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America, Asia, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, UK

Where to wave your palms

2nd April 20232nd April 2023 funtime65

Thank God that Jesus isn’t making his triumphant entry today, it would be all big foam fingers… but I digress, here’s where to wave your palms.

First things first though and a little background on Judean palms.

The kind which the Judeans waved at Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on his donkey.

His little donkey: Jesus greeted by palms

Which usually we would be brandishing only this year our new Nigerian priest could not lay his hands on.

Understandable as palm trees are in short supply in the frozen north of Scotland.

Gigha a palm tree

Although you can find some in parts of the west of Scotland.

And the tiny isle of Gigha, warmed as it is by the North Atlantic Drift.

And which boasts a Palm Beach and without the crowds in the three in America, the seven in Australia.

One in Jamaica, Aruba, Algeria and Malawi.

And we’ve been lucky enough to recline by palm trees from the Caribbean.

To the Canaries through Portugal, Turkey and Jordan to the Maldives.

Our Easter Judean palms, and remember Palm Sunday is always the Sunday before Easter, are actually date palms.

Unbeknownst to us but educated now, thanks to the enlightening site Vividmaps, there are ten widespread species.

The most common of which is the coconut and which proliferate in Barbados.

Although despite the abundance of roadside stalls selling coconuts and coconut water it is surpassed.

JBy Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Trinidad & Tobago in that region.

The most populous palm tree country is somewhat surprisingly Colombia with South America dominating the list.

And Brazil, Ecuador and Peru occupying second, third and fourth spots.

Papua New Guinea (or should that be Palmua?) is in fifth.

While America is only seventh although in states like Florida and California they’re on every beach.

Now we’ve all got things to do so I’ll leave you with Vivid Maps to fill in the other countries.

Suffice to say that the palm tree will always retain a special place in every tourist’s heart for exotic climes.

So whether getting your holy leaf out today inspires you.

Or it just warms you to see them gently fluttering in a summer breeze on a clip.

Then we’re happy to share where to wave your palms.

Asia, Countries, Europe

Dublin to Tel Aviv Israel is real

8th November 20228th November 2022 funtime65

Dublin to Tel Aviv Israel is real which is proof that if you keep the faith the Promised Land is always in sight.

And, unlike poor Moses on Mt Nebo, you can get there three times a week.

With El Al’s three-time weekly non-stop service up and running from March 26.

You know, the one they had planned for two years ago only for Covid to get in the way.

Flights are scheduled to operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with a flight time of approximately six hours.

A story to Tel

With you landing in Tel Aviv many will barely touch ground before they’re off to the Holy Sites.

But you would do well to tarry a while in Tel Aviv for a different Israel.

And mingle with the Beautiful People on the beaches.

They’re not the only pristine white attractions of Tel Aviv.

The White City

With the White City of Tel Aviv a UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Where there’s a free tour every Saturday along the Rothschild Boulevard, located next to the city’s first kiosk and streetlamp.

Your guide will relay stories about the houses that line the boulevard and the people who lived in them.

And wax lyrical about the Bauhaus in the middle of the street.

That’s a Jaffa

No, not those: But Jaffas are the best oranges

Now back in the day we seem to remember it being called Jaffa Tel Aviv.

And that would be right with the modern-day thriving city built out of the old Jaffa port.

And, of course, the port remains on our radar for its definitive orange.

Which you can find all over the fruit, spice and veg markets, the most prominent of which is the Carmel Market.

Then there’s the Jaffa flea market, museums, artists’ studios and restaurants.

Which make up this magic new-old city.

So Dublin to Tel Aviv Israel is real and you’ll have a real good time in the real jewel of the Israeli Med.

Africa, Asia, Countries, Deals, Oceania

The PIGS, the big winners on the UK Green List

8th May 20218th May 2021 funtime65

All countries are created equal but some are more equal than others… let’s hear it for the PIGS, the big winners on the UK Green List.

We will all now be able to visit Portugal, Israel, Gibraltar and St Helena from May 17 from England.

Make a break for it

Keeeeep dancin’: With Judy Murray in Portugal

Portugal has always been a personal favourite and it’s also fun for all you sporty types too.

And they are being rewarded for their Clean & Safe project with this green light.

Israel have been frontrunners from the get-go on the vaccination programme and I will be back communicating with the Promised Land through the week.

Gibraltar and St Helena too.

I am indebted to my old colleague from the American Travel Fair Britain’s Young Travel Writer of the Year Lottie Gross for road testing Gib for us over the pandemic.

And to Napoleon for doing the same.

Through countries

Get the Braai on: Port Elizabeth township, South Africa

The one niggling issue though is the status of the through countries to get to Gib and St Helena with neither Spain nor South Africa on the green list.

St Helena remains unfinished business.

With my walk in the footsteps of Le Petit Caporal ahead of this month’s 200th anniversary of his death there cancelled at the last minute.

Ice, ice baby

But while the PIGS pushed themselves out, as they do, as the big winners on the UK Green List there are others celebrating today.

Iceland also makes it onto the list and a long-promised visit to the Iceland Phallological Museum where all the Big Dicks hang out.

While the Faroes too, between Iceland and Norway, await and are tempting us with nature and wellness and hairy Vikings.

Further afield Singapore, and Brunei are long-haul bucket list favourites.

Bonzer

Of course it used to be that being sent to Australia and New Zealand was a punishment.

And the poor peoples on those islands are still suffering, albeit different hordes now of English Gap Year students… see The Inbetweeners 2.

Falklands awe

The good folk of the Falklands and South Georgia came onto our radar 40 years ago next year when the Argentines laid their beach towels down.

It’s a long way to go for a penguin but we’re here to serve.

And so are our friends at G Adventures who have a 22-dayer from Montivideo, Uruguay to Ushuaia.

No me neither, nor how it works with Uruguay not being on the list, and near pariahs Brazil, but G Adventures will be all over it.

And we should just be glad we don’t have to go to war to get a holiday.

MEET YOU ON THE ROAD