Backpacking in Ukraine🇺🇦: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone☢️Tour Part 9 – Radiation Checks and Escape from the CEZ

Posted on February 29, 2016February 4, 2025 by Jonny Blair

“It’s a radiation vibe I’m groovin on” – Fountains of Wayne. It had been a truly incredible day of travel and to a place with a sad history – the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. It’s a day I’ll remember for a long time, but after this final part of the story, it’s time to close the Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine🇺🇦: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone☢️Tour Part 9 – Radiation Checks and Escape from the CEZ[…]

My Five Top Travel Destinations For 2016

Posted on February 24, 2016February 26, 2016 by Jonny Blair

Well the year is only two months old but I’ve already done a fair whack of travelling through some ice cool zones in Central Asia such as Karakalpakstan, Afghanistan and Gorno Badakhshan with more lined up. Basing this list on a few spots I’ve already been to this year and a few that are lined Read more about My Five Top Travel Destinations For 2016[…]

Some Cool Food Experiences in Barcelona, Catalonia From WithLocals

Posted on February 16, 2016May 12, 2022 by Jonny Blair

You might have read about my stories backpacking in Barcelona in Catalonia, having crossed in from Andorra. I loved my time in this city and surprised myself by this. I expected it to be overtouristic, dear and too cliched. However, it wasn’t like that at all. I loved touring the sights, drinking in bars with Read more about Some Cool Food Experiences in Barcelona, Catalonia From WithLocals[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Tour Part 8 – Lunch in the CEZ

Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 8 – Lunch in the CEZ

Posted on January 29, 2016January 31, 2016 by Jonny Blair

This ain’t no “Friday’s Featured Food” for yousens so it’s not. But to keep with the alliteration, I’ll rock it out on a Friday and it is food, I’m just not “featuring it.” You may not have built up an appetite reading my previous Chernobyl Exclusion Zone posts. So after visiting Reactor Number 4 (ouch) Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 8 – Lunch in the CEZ[…]

Listen to the Sound of Music in Austria

Posted on January 28, 2016June 1, 2022 by Jonny Blair

Rolling hills, and verdant slopes studded with magnificent examples of Hapsburg architecture, make Austria one of the most favoured tourist destinations in the world. A rich cultural, musical and intellectual heritage come together with modern attractions to make Austria tourism magnet it is today. The winter sports capital of Europe, Austria beckons the avid skier Read more about Listen to the Sound of Music in Austria[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Getting A Free Night Tour of Kiev

Posted on January 27, 2016January 16, 2016 by Jonny Blair

While backpacking in Ukraine I was able to go on a free night tour of Kiev, the country’s capital city. I was staying bang in the centre of the city at Tiu Kreschatik Hostel. I heard about a free tour starting daily at 12 noon outside the earth monument in Liberation Square (Maidan Square) so Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Getting A Free Night Tour of Kiev[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine🇺🇦: Chernobyl☢️Tour Part 7 – The Abandoned City of Pripyat, Top 10 “Sights”

Posted on January 24, 2016February 6, 2025 by Jonny Blair

“There’s silence in the air, there’s silence in the ground. A presence moving through the rivers in the moonlight. Desolation all around. The wind blows through abandoned buildings, photos scattered on the floors, possessions of a vanished population. Safe haven for my soul.” – Tim Wheeler (Ash) Of course, it wasn’t the song from my favourite Northern Irish Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine🇺🇦: Chernobyl☢️Tour Part 7 – The Abandoned City of Pripyat, Top 10 “Sights”[…]

Day Tour of Nazi Concentration Camps with Mosquito Hostel in Krakow, Poland: Part 2 – Touring Auschwitz II, Birkenau Camp

Posted on January 21, 2016July 18, 2024 by Jonny Blair

It was one of those travel days with a more dark and sombre tone. Certainly not the type of place to take selfies at and feel completely happy about. But if you read the first part of my day tour of German Nazi Concentration Camps with Mosquito Hostel in Krakow, Poland: Part 1 – Touring Read more about Day Tour of Nazi Concentration Camps with Mosquito Hostel in Krakow, Poland: Part 2 – Touring Auschwitz II, Birkenau Camp[…]

Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 6 – Visiting the Culprit, Reactor Number 4

Posted on January 19, 2016January 11, 2016 by Jonny Blair

It doesn’t get much more crazy than heading on a backpacking journey to “Reactor Number 4”. Indeed, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone attracts less tourists per year than Antarctica, North Korea and Iraq. Here there are 13,000 tourists per year. That’s only 35 people per day on average! And I mentioned in parts 1 and 2 Read more about Backpacking in Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Tour Part 6 – Visiting the Culprit, Reactor Number 4[…]

Backpacking in Italy: My Top 5 Memories

Posted on January 13, 2016November 14, 2023 by Jonny Blair

I don’t write about Italy as much, despite having visited the country seven times on my travels. I’m planning to visit Italy again this year, in June on route to France for the Euro 2016 football tournament to watch Northern Ireland in. Italy is one of the best countries for food. I love pizza, any Read more about Backpacking in Italy: My Top 5 Memories[…]