Ed Fringe has opened my eyes to the fascinating world of comedy. On the recommendation of a friend I went to see Phill Jupitus. I had no idea what to expect – if someone recommends a show to me, any more detail is irrelevant. If they think it’s worth telling me about, that’s good enough for me.
I’ve attended Fringe gigs in pubs, theatres, a circus tent, the top level of a double-decker bus, a football club, an inflatable up-side-down cow udder and a yurt nicknamed The Yurt Locker. And a dormant volcano. On Monday I climbed Arthur’s Seat to see the view of Edinburgh. On Tuesday I climbed it again for a comedy gig.
In a quiet valley in the heart of the Lake District, a little steam train puffs through the fells. La’al Ratty travels from the coast at Ravenglass to the green paddocks at Boot. And you know how I love trains…
Ireland is globally renowned for its crap weather, but that never stops anyone from visiting. After a particularly wet and windy visit two years ago, I was excited to return – even more so when I saw the forecast. Ireland was about to experience summer.
For a man in charge of guiding a 202m ship out of a very tight berth, Captain Richard Davies is extremely at ease. Especially since he’s surrounded by a bunch of bloggers and their cameras. Nothing like an audience to put on the pressure.
Accessible only on foot or bike, YHA’s Black Sail hostel is something of a Lake District treasure. While the traditional philosophy of hostelling has modernised, Black Sail is a beautiful, remote exception where guests eat together, wash up their own dishes and enjoy each other’s company in the middle of nowhere.
Meeting people is one of the things I love most about my lifestyle. But when people like me say how great it is to meet so many people from all walks of life around the world, we never mention how hard it can be to say goodbye to them all.
Second chances in life are rare. In travel, even more so. In 2011 I visited the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and couldn’t see a damn thing. Two years later I got the opportunity to go back and saw the stunning Cliffs in almost unbelievable conditions.
Despite my aversion to the heat and attempts to stay in cooler climates, I’ve spent my last two summers in Europe. I’ve melted on the sidewalks in Paris and spent hours inside Italian churches trying to keep cool. Here are my favourite photos from my summers in Europe.
Markets are one of the oldest institutions in the world. Before supermarkets and chain stores, people came together at streets and squares to buy what they need. They were a place of trade and gossip. I love visiting markets when I travel. While some exist as a tourist attraction, others remain an insight into their community.
