The first time I saw Manhattan’s skyline in all its lofty grandeur was in a yellow cab crossing the Hudson from JFK. It was 1998 and I was on my second-ever trip to America with my parents. I’d seen it before of course, albeit in films and TV shows. But taking it in up close, … Continue reading Falling for New York in the fall
Settling in for the autumn ahead, it’s a good time to plan a city getaway – it is, after all, the perfect time of year to visit popular destinations minus the summer rush. Rome has always been on my travel wish list, but I remained wary of it being merely a tourist-saturated city. Would I enjoy … Continue reading Rome for one
Early autumn, one of my favourite times of year to venture on a European city break. The crowds you’d likely encounter in peak season are no obstacle, prices have dipped a little and the weather tends to be appealingly pleasant just as the days begin to recede, darken and develop a chill at home in … Continue reading Autumn warmth in Madrid
My first night in Oslo, amidst a sweltering early June heatwave, and I lie in bed coverless, closely cradling a two-litre Pepsi bottled filled with iced water. An ingenious idea from my Norwegian hosts, apologetic for the temperature of their flat: a tastefully decorated space designed to retain heat, rather than stave it. Oslo doesn’t … Continue reading Heat waves in Oslo
The true heart of Seville emerges on Sundays. As locals gather for mass, I spend my morning strolling northwards from the former gypsy quarter of Triana to the soulful Macrena barrio via neighbouring Alameda. Along the way, I happen across contrasting architectural feats like the Metropol Parasol and ancient Alameda de Hercules, a broad avenue … Continue reading Trends and traditions in Seville
What do you think of when you visualise San Francisco? Quite possibly the burning orange hues of the Golden Gate Bridge spring to the fore. Maybe it's rows of multicoloured Victorian houses or cable cars whizzing up and down hilly inclines. How about the notorious Alcatraz Island emerging from the fog that famously blankets the … Continue reading California solo dreaming part II – San Francisco for one
Everyone deserves a little celebration for their birthday, even more so for the milestones, the ones where we think right, this is good news, I’ve made it this far. So, when I arrived at a full 30 years on earth, I decided it was treat-myself-time and jetted off to California for ten days – yes, … Continue reading California solo dreaming – LA daze
Christmas Eve and I’m all packed, ready to fly to Ireland this evening – a miracle of sorts after frantically searching for my passport earlier when I realised it wasn’t in its usual place, eventually discovering it buried deep in what I like to call my-box-full-of-random-things! In grateful mode after the headache-saving joy of its … Continue reading The art of the Christmas thank you. . .
If I were to ever find myself in a scenario where I had to convert to another nationality, it would probably be Swedish. I think I would fit in well with the Swedes; they love great coffee, enjoy spending time outdoors and their style is impeccably simple and trendy, some of the small things in … Continue reading Gothenburg for one
Of all the cities I’ve visited, Dublin is the one that has most frequently been graced with my presence. Given that my Mum was born there and my family and I would frequently visit our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for weekends or holidays, this top ranking on my destination list is a given. I … Continue reading Dublin for…
The Art of Travelling Solo 