“Shouting at the world you’ll never change. But it’s what’s inside, you’ve got to rearrange” – Andy Cairns. A 2014 Jonny Blair once shone his light on perky Moldova 🇲🇩. It was November 2014 when I first crossed by nighttrain into the extraordinary world of Moldova. Memories aplenty, and there did it all go wrong? Read more about World Borders: How To Get From Chisinau, Moldova🇲🇩To Komrat, Gagauzia🟦⬜️⭐️🟥[…]
“Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son” – Iron Maiden. I wrote about some musical backpacking sights of London before. On that trip I backpacked Pulp, Oasis, The Clash, The Beatles and Iron Maiden. Sadly the day I visited Iron Maiden, the pub of their birthplace, was shut for renovation. I was there on 1st January Read more about Visiting The Birthplace Of Iron Maiden🤘🎸🛡️🧲⛓️⚔️: Cart And Horses, London, England🏴[…]
“Drowned in love ❤️ and false kisses; a gathering of no meaning” – Manic Street Preachers. I never really thought I’d ever return to Bucharest, which capitals Romania. I mean, I was already here 4 times in the same month back in 2014. November 2014, I backpacked Bucharest 4 times that time. But Don’t Stop Read more about An Unthinkable 10 Year Return To Romania 🇷🇴: There Did It All Go Wrong[…]
In a resounding acknowledgment of Dublin’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and cultural richness, the European Commission has selected the Irish capital as the European Capital of Smart Tourism for the year 2024. The decision, announced after a European Jury meeting in Brussels in late November 2023, marks a significant milestone for Dublin and positions it Read more about Dublin selected as European Capital of Smart Tourism 2024[…]
In total, I have been to Scandinavia on 6 different trips, swallowing Sweden (7 times), Denmark (6 times), Finland once, Norway once, Iceland once, Faroe Islands once as well as the lesser recognised Christiania and Ladonia! It was mostly in snow, and with a real winter beauty! There are lots of options for travelling in Read more about Backpacking In Scandinavia: My Highlights From My Trips There[…]
Backpacking In Belgium: How To Get From Brussels To Charleroi Airport I have visited Belgium five times now, having first backpacked it in 2007. However it wasn’t until 2023 that I first had a flight out of Charleroi Airport. On other adventures, I was in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and some small border villages with Read more about Backpacking In Belgium🇧🇪: How To Get From Brussels To Charleroi Airport✈️🛫🧳🛬[…]
After getting my visa on arrival in Guinea-Bissau, I was ready to explore this smaller African country. Guinea-Bissau houses just over 2 million people, and its capital city, the eponymous Bissau houses a huge 500,000 of that. However, when backpacking in Bissau, it feels like a calm over-sized town. On Christmas Eve 2023, particularly, the Read more about Backpacking In Guinea Bissau🇬🇼: My Stay At The Pensao Creola, The Best Hostel In Bissau[…]
Backpacking in Guinea🇬🇳: This Is Africa’s Northern Ireland 🔴✋️☘️“Move closer; set my mind in fire” – Tim Wheeler. You know the drill when you grow up in the outside-monikered country called “troubled Northern Ireland”. You’re asked where you’re from and you tell everyone “I’m from Northern Ireland”. At least I did, I made a point Read more about Backpacking in Guinea🇬🇳: This Is Africa’s Northern Ireland 🔴✋️☘️[…]
“It’s coming home. It’s coming. Football’s coming home” – The Lightning Seeds. Sheffield FC are widely regarded as the oldest club in world football that have been continuously playing. They were formed in 1857 and as much as I hate FIFA, they are the governing body of world football and they recognise Sheffield FC as the world’s Read more about My Visit To The Home🏠Of Football⚽: Sheffield FC🔴⚫, England (Formed 1857)[…]
“You come in on your own and you leave on your own” – Richard Ashcroft. My latest trip back to England threw up undoubtedly more surprises than my backpacking glory days in that country. I spent a few days back in Birmingham. It’s a city I’ve been to many times of course, mostly to visit Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Pouring My Own Guinness⚫⚪☘️🍺At Autobrew England’s🏴First Self-Service Bar[…]