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Val's Travels

On a quest to explore the world's wonderful places.
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  • Val's TravelsWeekend In Monaco
    Day3

    Monte Carlo By Night

     March 19, 2018 in Monaco ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    I visited the public area of the casino at night, I didn't want to pay to go into the actual gambling area, so just took photos of the beautiful foyer. Nearby was an indoor shopping centre with a magnificent chandelier.Read more

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  • Val's TravelsWeekend In Monaco
    Day1

    Long Weekend in Monaco

     March 17, 2018 in Monaco ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Took a quick trip to Monaco for a brief spell on sunshine away from the horrible weather in the UK. Had a lovely walk with lots of places to look at the views and admire the expensive yachts in the harbour. Monaco has so many little parks and places to sit, it really is a lovely place for a wander.Read more

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  • Val's TravelsReturn to Iceland
    Day4

    Akureyri, Iceland

     October 4, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ 🌬 3 °C

    Had a fantastic day trip to the beautiful Lake Myvatn area. This is where Game of Thrones is filmed, although I was there for the waterfalls. I am always in search of wow factor places and I wasn't disappointed. To reach Dettifoss waterfall it was a 15 minute walk along a rocky walkway from the siimple parking area, (no gift shops or cafes here, this is wild Iceland), and the view was spectacular. The roar of the cascading water was wonderful, and somehow seeing it on a cold cloudy day makes it all the more impressive. I hurried up to the higher viewpoint, took loads of photos then walked along another rocky pathway to nearby Selfoss waterfall. Here, to reach the edge it was a case of precariously negotiating rocks used as stepping stones across puddles of icy water. Although not quite as impressive as Dettifoss, the remoteness of this waterfall made it just as beautiful to behold. Back nearer to Akureyri was Godafoss waterfall, easily accessible just off the main road and once again a beautiful place to stand on the slippery rocks and look down at the water, or venture down to the edge of the river and feel the spray of the water as it crashes down. Back on the tour bus we turned off the road, bumped across a snowy track, and then walked to the edge of a beautiful canyon, with nobody around.. So many wonderful places to visit in this area. Lots of opportunity to visit Game of Thrones locations, if that's your thing, and to bathe in a smaller and less commercial version of the Blue Lagoon. Long day of wonderful places. Highly recommend Akureyri as a destination.Read more

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  • Val's TravelsReturn to Iceland
    Day3

    North to Akureyri

     October 3, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Took the short 45 minute flight from Reykjavik's little domestic airport to Akureyri, just south of the Arctic Circle. Amazing scenery on the way, past snow capped mountains, over canyons and a bleak landscape, and then an approach through a canyon over the fjord where the town sits. Walked from the airport along the pleasant pathway alongside the water, and uphill in town to Icelandair Hotel. I took a walk down past the church to the little main street, which has a few tourist shops and eating places, and then discovered a large shopping centre on the edge of town, with a supermarket. It feels very different to Reykjavik here, more remote, and yet it has been easy to get here.Read more

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  • Val's TravelsReturn to Iceland
    Day2

    Snaefellsnes Day Trip

     October 2, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    Early departure on my tour for the journey west to Snaesfellsnes Peninsula past sweeping mountains with green and yellow colours, for a walk on a rocky wild black beach. It feels pretty remote here, not many cars around, which is exactly how I like it. We made a stop at Vatnshellir lava case, which involved descending a spiral metal staircase wearing helmets and holding torches, to walk in half darkness on the rocky surface inside the black walled cave, at one point standing in absolute pitch black darkness when we all turned off our torches. Back outside we continued through the bleak but beautiful scenery for a walk along the rocky coastline, and past a lake of clear still water perfectly reflecting the mountain at its edge. A wonderful day, but a long one.Read more

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  • Val's TravelsReturn to Iceland
    Day1

    Arrival in Reykjavik

     October 1, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Feels great to be back in Iceland 12 months after I finally got round to visiting this wonderful country. I'm staying at the Storm Hotel, which is a little bit out from the main centre of Reykjavik but still walkable into town, and has the benefit that one of the numbered bus stops for the tour buses is literally right across the street. Did a quick walk to visit a supermarket for supplies, then early night ready for my long day trip tomorrow.Read more

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  • Val's TravelsWeekend in Edinburgh
    Day4

    Exploring Edinburgh

     September 13, 2017 in the United Kingdom ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    Today I took a bus over to Leith to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia which is permanently docked alongside the Ocean Terminal shopping centre. I was quite early so only a few other people on board as I took the audio guided tour around the decks. If you are a fan of things royal, this is definitely recommended. You get to see the bedrooms, lounges, the elegant dining room where corporate events are held, and pose under the ships bell, and go down to the engine room. I imagine it gets quite busy later in the day, so I was glad I'd made an early start and was able to linger. In the evening I took a free Ghost Tour which started from a meeting point on The Royal Mile. There are lots of similar tours to choose from, but I always like to get something free. Our guide told us tales of grisly events from the past and alleged ghostly sightings as we walked around the streets, and we ended in Greyfriars Cemetery as dusk fell. It was not a very scary tour, more of a history tour, but standing among the headstones in the fading light was certainly atmospheric. A really great few days in Edinburgh with so much to seeRead more

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  • Val's TravelsWeekend in Edinburgh
    Day3

    Train Ride to Stirling

     September 12, 2017 in the United Kingdom ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    After the disappointment of Edinburgh Castle, I took the train over to Stirling to visit the castle. Now this is a proper castle, where you can walk on the battlements and gaze out over the landscape and imagine the battles that have been fought here, and descend down steps into underground vaults. Set up high above the town, I tackled the steep walk to get to the entrance, rather than take the tourist bus from the station, which negotiates the narrow and crowded approach road with inches to spare between vehicles and the brick wall. The same bus took me over to the National Wallace Monument, to climb the 246 spiral stone steps to the top of the tower. There are, thankfully, rooms on the way up where you can look at the exhibits and take a breather (if you need one). Fantastic view from the top is worth the effort. I really enjoyed Stirling and it was an easy trip from Edinburgh, only 50 minutes on the train, and the sun was shining.Read more

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