VirtualTourist Member pure1942
| Page Views: 830 | Me and My Travels by pure1942 - last update: Jun 25, 2008 |
| Jericoacoara - Brazil (August 2007) |
Hi everyone,
Just a brief oveview of me and my travels so far.I am a primary school teacher by profession and I currently live in Co. Waterford in the Rep. of Ireland although originally from Co. Tipperary.
I am lucky to have inherited a severe travel bug from my parents and was always encouraged and given the opportunity to travel from a young age. As a child I visited numerous European countries such as France (which I have returned to many times), Germany, Luxembourg and all across the UK.
As I grew older I started travelling with friends as well as family. My first trip outside my family group was a school exchange to Belgium in 2000 from which my own desire to travel quickly grew.
Since then I have visited England, Wales, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, USA, Tunisia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary, Sweden, Brazil, Slovenia, Croatia Serbia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and lived for a few months in Scotland. |
| Vaduz - Liechtenstein (May 2008) |
|  | Travels 2008 - January 2008 - Sweden (Stockholm)
- February 2008 - Spain (Barcelona and Girona)
- March 2008 - Just back from a quick back-pack around Slovenia,
Croatia, Serbia and Austria which was excellent. This was one
of my best trips so far, which included Ljubljana, Bled, Piran
and Maribor (Slovenia), Zagreb (Croatia), Belgrade (Serbia)
and Graz and Vienna (Austria).
- April 2008 - Visited Belfast at the end of April for a weekend. 25 years living on this small island and it was my first time I have ever been to Belfast and the beautiful county of Antrim - I'm ashamed :)
- May 2008 - Just back from a visit to Switzerland and the interesting little principality of Liechtenstein. As I expected, Switzerland is a jaw-droppingly beautiful country! Visited Lucerne, Stans, Zurich, Shaffhausen and Basel in Switzerland as well as Vaduz, Schaan and Balzers in Liechtenstein. Took in a huge amount in a short time but it was really enjoyable.
- For May/June 2008 Estonia and Finland are planned. Three nights in Tallinn and one night in Helsinki.
- For the summer I will return to Brazil where I spent the summer 2007 working as a volunteer on a house building project.
- At the end of August I'm off to Trinidad and Tobago to chill out after the building project in Brazil.
- In October I'm off to Lithuania (Vinius) and Belarus (Minsk) - Visa dependant!!!
- Just booked a long weekend trip to Iceland. Have wanted to go for a while and now it's finally settled. Going at the end of October. |
| Venice, Italy (February 2007) |
| | Travels 2007 February 2007 - Italy (Venice)
March 2007 - Norway (Oslo)
April 2007 - USA (Boston and New York)
May 2007 - Spain (Andalusia)
July 2007 - Portugal (Lisbon)
July/August 2007 - Brazil (Parnaiba - Piaui)
August 2007 - Scotland (Edinburgh)
October/November 2007 - Hungary (Budapest) & Slovakia (Bratislava) |
| Belgrade, Serbia (March 2008) |
| | Travels 2006 January 2006 - England (London)
July 2006 - Turkey (Gumbet)
August 2006 - Bulgaria (Nessebar)
October 2006 - England (Swindon)
October 2006 - Austria (Salzburg) & Germany (Munich) |
| Stans - Switzerland (May 2008) |
| | Travels 2005 January 2005 - Czech Republic (Prague)
February 2005 - Scotland (Edinburgh)
June 2005 - Scotland (Edinburgh)
July/August 2005 - Cork (Ireland)
October 2005 - The Netherlands (Amsterdam)
Travels 2004/2003/2002/2001/2000
June to September 2004 - Scotland (Edinburgh)
April 2002 - France (Brittany)
April 2001 - France (Loire Valley & Paris)
April 2000 - France (Normandy)
August 2000 - Tunisia (Tunis & Hammamet)
February 2000 - Belgium & France (Brussels, Liege, Paris & Florennes) |
| Tallinn - Estonia (June 2008) |
| | My Latest Trips Estonia and Finland
Just back from a long weekend in Estonia and Finland. Stayed three nights in the interesting medieval city of Tallinn and took the ferry across to Helsinki for one night. The Old Town of Tallinn is a real gem which has only recently been discovered as a great visitor hotspot. Unfortunatley it has also been discovered as a favourite destination for stag and hen parties but this should not deter people from visiting. The city has plenty to see and do and I found it quite dificult to see all I wanted to see in the four days. Helsinki was worth the short ferry ride across the gulf but wouldn't rate as highly as Tallinn for me. THe Finnish capital does have plenty to see and do with the Suomenlinna Fortress my big highlight as well as the beautiful Seurasaari Park. Great trip, enhanced even further by the great summer weather we enjoyed during our visit.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Took a trip to Switzerland in May. Switzerland is as stunningly beautiful as I expected and I really enjoyed my short but busy trip. I flew into Basel but headed straight for the beautiful town of Lucerne, leaving Basel for the last day. Lucerne is such a unique and interesting place. Wth its' medieval Old Town, tranquil lake and breathtaking Alpine Mountain backdrop it is understandably one of the country's top destinations. Spent the first day exploring the town and lake shores before getting up early the following day to visit the nearby town of Stans and making the journey up the Stanserhorn Mountain (lazily by funicular and cable car!) The summit of the mountain gives breathtaking views over the lakes, mountains and towns of central Switzerland.
In the afternoon I headed east to Sargans where I got a bus to Liechtenstein and its' interesting but quiet capital of Vaduz. There is plenty to keep any visitor happy for one night but I had seen all there was to see in my short stay in the country including Vaduz Castle, Vaduz Cathedral and the Red House while nearby Balzers also boasts an impressive hilltop castle. Interesting little country and glad I went although won't be returning any time soon!
The following day I made for Zurich to spend a few hours exploring the city by foot but didn't stay long. Not the highlight of Switzerland for me but has got some sights well worth checking out. Moved on to Schaffhausen in the afternoon in what turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole trip. I had gone with the purpose of visiting the nearby Rhine Falls in Neuhausen but the town of Shaffhausen has so much more to offer visitors than these beautiful falls (the largest in Europe). The town itself has a very Germainc feel and has escaped the swarms of tourists invading the more well known Swiss towns and cities, but still has a busy buzz about it. The Old Town is extensive with impressive medieval architecture and an unusual circular castle on a hill above the town. The town is also famous for its' elaborate oriel windows. Spent longer than originally planned in this wonderful town which turned out to be one of the highlights of my Swiss trip.
Moved on to Basel in the evening and had just enough time to have a quick look around the city whose highlights include its' wonderful old town, Munster Cathedral and Tinguelly fountain.
Fo such a small country, Switzerland really packs a lot in but what makes the country so great is that everywhere is so easily accesible through the best transport system I have ever used. The Swiss Railway system has the efficiency and frequency of a major city subway and makes getting around the country a real pleasure. Plus you are treated to stunning scenery on route! Looking forward to returning to explore more of this wonderful country. |
| Barcelona - Catalunya (February 2008) |
| | Belfast and Co. Antrim - Ireland
Just back from a weekend trip to Belfast and Co. Antrim in the north of Ireland. Ashamedly for me, it was my first trip to this part of the country and I was really looking forward to the trip. It didn't dissapoint and I really enjoyed the trip. Belfast really surprised me and is developing into an energetic and vibrant city which is great to see after the 35 years of Troubles which scarred the city.
Took a trip up to the northern coast of Antrim to the amazing Giant's Causeway and famous Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. The coastline is amazing. I used to think that Kerry's Dingle Peninsula was unbeatable for breathtaking scenery on the island of Ireland. I am reconsidering my judgement after seeing the coast of Antrim! The North of Ireland is a place I am already planning to return to as soon as possible.
Slovenia/Croatia/Serbia/Austria
In March I went on a short backbacking trip around Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Austria. This was one of my most memeorable trips to date. Had stays in Ljubljana, Piran, Bled, Maribor, Zagreb, Belgrade, Graz and Vienna.
The most memorable highlights for me were Belgrade, Bled and Ljubljana. Slovenia as a country has just replaced Normandy in France as my favourite destination so far. What a beautiful country!
Had originally cancelled my plans to go to Belgrade but changed my mind again and so glad I did. One of the best cities I have ever visited.
The only thing I regret is not being able to go for longer. Two weeks wasn't enough to explore these places properly but at least I got a taste of these countries that I will surely return to |
| Bled, Slovenia (March 2008) |
| | My Top Destinations #1 - I have a new number 1 destination. Slovenia has replaced Normandy as my favourite desination so far. In March 2008 I visited the country with stays in the beautiful capital Ljubljana and stunning Lake Bled with visits to the coastal town of Piran and a quick visit to Maribor near the Austrian border. It was worth the extra effort to get to this little country which seems to have the best of Europe rolled into one small country. A hint of Switzerland is present in the alpine mountains and ski slopes which are located just a couple of hours from sunny coastal towns with distinctly Italian flavour. Scandinavia is hinted at with the vast evergreen forests covering the country and France is tasted in the east with vineyards located up the hill slopes arround Maribor. My home country of Ireland is mirrored in the green scenery and lively night life in the capital and there is obvious links to Austria in the border towns like Maribor. Eastern European and Balkan influences are seen in the architecture of Ljubljana especially through the ornate bell shaped spires of the churches and Baroque architecture.
However while you can see so much of the rest of Europe in this one country, it still has a fierce sense of national traditions which nothing else can shake.
#2 - My former number one and my favourite destination for years is Normandy in France. Normandy was the scene of many of my childhood and teenage family holidays, where we would go regularly. I never got tired of visiting this part of France and have always said I would love to live here in one of those beautiful traditional houses with wooden beams crossing the gables. In a lot of ways Normandy reminds me of Ireland with its green farmland and rural way of life. Haven't been for a couple of years now and am really starting to feel the need to return.
#3 - I visited Brazil on a house building project last summer and spent two months in a village near Parnaiba in the north-eastern state of Piaui, where I worked with underpriveleged people in the area. While not exactly a travel destination you would choose for a holiday, I nonetheless found myself growing attached to the area and am returning this summer to the same village as part of the same project. Great people who are so overwhelmingly generous with the little that they have got. A humbling experience to say the least and one that will stay with me forever. |
 Comments for pure1942 | | | | |
sue_stone Sat May 31, 2008 17:11 UTC
Wow, you certainly get around! | olja1234 Sat May 17, 2008 19:29 UTC
Thanks for visiting my pages. Greetings from Slovenia. | sunshine9689 Tue May 13, 2008 23:12 UTC
Thanks for visiting my Minsk page, Brian. :) I hope you`ll like Belarus. | barbskie Thu May 8, 2008 00:11 UTC
Thanks. go ahead and surely you will make an interesting page:) i'll check your page soon. |
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