Sorry to be such an old misery guts on your rest day but every day will now be a rest day for Stobart a favourite airline now gone.
Stobart Air has been the wings beneath my winding my way from Ireland back to Scotland.
On more occasions than I care to remember.
Liquidation looms
But alas the 50-year-old carrier has been forced into liquidation now.
By Covid and Irish Government inaction.
Up in the air: For passengers now
For every Irish adult Stobart Air will always be Aer Arann.
Aer Arann got off the ground in 1970 to serve Inishmore in the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland.
And Galway and the West, where I would spend my childhood summer holidays, is best.
Fly the flag: My friends at Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus, the national airline carrier, saw the possibilities and soon got on board, contracting Aer Arran to operate their short-haul commuter links.
Stobart story
Stobart Group jumped in during the choppy mid Twenty-Teens and rebranded as Stobart Air.
Which is when I started to lean on them as my taxi service back and forth to Scotland while living and working in Ireland.
That’ll be Edinburgh Airport obvs
And revisiting my old haunts such as my young party days in Aberdeen, my adopted home Edinburgh and my home city Glasgow.
There are other airlines and they will fill the gap left by Stobart Air mist critically now where flights have been lost.
But the collapse of any airline is to the detriment of passengers.
A sad day
The wider the range of airlines the greater choice on offer and the better value.
Purple reigned: FlyBe
This is all on the back of the collapse of FlyBe.
And they were a favourite too with their flights to cruise town Southampton, Stobart Air’s decline is a sad day for us all.
We’ll be told that it is Covid collateral damage but try telling that to those who have lost their jobs.
And passengers who have been left out of pocket.
And until governments change their attitude to Travel as vital and not trivial…
Then it might be Stobart a favourite airline now gone today but there will be countless others tomorrow.
Much has been made about how Venice has been allowed to breathe again.
As the crowds have eased with dolphins leaping in the Grand Canal and mermaids sitting by the Rialto Bridge.
Of course, in spite of what everyone says you can get away from the crowds in St Mark’s Square.
Walking on water: From the annals
One obvious place to go is a church and don’t worry if you’re not religious you’ll be bowled over by the art.
While you can leave the young (and old) lovers on their gondolas while you retreat for a bit of history in the Jewish ghetto.
Although you won’t make the same mistake and turn up on their Sabbath, Saturday.
Anyhoos, while there is never a bad time to go to Venice, there are some great deals just now.
With Ireland’s national airline carrier Aer Lingus offering Dublin-Venice from €29.99 for travel until November 30. Book by September 14.
Hitting the slopes again
Snow business: In the Pyrenees
I can rarely be accused of not keeping my social distancing on the slopes… I’ve usually veered off piste, heading obviously for a fall.
But, of course, like everywhere and everything the ski industry has had to adapt to this virus, and they are.
And the good news for the punter is that they are bending over backwards (a bit like me in a heap on the snow) to lure us back on the slopes.
Pierre & Vacances have ‘a new flexible rate’ only requires a €1 deposit to book.
And you can cancel free of charge if you change your mind.
They also have an early booking offer with savings of up to 20% for all winter dates.
For bookings until September 23 while they pledge to refund the difference if you find it cheaper elsewhere.
You want a deal? Of course you do and this a Christmas one too.
You’ll get seven nights at the Residence Le Sequoia in Font-Romeu in the Pyrenees down from €609 to €488 from December 19-26.
That man Van again
Put your hat on it: Van Morrison at the Europa
And this is tailor-made for social distancing, Van Morrison in a cabaret setting at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, which I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying.
The concerts will take place over three nights on October 29, 30 and 31.
Tickets which you can get from Ticketmaster will be sold in pairs or by tables of eight and the maximum number at each show will be 184.
You’ll get a drinks reception beforehand (remember them!) and a two-course supper.
Prices for the first two rows are available at £250pp, or £2,000 for a table of eight.
And all other tickets are £150pp or £1,2000 per table of eight.
8And there are a host of attractions on the doorstep.
If you can pull yourself away from the nearby Crown Bar such as the excellent Ulster Museum, Grand Opera House and Titanic Belfast.
I dipped my toe in Croatia although alas not its islands nor indeed Dubrovnik but that’s another story.
If you’re travelling from Ireland go with Croatia Tours through Split as I did on my way to Medjugorje with its sister firm Marian Pilgrimages
And here don’t we know that Ireland’s national airlines carrier Aer Lingus will save me from myself by flying me straight to Dubrovnik’s front door from €39.99.
What’s the Croat deal?
As luck would have it we have some Croatian deals here for you.
British Airways has three routes to Croatia to Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, with flights from Heathrow and Gatwick.
Ryanair has also resumed flights from London Stansted to Pula twice a week, and to Rijeka once a week.
And because we love an island… Losinj, known as a healing resort, can be reached by private plane or luxury car transfer with Losinj Hotels & Villas.
From many European airports, with Pula, Rijeka and Zagreb the closest options.
You’ll want to check out the Boutique Hotel Alhambra, an Austro-Hungarian Art Nouveau villa built in 1912 in Art Nouveau style.
And which also boasts the world-class Alfred Keller Restaurant which specialises in seasonal and local produce.
Spend fur nights at the Boutique Hotel Alhambra and enjoy one complimentary night from €954 (£866) based on two adults sharing a Deluxe Park Side Room for B&B. Valid for stays until October 3, subject to availability,
No, I haven’t persuaded The Scary One to leave the delights of North Berwick near Edinburgh, I’m merely flagging up Edinburgh Airport’s http://www.edinburghairport.com reopened destinations.
And the last word is to back Aer Lingus’s www.aerlingus.com stance on the Irish Government’s latest direction of travel on quarantines.
While welcoming the lifting of the restrictions from July 9, they merely want clarity until then.
As one who would gladly queue overnight to get back, I echo their call. And all my airline friends who we appreciate even more, if that’s possible, now we’ve been seeing them less Flyday Friday – Airline angels with wings
But I’m not here to talk about airline uniforms, though there would be no harm in it, and I will get back to you on that.
More importantly these behemoths of the skies are only getting us flying again.
Emirates will begin flying to and from Dublin from June 15.
In the frame
Among 16 other cities to Dubai, the others being Bahrain, Manchester, Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, New York JFK, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Hong Kong, Perth and Brisbane.
Check Emirates’ website for conditions and prices and keep updated on Ireland’s travel rules.
All’s well that ends well
Welcome on board
There are worse ways to spend an afternoon than aboard an Etihad airplane in Dublin Airport.
Getting the full VIP treatment and winning air miles. Only I haven’t cashed them in yet.
But I will when the Scary One lets me get travelling again… and, no it’s nothing to do with COVID.
I’m eating alone
There’s always a big welcome from our friends at Etihad and they have introduced Wellness Ambassadors to deal with your every flying need.
They showcased their own livery rebrand and new uniforms in the last couple of years.
And they continue to keep us occupied and enamoured with foreign destinations.
Virtually for now such as through Seattle and the Olympic National Park.
Green for go
And the brilliant blue water blue water at Lake Crescent and hiking routes through Hoh Rain Forest only make us more impatient to get on that flight out to Seattle.
I’ll let you into a little secret… and I know all the right people! Portugal will be the country we’ll all be visiting first when we come out of lockdown.
No, it wasn’t Maria dos Anjos, the niece of the last Little Shepherd of Fatima, who told me though she probably knew this already, and that COVID-19 was coming.
I consider myself partially responsible for not sharing the impending pandemic.
No, not Maria dos Anjos
Because Maria was trying to tell me something of import back in 2018. It’s just that my Portuguese stretches to Obrigado and Obrigada.
Which, going off on a tangent, my Dear Old Dad loved to screech out long after we’d returned from the Algarve.
Susana mirabilis
We all have Susana Cardoso, the Director of Portuguese Tourism in Ireland http://www.visitportugal.com to thank for giving us a preview of what Portugal will look like in the coming months.
Venice of Portugal: Aveiro
And the good news is that we will all hopefully be able to see first hand with September slated as the month…
When Irish visitors will all be reacquainting themselves with an old and trusted friend.
Yes Portugal, and for me also the best guide a man or woman could have, and that man and woman is me and the Scary One.
Splendid self-isolation in a castle
The one and only Jose Madomis https://www.madomistours.pt, the Special One, who showed off his beloved Coimbra and Portugal Centro.
The Portuguese are showing the way as the gold standard on safety and accountability with their Clean and Safe stamps which almost 3000 tourism companies have signed up for.
Beach life
And for those of you who are sick and tired of being palmed off with promises that amount to very little.
Under the guise of ‘The New Normal’ or ‘O Novo Normal’ as they never say out there.
Let me now tell you that there will be sand.
All this space
Not for sunbathing yet, but then what a waste of time that is, but you will be able to book your own space on the beach and also go into the water…
And that means you mad surfers too with Portugal a Nirvana for those who walk on water.
All the old favourites
Social distancing is key to us all enjoying all the things we always love in Portugal.
Hotels, restaurants, cafes, golf, museums, castles and parks and it is a price well worth paying.
Of course, all of this is marivilohso, but are we going to be able to get out there.
Rome wasn’t built in a day… if it was there wouldn’t be so much to enjoy.
But if you’ve only got one day (and maybe the next morning)…
Then what to see and what to miss out?And how to do it for less than €50 spending money.
Fun and games at the Circo Maximo
Bohemian Trastevere next door past the Circo Maximo is a better bet.And I recommend the welcoming and economical Hotel Trastevere although remember there’s a €4 a night city tax.
Walk the walk
A family thing happened on the way to the Forum
It’s free and it’s fun… to people watch, window shop and you can take pictures at your leisure.
L’Amore: With La Scary One
You’ll pay for the privilege of eating and drinking near St Peter’s Square and the Trevi Fountain.
Instead grab a pezzo (slice of pizza) on the go for about €3, fill your water bottles from the ornate water taps that proliferate around the city.
Rather than buy it from the shops.
Or just go into a grocery or supermarket and buy a picnic of bread and cold meats. For about a fiver.
This is free
Playing the Emperor
Walking boy the Colosseum and The Forum never loses its appeal but you don’t have to go in, the audio guides will only tell you what you can find out online anyway.
And he’s free
Il Papa’s home. Photo by Valentin Onu on Pexels.com
Book an audience with the Pope. It’s Mass but he plays to the gallery and the backdrop of St Peter’s can’t be beaten.
If you can’t get an audience, and you’ll need to book in advance, then attend Mass in St Paul’s Basilica – you’ll be in there anyway.
Or any of the churches in the city, they double as art galleries.
Other frescoes
The test of time
The Sistine Chapel is a truly wonderful work of art but frescoes can only really be enjoyed if you’ve got time, space and quiet.
Besides every church in Rome has a stunning fresco.
The best fresco, of course, is in the Pantheon, the 7.8m diameter hole in the dome, because God made the view.
It changes every day.
When it rains on Rome stop whatever you’re doing and rush to the Pantheon.
Spend a penny
Penny for your thoughts
No, not that penny, although I can recommend the toilets in the oh-so English Barrington Tea Room, near to the Spanish Steps – Byron, Keats and Shelley lived around her.
More Babington Wee Room, if you like.
No, spend a penny by throwing one over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain.
It’s a cliche, and a superstition but it’s everything that people say it is.
Of course, they know you’ll come back to Rome… how could you stay away?
Skulls and bones
When you’ve seen everything else – and definitely make time for the Castel Sant’Angelo (€10.50) https://www.castelsantangelo.com which is next to St Peter’s Square where rich Papal history was played out.
All wonderful wonders we’d all agree and ones you can tick off with G Adventures www.gadventures.co.uk and well done Uswitch but why no place for the Acropolis?
Beefy: In London with a local
Living like locals in Saint-Pauli
