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Jayne Eckersall
Jayne Eckersall

Jayne Eckersall

traveled in 14 countries Read more
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  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Going Home 🏡

    June 16 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Awake before our alarms ⏰️ this morning, cases 100% packed, hotel 🏨 bill paid and down for breakfast at the most sought after table on the terrace; for the 1st time and on our last time!!
    With a coffee ☕️ to go, we were at the pick point at the front of the hotel in plenty of time. And checking in at the airport about an hour later after driving through the hillsides narrow roads and hairpin bends to arrive about a mile down the road to get ahead of the queue of traffic that has been there constantly during our stay.
    After a coffee ☕️ at the airport and joined by another couple from our hotel who came from Stoke, we started chatting, and the wife's work life pretty much mirrored Jayne's nursing career. We took off 🛫 some 25 minutes late, and for some passengers, it would be a flight to remember as they ran out of food for this return journey, apart from chips 🍟
    Arriving at Manchester Airport 🛬 it was the busiest we had ever seen it. Firstly the plane couldn't park at the gate in Terminal 2 so we had to wait for a bus. We then had to join the queue to get into the queue for immigration and passport control. All this, though, did mean our cases 🎒 🎒 were merrily going around on the carousel in the baggage reclaim area. After which we went to meet our taxi 🚕 driver, Jordan, for our ride back home 🏡.    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Final Time by the Pool

    June 15 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Woke up to our last full day and another lazy breakfast before taking a coffee ☕️ down to the pool area.
    All of a sudden, there was action as the pool attendants and towel counters; who always asked for your room number when taking a towel but not when returning it. We could be charged for a suitcase full of towels when we get home 🏡. I digress, the action going on was for the laying out multiple sunbeds, it looks 👀 as though the pool area is going to get busy!! It's was thirsty work watching 👀 these guys man-handling 👬 sunbeds, parasols, and the heavy concrete blocks, so I felt in need of a beer 🍺........ well, it is Father's Day 👩‍🍼 🤣.
    Mid afternoon we decided to take refuge on our balcony with a cup of coffee ☕️ before starting the unenviable task of trying to fit everything that we had neatly packed just 10 days ago back into our suitcases 🎒 🎒. Mission 95% accomplished we headed back down to the pool for the last couple of hours before returning once again to our room with a takeaway pizza 🍕 and beer 🍺 to watch our final Croatian 🇭🇷 sunset 🌇, before setting our alarms ⏰️ for the 1st time in 10 days ready for our early ish start in the morning.    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    No Split for Omis

    June 14 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    As the cruise ships 🚢 queued to dock at Split Harbour, we decided to catch a bus 🚌 in opposite direction and headed for Omis; a thousand years old town once ruled by pirates ☠️. Overlooking the sea entry into Omis is the Mirabella or Peovica a Romanesque fortress, built in the 13th century by the Kačić family. Mirabella was a reliable hideout for the Omiš pirates who used to retreat into the safety of the Cetina gorge. Legend says that in 1537, during an attack by the Turks, the defenders of Omiš confused the attackers with their shouting and shots so much that the Turks overestimated the number of defenders and fled. The climb to the top of the fortress is definitely worthwhile for the fabulous view. On coming back down, we explored a little more and stopped; for longer than we should, at a little bar full of locals with seating outside on the narrow passageway, which had a lovely cool breeze blowing through. 🍺🍺🍺
    We arrived back at the hotel 🏨 just in time to catch the sunset 🌇.    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Deja vu again

    June 13 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Back in our usual morning coffee ☕️ quiet spot after breakfast, it's really surprising nobody else seems to come here - we aren't complaining, though. Then it was back down to poolside for another day of relaxation, alternated with cooling off dips in the pool. And so the day went quietly and relaxed until a group of beer swigging Australians 🇦🇺 arrived at the pool bar.
    In the evening, we returned to the Italian restaurant; Conlemani, by the hotel 🏨 for Pollo Rosemarino for Jayne and Filleto Di Manzo for me. After which, we walked for about a mile down the Promenade past little beaches and beach bars before returning to the hotel's LaVue bar for a night cap 🍷    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Déjà vu 2

    June 12 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We woke to another quiet, cloudless, and hot morning 🌄 and determined to break the possibility of déjà vu we took the local bus 🚌 into Split. - easier said than done. After speaking with the concierge (yes, our hotel 🏨 is that posh) who had told us we needed the number 60 bus, we trotted off full of confidence. Our confidence wained slightly when we tried to climb aboard a school bus!!! Not to look daft again, we waited patiently at the bus stop only to make a sudden dash when the minibus doors started to close with the words "Express Line No.60" stencilled on the window!!! With no more issues, we arrived in Split, knowing exactly where we were, and headed through the side gate at the green market and into the Peristil Square with the Diocletian’s Palace. Where we once again avoided the Roman Guards seeking refuge in the very ornate Cafe Luxor, where we enjoyed a couple of iced 🧊 coffees ☕️. Walking 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️ around the inner city, we explored streets we hadn't been down before and quickly needed another refreshment stop at a nice little wine bar; adorned with lovely paintings both inside and outside, and that turned out to be the art 🎨 work of the bar owners grandmother 👵. As the afternoon wore on and the temperature didn't get any cooler, we decided to venture home on the bus again. Arriving just in time to watch the sun setting from our balcony whilst eating a delicious 😋 takeaway pizza 🍕 from a nearby roadside restaurant.Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025
    1

    Déjà vu Day

    June 11 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Breakfast before moving on to our quiet space for a coffee ☕️. Then, onto the sunbeds once more, alternating between sunbathing and swimming 🏊‍♀️ 🏊‍♂️
    In the evening, we headed for the hotel La Vue bar for a snack of Greek salad and wedges with the odd glass of red, a local red wine called Bura.Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Just Pool Lazy

    June 10 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Another sunny and calm day, a perfect day to do nothing apart from lying on a sunbed people watching 👀 and trying and thinking of something even slightly interesting to write ✍️ about 😆
    To break up the morning after yet another lazy breakfast followed by our now obligatory coffee in our quiet spot, we travelled from sunbed to cabana and back. In the afternoon, we had a break for a lovely iced 🧊 coffee ☕️.
    But, not knowing what we fancied for dinner, or where to eat it, we walked through the hotel's marina, where the ongoing conference at the hotel had commandeered the Gooshter beach club restaurant (again). So onwards again, we walked and headed for the same restaurant; the Amigos, as the previous night with tables on the beach ⛱️ and we settled for Greek salad 🥗 and a side of chips 🍟 😀 😋 and another beautiful sunset 🌇.
    Walking back through the throng of conference delegates spilt out across the walkway we stopped for a photo 📸 as the sun peeped over the hills only to be confronted by one of the mingling drinks waiters who insisted I take a beer 🍺 and Jayne a wine 🍷 😀 😉    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025
    2

    Sunset Dinner

    June 9 in Croatia ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Picture the scene, tables, and chairs set out 🍽☁️on the beach ⛱️, relaxing music 🎶 🎵 being played from speakers 🔊 hidden in the palm trees 🌴, waves 🌊 gently rolling in along the shoreline, the sun cascading a beam of orange light across the sea as it slowly sinks downwards and hides behind the hillside 🌄. All this and a waiter constantly bring you wine 🍷, beer 🍺 and lovely food 🍲 and you have our experience of dinner for 2 at a restaurant called The Amigos, on the beach ⛱️
    Then, as the dying sunshine kept on going west, the light from the moon replaced the orange cascade on the water with its own version of a silver cascade from the opposite direction. The evening was so nice we stopped off at the hotel's bar;overlooking the marina for a night cap with Jayne having a glass of wine from the maternal side of her family, here in Croatia called Griffin Rose. They also produce a Griffin Champagne 🍾 as well.    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025
    1

    Diocletian's Palace

    June 9 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    After slipping quietly past the guards 💂‍♀️💂‍♂️ at the Golden Gate; originally built for the private use of the Roman Emperor Diocletian and his family of the Diocletian's Palace; built around the end of the third century AD. While it is referred to as a "palace" because of its intended use as the retirement residence of Diocletian, the term can be misleading as the structure is massive and more closely resembles a large fortress: about half of it was for Diocletian's personal use, and the rest housed the military garrison and today forms about half of the old town of Split.Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Follow That Ship 🚢 .....

    June 9 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Last night, we watched 👀 a cruise 🛳 ship 🚢 departing Split, and this morning, another cruise ship took its place.
    After another leisurely breakfast, we ordered an Uber taxi 🚕 to take us into Split for our first look around this ancient city. Although the beginnings of Split are traditionally associated with the construction of Diocletian's Palace in 305, the city was founded several centuries earlier as the Greek colony of Aspálathos, or Spálathos. It is thought the city was founded around the 3rd or 2nd century BC.
    Having been dropped off on Livanjska, we made our way downhill towards the sea front, pausing to have photos taken touching for luck the feet of the Sculpture by Ivan Meštrović, a gargantuan statue of the 10th-century Croatian bishop; Grgur Ninski, who fought for the right to use old Croatian in liturgical services instead of Latin. It is said that rubbing the toe brings good luck and guarantees that you’ll come back to Split. (although I don't think anyone would want to touch my big toe and come back to Blackpool!!. 🤣
    After having a refreshing drink watching the world go by sat by the Croatian National Water Revival Waterfront or the more commonly known RIVA, we saw the cruise ship 🚢 that had arrived a couple of hours before us.
    Refreshed, we set off on another mission; after suitcase 🎒 buying in New Zealand 🇳🇿 / Australia 🇦🇺, warm clothes 🧥🧣🧤 buying in Prague, Czech Republic 🇨🇿 . I now need to buy a new sun hat 👒 in Croatia 🇭🇷 after my new old one survived Australia 🇦🇺 to UK 🇬🇧 via Dubai 🇦🇪, but didn't survive UK to Croatia!! 😭    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Relaxation Sunday

    June 8 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We woke up to what looks to be another warm and relaxing Sunday. Even the traffic going past our hotel 🏨 has taken the day off. So I was able to photograph 📸 the murals painted on the wall on the main road near our hotel. We managed to get our "own" table for breakfast this morning in the shade on the terrace. After breakfast, we had our first chance to chat with our Tui representative, but he wasn't much help by saying most tours start from Split!!! So, slightly none the wiser we made our way back to the sunbeds.
    Later in the day and after thinking the mid-day sun was cooling, we set off on a walk 🚶‍♂️ 🚶‍♀️ around the bay towards Stobreč, and it's marina we can see from our hotel. Unfortunately, after about a mile, the heat 🥵 beat us, and we retreated back to our sunbeds, but not before I managed to get my mum a postcard. The next goal is to buy a stamp!!
    As the sun started it's decent and we were dressed for the evening. we headed for the Lav Marina for a pizza 🍕 at Conlemanis. Before walking on further around our local bay in search of other restaurants to try during our stay.    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025
    1

    1st Full Day

    June 7 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Woke up to a beautiful sunny and quiet Saturday morning around the hotel and on the sea front. Well, quiet until we went for breakfast looking and for a nice outside but shaded table. As there wasn't one free we (unwittingly) stole somebody elses, after I saw a table being cleaned. As Jayne and I merrily ate our breakfast, the original occupants came back to retrieve a phone hidden under a placemat and sat at another table - oprosti ! (sorry!).
    After breakfast, we took our lives in our hands walking 🚶‍♂️ 🚶‍♀️ along the side of a busy road (one side at a standstill 🚗 🚗 🚗) to the local supermarket for a couple of hotel room essentials 🍷🍷🍻.
    Back at the hotel, we changed and found a couple of sun loungers for a spot of serious relaxation.
    After a swim 🏊‍♂️ 🏊‍♀️ in the pool followed by the obligatory lie in the sun to get dry we went for a walk down the Promenade and stopped off at the beach restaurant of the Hotel San Antonio for a lovely Greek Salad 🥗 over looking the waterfront. (Photo #8).
    After walking back to our hotel 🏨 and our sun beds, we remained there for the rest of the afternoon until it was time to get changed for our dinner reservation at the restaurant Port 74.
    As the sun went down Jayne and I enjoyed a lovely fish 🐟 meal of Oven Baked Sliced Sea Bass Fillet for Jayne; accompanied by Eggplant Salad & Grilled Shrimp, whilst I had the Grilled Brill Fish Fillet with Sea Asparagus, Spinach, spring Onion, Tomatoes and Glazed Carrots in a lemon butter sauce 😋    Read more

  • 1st Holiday of 2025

    Travel Day

    June 6 in Croatia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    Our 1st holiday of 2025, yes, this is our 3rd trip abroad, but the big trip in January wasn't a relaxing holiday as there was too much to see and do! Prague last month was really a city break long weekend away, so again, not a relaxing holiday!! 😀
    So here we are in Croatia 🇭🇷 at the hotel Le Meridien Lav in Podstrana on the outskirts of Split.
    The day started well with our ride 🚕 to the airport 🛫 arriving early. At 01:45 am as you would expect the roads were extremely quiet and so by 02:50 we had checked our bags in and were heading through security and onto the departures area where the San Marco was about to open. After a leisurely "full" English breakfast with a coffee ☕️ chaser, we left about 90 minutes later. At 05:30, our gate number was announced, and by 06:50, we were taking off, leaving the rain 🌧 and Manchester behind as we jetted to the sunshine 🌞 and split. Bags 🎒 🎒 collected and transport found we arrived at the hotel 45 minutes later and yes Croatia has Friday traffic as well. 🚗 🚗 🚗
    Fortunately, our room was ready; some 4 1/2 hrs before the formal check-in time. So unpack, check out the pool, and by midday, we are enjoying our first Croatian beers 🍻 🍺 🍺
    After a bite to eat, we relaxed for the rest of the afternoon on the stony beach, treading gingerly to the waters edge for a cool down.
    Apart from what looked like a church on fire on the hillside, the day ended with a lovely sunset 🌇
    Footnote: we later found out that the church wasn't on fire but actually taking part in a religious ceremony of burning frankincense resin a well-known practice; unless you are not Croatian 🇭🇷, Where it's used for its aroma and believed to purify the air. Burning frankincense involves heating the resin, typically on charcoal or on a censer, which releases a fragrant smoke.    Read more

  • Prague

    On The Way Home 🏡

    May 19 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    After breakfast, we checked out, leaving our bags behind the reception desk ready for our 1:00 pm taxi 🚕 back to the airport. Not wandering too far from the hotel, we came across one of the oldest brewery's in Prague. Soon enough, it was time to head back and onwards to the airport 🛫 for our flight home. Which all went extremely smoothly, and by 18:50 that evening we were on our train heading out of Manchester Airport bound for Poulton-le-Fylde.Read more

  • Prague

    I Spy 👁

    May 18 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    After lunch at the Hotel Jalta, Ian and I went on the Cold War Museum tour in a bunker within the foundations of the Hotel Jalta.
    In 1989 a fallout shelter was discovered under Jalta`s basement. It is spread over two floors with a capacity to accommodate 150 people. Intended to be used as a headquarters for the Warsaw Pact countries, it is believed that the Jalta hotel was purposefully built as a disguise to hide the bunker. The shelter was later used by the Secret Police to spy on hotel guests and foreign dignitaries. Now converted into a Cold War Museum.Read more

  • Prague

    A Step Back in Time

    May 18 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    After breakfast and with less than an hour remaining on our Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, we jumped on the next bus, getting off at the stop near the Dancing House. 1st point of interest was the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius where in 1942, during World War II, the cathedral was the scene of a last stand made by SOE-trained Czech and Slovak agents involved in the assassination of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich. SS-Brigadeführer Karl Fischer von Treuenfeld commanded the Waffen-SS forces that stormed the church on 18 June 1942. After a fierce gun battle, two of the Czechoslovaks were killed, and the rest committed suicide to avoid capture. There is a museum in the church crypt dedicated to them as national heroes.
    After a coffee in the Dancing House cafe and a quick saunter in the next street to see the extensive architecture we headed off to Wenceslas Square, one of the main city squares and where many historical events have occurred, a traditional setting for demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings. At the top of the square is the National Museum; a sandstone building pittered with repaired bullet holes in from the 20th August 1968 failed uprising against Soviet led communism that resulted in a brutal invasion by East German, Polish and Bulgarian military that swiftly bringing any chances of reform to an end.    Read more

  • Prague

    Walking up an Appetite

    May 17 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Walking back to the hotel, we came across more works of art and for friends Ian and Christine, a local delicacy, ice cream 🍦 chimneys. Later that evening, we walked back towards Charles Bridge to a lovely little restaurant 🍽 we had come across the previous day, and the food was well worth the day and a trip back in time.Read more

  • Prague

    Hop On .... Hop Off.....

    May 17 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Dressed in warmer clothes and after a quick "brew" the cafe of the Smetana Hall; a famous and largest concert hall in Prague, we hopped on the Blue Hop On Hop Off Bus 🚌 Tour around Prague. Arriving at Prague Castle, we swapped buses and took the Red route bus tour before jumping off at U Bruskych Kasaren and walking across the Manesuv Must Bridge back into the old town. We walked towards the Quadrio Shopping Centre and the giant 10.6 metre high rotating head of Franz Kafka, (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) a novelist and writer from Prague who was Jewish, Austrian, and Czech and wrote in German. He is widely regarded as a major figure of 20th-century literature.Read more

  • Prague

    A Liquid Lunch and Walk before Dinner

    May 16 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Arriving on the other side of the Vitava River in Lesser Town, we decided against walking up the hill to Prague Castle and went for a liquid lunch as in a beer 🍺 and soup 🍲. Just a few yards from our empty bowls and glasses was the Lennon Wall. After the 1980 murder of John Lennon a mural of Lennon was painted by an unknown artist onto the wall and as more people expanded upon it, the wall slowly became a place for free expression of then communist Czechoslovakia.
    As cool Prague became decidedly cold Prague we headed back towards our hotel and the shopping 🛍 centre to buy warmer clothes, before heading out to the Ginger & Fred Restaurant at the top of the Dancing 💃 🕺 House for a lovely meal in celebration of Ian abd Christine's 70th birthdays 🎂 🥳 🎉    Read more

  • Prague

    A Morning of Exploring

    May 16 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    After breakfast, we set off to see what the city had for us. We walked along a predetermined route to take in as many sights as possible.
    Turning left outside the hotel and left again, we found our 1st landmark; the Powder Tower.
    Completed in 1475, the Powder Gate Tower or Powder Gate is a Gothic tower that formerly served as a gunpowder store. It is one of the original city gates and separates the Old Town from the New Town.
    After walking 🚶‍♀️ 🚶🚶‍♀️🚶underneath the huge gated archway we carried on down Celetna Street towards Staromestske Namesti and; established in 1338 the Old Town, with its unique astronomical clock — known as the Orloj — where, every hour between 8 am and 11 pm, the Twelve Apostles appear. We arrived just in time to see the Apostles appear and dissappear at the two windows above the clock. More than a little disappointed, we then made our way to join the crowds on the 15th Century Charles Bridge.    Read more

  • Prague

    Travel Day.

    May 15 in England ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Taxi 🚕 booked for 09:45 to drive through chaotic Poulton-le-Fylde for the 10:31 train 🚆 to Manchester Airport. Everything went well, too well Taxi arrived on time drove through Poulton-le-Fylde no problem walked onto the platform and straight onto the train at 10:00, 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
    At the airport, bags checked and headed straight for Departures only to be refused entry and told to come back in 30 minutes. We eventually arrived at the 1903 Lounge, shortly 1:00 pm. for our 2 hours of refreshments 🍻🍾🥂🍷
    All too soon, it was time to make our way to our boarding gate. As usual, the front of the aircraft was last to board, but it wasn't long before our flight was ready for take off, probably just under an hour late. Some 1 hour and 40 minutes later, we are getting ready to disembark the aircraft, get our luggage, and within the hour we are in a taxi heading for Prague City centre about 30 mins away
    Arriving at the hotel, we checked and up to our rooms to quickly unpack before heading out for something to eat and a beer 🍺.    Read more

  • Greatest Adventure Yet....

    Goodbye - Dubai

    March 14 in England ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    Woke up to a beautiful morning on this, Day 56 and final day of our travels. Showered and breakfasted, and thankfully, both suitcases 🎒🎒fastened shut 🙏 with a combined weight of around 55kg. we are in a taxi 🚕 on our way to the airport 🛫.
    After a surprisingly easy and quick check-in, we through passport control and security and in our departure terminal via the monorail 🚝 and waiting at the gate for our boarding announcement, which came early only we were sat on the plane an hour before take off as a couple of bags had to be off-loaded from our Airbus A380. Eventually, we were next in line and off we set on our journey home flying over Iran, Turkey, Germany, and Holland, to name just a few countries on our flight path. Seven and a half hours later, we are landing at Manchester Airport and quickly through immigration only to wait for our cases that arrived half an hour apart from each other!!
    Train 🚆 from Manchester Airport 🛫 to Poulton-le-Fylde and then a taxi 🚕 home 🏡 completed our adventure of:
    Travelling over 25,000 miles
    Visiting 4 Countries on 3 Continents taking 9 Flights, 2 Train Journeys, Hiring 3 Cars, taking 1 Ferry Crossing, staying in 26 different hotels, and 28 different hotel rooms
    Meeting so many lovely people
    Seeing Kiwis, Cockatoos, parrots, kangaroos, wallabies, dolphins, Sperm Whales, Orcas, blue penguins, and wild turkeys in their natural habitat.    Read more

  • Greatest Adventure Yet....

    A Day of Reflection......noitcelfeR

    March 13 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Relaxing day today by the pool, well until 4:00pm when we are kicked out for a private party. It's not really a problem as we lose the sun about 3:30pm, whereas all the three other pools NOT belonging to our hotel are still basking in glorious sunshine for a good couple of hours later.
    After our last supper, we went for a little walk around the Dubai Marina; voted one of the 50 coolest places in the world by Time Out Magazine. The marina is a waterfront city, with its emerald-green waters framed by some of the tallest – not to mention some of the most architecturally impressive – residential towers in the world. Just next door is Jumeirah Beach Residence – a neighbourhood in its own right and the gateway from Dubai Marina to the beach where all day long, we see a flotilla of boats 🚢 sailing ⛵️ back and forth.    Read more

  • Greatest Adventure Yet....
    1

    A Tasty Fayre

    March 12 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Back on the monorail 🚝 we carried on to the tip of the Palm 🌴 and the Atlantis Hotel 🏨 and feeling hungry headed straight to the restaurants and Chef 👨‍🍳 Gordon. The Bread Street Kitchen & Bar was very quiet, no shouting or swearing 🤬 not like a Gordon Ramsey Restaurant we see on TV at all 😁, but our waiter Manjula assured us he is a very nice person 😉. After fish 🐟 and chips 🍟 for Jayne and a lovely Super Food Salad 🥗 with chicken 🐔 for me (did I get that the correct way around? 🤣). After our lovely meal, we then shared an Apple Crumble with ice cream, which was just as tasty and lovely as our mains. To make our evening more delightful, the Maitre'D from Estonia 🇪🇪 even took Jayne's wine off our bill. Venturing from the tourist area into the hotel itself, the hotel was just as opulent as we had imagined, especially in the public areas on the hotel side of the aquarium through to the foyer and reception areas.
    Soon, it was time to catch the monorail 🚝 back to the mainland, jumping off halfway at Nakheel Mall for a quick browse, before getting back on the monorail and catching a tram; as we had kept our tram ticket from earlier, we only paid 1/2 price back to Jumeirah Beach Walk.    Read more

  • Greatest Adventure Yet....
    11

    A Palm 🌴 like no other ...

    March 12 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    This morning started overcast ☁️ and a few minutes of what looked and felt like rain 🌧 but as everyone knows, it doesn't rain in Dubai🤔; and if it did never, two mornings in a row. But there again, the Eckersall's are here!! 😅
    After shower dodging, we took the tram and then monorail 🚝 and visited The Palm Jumeirah 🌴. It's purpose was to increase the coastline for tourists as Dubai is known for its sunny weather and beaches, but more than 72 km (45 miles) of coastline was needed to accommodate the goal of tripling the number of tourists to 15 million annually. The solution was to construct a massive island shaped like a palm tree, which, upon completion in 2006, would add 56 km (35 miles) to the coastline. The island is designed to be a city within itself, featuring shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, and residential properties. The island is built entirely from sand and rocks; no concrete or steel has been used during the construction process. This was done following the order of the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Using 5.5 million cubic metres of rock brought from over 16 quarries in Dubai.
    94 million cubic metres of sand brought from deep sea beds 6 nautical miles from the coast of Dubai and 700 tons of limestone. The cost was in the region on 12 Billion US Dollars 💸 💸💸💸💰 - it might have been cheaper to invite the Eckersall's now and again to reduce the number of sunny days per year, thus keeping tourist numbers down! 🤔😅    Read more

  • Greatest Adventure Yet....

    "Oh, It never RAIN'S 🌧 in Dubai" 🌂🌂

    March 11 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    "It Never Rains in Dubai" - well, all I can say is the Eckersall's have never been to Dubai !!🌧☂️☔️😅
    This morning was so overcast ☁️ it actually rained 🌧 fortunately not too hard but hard enough to send us both into the swimming pool where if we are going to wet wet?!!! It didn't bode well when the pool attendants started collecting all the mattresses from the unused sun beds on the terrace and covering the outdoor speakers with plastic covers. Eventually, around 1:00 p.m., the sun 🌞 finally showed its face 🌝, and everyone started applying sun cream. After dinner 🍽 in the evening, we walked along The Walk 🚶‍♀️ 🚶‍♂️and over the Bluewaters Pedestrian Bridge 🌉 back onto the Bluewaters Island that was all lit up and looking like the Sands Marina Bay Gardens in Singapore 🇸🇬. As we had walked over here the other day, the transformation at night really was phenomenal. There was live music underneath the illuminated Ain Dubai, there is a restaurant paying homage to Porshe cars with one car outside and two cars inside in glass boxes 📦. But to me the most amazing sight was the Dubai waterfront all lit up from the edges of the Palm 🌴 all the way around to the island 🏝 I was stood on, with just one exception the entrance or exit; depending on which way you are going, to the Persian Gulf, part of the Indian Ocean 🌊.Read more

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