Tenerife and Mainland Spain
My first foreign holiday was with my parents at the age of 14 when an Uncle and Aunt sold us their Time Share in Tenerife. Tenerife was my first experience of a foreign culture and I was keen to find out about real Canarian people which enthused me into learning Spanish. I was self taught and used my holidays to practice. Although I wasn't studying languages at Secondary School, the Spanish Teacher set me a GCSE exam so that I could find out where I needed to improve and in the Mock exam I achieved an A! I never did take the exam as having a paper certificate was not as important to me as actually using the language.
In 2003 I went to Tenerife and stayed in the north of the island with fellow students of the Physical Geography Department at Hull University. We went to put into practice field study techniques. Being able to read Spanish gave me an advantage when trying to read reference material.
In 2002 my parents eventually decided to retire to Mainland Spain. In 2004 I stayed two months during the summer and spent my mornings taking readings and researching for my University Dissertation. During my stay I enrolled on a Flamenco Class and performed in the town at the end of the summer. I volunteered to teach an English Summer School at the Arts Centre one day a week. I used my free time to travel around Spain, visiting Cities and Towns.
Tunisia
Unfortunately I did not own a camera at the age of 18 when I went on a four week holiday to Tunisia alone. I had just completed my Open University Course and was ready for some adventure. I stayed in Hammamet and travelled north to Tunis on the train. There were several good value day trips to other locations in the north of Tunisia going from the hotel but when travelling south I made my own travel arrangements. I haggled in the markets, visited some desert cave houses and spent three days travelling in the desert by jeep and camel.
I enjoyed eating the local food and due to my length of stay I had some friends who gave me valuable insights into the Tunisia in which they lived and work. They introduced me to their family and I spent time in their homes. I enjoy making the most of my time while on holiday but always find time to relax and make friends.
Germany
My first contact with Germany was through my sister who was living in Berlin. My parents and I wanted to visit which prompted home study of the German language.
In 2004 I was asked to accommodate a German Language Assistant. She stayed with me for one year and we remain great friends. I went to visit her in the area around Cologne. I enjoy history and was pleased that she took me to see Roman Ruins and Historic Towns.
While living in Eastern Europe I took a day trip to Dresden from Prague. I spent the day touring the city by foot and visiting the sites. I have since spent time in Bavaria, around Munich and near Cologne.
In 2004 I was asked to accommodate a German Language Assistant. She stayed with me for one year and we remain great friends. I went to visit her in the area around Cologne. I enjoy history and was pleased that she took me to see Roman Ruins and Historic Towns.
While living in Eastern Europe I took a day trip to Dresden from Prague. I spent the day touring the city by foot and visiting the sites. I have since spent time in Bavaria, around Munich and near Cologne.
France
In 2003 I decided to use some savings to take my father and myself on a small holiday. He had always been interested in Disney Land but we were never quite able to afford it when I was younger. We seized the opportunity to enjoy being kids again. We had a two day pass to Disney Land and Disney Studios followed by a third day in Paris. We enjoyed going on all the rides in Disney Land and learnt a lot about animation and film creation at Disney Studios.
We spent our day in Paris wandering around all the famous sites. Our return journey was taken by coach and on the ferry.
I returned to France to visit Disneyland with my daughters in 2019 and spent one day in the town of Meaux sampling brie cheese which is made there.
We spent our day in Paris wandering around all the famous sites. Our return journey was taken by coach and on the ferry.
I returned to France to visit Disneyland with my daughters in 2019 and spent one day in the town of Meaux sampling brie cheese which is made there.
Eastern Europe
In 2005 I went to work in the Czech Republic and spent a year there. In my free time I home studied the Czech Language and used Czech language on a daily basis. Eventually my language became proficient enough for me to make friends and have sociable conversations. In the Autumn I took an IT course at the school taught only in Czech and passed. On weekends and holidays I visited other towns and cities. I visited the Slovakian mountains and Auschwitz in Poland. I accompanied Czech Students on trips to Vienna in Austria. We had a Special Tour of the Government Buildings. On another school trip we visited an Eco-town and learnt how to make Apple Strudel, dry fruit organically and make Sauerkraut.
During the Christmas Holidays I welcomed friends from the UK to experience Czech life. We visited local sights and I attempted to learn to ski. Students attempted to teach me how to ice-skate. I am glad for the opportunity of trying both these sports but I prefer walking! In the Spring Holiday my mother came to stay. We visited the Southern Vineyards and tasted local wines. We spent a day at a Czech Spa, visited caves and visited a pilgrimage site. I have been back to the Czech Republic once since moving back to England. When I return now it is mainly to visit old friends.
Here is a short video I created.
During the Christmas Holidays I welcomed friends from the UK to experience Czech life. We visited local sights and I attempted to learn to ski. Students attempted to teach me how to ice-skate. I am glad for the opportunity of trying both these sports but I prefer walking! In the Spring Holiday my mother came to stay. We visited the Southern Vineyards and tasted local wines. We spent a day at a Czech Spa, visited caves and visited a pilgrimage site. I have been back to the Czech Republic once since moving back to England. When I return now it is mainly to visit old friends.
Here is a short video I created.
I have since returned to the Czech Republic with my children and have had wonderful holidays there. In 2019 I hired a car to give us more flexibility and help us to visit more rural locations. We took day trips by train to Vienna and Bratislava.
South Korea
At school I had South Korean friends and it had been my ambition to visit the country at some point in my life. I stayed for two weeks with an old school friend in Seoul. I had always been interested in foreign languages and managed to learn how to read Korean but unfortunately never got much further. I spent my time visiting sights of interest. I visited the Catholic Cathedral and former Korean War Prison. I took an organised excursion to the Demilitarized Zone, spent the day at a Korean Spa and went to a Health Centre where my brain was scanned and was told that I am very content and happy. I Spent a day at a Buddhist Temple learning the art of tea drinking and meditation. On my second week I took a train south to Daegu and visited the nearby Spring Waters and Coast. I went to a Korean Traditional Music Concert and Traditional Village Museum to see how Koreans lived 100 years ago. I visited many temples and palaces and enjoyed spending time wandering around the gardens. On returning to Seoul I climbed Namsan which was worth the climb to see the city of Seoul below. On my last evening I took a river cruise to appreciate the view of the city with all the lights lit. As you can see from the photo I enjoy trying new food and tried lots of Korean food while on holiday. When I returned home I threw a Korean party for friends who came and sampled the food I had brought back.
A short film I created of my holiday in South Korea. Backing music is of a song I recorded in the Czech Republic for a Fundraising Album.
A short film I created of my holiday in South Korea. Backing music is of a song I recorded in the Czech Republic for a Fundraising Album.
Rome - Italy
In October 2012 I went to Rome for 6 nights. The tickets were booked with a discount airline and traveled with only hand luggage to save on cost. Accommodation was booked through AIRBNB which made it possible to stay just outside the Vatican wall, at a great central location.
I booked tickets for a Vatican Gardens tour which cost 31 Euros and included entrance into the Vatican Museum and Sistene Chapel. I booked tickets for the Colosseum and Foro Romano which meant that I did not have to queue at all and saved money by buying in advance. Pizza from the take-away shops and eating on the square became my favourite budget meal. After dinner I visited the Old Bridge Icecream shop for a single cone with three lovely scoops of icecream and sat on the square to enjoy it.
Germany - Munich & Augsburg
In August 2014 myself and my daughter went to southern Germany for one week to stay with a friend. We stayed and visited the city of Augsburg and took day trips to Munich and Ulm.
I enjoyed seeing Augsburg Cathedral and strolling around the city. By daughter enjoyed riding on the trams and having an opportunity to do some walking on her own, as this was a newly acquired skill. There was a lovely interactive children's museum in Ulm which pleased her very much.
Her favourite German food was a Pretzl dumpling served with a cream and mushroom sauce. My friend was extremely flexible to suit the needs of my one year old daughter and made delicious home made food and borrowed everything we needed for a comfortable trip.
Augsburg Chateau and the Botanical Gardens were lovely well worth visiting.
I enjoyed seeing Augsburg Cathedral and strolling around the city. By daughter enjoyed riding on the trams and having an opportunity to do some walking on her own, as this was a newly acquired skill. There was a lovely interactive children's museum in Ulm which pleased her very much.
Her favourite German food was a Pretzl dumpling served with a cream and mushroom sauce. My friend was extremely flexible to suit the needs of my one year old daughter and made delicious home made food and borrowed everything we needed for a comfortable trip.
Augsburg Chateau and the Botanical Gardens were lovely well worth visiting.
Jersey
My daughter and I visited my cousin in Jersey in March 2015. My cousin also has a baby who is 6 months younger so it was an important visit to give them an opportunity to meet and get to know one another. We stayed in a lovely hotel which we booked online through a cashback site. Our room was lovely and the staff at the Mayfair very friendly. My daughter enjoyed an opportunity to go swimming in the hotel pool. My cousin took us all around the island which is beautiful and it would be lovely to visit again at a warmer time of year.
Latvia
In 2018 we took a short break to Latvia, staying in Riga. We are sat in Neobar opposite our Spa hotel drinking mocktails after doing a sightseeing walk around the city. We visited an Outdoor Country Museum with old houses, a chocolate factory and some museums and play grounds. My daughter's favourite memory is of eating at the University canteen - a good budget option.
Lockdown 2020
As overseas travel was not possible for us during the Covid-19 pandemic we embraced themed weekends: transforming our activities and menus as if we were in a different country. In this photo we are having an Egyptian weekend which we all loved and was of great interest to my daughter who had been studying Egyptians. The highlight for me was a 4 hour virtual walk walk around the pyramids and a tour of the museum in Cairo. It really made you feel as if you had actually been there.
Amsterdam
Our first ferry trip to Amsterdam. Although only a short trip, we managed to do a walking tour of the streets of Amsterdam, passing many of the famous buildings. We savoured some local fast food at FIBO, took a short ride on the tram and had a Canal Boat trip before buying some Stroopwafels ready to catch the coach back to the boat. Prior to the trip we learnt about famous artists and about the story of Anne Frank.
UK holidays
For a few years now we have enjoyed exploring the UK. We love visiting castles and archaeological sites. We have stayed in caravans, railway carriages and even canal boats for unique experiences. We love visiting local museums in cities such as Liverpool, Edinburgh and Manchester. We did a grand tour of London a few years ago, exploring the city by foot to discover all the sites on the National Curriculum.
Rhodes Greece
Loved exploring all the archaeological sites of Rhodes city walls, Rhodes Acropolis, Lindos and my personal favourite Kamiros. Hired a car to get ultimate freedom to explore. Enjoyed trying new food and meeting new people. The Bee Museum and the Monastery of Filerimos were also enjoyable excursions.