Friday’s Featured Food: Walnut Chicken🍗in Shtastlivetsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria🇧🇬

“I’m a lucky man” – Richard Ashcroft. I never had any idea that Bulgaria would be a popular spot for food. But I was proved wrong time and time again. The chefs here know how to cook meals with flavour, meals that are memorable and cooked to perfection. So while Bulgarian national dishes specifically may Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Walnut Chicken🍗in Shtastlivetsa, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria🇧🇬[…]

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Thirsty Thursdays: The 20 Year Paddy Campbell Reunion in The Bridge Tavern, Newcastle, England

“That’s why, you should keep on aiming high, just seek yourself and you will shine.” – Heather Small, 1994 This particular edition of Thirsty Thursdays will be a slightly stripped down version for you all – I’m saving a lot of the good stuff for the Don’t Stop Living book. A quick paragraph of perspective Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: The 20 Year Paddy Campbell Reunion in The Bridge Tavern, Newcastle, England[…]

The Chaise: Staying in the Best Guesthouse in Sunderland, England

When I decided to spend a couple of nights in Sunderland instead of Newcastle, a few people around me raised eyebrows. This only made my heart grow more eager to visit Sunderland, without doubt the stronger beast of the two north east cities in terms of exceeding expectation. We all know about Newcastle – the Read more about The Chaise: Staying in the Best Guesthouse in Sunderland, England[…]

Backpacking in Montenegro🇲🇪: Exploring the Capital City, Podgorica (Poddy, Monty)

Montenegro’s capital city of Podgorica was my final stop on my recent Balkans and Eastern European adventure. I had heard that it was very much a capital city with “not a lot happening” (quote from other backpackers). This reason alone sold the place to me and I found a great cosy hotel for my final Read more about Backpacking in Montenegro🇲🇪: Exploring the Capital City, Podgorica (Poddy, Monty)[…]

Staying at the Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa, Northumberland, England

Conjuring up images of English countryside is something we do as children. Wide open spaces, gorgeous forests, winter walks, howling wind and typical English mansions. I wasn’t thinking of my teenage years reading Mansfield Park and watching Poirot and Jonathan Creek. While they had their fair share of English mansions, I wanted some relaxation for Read more about Staying at the Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa, Northumberland, England[…]

Staying at The Baxter, A Cool Boutique Hostel in Edinburgh, Scotland

You might have read that I was recently back in Scotland for the first time in 6 years. Perhaps even more surprisingly it was my first visit to Edinburgh, the capital city. These days mixing up guest houses with night trains with hotels with hostels has its crazy diverse travel moments. But here in Edinburgh, Read more about Staying at The Baxter, A Cool Boutique Hostel in Edinburgh, Scotland[…]

Friday’s Featured Food: Haggis, Tatties and Neeps in Edinburgh, Scotland

It had been a whopping 6 years since I had been to Scotland when I decided to hit up Edinburgh. It was an easy choice to make for me. Firstly, cheap Ryanair flights made it a budget place to head to but secondly it was a new city. My many jaunts to Scotland had taken Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Haggis, Tatties and Neeps in Edinburgh, Scotland[…]

Backpacking in Kosovo🇽🇰: Top 12 Sights in Pristina, the Capital City

After travelling in Northern Macedonia, it was an obvious move to take the easy border bus north to Kosovo. The buses depart from Skopje in Northern Macedonia and within two hours you are in Pristina the capital city of Kosovo. I checked into the cool Buffalo Backpackers there and as well as drinking in 5 Read more about Backpacking in Kosovo🇽🇰: Top 12 Sights in Pristina, the Capital City[…]

Staying at the Comfy Hotel Keto in Podgorica, Montenegro🇲🇪

The last city on my whirlwind Balkans and Eastern Europe trip fell on Podgorica, Montenegro. This somewhat unknown and obscure capital city shot out at me when I realised a cheap Ryanair flight from Podgorica to Stansted came up at a nice €20 Euros! So my final night in the Balkans I wanted a place Read more about Staying at the Comfy Hotel Keto in Podgorica, Montenegro🇲🇪[…]

Backpacking in Scotland: Top 10 Sights in Edinburgh

I had been to Scotland around 20 times in my life – but mostly to Glasgow, Irvine or Stranraer. Growing up in Northern Ireland made that an easy option as a child and teenager – I usually went by ferry from Larne or Belfast. However I had never once been to Edinburgh until I turned Read more about Backpacking in Scotland: Top 10 Sights in Edinburgh[…]