Travel Lightbulb

Barcelona - one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and the one place I never seem to be able to visit and squeeze in everything I want to do! The skyline is ever changing, and the tapas seems to get better every trip! I found a great little place to stay in the city, so if you want a suggestion, then just click here to read my suggestion for a beautiful  Bolt-hole in Barcelona .

If you're ever in Jerez de la Frontera, then you must take time to visit the Alcázar. As soon as you walk through the arches below, you feel like the former Moorish fortress has transported you back in time! The Alcázar is right in the centre of town, and it's a lovely peaceful place to spend some time, with beautiful gardens to wander around during your visit. One of my favourite parts of the visit was the municipal pharmacy on the 2nd floor, which still has lots of equipment, jars and containers from the 19th century, as you might be able to see from the photo below. The views over the city are also beautiful, and it's worth going just to take some shots from the octagonal tower - it's worth climbing the steps, even in the summer heat! This was the last thing we did on our visit to Jerez, and we could have spent a lot more time here, as there was also an art exhibition to look at too - you might want to do it early in your visit, as the v...

As regular readers of my blog will know, I took a big leap this year and decided to take nine weeks off this summer. After recharging the batteries in Barbados for a couple of weeks; I spent the remainder of my time off in Portugal, one of my favourite countries in the world. I spent the majority of time in the Western Algarve (away from the main tourist haunts!), but also took a trip to the Alentejo region, which lies just above the Algarve. The laid back way of life in Portugal, makes it the ideal place to relax and unwind, and I can easily see myself living in the country in years to come. If I won the lottery, I know I would spend my time travelling. I am lucky enough to have my health and fitness, and there are too many places in the world that I'd love to see, and have the money to really enjoy. It always amazes me when people say they're glad to be home after a holiday, or would get bored with constant travel. I'm never sure whether these people are ...

On my recent trip to Barbados, I stopped in a little bar for a quick drink and spotted this sign. Just to explain, 'cutters' are the Caribbean version of sandwiches, but take a look at the menu, and see if you spot anything amusing..... Yes, you got it....mice meat! I was assured by some passing locals who were wondering why I was taking the picture that it should read 'mince' meat - I told them I was glad...you'd need a lot of mice to make a substantial meal! If you've ever spotted a funny sign on your travels, let me know - I'd love to see more like this!

I can't quite believe it, but on the 1st of August it will be four whole years since I started writing my travel blog! That's four years of discovery, sharing new places, and finding places I want to get to at some point in my life! I started this blog as a hobby, and still enjoy it now just as much as I did in the first year. It has been so lovely to get lots of great feedback about the places I've featured, and I now feel like a bit of a travel organiser for a lot of my friends who now regularly ask for tips when they're going away!  Four years of reminiscing about great trips, beautiful destinations, and dreaming of far flung places that I'll get to one day. Time flies when you're having fun!

Sometimes we deserve a treat, and I know just the place for a totally decadent meal! I visited Bordeaux for a weekend and had to find somewhere perfect for a birthday celebration. My research brought me to a fabulous place called La Tupina, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Bordeaux is also a fantastic place to visit, and I'm always amazed that more people don't visit. Having said that, it's nice to go somewhere that isn't packed with tourists, and the restaurant is so good I'd go back to Bordeaux simply to go there. Fabulous!  If you want to read more about La Tupina, then why not re-visit my original post on  Decadence in Bordeaux .

Today's post is not for the faint hearted. If trekking is your thing, then you're going to love it - if it's not....you'll enjoy the scenery anyway! Mount Fitz Roy is a mountain in Patagonia, on the border between Argentina and Chile. First climed way back in 1952, it remains one of the most technically challenging mountains on earth. The Fitzroy area is hugely popular with trekkers - including those on day hikes. Unsurprisingly, climbing this beast is most feasible during the summer months in the southern hemisphere - December to February - but it's always subject to the Patagonian weather, which can be fickle! Patagonia itself is sprawling and wild, but relatively undiscovered. It says it all that while around a hundred people can reach the top of Mount Everest in a single day, the summit of Mount Fitz Roy may only be successfully reached once a year.

The city of Cáceres is a beautiful place. It lies in the Extremadura region of western central Spain, and the old town is protected by UNESCO. Its narrow cobbled streets twist and climb among ancient stone walls, and huge stork's nests. You feel like you're stepping back in time here. The city's history of battles between Moors and Christians is reflected in its architecture which is a real eclectic mix. It's a beautiful place, and the Parador is unbeatable in terms of where to stay. Off the beaten track, and stunning - a real Travel Lightbulb favourite.