Travel Lightbulb

When you're on your travels, sometimes you come across something that tickles you - and that's what happened on a trip to Portugal earlier this year. I was on my way to Martinhal beach in the Algarve, which is overlooked by the stunning Martinhal beach resort and hotel, when I came across this little guy. It was part of a touring exhibition of art from Quinta dos Vales (a winery, retreat and arts centre in Estombar) and there were lots of elephants placed in all different locations around the grounds of the resort. They were all very different in both colour and texture - some painted, while some had pretty cool mosaics. The way the light hit the elephants was just stunning - especially the way the strong Portuguese sunshine hits the darker sculptures. My own personal favourite was the elephant in the photo below - she looked like she was out for a morning stroll, enjoying the beautiful views from her vantage point! Sadly, the exhibition is no longer th...

I have never been a binocular carrying; bird watching type, but when you visit the Caribbean on a regular basis you can't help but become interested in the stunning colourful birds that are constantly flying around. I recently came across the perfect place for bird watchers and novices alike to watch birds at close hand on the stunning island of Tobago.  We read about Adventure Farm and Nature Reserve on a superb website called  My Tobago  - a fantastic resource if you're thinking of going to the island. Although we'd read a report on a forum, we didn't really know what to expect, but it was one of the highlights of our stay. The twelve acre estate is on the Arnos Vale Road, and is owned by Ean MacKay.  The photo above shows just how lush the entrance to the estate is, and once you've parked up, it gets even better! When we went, there was no one around....just a little note telling us to make a small payment in a tiny wooden box; to take a couple of...

At first glance, the photo below looks like a very ornate chapel, but on closer inspection it is something very different. The Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) adjoins the church in the quaint village of Alcantarilha in the Portuguese Algarve, yes.....I did say bones! The 16th century chapel was built on the grounds of an old cemetery. The bones of those buried in the grounds were removed, and this macabre chapel was created to house the remains. There are over 5000 bones and skulls displayed on the walls and ceilings of the church, and the most curious thing is the way they are arranged in a specific order. For example, the skulls are lined up to make a row, and the hip bones form a pattern of their own. Aside from the chapel, the village itself is worth a visit. Although you're only a few miles from popular Algarve tourist destinations; the narrow cobbled streets and the cafes, and local restaurants make you  feel like you're taking a step back in time! ...

Lisbon is a wonderful city built on seven hills. In order to get around without having to climb these hills; there is a fabulous transport system which not only serves the locals well, but also provides tourists with a great way to see the city. Electrico (tram) number 28 offers the ultimate in sightseeing. While some trams have been replaced by modern models, there are still a few of the vintage carriages that trundle their way around the streets of the Portuguese capital. Try to get a seat by the window to enjoy the views - if the tram looks too busy, wait for the next one to make the most of the trip. The old yellow trams have been riding the hills since before the Second World War, and No. 28 follows a perfect route for sightseeing - you can take it up to the Castle and The Sé (Lisbon's cathedral) to name just two sights along the route. It also passes through many of the main districts of Lisbon, but the best part is when the tram starts climbing to the Alfama. If you lean ...

Seville is a stunning city, and it's no surprise that it attracts more than 1.8 million visitors every year. What is amazing is that despite those numbers, I rarely read about it - but that's maybe a good thing for people like me who blog about the best, and relatively unknown finds on their travels. I have already discovered the amazing things this city has to offer, and have compiled a list of places you should not miss when in Seville.  It's well worth doing the hour long river cruise of the city, if only to see the nine amazing bridges that cross the river. It takes you past many of the main sights in Seville starting with the Torre Del Oro, and taking in the Maestranza bullring (the tour of this is also worth taking whether you like bullfighting or not - very interesting). You get tickets and catch the boat from just beside Torre Del Oro. The cruises run from 11am to 11pm, and leave every 30 minutes. If you want to see Flamenco dancing live, and don'...

If you've read the book or seen the film, 'The Da Vinci Code', then you've probably heard of Rosslyn Chapel. It was used as the location for the plot climax, and has become famous worldwide, and attracts massive visitor numbers. It's so beautiful that I think it deserves a mention. The chapel is located in Roslin, which is a small village seven miles from Edinburgh. It has been described as an architectural wonder, as practically every surface is covered with carvings of individual figures and scenes. It is truly stunning, and has to be seen to be believed! The chapel has a great history, and lies at the centre of numerous legends (some even claim the holy grail lies buried beneath the building!) but it is the story of the "Apprentice Pillar" that interests me. It gets its name from a legend dating from the 18th century. A master mason, who was in charge of the stonework in the chapel, didn't believe his young apprentice could ca...

A couple of years ago, I went on a road trip through Portugal; Spain, and France. Before I left, I read an article about the Millau viaduct which is part of the route from Paris to Montpellier. It looked spectacular in the pictures, and I knew I had to make it part of my journey. It is the tallest bridge in the world - taller than the Eiffel Tower with one mast's summit at 343 metres. As you approach it, you realise it not only breaks records, but could be one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. Fans of the British motoring show Top Gear may remember the bridge being featured when the presenters took a Ford GT, Pagani Zonda and Ferrari F430 Spyder on a road trip across France to see the newly completed bridge. I couldn't think of a better, more dramatic setting to try out such amazing supercars. It was designed by British architect Norman Foster, and really is a feat of engineering. Foster said it was designed to have "the delicacy of a butterfly" and, d...

We all remember where we were when the news started to break about the terrorist attacks in New York in 2001. It was a horrific day that no one will ever forget. When I first went to NYC, I felt I had to go and see where the incredible twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. It was a strange experience - I didn't really know how to feel, and struggled to comprehend how anyone in the city could really move on knowing the footprint of the towers would be there forever. Photo courtesy of www.911memorial.org Unbelievably, it's almost ten years since that dreadful day, and The National September 11 Memorial at ground zero will be dedicated on the 10th anniversary. The Memorial will remember and honour the people who died in the horrific attacks in both 2001 and 1993. The eight acre site where the towers once stood has been developed into a landscaped plaza complete with waterfalls, over 400 trees, and a wall inscribed with the names of those killed in the attacks. A ...

Travel Lightbulb isn't just about fabulous places to stay - I also have lots of restaurants, bars, and attractions to suggest to you that I think you'll love. Sometimes you don't have to travel very far to get a moment of inspiration, or see something unique. On a summer's day last year, I headed to Crosby beach on the Merseyside coastline to see 'Another  Place' - a large scale installation by London born artist Antony Gormley. It consists of 100 cast-iron life-size figures which face out to sea, spread out along a two mile stretch of shoreline.  In common with most of Gormley's work, the figures are replicas of the artist's own body, and as the tides ebb and flow, the figures are revealed and submerged by the sea. Up close each figure has been worn by the elements - some still in their original iron state, and others covered in seaweed and barnacles. 'Another Place' went on show at Crosby in July 2005, and was supposed to move to New Yo...

Ragusa is one of the most stunning towns in Sicily, and you can't help but feel your jaw drop when you first set eyes on it! While most travellers on Italy's largest island are drawn to the capital Palermo or the coastal resort of Taormina; they really are missing out, because Ragusa is absolutely breathtaking. It's located about an hour's drive from Syracuse, the nearest large city, and is in the south east of Sicily. Ragusa's population is just short of seventy thousand, and that's one of the main attractions. While other parts of the island can be filled with tourists, this town still seems to be a hidden gem. In 1693, most of the eastern side of Sicily was razed to the ground by a horrendous earthquake. In the aftermath, public opinion was divided on where to rebuild the town, so a compromise was made. The wealthier citizens built a new town (Ragusa 'Superiore') while the other half decided to rebuild on the original site at the bottom of a ...