Travel Lightbulb

I'm a big fan of summer - not only for the lovely weather, but the way the sunshine brings out the colours in everything. This week's photo was taken from the comfort of my sun lounger!  I love all the different colours of the parasols against the blue of the sea and the sky. You can almost feel the heat - what lovely memories. This may be one I look back on on a cold winter's night!

When you're in New York City, it's all about looking up, or looking down. Looking up at the skyscrapers from street level, or looking down on the city from one of its tallest buildings. There's no doubt the views are what make it a special place to visit. I found an incredible place in which to enjoy the city's skyline, where you can look at the Empire State building one way, and the Chrysler Building on the other. Simply stunning, and that's where we're flashing back to this week - my original post,  Stunning views and cocktails in New York  is where you'll find where I'm talking about! Not to be missed if you're in NYC.

This summer, in the middle of Portugal's Alentejo region I found a place that will steal your heart. Herdade da Retorta is a stunning early 19th century manor house on a 61 acre farm just outside the town of Serpa. As you drive up to the house, the first sight of it is quite overwhelming - it's simply stunning. The owners, Gabriella and Carlos, are wonderful people who could not have done more for us. On our arrival they gave us a tour of the house to make sure we knew our way around; then sat us down for a drink - a much welcomed cold beer! They told us the best places to eat; what local delicacies to enjoy, and where to visit in the area. After our little chat, the pool was too irresistible in the Alentejo heat - it can get VERY hot here in the summer months, and was around 38 degrees for my visit in July. On our first night, we were the only guests, therefore the only people using the pool - perfect! It is surrounded by loungers and deck chairs so we had our ...

I stopped the car to take this photo - the dog was lying sleeping in the doorway of the restaurant, and when he heard my car engine, he lifted his head and gave me a regal, lion like pose!  It's as if he's first in the queue waiting for the restaurant to open - either that, or he's security! Happy Friday everyone - if only it was a dog's life!

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!