Friday’s Featured Food: Lunch in the Sobrino de Botin, the Oldest Restaurant in the World in Madrid, Spain

Posted on April 17, 2015August 18, 2018 by Jonny Blair

I recently found myself backpacking in Spain and headed to the capital city Madrid. Madrid is famous for a lot of different things down the years such as Real Madrid, the gay scene, Franco’s parades but did you know that Madrid has the world’s oldest restaurant? Neither did I until I turned up here, neither Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Lunch in the Sobrino de Botin, the Oldest Restaurant in the World in Madrid, Spain[…]

Couchsurfing in Tunisia🇹🇳: Staying with Dhia in Essaidia, Tunis

Posted on April 16, 2015April 5, 2025 by Jonny Blair

I had a crazy time in Tunisia celebrating my 100th country as I was Couchsurfing for the first time ever and our third host on this journey was Dhia. Previously we had stayed with Ayoub in Olympic City and Wicem down on the coast at Teboulba, but now we were back in Tunis just before Read more about Couchsurfing in Tunisia🇹🇳: Staying with Dhia in Essaidia, Tunis[…]

Backpacking in Tunisia🇹🇳: Top 5 Sights in Kairouan

Posted on April 15, 2015April 5, 2025 by Jonny Blair

In my time celebrating my 100th country in Tunisia we mostly toured towns and cities by the sea. That all changed when we backpacked our way inland to the town of Kairouan. Kairouan is deemed the fourth most holy city in the Islamic world and it’s a maze of mosques in a city that reminded Read more about Backpacking in Tunisia🇹🇳: Top 5 Sights in Kairouan[…]

Ten Delightful Reasons to Visit Kerala, India

Posted on April 14, 2015June 18, 2018 by Jonny Blair

The mesmerising Kerala has so much to offer that it is important to make sure your backpacking itinerary doesn’t miss out on the absolute best of this blessed state in the south-west region of India. As you travel through these top destinations, you will come across diverse attractions: from beaches to rolling hills, from ancient Read more about Ten Delightful Reasons to Visit Kerala, India[…]

Backpacking in Tunisia🇹🇳: Top 5 Sights in Monastir

Posted on April 13, 2015April 5, 2025 by Jonny Blair

My 100th country odyssey continued as we headed on a train south out of Tunis, Tunisia’s capital city. We were heading for the coastal town of Monastir and were pleasantly surprised. As well as being my 100th country, Tunisia was also the first place I decided to try couchsurfing. My girlfriend Panny had used it Read more about Backpacking in Tunisia🇹🇳: Top 5 Sights in Monastir[…]

Backpacking in the Basque Country: Staying at the Urban House Hostel in Donostia (San Sebastian)

Posted on April 12, 2015January 3, 2016 by Jonny Blair

After my 100th country celebration and a mini African jaunt to Tunisia and Algeria, the cheapest flight out of Algiers was to Barcelona, so I decided I would head from Barcelona up north to the Basque Country for the first time. I had never been to the Basque Country despite having met quite a few Read more about Backpacking in the Basque Country: Staying at the Urban House Hostel in Donostia (San Sebastian)[…]

Backpacking in the Basque Country: Staying at Akelarre Hostel, Bilbao

Posted on April 11, 2015January 20, 2025 by Jonny Blair

My unexpected Basque Country adventure was surprising, spontaneous and satisfying. A country often forgotten by backpackers, many succumbing to the fact that it’s been swallowed by the Kingdom of Spain. After my previous 5 trips to Spain, it was the political and cultural differences of flambouyant Barcelona (Catalonia), dreamy Donostia and inspiring Valencia that gave Read more about Backpacking in the Basque Country: Staying at Akelarre Hostel, Bilbao[…]

Couchsurfing in Tunisia🇹🇳: Staying with Wicem and Family in Teboulba

Posted on April 10, 2015April 5, 2025 by Jonny Blair

We were delighted to be accepted to spend three nights with Wicem and family near the town of Teboulba on the east coast of Tunisia. For my 100th country celebration, we were couchsurfing in Tunisia, firstly with Ayoub in Tunis and then with Wicem in Teboulba. And Wicem’s place was more than just a bed Read more about Couchsurfing in Tunisia🇹🇳: Staying with Wicem and Family in Teboulba[…]

Couchsurfing in Tunisia🇹🇳: Staying with Ayoub in Olympic City, Tunis

Posted on April 9, 2015April 5, 2025 by Jonny Blair

People constantly ask me if I have ever tried “Couchsurfing” and my answer is always “Yes I have slept on many couches” but if you mean the official website, my answer is a resounding “No”, well in the official sense. I have couchsurfed all over the world in reality but never through using the website Read more about Couchsurfing in Tunisia🇹🇳: Staying with Ayoub in Olympic City, Tunis[…]

Backpacking in Austenasia🟡🔴: Guided Tour of the Protected State of Orly

Posted on April 8, 2015September 4, 2024 by Jonny Blair

Recently I had the honour of becoming the first ever tourist to visit the Empire of Austenasia, which declared independence from the United Kingdom back in 2008 and is a small country of 75 residents. After crossing the border from the English town of Carshalton into Wrythe, capital of Austenasia I was greeted by Emperor Read more about Backpacking in Austenasia🟡🔴: Guided Tour of the Protected State of Orly[…]