Tag: https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/aa

Countries, Deals, Europe, UK

Where women are in the driving seat

funtime65

And on International Women’s Day a celebration of where women are in the driving seat.

Here, obviously where The Scary One tells me that ‘when she wants my opinion she’ll give it to me.‘

And she insists on doing all the driving.

But looking back too, to ancient and glorious civilisation where women rule the roost.

Not where you might first imagine but when you realise its where the ‘First Women’ was found it makes sense.

Queens of Africa

One more cuppa: With my Ethiopian friends

International Women’s Day brings back memories of an invitation extended to me back in the day in Ireland.

From our friends at Ethiopian Airlines who asked us out to Addis Ababa for their take on the day.

When the pilot and whole crew were female.

Following the lead of their female-led government.

With a president, since 2018, Sahle-Work Zewde, and 

And their matriarch Lucy, the oldest woman in the world, whose relics the great and good of the world come to pay homage.

And the Queen of Sheba, whom we know from the Bible, and who I have a version of here at home.

Wonderful for women

Smiles better: My Ethiopian friend Meseret

On the occasion of my invite out to Ethiopia for International Women’s Day I passed on the invite to a woman which I hope raised my status in the eyes of my female friends.

Of course, the female of the species oft-times prefers their own company and that applies particularly to travel and solo female travel.

Tour de force: For women

And these are the countries our friends at Solo Female Travelers Club recommend as the best places to travel for a female.

  • Your own country
  • Spain
  • Australia
  • Thailand
  • UK
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Singapore
  • Indonesia
  • Europe’s Nordic countries
  • New Zealand

Now SFTC flags up all the areas you would for all travellers, safety, communications, accommodation, food and drink and value.

All of which the above score highly on although we do notice that the friendliest country on Earth, Ireland, doesn’t appear.

Now we’ll let you explore SFTC’s touchpoints yourself where they’ll dispel some myths about safety in Thailand and that you get pestered in Italy.

And let you look at the all-women t0urs they recommend where women are in the driving seat.

 

 

 

 

 

Africa, Caribbean, Countries, Cruising, Europe, Flying, Ireland

Christmas cards on the table

funtime65

Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale and a Happy Christmas to you all.

And merci, gracias, grazie and thanks a lot to all my friends who have sent me Christmas cards this year.

I’ll even let you off cancelling your Christmas parties and not sending me a Christmas hamper this year.

So here are a few of the Christmas cards I’d like to show off to you…

Christmas in my Sandals

Open-toed: In Barbados

And yes that’s just how they roll at Sandals and in the Caribbean.

Where what they lack in chimneys and fireplaces they make up for in mango trees.

And Santa can soothe his feet in a Sandals swim-up pool.

My old friends in Ireland

Top point: Harvey’s Point

And while my Dear Old Mum will be spending her Christmas in a Glasgow care home, a nod to her homestead of Donegal.

Donegal, in the north-west of Ireland has all the warmth of the peaty sod and will be wonderful this Christmas.

So here’s to all Donegallers everywhere and thanks to the award-winning Harvey’s Point.

Scandi Claus

When I was thinking of going to Sweden this year my first port of call was my old Irish pal and Scandiphile Alan.

Happy Christmas… in Swedish

And a God Jul to you too and destination specialists Hadler DMC.

I got a tantalising view of Sweden on my MSC Cruises trip from Kiel, Germany through Denmark and up to Norway.

Cruises WILL be back in the New Year and of course that means river cruises too as well as the big seabreakers. Anyone for MS Arena?

Another year younger

And how long they look: Ethiopian Airlimrs

I’ve told you once or a hundred times about the lifegiving qualities of Enkutatash, Ethiopia’s New Year.

Because they live by the old calendar.

Back in the day an invite came through for Women’s Day from Ethiopian Airlines and a trip to celebrate womenhood in Ethiopia.

From where Lucy, the first women we have bones for derives.

I offered to drag up. But in the end I sent a colleague.

Bohemian wrapsody

Prague rocks

Of course we know who looked out on the Feast of Stephen.

Only the bustling Wenceslas Square will be empty this Christmas.

The Czechs are the most wonderfully resilient people, situated as they are between Europe’s great powers.

They will be back and so will we… Urquell in hand by the beautiful Vlatva River.

We wish Wu a Merry Christmas

Panda-monium

And isn’t it just like that? You get a card in and you panic that you haven’t sent them one.

So to Wendy Wu and the two Johns thank Wu for everything this year, particularly the legendary Chinese New Year lunch in January in Dublin.

And I know you’ll look after The Son and Heir when he heads to China next year.

And a Felice anno nuovo too

These Italians have style

And in the most fallow of fallow years I will always treasure my Autumn trip to Bergamo with Omio.

Miei amici have gone back into the strictest zone as they predicted when I visited but I’m sure it will all pay off.

And we’ll all be eating stracciatella gelato soon in Citta Alta.