TRAVEL DIARY: BRUNY ISLAND From Hobart, it’s about half an hour by car to Kettering where the ferry takes off for Bruny. This is where we bought our tickets and boarded the ferry with our car. It didn’t take long—just about 20 minutes, and we were back on land. Bruny Island, just off the coast…
Category: TRAVEL DIARY
Day 3 in Hobart
TRAVEL DIARY: MONA MUSEUM We started our day early to catch the ferry going to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart. We went inside the Brooke Street Pier entrance. This was where we waited for our designated ferry to arrive. Inside the ferry. MONA is situated 11 kilometers north of Hobart, about…
Day 2 in Hobart
TRAVEL DIARY: SALAMANCA MARKET, CASCADE BREWERY This was where we were dropped off by our Uber. And straight away we could already smell the aroma of food. Today will be primarily spent at Salamanca Market, Tasmania’s most popular tourist attraction. Held every Saturday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, rain or shine, it was a…
Hobart Getaway
TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA DAY 1 It wasn’t long after we arrived in Hobart that we decided to take a walk around the city. I hadn’t realized just how hilly it was! I had forgotten my walking stick at my daughter’s place in Melbourne, so naturally, I had to find one that matched my jacket. Anyway,…
Day trip
TRAVEL DIARY: MORNINGTON PENINSULA Time went by so fast, and it has been more than three months now that my sister and my niece visited me here in Melbourne. Jack and I took them to Arthur’s Seat Eagle. Arthur’s Seat is a picturesque coastal landmark situated on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. We went…
A short stroll in Mornington
TRAVEL DIARY: MORNINGTON It was a sunny weekend so hubby and I decided to go out and enjoy our Sunday. About half an hour drive to Mornington Walked around the main town. And saw some stools and got envious of these cuties sitting on sun chairs. Then it was lunch at Betty’s Burgers. Heading away…
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
TRAVEL DIARY: SYDNEY I’ve visited Sydney numerous times, yet I’ve never had the chance to explore the Botanic Gardens until now. One of the perks of hosting visitors from overseas is discovering places I wouldn’t typically think to visit. This is the entrance to the Gardens, Austtalia’s oldest botanic gardens with all its natural beauty….
Liverpool
TRAVEL DIARY: LIVERPOOL There are places I’ll rememberAll my life, though some have changed.Some forever, not for better;Some have gone and some remain.– the Beatles Even if you’re unaware, you’ll unmistakably sense when you’ve arrived in Liverpool—where everything transforms into a celebration of the Beatles. But first was dinner. We decided to go to Jollibee,…
Edinburgh
TRAVEL DIARY: EDINBURGH From York, we headed to Edinburgh, where Jack, Tim, and I spent three days and two nights at my cousin Connie’s place. Our visit was more about catching up and reminiscing than sightseeing. Last time I saw her was in 2016 with her late husband Rick, who drove us around Scotland.…from Glasgow,…
York
TRAVEL DIARY: YORK After a scenic 4.5-hour drive from Bristol, we reached York around 7 p.m. Hungry from the journey, we headed to Riverside Farm near our hotel for a delicious dinner of traditional English Roast with mash and gravy. It was the ideal way to unwind after our travels. After dinner, we were all…
Bristol
TRAVEL DIARY:BRISTOL Arrived in Bristol at night from the Cotswolds. Our first stop was dinner at the famous Pieminister. Nestled within Bristol’s city centre, Pieminister has been a beloved family venture since 2003. There were so many choices and so tasty Through the darkness of the night, we could still see the colour and vibrancy…
Camden Town
TRAVEL DIARY: CAMDEN TOWN During the first leg of our holiday in Paris, Barcelona, and Portugal in October of 2023, we weren’t able to indulge in much shopping at the markets. Our luggage was already filled to the brim, leaving little room to bring back souvenirs or treasures from our travels. So first thing we…
Cotswolds – Castle Combe
TRAVEL DIARY: COTSWOLDS After our European holiday last October 2023, Jack, Tim, and I embarked on a six-day road trip to visit my cousin in Edinburgh. With my son’s commitments sandwiching our travel dates, we had to keep it brief, but having Tim behind the wheel amidst such stunning scenery made it all worthwhile. En…
Our last day in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 6 Before leaving our Airbnb, I suggested to my husband that we visit this church I’d seen on Instagram known for its stunning azulejos. Luckily, it was close to where we were staying. The Capela das Almas, an 18th-century chapel on Rua Santa Catarina, boasts a striking blue façade adorned with…
Day Trip to Aveiro
and to Costa Nova do Prado TRAVEL DIARY: AVEIRO & PRAIA DE COSTA NOVA Though the days were totally wet, we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore beyond Porto, so we opted for a day trip to Aveiro. The train journey from Sao Bento to Aveiro, lasting about an hour and twenty minutes, was…
Misty Adventures in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 5 We took the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for the second day and our first stop was the Porto Cathedral. Perched on a hill overlooking the Duoro, Se do Porto is the most important cathedral and religious building in this city. Construction began in the 12th century and is mainly Baroque architecture…
The Magic of Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 4 Due to the persistent rain in the morning and looking like the same for the following days, we opted for a two-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour, conveniently stopping near our airbnb. From the top seats of the double decker bus we saw some amazing misty sceneries and public art. By the…
Still wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 3 BACK STORY: This is a continuation of my previous blog and this day, as I’ve said, it was pouring rain. While exploring, we stopped for lunch at a unique McDonald’s in downtown Porto, Portugal. Surprisingly, this restaurant, known as the McDonald’s Imperial, is housed in a historic café adorned with…
Wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 2 Since we were in Porto, we started our day with, you guessed it right, Portuguese tarts. Had it in the cafe right in front of the Livraria Lello. Livraria Lello is celebrated for its stunning blend of Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, making it a must-visit. Established in 1906, it’s…
First impressions of Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO DAY 1 After a brisk journey aboard the Alfa Pendular, Portugal’s flagship Pendolinoa high-speed train, we arrived in Porto just past midday, so we were starving from the trip. Near our Airbnb, we stumbled upon a nearby restaurant where, unsure of what to choose, we trusted the owner’s recommendations for our meal….
Around town on our last day
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON DAY 4 Did you know that Uber fares are incredibly cheap in Portugal? We stumbled upon this discovery during our visit to Sintra when we opted for a taxi. Glad we found out because since then, Uber has become our go-to mode of transportation. So this was our last day in Lisbon…
Discovering the charm of Obidos
TRAVEL DIARY: OBIDOS The next stop on our day trip is Obidos. This is one place not to be missed when in Lisbon … a gorgeous medieval town perched on top of a hill. As we entered the town through Porta da Vila, the main gate, we were greeted by a stunning balcony adorned with…
Exploring Portugal’s Coastal Gem
TRAVEL DIARY: NAZARE As we were leaving Fatima, the rain started again. We resumed our journey toward Nazare approximately an hour’s drive ahead. Glad to see the blue skies as we were approaching town. Nazare is one of the most picturesque seaside towns in Portugal Proceeded to the market stalls. Legend has it that nobleman…
Fatima then and now
TRAVEL DIARY: FATIMA The story begins in the village of Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917. On that fateful day near that tiny village, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, appeared to three young peasant children: Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia; ages 10, 9 and 7… As Catholics, hubby and I were interested to visit…
Exploring the Magic of Sintra’s Most Iconic Landmark
TRAVEL DIARY: SINTRA – PENA PALACE Having marveled at the grandeur of the Quinta de Regaelera in the morning, we continue on our walk and immerse ourselves with the enchanting beauty of the Pena Palace in Sintra. My daughter Pat first introduced me to this palace in 2017 through a photo from her solo European…
A morning at Quinta da Regaleira
TAVEL DIARY: SINTRA – QUINTA DE REGAELERA The Quinta da Regaleira is located near the historic centre of Sintra, Portugal. It is protected within the UNESCO World Heritage site and is a mix of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance architecture. It is an enchanting estate about half an hour from Lisbon. It was built by…
Through the Tram 28 Window
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON DAY 3 Because of the wet weather, we opted for a tram ride to explore the significant sights of Lisbon rather than staying indoors. Went on the TRAM 28, one of the famous Lisbon icons. It passes through the popular tourist districts for about a 40-minute journey. It took us winding up…
From Belém’s pastries to Fado’s melodies
(and everything in Between) TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON DAY 2 We started early and walked to the train station. Some interesting things to see and smell along the way. Like the protruding car, some souvenirs and chestnuts roasting … yum my fave! From the train window I saw these murals. I see that cat in a…
Navigating Lisbon’s Stairways and Alleys
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON DAY 1 Jack and I reached Lisbon from Barcelona via Vuelling airlines in approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival, we met up with Tim and Leigh, who had traveled from London. We took an Uber to our Airbnb and true to the forecast it rained the whole day. After putting our luggage down…
Embracing Barcelona’s Charm: on Our Last Day
TRAVEL DIARY: BARCELONA DAY 4 We had no precise plan for our last day in Barcelona except for the Banksy Museum. We headed off from our hotel and went on the direction of the Arc de Triomf which is a memorial arch in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was built by architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas…