Category: Travel

Exploring the Best of Rotterdam’s Architecture

Rotterdam deserves several days, but even if you only have one day you can still get a feel for the city and appreciate its regeneration. Here’s how to explore the best of Rotterdam’s architecture in one day.

Earlier this year I attended a travel blogging conference in Rotterdam and squeezed in an extra day which I spent exploring the best of Rotterdam’s architecture.

I hadn’t realised this was the theme for my day until afterwards when I was looking over everything I’d done that day. That everything seemed to be about architecture really sums up Rotterdam.

Rotterdam has struggled with second-city syndrome for years. Not only does it have to compete with Amsterdam (which would be stiff competition in any country), but it also has to compete which much smaller, but very much better known places like Delft. Continue reading “Exploring the Best of Rotterdam’s Architecture”

9 Things You Need to Know Before Using the New York Subway

My first forays on the New York subway made my head spin. As a seasoned traveller I didn’t think this was possible! As the New York subway has quirks you won’t find anywhere else I’ve made it easy for you by letting you in on 9 things you need to know about using the New York subway so you can be prepared before your first trip.

The New York subway is great. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and there are stations everywhere. And it’s cheap – only $2.75 for a ride that could take you from one end of Manhattan to the far reaches of Queens or Brooklyn. There are no zones to worry about, it’s a one-size fits all system.

So using the subway to get around New York should be dead easy right? And it is. Sort of. So long as you take account of its quirks and allow yourself a bit of time to get your head round it without beating yourself up when you find yourself in completely the wrong part of Manhattan. Continue reading “9 Things You Need to Know Before Using the New York Subway”

Sunset From the Top of the Empire State Building

Seeing New York at sunset from the top of the Empire State Building was one of the best things I did.

When I visited New York in October I wanted to dig down a bit and find out what the city is really like, not just follow the thousands of other tourists around checking boxes off a ‘must do in New York’ list. I think I did that pretty well and you can read more about it here. However, that didn’t mean I didn’t want to do any of the big touristy stuff – it’s popular for a reason right? – and topping my list was one of the biggest (literally and figuratively) things of all. I wanted – really wanted – to go to the top of the Empire State Building.

Continue reading “Sunset From the Top of the Empire State Building”

Nightmare at Madame Tussaud’s

I thought Halloween would be the perfect time to share my Nightmare at Madame Tussaud’s with you. I didn’t realise editing the video would be an even bigger nightmare!

I hadn’t intended going to Madame Tussaud’s whilst I was in New York, but I found myself in Times Square one evening with not much else to do and it was just there. Lit up in front of me. It was still open and I had a pass that included free entry so thought I might as well go and see what it had to offer.

Well it was a complete nightmare. So horrific I had to make a video so I could share the experience in full with you.  Continue reading “Nightmare at Madame Tussaud’s”

The Cube Houses of Rotterdam – Quirky Architecture Meets Social Integration

The 38 cube houses of Rotterdam sit at jaunty angles and seem to defy logic. They also played tricks with my memory.

I’d seen the cube houses of Rotterdam before, many years ago, and remembered I’d been quite fascinated by them. So when I found myself in Rotterdam for a travel blogging conference earlier this year, I couldn’t resist going back to see them. Continue reading “The Cube Houses of Rotterdam – Quirky Architecture Meets Social Integration”

I’m a Solo Female Traveller – Get used to it!

After 33 years of travel, most of which has been as a solo female traveller, someone called the police because I was on my own. Yes, really.

Warning! This post may contain swearing.

What do I mean ‘may’? I’ve not even started writing it yet, but I know I’m not going to get to the end without at least a few expletives leaving my keyboard.

Why is the normally chilled Inverted Sheep getting so wound up and hot under the collar? I’ll tell you why! Are you ready for this?

Okay, calm down, deep breaths…

I’ll start at the beginning. Continue reading “I’m a Solo Female Traveller – Get used to it!”

A Tale of Two Castles

Did you know that Shetland used to be part of Norway? And that a lot of the Norse ways survived even after the islands became Scottish? Visiting the two castles is a good way of learning about the history of Shetland during the time of the Earls. This tale of two castles gives a brief outline of the history and helps you to plan your visit to the castles.

Shetland has two castles both of which date back to the time when the Isles were ruled by Earls. Even though both castles are in ruins, there’s enough left of each one to make them fun to explore.

I’ve been to them both several times now and each time I go back I feel surprised by how much of them there is left once you get inside. With both castles, but especially Scalloway Castle, I always get the feeling that they’re bigger on the inside. Now where have I heard that before? Continue reading “A Tale of Two Castles”

Lerwick vs Kirkwall? How does Lerwick compare to Kirkwall?

I love visiting Shetland and Orkney and spending time in Lerwick and Kirkwall. If you’re planning to visit and are wondering what to expect or if you have to choose just one to visit, my Top Trumps style guide is here to help you out.

I’ve been to Shetland six times and Orkney four times. Each time I’ve travelled a lot round the islands and during those travels have popped in and out of their respective capitals numerous times. So I feel like I know Shetland’s Lerwick and Orkney’s Kirkwall pretty well. Well enough, anyway, to have formed opinions on them.

People expect them to be similar, but they’re not. They each have their own distinctive look and particular vibe. I like both for different reasons and when asked which was my favourite was a bit stumped. Of course, my instinct was to say Lerwick seeing as how I feel Shetland is my soul home and all, but with only a second’s thought I started to come up with lots of wonderful things about Kirkwall too.

How to choose? How to compare Lerwick with Kirkwall? I decided to come up with my own Lerwick vs Kirkwall version of Top Trumps and give them both a score on lots of different aspects. Continue reading “Lerwick vs Kirkwall? How does Lerwick compare to Kirkwall?”

Exploring Graemsay – A Perfect Day on a Perfect Island

Graemsay was the last inhabited island (with a ferry link) I had left to visit in Orkney and Shetland. I was lucky to get a perfect day for it and ended up feeling I had managed to save the best till last. This is how I spent my day exploring Graemsay Orkney and I really recommend you do the same if you’re ever in Orkney.

Have you ever heard of Graemsay? If I was a gambling woman I’d put good money down to bet that the majority of you hadn’t.

It’s such a gem of an island, especially on a sunny day, that if it were further south or more easily accessible there would be hordes of people visiting.

As it is, it’s a tiny island off the coast of Mainland Orkney, which itself is an island off the very north coast of Scotland. Continue reading “Exploring Graemsay – A Perfect Day on a Perfect Island”

Starring the Whaligoe Steps

A visit to the Whaligoe Steps should be on everyone’s NC500 wishlist. They’re notoriously difficult to find though, so if you are planning to visit have a look at the step-by-step directions I’ve given here. I got lucky with the weather and so used the opportunity of a nice day to explore and decided to launch my film-making career whilst I was at it!

If you’ve looked up ideas for travelling around Scotland in recent years, two types of ‘tour’ will have jumped out at you:

Outlander and NC500.

The Outlander tour routes are all about visiting filming locations used for the Outlander TV series and some (all) of the places you’ll get to visit on these tours are amazing. I know because I’ve been to some of them. But that’s for another post.

The other type of tour that jumps out at you from Google is the NC500 or North Coast 500. This is something a brilliantly-minded marketing official at Visit Scotland came up with a few years ago. Many tourists visit Scotland each year. Many tourists go to the Highlands each year. Many tourists do not venture further north than Loch Ness. The Great Glen and its lochs, including Loch Ness, form a watery geographical border stretching from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east. Until recently this also seemed to be a tourist border. For some reason, people didn’t venture further north than this. Continue reading “Starring the Whaligoe Steps”