskirts of Rhodes is packed today with future champions.

With the Acropolis the place where Rhodian families come to play on a Sunday.

With kids kicking a ball around while dads dribble a basketball, mums chat around prams and grandparents sit and smoke in the cafe.

We bus it to the Acropolis from Rhodes Town harbour only to do a double take when it circled around past our hotel, the Amphitryon.

You can too take a hop-on, hop-off coach which will cost you €20 of today’s coin which will also take you to the Old Town.

But better still you could show your athleticism by walking the couple of kilometres to the Acropolis.

The stuff of Legends

Passing the baton: She’s relay something

It feels right to spend our last full day cosplaying Ancient Rhodian heroes in the iconic tree-lined Stadium.

Although we are not quite finished with Rhodes yet as we will spend the evening back in Rhodes Old Town with the Legends of today.

But you will just have to wait for the next instalment of our Rhodes odyssey for that.

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Symi, see you, Symi 2

19th April 202619th April 2026 funtime65

And seeing we’ve got Helios the Sun God back on side we’re off Greek island hopping, so SYMI, see you, SYMI 2.

All of which will become as clear in time as the Aegean we’re sailing on to the Rhodes neighbouring island on our loveholidays odyssey.

Where after an hour and a half on the water on our Sea Dreams boat Symi 2.

The pristine blue and white Captains Houses and neo-classical mansions around Gialos harbour and hills hove into view.

We dive into island life though not literally.

Dive straight in

We will leave that to the likes of the moustachioed Stathis Hatzis, the legendary naked diver who stands sentry at the bay.

Who we learn dived to retrieve and tie an Italian anchor, holding his breath for nearly four minutes.

Now did we say that Gialos is breathtaking?

Particularly from higher up, as you can see from the lens of the expert in the family.

We scale the steep steps after calamari and a kalimera and Greek salad at Trata Trawler.

And discover that the best welcome is from a friendly Simi cat we christen Simi 2 after our boat.

The best habits

Alas, the mechanical Symi 2’s hooter reminds us that we must part.

But hopefully our prayers will be answered at our next port of call, a monastery on the north end of the island.

Greek churches as we have all come to appreciate appreciate their icons and you can’t move for them here.

At the Holy Monastery of the Taxiarch Michael Panarmitis.

Again, we bump into a Greek Orthodox priest in flowing black robe.

Now he may or may not know our Archbishop Makarios back at the Alphatron Hotel in Rhodes.

But we imagine he will be waiting near the bar for his liqueur as he has been all week.

Though not necessarily for us.

The cat’s whiskers of a deal

But Socrates, the hotel cat… OK, not the only one but the one we took to first will be.

And he can have the Amphitryon because Simi belongs to Symi 2.

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Better lute than never to the Bouzouki party

17th April 202617th April 2026 funtime65

And when in Rhodes better lute than never to the Bouzouki party.

If bouzoukis strike a Greek chord with you then it’s probably because of Zorba the Greek.

Filmed in Rhodes which is where we’re billeting for the week on our loveholidays odyssey.

Its unmistakeable hook draws us into Socrates Garden in Rhodes Old Town.

Where we go full Hellenic with an oiled and olived-up Greek salad.

Although our waiters resist the temptation to smash plates.

Zorba dancing at the Amphitryon

We have a Greek night later back at the Amphitryon Hotel presumably for that.

With local group Buzuki playing for the international clientele by the pool.

And captured for posterity here by your Bandanaman even if his posterior was not.

Because somebody in the organisation took the executive decision that that was not fit for family viewing.

The Amphitryon family

The Amphitryon family were out in force to lead the dancing with one particular toddler holding court.

And for our entertainment too the band’s main and veteran bouzouki player looked like he grew up with Socrates himself.

While straight out of central casting ‘Archbishop Makarios’ with his beanie hat as a nod to modernity joining in the clapping.

While tour guide Rosa from group Travel One The Amphitryon took the mic to belt out Hellenic standards.

Before Manolis and his bar staff brought the evening to an end with complimentary ouzos, Greek medicine, for all cures.

Deal us in

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

YAMAS AND MEET YOU ON THE FLOOR

Countries, Deals, Europe

The Lindos Hop

15th April 202615th April 2026 funtime65

And because there’s whole civilisations out there we’re heading out of Rhodes Town on our loveholidays odyssey… on the Lindos Hop.

Now you’ll need good boots as it’s a fair old hike up to the 4th BC acropolis.

Although maybe it wasn’t these boots they were advising… the 1litre glass boots of lager you can buy for €9 in old Rhodes Town.

The rumour is that I’ve matured in the 36 years my Medusa has been ruling my life.

Although I echo more the sentiments on the t-shirt in that kerching store…

‘I’m not 60 but 18 with 42 years experience.’

Have boots, will travel

My first couple of experiences of the glass boot being part of a party game in Austria with Aussies and Kiwis at Oktoberfest.

Of course, just like 40 years ago I digress and we are on an hour-and-three-quarter ride on Vangelis’s coach.

Where we are to spend three hours climbing up to the 116m settlement dedicated to Athena Lindia.

Which can be negotiated by donkey, but and we don’t want to be an ass about it, it’s work for Eeyore.

Acropolis now

Better then climbing up through the pristine old Lindos town to the rocky outpost.

For the best views of this stretch of the south-east Med and the beach in the bay.

The remains of the acropolis which must have made an imposing fortifications to visitors is kept is beautifully preserved.

Now the generations of invaders have stopped chipping bits off.

The biggest danger these days is getting a shrill whistle from curator Maria who guards a selfie-loving tourist from falling off the cliff.

Captain’s calling

A Kalispera (afternoon), Yassou (hello/goodbye), Parakalo (please) and Efharisto (thanks) go along way with Rhodians.

Though a haway is more the currency with the Geordies we met in The Captain’s House Bar.

A charming Lindos house bar with a traditional showpiece island living room/bedroom at the back to visit.

Take a seat: Back of Captain’s House Bar

Lindos is more frosted glasses for Mythos beer or tumblers for ouzo, or Greek medicine as mine host calls it.

And with a Yamas, or cheers, we while away an hour before I get the hook.

Because my goddess feels an hour will be a stretch to get in the shopping she needs.

And as stunning as the acropolis is I definitely don’t want to become a stone for tourists to slip on.’

Deal me in

We booked a three-hour Lindos day out with getyourguide for £27 for two.

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

Countries, Deals, Europe

All Rhodes lead to… getting lost in the Old Town

14th April 202614th April 2026 funtime65

Kalispera and when we’re around then all Rhodes lead to… getting lost in the Old Town.

And all because the lady loves a holiday and loveholidays and it’s 32 years since we honeymooned in the Greek islands.

And she feels a debt to Saint Phanourios for finding her set of keys from the recycling bin after Christmas.

When I prayed to the heavens for intervention which is as we all know is where you go for lost and found.

Mapping Phanourios’s journey

And so we’re pounding the cobbled stones of Rhodes Old Town looking for the chapel dedicated to Phanourios.

Only to find that we’re going around in circles.

Sure, we find the excellent Path of Gods museum, an old Turkish library and Stavros sports bar.

But Phanourios’s pad, no chance.

Now, a word or a dozen here while she’s turning her map around, on Phanourios.

When you’re lost

The saint is revered on the island of Rhodes where he revealed himself in icon form when the invading Turks ransacked a chapel.

The rest has been handed down to us about the seemingly hundred different ways he was martyred.

And how the spectre of the holy man came to the rescue of three priests.

After a right odyssey with our old stomping ground Kythera also getting a name check.

And then the vengeance he sent on their captors.

It’s all in the name

Where he gets tied up with finding lost things is rather more prosaic.

With the name Phanourios deriving from the Greek verb ‘phanerono’ or to reveal or to disclose.

Which means that the islanders, and further afield, pray to Saint Phanourius to help them find lost objects.

And the object is retrieved, they bake a sweet bread and share it with the poor.

And offer prayers for the salvation of saint’s mother.

Anthony’s partner in rhyme

Now if there are shades of the Saint Anthony of Padua’s secret powers about this story we reckon that’s no coincidence.

And that Western Catholicism’s finest Anthony and the pride of the Eastern Orthodox church Phanourius likely divvy up the requests.

So efcharisto Phanourius for finding her keys back then at Christmas.

And maybe you could help her with her map which she left somewhere when bending down to pet one of Rhodes’ many cats.

Or maybe ask them because they seem to have the run of the streets.

The full package

Your friendly neighbourhood Bandanaman is travelling with loveholidays and EasyJet from Edinburgh.

And staying at the Amphitryon City Hotel, 800m from the Old Town.

All for £1,028 for two, B&B and evening meals, for a week with airport transfers.

Countries, Ireland, UK

The charms of Edinburgh for the Irish

2nd March 20262nd March 2026 funtime65

The charms of Edinburgh for the Irish used to only come every other year when their throngs of rugby fans would descend on Murrayfield in the city’s west end.

And now it seems they can’t get enough of us, the culture and the castle yes, but probably mostly the craic around the Rose Street hostelries.

With our friends at loveholidays reporting too that the Scottish capital is their leading emerging destination.

As part of a growing market for Britain.

Now its proximity and our Celtic kith and kin comradeship as well as Edinburgh being a much easier city to get around than, say London, is probably part and parcel of it.

And will account for why our travel provider pals have seen a 75% spike in bookings.

Who do we love?

Hat-a-boy: On the King Charles Bridge in Prague

Analysing bookings from the last three months, the online travel agent reports that Edinburgh is leading a distinct spike in city break popularity for 2026.

Not that London will ever lose its appeal with a notable 48% surge.

Indicating that holidays to the UK are taking off, while escapes to other European city destinations Prague (+48%) and Budapest (+44%) have seen significant increases too.

Now having enjoyed the delights of those two great Central European cities, and having been barred from most of the pubs in Edinburgh.

We’ve decided to take the wise counsel of our loveholidays friends to expand our Greek islands knowledge by booking up for Rhodes next month.

It is +54 per cent while perennial favourite is +63%.

New York, New York

This year’s blond: With ‘The Donald’ in New York

For long haul it will come as no surprise that New York continues to grow, and always will, with +30.

While Dubai, understandably, figures highly at the start of the year with +53%.

Now it helps with your city’s promotion to have somebody at the helm of loveholidays’ Irish promotion who loves their rugby and golf.

And my old mucker Clem Walshe, Irish Commercial Director at the firm, is just that.

Clem to fame

‘What unites these emerging destinations, from the cobblestones of the Royal Mile to the thermal baths of Budapest, is the variety that they offer,’ the travel provider expert opines.

‘Beach holidays remain a firm favourite, but there is a clear increased enthusiasm for city escapes this year. Edinburgh is the standout performer.’

Just remember, Clem, to promote the Golf Coast, east of Edinburgh and our championship-standard courses Muirfield, Renaissance and North Berwick.

Although you might have to give me a monster handicap next time you’re over.

Countries, Deals, Europe

All you need is Algarve

11th October 2025 funtime65

All you need is Algarve, it’s the story of Paul and Portugal, let it Penina Albufeira and the Beatles.

Of course. it was a different time, the explosion of package holidays, which even drew in one of the biggest pop stars of his day.

It is hard to imagine the Paul McCartney of today wandering into reception in a Portuguese hotel.

And asking to have five pounds exchanged into escudos (ask your parents).

But party animal and general good guy Paul was persuaded into joining house band Jota Herre on stage in the Sixties.

And improvising a song at the piano which became Penina, before entertaining the patrons until 4am.

Fado Goodbye

And there the story may have stayed other than Portuguese prattle.

Had it not been for Paul playing a version of the song with John Lennon and Ringo Starr during the Get Back sessions.

And Jota Herre recording and releasing the song in March of that year, 1969, followed by Portuguese singer Carlos Mendes.

All of which pop legend is still played out at the Penina.

And Albufeira nights at the Radisson Blu nights in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

Macca’s pitch

Come on Aileen: With Senorita Albufeira Aileen

Of course when you have such a prized piece of estate as the Paul McCartney piano he played on that night, well you’d keep it.

It is not unfortunately recorded in the annals of history whether Macca played a round of golf.

At the Panina, the country’s first golf course, designed by major winner Henry Cotton.

But the Penina is still dining out on its Paul McCartney connections.

Deal us in

Just 45 minutes from Faro Airport and served by Ryanair and Jet2 Penina has of course many other features to appeal.

Such as the biggest pool in the Algarve, an Olympic-style swim.

And the first and oldest course in Portugal, dating from 1966.

And standing at their version of St Andrews’ iconic Swilcan Bridge.

We found a random week in November with our go-to providers loveholidays from £778 for two, down from £843.

Countries, Europe

Interlaken’s cutting edge

9th October 20259th October 2025 funtime65

And what else would you be sent away with from a function showcasing Interlaken’s cutting edge than a Swiss Army knife?

Because while you may think you’re the ultimate thrill seeker and fully adapted to Europe’s Adventure playground.

You’ll be thankful for your mini-tool kit if you get yourself in a pickle on the slopes, valleys or lakes.

After all, Angus MacGyver, The Fantastic Four, Dana Scully in the X-Files and Matt Damon in The Martian have all reached for one.

While it’s been part of a NASA astronaut’s survival kit since 1992.

A refresher course

That, of course, is for when we’re back out there in the Great Swiss Outdoors.

While for the evening that was in it we were nicely ensconced in Scott’s Kitchen in Victoria Terrace in Edinburgh.

So we’re tucking into haggis, beef and chocolate mousse modern style with a fork, knife and spoon.

While getting a refresher course in Interlaken from when we scooted about in trotty bikes there some nine years ago.

Now we’re told that you can do almost anything from skiing, of course, sledding, to paragliding, abseiling and ziplining.

Fun on the water

And fun on Lake Thun, all at a more relaxing pace.

Whether on a cruise or raclette rafting, and don’t worry you won’t have to negotiate choppy rapids while dripping cheese.

Be prepared

While for the ultimate in opulence then you can take a hot tub out on Lake Brienz.

And maybe drain a Brienzer Breeze, the bottle green Sea Breeze-themed cocktails we lapped up with notres amis.

All of which activities we dare say might need small knives, scissors and the like to extricate yourself from situations.

Or manicure yourself.

While, of course, you’ll be prepared as all good scouts must be for the greatest emergency.

When out exposed in the wilds.

For when you need a bottle opener or corkscrew for your Hell lager or Alpine wine.

Now as ever second time around we’re better fitted out for our return to Interlaken.

Now we have our Swiss Army Knife.

We found an EasyJet round trip flight to Zurich from our airport here in Edinburgh for a random five nights in November from £648pp.

And you’ll get a high-speed one-hour train to Interlaken, checking out your Swiss Travel Pass.

And went to loveholidays for a five-nighter at Hotel Alpenblick, a saving of £149pp.