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Ireland

A 302-day adventure by youonlylivetwice Read more
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    Porto

    January 20, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ 13 °C

    I arrived in Porto yesterday and had another hard time of finding the hostel. The streets are very poorly marked and so I went back to the bus depot to get directions. Thank god for the lovely Portuguese man who helped me. The people in this country are absolutely lovely and so kind and helpful, really great people. I found the hostel and told them their directions to the hostel were rather poor. I found a place after I checked in to eat that had craft beer. I got a tapas plate of calamari, fries and beer for €6. The tapas were huge. Today I walked a record of 30km and it took me 6 1/4 hours. I cant feel my feet. I bought two small bottles of 2014 blend red for .79cents each and sat on the terrace with my feet up. I can't say I'm really impressed with Porto (home of Port wine). Too many high buildings with run down buildings next to them with no rhyme or reason to the buildings. I found the surf area which is right next to the cruise ship centre and shipyard. It's definitely not a green city. A bit disappointed and will be heading out tomorrow.Read more

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    A spiritual journey today - Fatima

    January 21, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 6 °C

    A little spiritual journey today to the town of Fatima. Everyday I think about my life as I travel and everyday I am so grateful for my opportunity to travel, meet people, see this beautiful world, and to know that I am safe. I always say a prayer of thanks at the end of the day and count my blessings for the things I have done and seen. I didn't know what to expect when I did my detour to Fatima today but my inner heart was guiding me. This I learned is a town of pilgrimage where the Immaculate Virgin was seen be three young shepherds in 1916. It is like the second Vatican and Pope John Paul was here at least three times. I walked through the the garden of the stations of the cross which was amongst an olive grove and so serene and beautiful, called the Alustrel. I had the strangest feeling there, something that can't be explained. I then walked to the shrine area and watched people crawl on their knees to the basilica. It was amazing. I watched a young father holding his young baby crawling and he wept while he was doing it. Very moving.Read more

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    Caio Portugal, Ola Espania

    January 22, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    I spent the day touring Fatima again and ran into Joni from Arizona at the bus station. Told her to walk the garden if the way of the cross. I ran into her later at the exit and she was so happy I had recommended, said it was quite spiritual. I purchased my ticket for the bus to Seville, Spain. I leave here at 7:15 pm and get into Spain at 6am(€57). Not sure how well I am going to sleep on the bus but I'll save on accomodations for one night. It was cool here today and I will be heading to 18 degrees. Portugal has bee a real pleasure to visit.Read more

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    Seville

    January 23, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    The bus was packed going to Seville! So hard to sleep but I think I got a couple if hours. I marched my way through to the centre of town from 5-6am. It was cold and so quiet. Found a McDonald's by the train station and had a couple of lattes to give me a kick start, charge up my phone, warm up, and book my hostel. Got a cheaper and newer hostel in the centre of the historical part of town, which is great for walking. If already walked 6km by the time I checked in. What a beautiful town with great energy. Lots of fabulous shopping and wine bars all over the place. Will be here for 3 nights and I may do a hop on hop off city tour.Read more

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    So much fun in Seville!

    January 25, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 6 °C

    Everyone should go to Seville! This is such a great place with so much positive energy and fun. Yesterday I met Sam and Angus from England. Sam a musician contractor who has worked with some of the most interesting musicians in the World; Adele, Taylor Swift,will.am has given me some great private travel destinations that are not touristy that I am going to check out. Angus who is a posh student from Wickham and is going to Bogata to work in steel(who both Sam and I said were going to see in the front page news) and come s from aristocratic background. I haven't stopped laughing in 30 hours. We drank 3 bottles of wine last night and had Vinny a German guy entertain us by dancing for us and saying that his goal in life was to be s dancer. I videoed his dancing but can't upload to my blog but he was so funny our guts were sore from laughter. There is so much to write in these last 30 hours that I have to do it in segments. I would have to say that is is the funnest city so far.Read more

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    Seville day 2

    January 25, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Continuing on from yesterday.... Went to the parque de Maria Luiza, the Plaza de Espana, which had tiled features of every town in Spain and now houses the military museum. It was so huge but I managed to take my first panorama shot with my phone. The bridges and lampposts are all tiled as well and Stars episode 1 was filmed here. I found Sam sunning himself and having tapas. I joined him and Angus later joined us as well. It was so cheap and so good. Later Sam and I went to a cafe and sipped sparkling vino on the sun. The hostel had a free dinner so we had mushroom risotto with Saffron. Yum. At 10 there was a group of us that went to a flamenco dance at a locals bar. Much to my surprise it was a male dancer, I was expecting a woman. Today is my last day here so I will go back to the tapas place and get ready for my next town.Read more

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    Cordoba

    January 26, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Last night in Seville yesterday and a group of us went out for Tapas at a restaurant Zarina selected on trip advisor. The tapas were amazing. I walked around town for two hours earlier in the day trying to find the metropolitan parasol. No luck! However we found it this morning before I left. Sarina took me to a great churro place this morning and I had my first churro dipped in melted delicious chocolate for breakfast - so yummy! I hope I spelled her name right. After breakfast we met up with Angus in the breakfast room still drunk from the night before because he'd been out savouring 50 cent beers. We've all been there in our youth. Caught the bus at 12:30 to Córdoba and only a two hour bus ride. Lots of olive groves along the way. I managed to go out for 3 hours and your around. Córdoba was the seat of the Spanish inquisition. Will head to the palace tomorrow and check it out.Read more

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    Cordoba in the rain

    January 27, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    It's been four months of travelling and today was only my 5th day of rain. It was museum and art day. I went a free contemporary art exhibit in town and the castle del Reyes. It was occupied by King Alfonse in 1492 and was filled with beautiful gardens and Arabic baths. King Alfonse and his queen were converting the area to Christianity and the jews and muslims were forced to convert. If they didn't the were tortured and killed. Hence the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition. It poured rain and I was completely soaked. I walked across the Roman bridge and there was a medieval market set up including very interesting characters.Read more

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    Malaga

    January 28, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    I was here when I was first married as a day trip on my honeymoon. What an incredible change. The city is so incredibly huge but what can I expect in 26 years. I am within a ten minute walk to the port to take the ferry over to Morocco and it's on my radar. When I was here last I made a trip there and I'm sure thats changed to. I met Mohammed this afternoon in the hostel and he is a tourist information rep from Morocco and told me it has changed and it is very interesting. He said it was very safe. I will mull it over. I got lost for an hour again because the hostels don't know how to write the proper directions on how to get there. The bus trip was great and drove through some interesting terroir. Olive groves, vineyards and the Sierra mountains which were very foggy. It was only 4 degrees when I left this morning and by the time I got here it was 16. It will be warm and the sunny for the next three days I'm here so I am happy with that. Tomorrow is Sunday and s lot of things are closed except for the sites and they are free. Yipee for me because I will take full advantage of that starting with Pablo Picasso museum and place of birth. Managed to make the market today which is across the street but closed tomorrow. Free Sangria tonight at the hostel do I will join in to meet some more travellers.Read more

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    Malaga on a Sunday-free day!

    January 29, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Sunday free day! Started off this morning at the Gallery of Contemporary art which was fabulous. I have never seen the art of Mark Ryden and it was so, hmm don't know how to put it in words -Alice in Wonderland would describe it the best. So much going on and so fine and detailed. So glad I went. I did get s chance to see a couple Andy Warhol pieces, that I missed in Slovakia. The rest of the exhibit was too contemporary for me. Headed next to the port and the beach. So busy with people. After I walked through the Paseo del Parque where it was screaming with parrots in the palm trees. It was so incredibly loud! Next was the Roman theatre and then the 1.7 km hill climb to the Castillo de Gibralfaro. Holy crap beads of sweat pouring down my back when I got to the top. Great view of the city from there including the bull death ring. Off I went for tapas and a glass of red before going to the Picasso museum. When I got there the line up was huge and the wait was a half hour to get in. Finally viewed the exhibit along with the exhibit of Jose Torres Garcia. Can't say I'm really a fan of either painter.Read more

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    Movin on from Malaga

    January 30, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    Last day today in Malaga. Tried to find the Russian museum but found the wine museum instead. Interesting, five euros and two tastings included. It was 19 degrees today and I spent the afternoon on the rooftop terrace chilling in the sun. So nice.Read more

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    Grand Granada

    January 31, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    I have just arrived to beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains in front of me and 20 degrees. I met a woman on the bus into town who was complaining about the heat on the bus to me in Spanish and I actually understood her and agreed. I think the bus driver in his wool sweater still had the heat on. She told me she was panicking because she had to go to England for a month to work and had 2 small dogs that needed to be looked after. I told her about the housesitting site I was on and gave her my email address. She was very grateful and told me she would be in touch. It would be great to have one month in an apartment in central Granada and learn some Spanish and take a break from the hostels and especially cook for myself and omg shave my legs! We'll see if she contacts me- gotta put it out there. So far Granada is magnificent. The mountains are right there and I feel like at I'm at the west coast. Later I went for a walk and found the cathedral and the Artisan market which had so many beautiful things I wanted to buy, particularly interesting rings. I stopped in at a tiny canteen where four older men were having a rather intense conversation. I had a tapas and beer for two euros and then listened to them sing.Read more

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    Alhambra

    February 2, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Yesterday I walked up to Alhambra which is a fortress that was built by the Sultans in the early 14th century. Later in the 17th century it became christianized by the king and queen of Spain. It became a world Unesco site in 1870. I spent 5 1/2 hours there and visited the Nasrid palace at a set time as well as the art gallery which had the Spanish painter Fortuny exhibit. Another amazing painter. The architecture and frescoes were beautiful and the whole site was incredibly huge. I can't imagine how busy it must be in the summer here with line ups. This morning I headed off to Alicante by bus and we drove through the Sierra Huector national park which reminded me of the Grand Canyon with similar landscape and geology. Interesting going through places like this. Saw homes that were built into clay banks and garbage just thrown out into the wilderness. Very disappointing. Glad I decided not to go to Murcia and go to Alicante instead. There was a low ceiling and for kms before we even got there there was a thick purple haze from burning. Chasing the sun and clean air! So I arrived 45 minutes late to my hostel because my bus got drug searched by the local police and the dog targeted a guy and he was taken off the bus. Last time that I experienced that was in 2013 on the French/Italian.Read more

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    Alicante

    February 3, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    So I found out this morning that the dogs in the bus searches are looking for bombs or hash. Makes me feel that much safer. I spent the day walking the city and it is quite lovely here. I walked down to the marina and found a huge wooden Spanish ship and looking closer at it found it was a restaurant. The walkway made me a bit dizzy getting there. After walking the pier I meandered through the skinny streets up to the top of Santa Barbara Castle which was built in the 12th century. It contained 6 cisterns and was built so high so as not to be invaded by pirates. It was bombed and invaded by pirates from Turkey and North Africa. After my trek around I found the local market and grabbed some fresh food and headed back for my three o'clock lunch. After lunch I booked my first train in Spain heading to Valencia tomorrow. The train for the first time was cheaper than the bus. It was a beautiful day for walking and there was a lot of walking done.Read more

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    Valencia & the amazing architecture

    February 4, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    WOW! In all the cities I have seen I have never seen such incredible contemporary and ancient architecture. The arts plaza, the iMax theatre, the science centre and the aquarium are so incredible. They look like they are from the planet of the apes or from Star Wars (darth vader). The buildings, walls and seats are all made from small pieces of tile. It's is do beautiful. I talked to Jose at the hostel tonight who is an architect student and he said he would take me around tomorrow and tell me all about it. This is also the first place where there is actually some green space and a beautiful park runs through the city. I got here at two today and immediately toured around until 6pm. So much to see! Can't wait for tomorrow and may have to stay an extra day!Read more

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    Sunday in Valencia

    February 5, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Started off on a walk in the park this morning in the opposite direction of yesterday. Ten minutes I was caught in a storm and had to stand under a bridge until it blew over. It was so windy that the trees were bending over. I finally managed to make it to the art gallery in the hopes when I was done it would be nice. Hurray it did! The gallery was great too with both Spanish and Italian artists who studied in Spain on exhibit. Once I got back on track with sightseeing I caught a bike race as it was finishing. It must have been a big deal because three different police departments and helicopters were following and leading the race. Then I came across a plaza where there was swing music playing and people were dancing in the sunshine in the square. It brought such a huge smile to my face and made me so happy to see people just enjoying themselves dancing. I was famished from walking and found a little restaurant close to my hostel and had the menu del dia for 10.50 euros. I had to walk after I was done because it was so huge. Paella, grilled tuna with fries and hot pepper salad, beer and finally a nut custard with burnt caramel sauce. So good! I have decided to stay one more day because there is so much more to see.Read more

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    Cycling to Albufjera

    February 6, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Today I decided to give my feet a rest and rent a bike and see more outside the city. It was 9 euros for the day and I cycled around 45km (not including the unexpected side routes). I headed for the National park along the seaside. Well it turned out there was only a small portion and because of yesterday's storm most of the passage was closed off. I spent a lot of time dodging bugs and managed to dip my feet into the mediterranean on the way back. The water was a bit chilly. The beaches were quite littered and so I was rather disappointed, this stopping from taking a lot of photos.Read more

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    Barcelona

    February 8, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Arrived in Barcelona yesterday and found the people not so friendly and not very helpful. Maybe because if the size of the city? Checked into my hostel and they wouldn't let me into the dorms because I was too old and their policy was 45. Yup I didn't read the fine print. I decided to stay in a private room for one night just to have some space. Paid too much for the room and found an Airbnb fir three days starting today. Looking forward too some privacy. The drive along the coast was beautiful and when I arrived the first lovely landmark I saw was the arc de triompf. Looking forward to exploring today.Read more

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    Barcelona day 2

    February 8, 2017 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    OMG my feet are sore today! I walked in my boots to my Airbnb and met Francisco (a lawyer in Barca) checked in and didn't change my footwear. Five and a half hours of looking at the sites. I stopped at the city park to give my feet a break and enjoy the sun. I took off my boots a found I had blisters for the first time in my trip. Well those babies are going to charity and buying new shoes tomorrow. Walked the La Rambla, basically the main drag, down to the port, up through the gothic quarter, and over to the city park. So far a little bit disappointed with this city. The people are not so friendly, lots of beggars and lots of black men walking around with shopping carts. Going to try and make the beach tomorrow, Olympic village and Gaudi and Dali's house. The weather is supposed to turn to rain so I'll leave the museums for Friday or I'll take a bus tour. Saturday I'll be heading for France.Read more

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    Barcelona Day 3

    February 9, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    I definitely need new shoes and a pedicure! Tomorrow if it rains it will be a good day for that. I think I covered the whole city today on foot except for the beach and I measured it on the map for a total of 18 kms. It was a beautiful day but the only thing is is that the buildings are so tall you don't get to enjoy the warmth of the sun. I walked to the Sagrada Famillia, Casa Batillo, (both Gaudi concepts), the Plaza de Espana, Fira da Barcelona, Caucasian forum, stadium, museum of national history and then finally I found a little bar to rest my feet have some pinchos and a beer. Everything is so big here and they are even having a parade on Saturday and Sunday with giant dolls. I had to dodge a lot of dog crap today and watched several people just leave their dogs goodies behind. I have to say that Barcelona ranks number two as one of the dirtiest cities I have been to, never mind the constant stench of sewer and cigarettes. I found the Gaudi architecture much like caricature but impressive. I was going to visit the Sagrada Familia and the Casa Batillo but each entrance fee was 23.50 €, Kaching! Meeting with Steph tonight to teach her how to make latkes and to catch up. So glad she's not too far from here. I also woke up this morning and found out that Francisco has a beautiful rabbit and that he left a bottle of red wine -2012- for me at my door. What a nice guy!Read more

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    Last day in Barcelona

    February 11, 2017 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    I woke up with terrible allergies from playing with Franciscos rabbit and thank goodness there was a pharmacy around the corner so I could get some eye drops. I met with Sam the friend I met in Seville later in the afternoon. He's been living in Barcelona for four months and so he gave me a local tour. We started out at a local eatery and had s glass of wine , cheese platter, grilled octopus and grilled leeks. The good and eatery were both fabulous. Next we walked through some artsy streets and went to s place called champagnie where they only served bubbles and you stood the whole time-another locals place with no signage on the door. It was super crowded but great. Then we were off to the beach and Olympic village. The stand was brought in so the beach crew gas to adjust the sand every day because it gets washed away. We aught the metro to s cocktail bar called Paradiso after where we had the most amazing drinks. It was fantastic! We talked for hours. From there we went to another place where Hemingway and Picasso used to meet. I think I actually saw this place in a movie. It was really neat.Read more

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    Toulouse, France

    February 11, 2017 in France ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    I had a nice early 6:30 am walk to catch my bus to Toulouse. When we got to the French side at our first stop the police came on board to check passports and ID. I gave them my Canadian passport and the border officer I was over my 3 month stay. I told him I had an EU passport and then had to show it to him. He said good, waved me off and said to travel on my EU passport. Now I'm wondering when I fly home which passport to exit on? I'll have to check with the embassy when I find one. I found my Airbnb out of the centre and so decided to do my laundry and grocery shop. What I saw coming in was a lot of vineyards and beautiful country side. Reminded me of Austria. The area I'm in is not the greatest but I am only sleeping here and won't be going out at night. I am hoping things are open tomorrow as it is Sunday.Read more

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    Walkabout in Toulouse

    February 12, 2017 in France ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Holy windy day! 50 kmph winds all day. The wind is my least favourite type of weather and really freaks me out. I walked into centre ville today in about 40 minutes. Yup Sunday silence and everything was closed. Good thing I bought groceries yesterday. Iwondered where all the French people were. I only saw a few people braving the extreme wind today. I think I managed to see the whole city today and ducked into the Musee de Augustine to warm up a bit. I ended up spending 3.5 hours looking through all the exhibits. Saw some pretty interesting art and sculptures. I am very surprised with myself with how much French I am understanding and even parlezing back. My french mind block must be turned off. Tomorrow I may do a trip to a small village about 24 minutes from here just to get a taste of village life, Montlaur, a recommendation from Lauren. I am looking forward to Bordeaux on Tuesday! Just hope I can find reasonable accomodations.Read more

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    Montlaur

    February 13, 2017 in France ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    I took the train to Montlaur in search of something different and the countryside. I took Lauren's advice to check it out . The wind was blasting at 55kmph today, even worse than yesterday. I really dislike the wind soooo much. I got Montlaur right smack in the middle if nowhere. I saw a castle on the hill and made my way into the centre to check it out. I walked along the highway with cars blasting by me. When I got into the centre there was only a library, town hall, church and bakery that was closed. I had three hours to burn up. So I walked and walked! Here in France you have to get a time slot for you train on a return ticket so my train back was at 3:25. I was actually miserable today for the first time. I couldn't find an entrance to the castle and there was no signage anywhere. I waited at the train for 1.5 hrs and tried to hide from the wind. When I finally got back to the city the first thing I bought was a bottle of wine and road food for tomorrow. I was so cold! I booked my bus for Bordeaux tomorrow and I leave at 1pm. I'm hoping Bordeaux will have more to offer. No pictures today.Read more

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    Bordeaux-sunshine & wine

    February 14, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Left Toulouse behind early this afternoon and headed by bus to Bordeaux. Can't say I was too fond of Toulouse. I have noticed that there are very few hostels in France and so it looks like most of my accomodations will be in airbnb's. The countryside is lovely in France and I saw people already pruning in the vineyards today. So this is where all the beautiful men have been hiding! It is stunning here. A huge pone add along the Garonne river where people were enjoying the 21 degrees temperature. Biking, walking, running, rollerblading and drinking wine in the brasseries. Went for a walk in the evening and it was even more beautiful. Men with baguettes, wine and flowers-Valentines Day. Drank some wine with Shui a Japanese restauranteur in the hostel last night as he was looking to import wines for his restaurant. Can't wait for the grand tour in the sunshine.Read more

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