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Europe and UK 2025
  • Deb Jamieson
  • Tracey Oneill
  • Janine Kuizinas
  • Deb Jamieson
  • Tracey Oneill
  • Janine Kuizinas

Europe and UK 2025

We’re off to see more of the world and tick off a few more bucket list items! You know what we say!! Read more
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  • Europe and UK 2025
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    Bernina train to St Moritz

    May 30, 2025 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Up at the crack of dawn to head off to the Swiss Alps!!
    We all agree this has been the highlight of our holiday so far!
    Giovanni drove us to Bernina, stopping off first to a winery to get our supplies for the train ride
    And oh what a ride! Absolutely stunning scenery as we climbed to the peak which was 2500m above sea level. The ski lift went up another 1000m.
    St Moritz itself is quite small but is the playground of the rich and famous, with ski resorts everywhere
    Around November when the lake freezes, they do car racing, horse racing, polo etc on the ice!!
    Absolutely picturesque, with waterfalls and beautiful clear as glass rivers. A very memorable day.    Read more

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    Ciao for now

    May 31, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Last day in Italy! And it’s a scorcher! Did our last bits of shopping - including the extra suitcases we had to buy to fit it all in lol
    Some of the shops have glass floors showing the Roman ruins below - amazing
    Spent the afternoon packing and getting organised for Ireland, our next stop.
    Went out for dinner and had the best ever porn star martini’s- and met new friends    Read more

  • Europe and UK 2025

    Ireland

    June 1, 2025 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Arrived in Dublin to a slight change in climate, thank God for my puffer jacket! Jumped in the van, off to Cork 🎉 next morning we arrived early at Blarney Castle to kiss the stone 😘

  • Europe and UK 2025
    Everyone drinking their Guinness in the town square watching a bandOldest ever lighthouseOriginal pier the Titanic docked at4

    Dublin to Cobh

    June 1, 2025 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    Flew into Dublin and picked up our rental van and headed to County Cork
    We realised as we neared Cobh that we were miles from Bunratty Castle, where we had booked for a medieval feast that we would definitely not make in time!!So we had to grin and bear it!
    Cobh was the last stop the Titanic made before sinking and many of the passengers that boarded in Cobh had stayed in our Hotel!
    Such a quaint village - very cool. We had a great Irish meal at the Titanic Hotel.    Read more

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    Cork to Galway

    June 2, 2025 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Weather has turned on us with a big storm brewing!
    First up was Blarney Castle. Lucky we were there early and ran straight to the Blarney Stone so we didn’t have to queue. So we now all have the gift of the gab! Haha
    The Castle itself and grounds were stunning.
    We then headed up the wild western coast road towards the Cliffs of Moher. By the time we got there the sky’s had opened up and it was bucketing down with gale force winds and very misty, so we carried on to Galway.    Read more

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    Galway to Belfast

    June 3, 2025 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    Arrived in Belfast about 3pm, checked in and went for a walk to check it out. Beautiful buildings and the people are definitely wilder - i.e lots of piercings, tattoos and punks
    We had a great afternoon/ early evening hanging out with the locals- and of course doing the haka lol
    Forgot to mention the house we stayed in at 24 Joy Street is famous- Charlie Chaplin lived there from 1906 to 1907 - hence the Charlie Chaplin memorabilia everywhere!    Read more

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    Belfast

    June 4, 2025 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    Jumped on the hop on hop off bus- first stop the Peace Wall. So impressive. After 40 years of fighting and 3,500 deaths the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 caused a ceasefire although tensions remain. Millions of people have signed the wall.
    We then went to the Titanic Museum and spent 2 hours wandering around but could easily have spent hours more! The Titanic was built in Dublin and the Museum is basically experiencing the journey from the build right through to the sinking. Very impressive and a must see
    Drove to Dublin late afternoon    Read more

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    Dublin

    June 5, 2025 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Final day in Dublin. Jumped in the car and headed out to Kildare Village for a spot of retail therapy lol
    Had a lovely relaxing day - no sightseeing today
    - still trying to shake our colds!
    Can’t wait to get to Scotland tomorrow!!Read more

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    Dumfries

    June 6, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Our bucket list item for Trace and I was to visit Dumfries where our Nana was born - and we are here! A very emotional and uplifting day!
    The house she lived in at 19 Howgate St is no longer there but we visited the local Pub next door and were welcomed with open arms! Some of the older locals remembered my great-grandfathers bakery and the old butchery and had heaps of local knowledge to share
    We then went to the village of Moffat and had an amazing (late) lunch at the narrowest Hotel in the world- the Hotel Star.
    Got back late to Edinburgh    Read more

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    Edinburgh

    June 7, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Started the day with a wee champagne breakfast before hitting the streets of Edinburgh( as you do!)
    Did the Royal Mile walk to the castle- absolutely amazing! The place is humming and is so Scottish lol - pipers everywhere, school kids in kilts, weddings happening, street artists- so cool!
    Love the cobbled streets and the vibe is awesome - we love Edinburgh!    Read more

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    Edinburgh to Fort William

    June 8, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Started the day with a tour through Mary Kings Close. This is a whole street that after the plague, they removed the top stories but the whole 3 bottom levels were just built on top of. Mary Queen of Scots stayed there the night before her execution at 24yrs old. And there’s a ghost of a young girl that I think you can see in the prohibited photo I took!
    Next stop was Glasgow and we found some amazing vintage markets- apparently the biggest in Europe- very cool.
    Then we stopped at the Falkirk Wheel - an amazing feat of engineering and cut out travelling through 10 lochs in the process!
    A must see was the Kelpies - OMG stunning! In Scottish Folklore, Kelpies are mythical creatures that appear as horses then entice humans down to a watery grave!
    Next stop was late lunch(Dunch!) at Doune and then a visit to Doune Castle (featured in Outlander )- very cool
    A detour took us from there around the lochs and up into the Highlands- breathtaking scenery! Deer grazing on the side of the road and majestic mountains and valleys- simply stunning! These scenery photos were taken at 10 at night!
    Came into Glen Coe and then through to Fort William.
    A long day but absolutely worth every second    Read more

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    Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle

    June 9, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    I didn’t realise how big Loch Ness is and it’s the longest of all the Lochs. No we didn’t see Nessie 😂 but the Loch is stunning.
    The remains of Urquhart Castle are very impressive. It was destroyed by the Grants as the Jacobites were advancing by order of the crown but they were never compensated so it was never repaired. We found out it actually was owned at one stage by our clan, MacDonald- so in actual fact it’s our Castle!!
    Carried on through to Inverness.    Read more

  • Europe and UK 2025
    This is a lie and was erected 100 years after the battle1

    Culloden Battlefield

    June 10, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    You can’t do Inverness without visiting the Culloden battlefield( thanks for the recommendation Pip!) where the Jacobites were slaughtered by the Government. We did the tour and then wandered around - you can almost feel the battle! So many lives lost- the Jacobites under Bonnie Prince Charlie lost 1500 lives within an hour! And the other side say they lost 50 but it’s never been proven as their graves have never been found. Memorial plaques are everywhere for the different clans. Very moving.
    We also had a bit of a wander around Inverness.
    Went for a last supper - we’re losing our travel buddy Tros as Ian and I are heading to the Isle of Skye tomorrow and Tracey will join the girls and head off to London!
    A new chapter begins…    Read more

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    Inverness to Skye

    June 11, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Dropped Trace off at the airport at 5am! got organised and hit the road.Many say the road between Inverness and Skye is one of the most beautiful drives in the world and they are not wrong! Jaw-dropping!
    Eilean Donan Castle is fully operational and owned by the MacRae family and is furnished with family heirlooms and photos. Unfortunately photography is forbidden so I couldn’t get any sneaky shots lol
    Another castle blown up around the time of the Culloden battlefield, which remained in ruins for 200 years. The family restored it over a 20 year period. Very impressive.
    John MacRae wrote “Flanders Field’
    Our accommodation is outstanding - our doors open onto the water! So perfect and so peaceful.    Read more

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    Isle of Skye

    June 12, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Woke up after the best nights sleep and did a Tiki Tour of Skye
    First stop (a wee hike) was the Fairy Pools- stunning! In 1601 the MacDonald and MacLeod clans had a bloody battle ( us MacDonalds won) that was so fierce the pools were red with blood!
    We then headed to Dunroven Castle is the oldest, continuously inhabited castle in the world. Every 4 years the MacLeod Clan meet for family gatherings from all over the world to celebrate their family heritage! It’s magnificent!!
    Stopped at Talisker Distillery and the pastel houses of Portree.
    Sligachan Bridge was our last stop - we were in need of a drink and the bar did not disappoint Ian - he was in Whiskey heaven!!
    Legend has it that if you dip your face in the water here for 7 seconds you will have eternal beauty!! So here we go…    Read more

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    Skye to Kilmarnock

    June 13, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    It was sad leaving Skye - such a beautiful spot!
    Had a 5 hour drive back through Glen Coe, Ben Nevis, Loch Lomond and Glasgow.
    Arrived at Gary & Fiona’s in time for Ian to go and collect his Kilt ( not kidding) and then sat down to an outstanding meal of baked Salmon that had been marinated (Gary used to be a Chef!!)
    Great night catching up and planning for the next few days ( weather dependant lol- this is Scotland)    Read more

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    Ayrshire

    June 14, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Gary and Fiona took us on a local tour of Ayrshire today.
    Robbie Burns was born in Kilmarnock. We found out so much about his life at the Museum and the house he was born in- very cool and what a character! We also visited his fathers grave at Alloway Auld Kirk Cemetery and the famous Brig O Doon Hotel and gardens - also a stunning wedding venue ( a wedding was about to happen while we were there)
    Visited the ruins of Ian’s clan (The Stuart’s) Dunure Castle - stunning coastline and stopped for a drink at the Trump Turnberry Golf Club - one of the top clubs in the world - very luxurious! I had a porn star Martini to mark the occasion 😂
    Stopped for a lovely dinner at Souters Inn, which has the best preserved thatched roof in Scotland
    An awesome day today!    Read more

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    Och Aye the Noo

    June 15, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Today was about Ian. We went to claim back his castle lol
    Dundonald Castle was built in the 14th century by King Robert II of the Stewart dynasty. It sits on a hill overlooking the village of Dundonald, between Kilmarnock and Ayr, and was a strategic stronghold .
    We then went to Troon beach- a wee bit windy- and because it’s Fathers Day here,( and our last night in Scotland) Gary and Fiona put together an outstanding Scottish evening for our farewell- Haggis, Venison, whiskey, Robbie Burns - the lot!! What a send off! One we will never forget!
    Oh- and we did the Haka lol    Read more

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    Gretna Green to Penny Lane

    June 16, 2025 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Popped in to Gretna Green, which was the theme for our wedding 6 years ago. Very cool to be there.
    Arrived in Liverpool and Tom and Di gave us a private Beatles Tour!
    Stopped at Strawberry Fields, John Lennon and Paul McCartneys family homes. I didn’t realise most of their songs were based on their childhood memories. We also went to Penny Lane, where they used to wait for the bus.
    Next stop Albert Dock , which was stunning on the water ( great to be back in the sun) Liverpool is definitely Beatle Mad!!
    We then went to the Cavern Club - which is where the Beatles played and was the premier spot for performers when they came to Liverpool- and still is! Cilla Black used to be the coat girl - it was the Beatles who discovered her! The walls and ceiling are covered with names. We stayed and listened to some music for a while - very cool day- we love Liverpool!    Read more

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    Wrexham to Bristol

    June 17, 2025 in Wales ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Popped in to Wales for lunch 😂😂(as you do!) to catch up with Emily and the kids. Had a lovely lunch over a few hours - hard to believe it’s been over 4 years since she left NZ!
    Carried through to Bristol and met Cam and Lowrie for dinner. Bristol is the hometown of Banksy which I never knew! Love the buildings and vibe in Bristol - very Ponsonby! We finally managed to get into our accommodation at 12.15 am!! They didn’t send the code to get in, so we had to go through security!! Nevertheless it was great seeing Cam after 2 yearsRead more

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