16 September 2022

I have to admit I was a little nervous. I had never visited Ibiza & have reached an age where clubbing is not top of my agenda. Just a short hop from the UK & we landed in sunny Ibiza. The island of Ibiza is known the world over for its idyllic beaches where waters of the Mediterranean lap on its stunning shores as well as for being one of the world’s top music destinations. The old town of Ibiza was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its narrow cobbled streets, alcoves, & buildings are captivating. Stumble across all sorts of treasures from the different civilisations that have inhabited this magical island. As you climb upward, the views grow with every step, of your walk up Dalt Vila. Comfortable, sturdy footwear, hat, drink & a good camera & plenty of time are a must. Take an evening stroll through the alleys, window shop in the pretty boutiques & enjoy some tapas into the early hours. No matter which part of the island you are staying in this is a must do to experience the true heart of Ibiza, step through the medieval alley ways taking in the wonderful smell of freshly cooked pasta, seafood & tapas. Pop into those fabulous stylish boutiques & marvel at the architecture. If you are wanting to enjoy the nightlife head towards to the harbour & enjoy all the bars & clubs you need, drift back to your hotel in the evening or early hours the taxi rank is centrally located, don't forget to stare in awe at the wonderful array of yachts moored up in the harbour.

20 January 2021

With out bags packed and car ready we were prepared for the long journey from the East Coast to the wonderous Jurassic Coast of Dorset. A must for any budding palaeontologist or dinosaur lover. After the mammoth 6-hour drive, we only heard the phrase every parent knows well ‘are we nearly there yet?’ for the last hour of the journey. With it’s fabulous towering white cliffs, dilapidated castles, traditional English pubs, beautiful walks and fabulous fossil hunting. The 95 miles of Jurassic coast has so much to offer. As a general rule four legged members of the family are welcome at so many places, many lodges are family friendly & most pubs welcome our furry family. Whether you want to wander along the shoreline looking in the rock pools or join one of the family friendly fossil finding tours there is plenty to keep little ones & amateur palaeontologists occupied for hours on end. Who doesn’t want to find a devils toenail or two!! The cliffs around Charmouth are much softer and there are often rockslides that expose a fresh supply of fossils in the silt and mud on the shoreline. I would highly recommend a visit to the Heritage centre at Charmouth. They have small museum and offer informative guided 2-hour fossil hunting tours & plenty of activities for children. The incredible ichthyosaur found in Lyme Regis in 2018 that featured in the David Attenborough documentary the Sea Dragon is on display here too. During low tide it is possible to walk along the shoreline from Charmouth to Lyme Regis (parking is quite problematic in Lyme) we also took the hair raising ride on the local bus, navigating the narrow streets on a double decker is not for the fainthearted driver but fun as a passenger on the top deck of a bus. Lyme Regis is the birthplace of Mary Anning the renowned palaeontologists and is another great place for fossil hunting. It would be rude not to walk from the Cobb along the shoreline at low tide to explore the ammonite pavement. It's best to do in your walking shoes. It is easy to spot the huge ammonites that are embedded in the large rocks as you walk along the coastline in awe. These are too big to take home!! (There are plenty of fossil shops if you don’t find a small fossil or two) The Dinosaur Fossil Museum off the beaten track in Lyme Regis is a traditional museum filled with thousands of samples of prehistoric finds, the collection is huge, and you can spend hours looking round this small museum. After a day of fossil hunting it was time for adventure, we caught a Lyme Rib and went out to sea to catch a few waves and see the coast from a different angle. It was a fun filled afternoon making our own waves when the sea was calm. Our guide was fun, friendly and informative and certainly stepped off the rib feeling exhilarated. They have adapted COVID 19 safety protocols & this all felt very safe. I was delighted to discover that Lyme Bay Winery produces local wine, rum & gin. Hopefully we will return to the times where you are able to sample and savour the delights that they have to offer before purchasing. With tweenage boys in tow, we spent an afternoon at Tunnel Target Sports Centre. (As the name implies it is a Rifle Range set in an old road tunnel between Charmouth & Lyme Regis) My son and I did the did the beginners experience and our instructor was brilliant, very knowledgeable and offering great advice and experience he made the afternoon safe and enjoyable. Whether you are an experienced marksman or a beginner the staff provide a safe comfortable environment. It is very Covid-19 safe and sanitizer provided everywhere, and masks are worn and temperatures are checked. You will be safe here. Another must visit has to be Corfe Castle, pack your picnic and prepare to while away the day in the fresh air. Those of my generation might be able to regress into their early years remembering the days getting lost in your Famous Five Enid Blyton novels. Built by William the Conqueror, the castle dates to the 11th century and commands a gap in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage. Its owned by the National trust so don’t forget to take your pass. A trip to Dorset would not be complete without a visit to Durdle Door the iconic limestone arch, over time the waves have eroded to a natural rocky arch. If you are feeling energic hike along the cliffs on one of the coastal walks or amble along the shoreline taking in the lapping waves, if the English weather permits take a refreshing dip. The picturesque Lulworth Cove is just a short distance away from Durdle Door. Accommodation is varied and plentiful with demand at it’s peak during the school holidays. Quaint cottages nestle in picturesque villages, if you are prepared to go off the beaten track there are some gems to be found, lodges with hot tubs keep the family entertained in the evenings and there are plenty of brilliant pubs to enjoy hearty pub meal or even an afternoon tea. Would that be jam first or cream? Let me know if I can help to find that cottage to enjoy the amazing views and relax in the evenings for family fun or sophisticated relaxation.

16 November 2020

We were late arriving into Charles De Gaulle airport so it was a bit of a sprint to the train station but we caught the last train of the evening into Paris. With just secondary school French grammar we found the staff & passengers in the metro to be really friendly & helpful. We were grateful that our hotel had a metro station right beside the entrance. The journey took around 45 minutes & cost €7.50 each. On the Boulevard Montmartre the Hotel Paris Opera is under the umbrella of Melia. It is not your typical chain hotel, it is actually a small renovated eighteenth century building run by a Spanish family concern. The hotel is bright & clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. We had a street facing room but if you prefer peace & quiet a back room would be better as the Irish Bar next door is a little lively. As always, I am pretty much led by my stomach & I can confirm the hotel offered a fantastic continental breakfast that set us up for the day. Ideally located our Hotel was approximately 15 minutes’ walk from Le Garnier Opera, Louvre, Place Vendome & only 30 minutes from Notre Dame and the shopping mecca that is Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Almost every major fashion brand is housed under it's majestic Art Nouveau steel and glass Couple which rises to the height of 43 meters. In normal times you can catch the weekly fashion show held at 3pm every Friday on the 4th floor. For those needing a break from retail therapy there is a stunning rooftop terrace (yes, its free) where you can take in beautiful panoramic views of Paris including The Garnier Opera House, The Eiffel Tower, Sacré Cœur, Notre Dame and more. We purchased a two day BigBus pass with a River Cruise which was around €40 each but discounted when purchased in UK . It was great you can hop on and off the bus whenever & wherever you like. With map in hand we got our bearings. The Big Bus has two routes & amazingly there was a stop opposite our hotel in front of Musee Grevin. There is so much to see & do in Paris this gave us the opportunity to get our bearings, enjoy the sights & the sunshine & decide where we wanted to visit.. Shopping Top Tips Whether you are window shopping, wanting high end brand names, souvenirs or quirky presents Paris has it all. Le Royal Village is a small designer outlet near Madeleine with fabulous bronze sculptures. Galeries Lafayette Haussmann High End Fashion & Designer Brands plus small French designers offering fantastic value Passage Jouffrey – 10 Boulevard Montmartre unique arcade with lots of small shops selling, paper products, antique books, pastries & those missing home has an M & S. Obviously, no trip to Paris would be complete without a stroll down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to people watch and shop those big fashion brands. Food For a big foodie fans Paris can be done on a budget, most supermarkets have their own bakeries & a traditional pronounced (trah-di-ee-on) baguette is far better than quality and larger than your standard baguette. Alexine bakery in Montmartre offers a vast array of sweet and savoury delights coming 4th in the Best Baguette competition. The prices are reasonable too. If you like French croissants you won’t want to go back to the UK supermarket variety after these. Fresh fruit is large & flavoursome and seasonal fruit is reasonably priced any other fruit is expensive in comparison to the UK. If you are looking for a fast fix, Yummy & Guiltfree on Montmartre offer amazing waffles starting at €4. They even offer a gluten free range. Mian Fan offer a quick fast Chinese lunch although they were very popular and were very busy at lunchtime. Moules MaMarinière can be picked up in most cafes eat like Parisian at the roadside tables or sit inside for a little peace & quiet. Places we Visited The Pont des Arts known as the love lock bridge near the Palais du Louvre is no longer adorned by lovers padlocks these were removed as the weight had started to buckle the iron bridge that crosses the Seine. There are railings nearby where you can leave your love lock padlock. Arc de Triomphe which was built on the orders of Napoleon to honour the victories of his Grande Armée offers a unique view of the Champs-Elysees from its rooftop. The Magnificent building houses a museum inside which offers a break from the stairs. Entry is around €9. Why not visit in the evening to see the flame lit on the tomb of the Unknown solider from the Great War. Always use the underground walkway to reach the Arc de Triomphe the traffic in a little mad! Eiffel Tower – If you want to ascend the tower, I recommend purchasing tickets in advance as queues on all levels can be long (once purchased these can’t be changed). Louvre Museum The impressive entrance to the Louvre sits proudly surrounded by what was the Louvre castle built in the late 12th Century. Home to the famous Mona Lisa, even if you are not an art lover the museum will leave you in awe and you could easily spend all day here. Avoid the crowds by obtaining a ticket online. Notre Dame We visited before the devastating fire, taking a free walking tour and visiting the Crypt it really was a sight to behold. The plaza in front of the Cathedral has now reopened and restoration is scheduled to be finished by 2024. Seine River Cruise This is a must do and gives you a different perspective of the city. If you go early morning you can avoid the crowds and enjoy a more sedate trip, this was included in our hop on hop off bus tickets. Moulin rouge If you have the energy take in a meal and a cabaret style show it will truly be an experience you won’t forget. Public Toilets are not always open we found most of the public toilets to be out of order around the Eifel Tower. Why not use it as a reason to people watch, take in a coffee and a cake and use the facilities. Most department stores offer free facilities. If you want a laugh or shock visit the underground toilets at Notre Dam, the wall art is fantastic & will make you laugh €1 entry (Plus a customary tip of 20-50c). There is so much to see & do in Paris I think we need to plan another trip.

07 January 2021

Riviera Maya in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula has so much to offer, whether you are wanting adventure or relaxation there is so much to do. We travelled during the dry season (December to April) although we did experience some monsoon style rains that quickly dried up & the sun returned. The perfect place to let your hair down and enjoy the varied cultural tastes & experiences for all ages. We travelled to Cancun on the Gulf Coast of Mexico on a Dreamliner and we were a little weary after the 10 hour flight from the UK. The crew made our sons first-time long-haul flight experience memorable & Tommy ended up visiting the pilot & co pilot who gave him a copy of our flight map. They were absolutely fabulous & even remembered him on the return journey. He definitely felt like a VIP. Although only half an hour from the airport by taxi to the hotel the bus transfers can take up to 1½ so I would recommend a private transfer to Puerto Morelos. Greeted on arrival with typical Mexican friendliness, cocktails and cool refreshing flannels. We decided to split the holiday & have one active week & a lazy week by the pool / beach. Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is famous for its amazing Cenotes, natural pools formed in limestone caves creating caves into the Yucatan’s large underground river system. The entire Riviera Maya is covered with thousands of cenotes, many of them you can swim or snorkel in ( and for the adventurous scuba dive) most charge an entrance fee. Some of the best cenotes are near the city of Puerto Morelos approximately 30 minutes from Cancun. The water is definitely quite refreshing! The Cenote at Verda Lucero has it’s own zipline! Chitchen Itza – UNESCO World Heritage Site – Named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World although it has existed for over 1000 years. Our trip included entry to Chitchen Itza and was around 230 pesos to enter when we were there. This was a must for us, we knew it would be a long day, our hotel pick up was at 5am ready for a 3-hour journey. We left early to avoid some of the heat & the crowds. As you arrive, we were greeted by the temperature gauge, it was already 101F by 9am. Our guide, like most guides had plenty of unique stories to tell which added to the experience so if you have the opportunity, use a guide before exploring on your own. Dating back to the fifth century there is much to see the 98-foot-tall pyramid Temple of Kukulan or El Castillo dominates as you enter the site. The ruins are spread over 5kms but lots remain as yet to be discovered (make sure you wear some good walking shoes & an umbrella or hat for some shade). The Tomb of the High Priest or Osario Temple is a step-pyramid temple with staircases on each side. The temple stands atop a natural limestone cave in which skeletons and offerings were found, giving the temple its name. The Sacred Cenote is a sinkhole that is connected to Chichen Itza by a raised pathway. Our guide told us of how the cenote had been drained and that the murky water has yielded many artefacts including gold, jade, copper, turquoise, obsidian, copal or incense, pottery, rubber, shells and the bones of around 200 people who were thrown in as a sacrifice. The main ball court (1 of 8) is impressive, the gruesome tales of losing teams heads being used as ball keep everyone listening intently. El Caracol is thought to be one of the first observatories and dates back to around 906AD. Chac Mool sits at the summit of The Temple of the Warriors and is one of the iconic images you will see from Chitchen Itza. As you enter & leave the site you can feel like you’re being a bit hassled by the vendors, but if you’re not interested a firm ‘no thank you’ should do it. If you are interested, just be sure to never accept the first price you’re given, the vendors are expecting to barter, US dollars are accepted as well as pesos. Definitely a long day, but very memorable with lots of tales & picture opportunities. The trip home was broken up with a Cenote visit & stop at the Portuguese influenced town of San Filipe Nuevo The ferry to Cozumel We took the Winjet ferry from Playa Del Carmen to Cozumel it takes around 30 minutes and costs around 800peso. Fast & reasonably comfortable on non-choppy sailings. The island is largely undeveloped and is a lot less commercialised than Playa del Carmen. There is plenty to do on the island, we opted to visit Playa Mia & Coral Reef Snorkelling and before returning to the ferry we visited the downtown shopping area with lots of bars, restaurants and designer shops. Cancun We had to visit Cancun, busy, bustling fun, plenty of shopping and a huge variety of bars & restaurants. If you wanted to stock up on designer clothes at less than UK prices you can do it here, sometimes window shopping is more fun. It cost us approx. $50 dollars each way. There is also a good pharmacy it seems that ear infections in children are common from all the swimming & you can speak to a qualified pharmacist for the correct treatment. Dolphin / Whale Watching There are so many options if you are looking to meet these beautiful creatures up close. Tommy had only just learnt to swim so was nervous in the open waters & we opted for a Dolphin visit at the aquarium in Cancun. We were given a time slot and everything was very controlled. We were reminded that these were intelligent creatures, giving them the respect that they deserved. We enjoyed the trip and it suited us but if we were to do again we would visit in more natural surroundings. Visit the Cancun Sign on the highway in Playa Delfines On the main highway the iconic colourful Cancun sign is accessible from the beach there always seems to be a queue waiting in line to take a picture. Anyone for a Taco or quesadilla? With lots of fresh ingredients the food is refreshing and tasty whether it is fast food or fine dining. Saying that Tommy developed a love for Sushi in Mexico which he still loves, it is always his snack of choice. After our busy week it was time to relax take in the warm sea breezes relax with a drink or two and take in some sun. When Tommy grew bored of impersonating a fish and our adult company, he visited the kids activity centre at the hotel and always came back full of beans & excitement they certainly knew how to keep the youngsters entertained. It was an amazing trip, but we really only scratched the surface of what to do. There are so many places left to explore but that’s for next time. Nos vemos más tarde.