Travel Lightbulb

As it's Easter weekend, I thought I'd write a little post with a chocolate theme - who doesn't love stuffing their face with yummy chocolate eggs at this time each year? I'm also combining the chocolate theme with travel though....clever huh? One of my favourite chocolate shops in the world is in Sicily - the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto. It's a wonderful little shop in Modica which has been there since 1880! They don't serve any old chocolate - this yummy stuff is based on an old Aztec recipe. My favourite is the chilli chocolate - if you've not tried that sort of thing before, the heat really brings out the best in the chocolate, and you don't need much of it!  If you'd like to visit, or just find out a bit more about this wonderful little shop, visit the official website here .  Happy Easter to you all, and happy chocolate munching!

A few weeks ago, I started another new feature on Travel Lightbulb - picking the best bits out of the  travel magazines for those looking for a bit of adventure, and something different. This week, I'm focusing on a place I have to admit I hadn't even heard of when I saw in on one of the lists in the travel magazines at the end of last year! Japan's network of bullet trains is expanding, and after more than a decade of construction, it will extend to the country's most northern island for the first time. It will take just over four hours to reach Hokkaido - but what can you find there? Well in the winter its powdery snow makes it very popular with skiers.  In the summer months, the hiking is said to be fantastic. You can also go canoeing and fishing on Lake Kussharo, or can head to the Shiretoko Peninsula to spot eagles, whales and dolphins.  Put off by the cost? Don't be - because of the weak yen, Japan is cheaper to visit than it has been in years....

Today I'm flashing back to one of my all time favourite restaurants in the world. In fact, my mouth started watering even as I uploaded the photo below! It's not some fancy Michelin starred restaurant; it's not somewhere you need to dress up for dinner, but it is most definitely a place that specialises in  the highest quality chicken piri piri, and the sides that go with it are also fabulous. It's one of the most famous restaurants in Portugal's Algarve to serve one of the most traditional dishes of the country, and it's almost always my first stop after the airport! If you'd like to read my original post, then here you go -  The undisputed king of piri piri .

Today's photo is one I've been waiting for a while to post. It was taken on a magical day last year when walking along a Caribbean beach, I came across this little guy and his friends...... I've been lucky enough to see turtles lay their eggs in the past, but to see the little hatchlings making their way down to the sea is just an incredible experience. One of the most special days of my life, and well worthy of a Travel Photo Friday!  Do you have a travel photo you'd like to share? If so why not get in touch - details on the contact page of this blog.

I'm big on birthday's - especially my own (ha ha!), and I'll be celebrating another year of my life on Sunday. In the lead up to it I have been planning some of my trips for this year, and that is one of my favourite things to do. Aside from the actual travelling, I think the planning stages can be so much fun.  I'm a bit of a planning freak when it comes to holidays - I like to know all about the country I'm going to, but also have some tops tips for the place I'm staying before I go. In fact that was one of the main reasons I started this travel blog - all my friends used to ask for tips for their holidays, and it just seemed selfish not to share them with the rest of you! For anyone who shares my birthday on the 28th, have a great day - and why not use some time on your special day to book a trip of your own for this year!

Time for another new feature on Travel Lightbulb! Every year travel magazines are full of ideas for those looking for a bit of adventure, and something different. The lists are usually compiled in December and January to give us all ideas and, if we book, something to look forward to. I decided to wait until now to write this strand, so that I could do a bit of research and give you my pick of a few very different places to visit when you're next looking to head off on your travels. The first of my ideas is something I've always wanted to do. Are you into trains? If so, have you ever thought of doing one of the world's best train journeys? The Trans-Siberian - or as the English travel writer put it "the big train ride"! You'll travel almost 6000 miles, so if you feel like the world is a small place, take this trip and let your mind wander! As well as this trip being as awesome thing to do, it's also a timely one - book now and you would be...

Airstream trailers date back to the 1930's, with the idea of building a travel trailer that would move like a stream of air, and be light enough to be towed by a car and give the owner first-class accommodation anywhere. As you can see by the photo below, they're instantly recognisable - with their distinctive shape and rounded aluminium bodies. I wrote about an airstream that you can stay in in Wales, where you can enjoy retro style in the rolling hills of West Wales. Not where you'd expect to find one, but it works....perfectly! To read my original post, and find out more, click  here.

I love a long walk on a hot summer's day, and the place in the photo below is one of my favourites places in the world to do this. Carrapateira beach is on the West coast of the Algarve in Portugal. In recent years, walkways have been built to protect the cliffs and coastline, and they make it even easier to enjoy this wonderful part of Portugal.  The best thing is even in the height of season, the beaches around this area are so huge they never feel busy. Stunning coastline; endless walks, and beautiful weather - what more do you need!