“Kidnapped to the promised land. The bay of pigs and Baby Elian” – Manic Street Preachers. In December 2022, I decided to finally backpack in Cuba, flying into Havana from Madrid after my stay in the cool Scout Hostel there. This was to be my second Christmas in a row backpacking the Caribbean. After COVID…
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“Runaway train never going back. Wrong way on a one way track” – Soul Asylum. Having watched many Michael Palin documentaries down the years, I always envied his journeys. He did them in mostly pre-internet days. Back thence, visas were tough and we needed to be embassy-loyal. Booking accommodation could, at best, be organised by…
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“We sat and watched the sun go down” – Robbie Williams. “Music is my aeroplane” – Red Hot Chili Peppers. I saw photos of Sint Maarten beach years ago with aeroplanes flying right over tourist’s heads. I always thought that either – 1.These were photoshopped. 2.The photographer was lucky to catch a freak of an…
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“Last train to somewhere, come take a ride” – Scott Gordon. In Summer 2022, at the ripe of age of 42 and with over 200 countries already swallowed into my backpack along the journey, I finally arrived in Alderney. It was a long time coming, given that two decades prior I had already been in…
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The Azores happened by fluke. I really didn’t plan this one. I was trying to visit Cape Verde Islands and it just made sense (and was cheaper on Ryanair loyal) to visit The Azores on route. So here I was! The Azores was a bonusball, extra trip and yet I still had three days here…
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“Give me something I can rely on, far away from the life that I once know – Monaco. Monaco is an enigma, that’s for sure! As a lover of wacaday republics, unrecognised states, countries that don’t exist, nations unofficial and unclaimed lands, Monaco was right up my street. And it was a handy little trip…
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“Little dune buggy in the sand, little blue dune buggy in my hand, little blue dune buggy” – The Presidents of the United States of America. I didn’t expect this to be enjoyable by any stretch. After all I grew up near a beach in Bangor in Northern Ireland and used to slide through the…
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“Loose lips, sunk ships, I’m getting to grips with what you said” – Robbie Williams. A Shipwreck Graveyard by the Atlantic Ocean in Angola?🇦🇴 Are you serious? This place was a surprise to me. I didn’t expect to find it fascinating, interesting or in any way spectacular. I certainly didn’t expect to write a blog…
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“It really really really could happen” – Damon Albarn. One of the most remarkable sights in Togo is Lake Togo. It is a natural lake in the east of the country. While staying in Coco Beach Hotel just East of Lome, I organised a guided tour with well known tour guide Jeremies. Jeremies and our…
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“Grimsby Town don’t even play in the town of Grimsby!” – Every football fan! So another train journey and I love them. This one, in Saudi Arabia. Hail Train Station, Saudi Arabia Hail Train Station, Saudi Arabia just reminded me of over elaborate, middle of nowhere train stations in China. Shaoguan sprang to mind, I…
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