72hrs in Athens, Greece

I went to Athens as I wanted to visit the Parthenon and the Acropolis. I booked an EasyJet package, very basic airline but the hotel I chose was lovely. The Acropolis Hill Hotel has a roof terrace with a view of the Acropolis, which is lit up beautifully at night. It also has a pool.

View of the Parthenon from the hotel at night

I bought a 72hr metro ticket, which included a return trip to the airport. I found the metro to be a really good way to get around within the city. However, metro trains that run all the way to the airport don't run very often (around every 36mins). There is an express bus (X95) that would take you into Syntagma, where you could then take the metro, but I didn't take that route, so I can't comment on if it's any quicker. There are 3 metro lines and tickets need validating on entering and exiting. Some of the metro stations (including Acropolis, Syntagma and Evangelismos) have displays of ancient artefacts and excavations which are quite interesting, especially if you want to save a trip to the Acropolis museum. 

If you are aged under 25 you can try and get a reduced price ticket to enter places. They don't accept student cards, just proof of age. 

Changing of the Guard

Every hour at Syntagma, outside the Parliament building, the guard changes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The soldiers dress in traditional military uniform and perform very ritualistic/traditional manoeuvres. It is worth going to see it as it is certainly interesting. On Sunday's at 11am there is a parade alongside the guard change, this gets VERY busy and the road is closed. If you want to see this I recommend going early to try and get a spot you can see the parade and ceremony from as it gets packed.

Acropolis Museum

Tickets are €15, which includes the museum and entry to the excavated part of the city underneath the museum. I found the museum to be very busy, but at the time I appreciated the air conditioning. It contains a recreation of the Parthenon frieze, which is in the British Museum and a lot of statues and artefacts from the Acropolis and that time in history. It was interesting to visit and you can spend as much or as little time looking around as you want. All the history and exhibit labels are in both Greek and English.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis site was cash only and the tickets are €20, it's a long walk up a steep hill with uneven ground, so something to be aware of if you have mobility issues. The site contains a lot of historical sites, including temples and a theatre (think Amphitheatre). It felt like a long, steep walk up, although there was a water fountain and a toilet up at the top. It was interesting to see the Parthenon and learn more about its history from all the information provided. Lots of bits of column lying around too. The top of the Acropolis is very exposed, so take water and sun cream.

Parthenon

Piraeus

I took the metro out to Piraeus and Dimotiko Theatro. I walked down to the port to look at the ferries which go to various different Greek islands. There were a couple of nice Churches and buildings, but otherwise I didn't find a huge amount to do there.

Church in Piraeus

Syntagma/Monastiraki

These two metro stops provide good access to shopping. There is a mix of high end retail shops and smaller shops selling souvenirs. One area is called Plaka, but there are lots of side streets you can walk down and plenty of places to eat. There is also a flea market and access to the hop on - hop off sightseeing buses. I found that I could walk around for quite a while and still pass historical sites in Athens, such as the Temple of the Winds. There were also a number of Churches in the area, including the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.

I recommend planning what you want to do in advance to make the most of your visit. I did the Changing of the Guard, museum and Acropolis in one day. This left plenty of time to explore other areas of Athens and still spend some time by the hotel pool.

Moon rise from the hotel

Iceland

This was my first trip abroad in 3 years due to Covid. I booked an Iceland Air package including flights, hotel and 2 trips. They appear to have partnered with Reykjavic Excursions who also run the Flybus between the city hotels and the airport.

Moon rise over the glacier

They are very proud of their volcano which erupted last in 2010 and stopped international air travel. The pilot pointed it out as we flew into Iceland and it came up at least once on the tour.

Iceland in winter is very cold so I highly recommend plenty of layers. The food is really expensive, which is something to be aware of if you plan on eating out. My hotel was very basic with barely any facilities, so I spent most of my time there out and about. Apart from that Iceland is an absolutely beautiful country.

Reykjavic

I had a full day in Reykjavic, starting at the Northern Lights Centre which even came with a complimentary hot drink. It's quite a small centre but it tells you a lot abut the Northern Lights and how best to photograph them. There was even a set-up to allow you to practice and a photobooth that you could email yourself a photo from. This is definitely worth a visit, especially if you plan on going in search of the Northern Lights.

There are lots of other attractions near the centre and I chose the Whales of Iceland museum which is home to 23 life-size model whales. I watched an hour long documentary on sound pollution (shipping, military, oil etc.) in the sea and its impact on Marine life. Whilst it was a tad depressing it was very educational and I definitely learnt something. There are audio guides next to each model Whale to help you learn more about these beautiful creatures.

Model Whale

When I headed back towards the centre I visited the Icelandic Phallological Museum, or, as described on the tourist map - the Penis museum. I didn't really know what to expect but I felt it had to be visited, so off I went. It has a wide range of specimens of penis' from different animals, including a human one. There was lots of facts on each mammal and I actually found it quite interesting, if not very niche. They also have a café which specialises in penis shaped waffles, which again had to be done. The waffles were very nice and I had the Christmas one which I would certainly recommend.

Christmas Waffles

My next visit was to Hallgrims Church and went up the tower for a panoramic view of the city. It's quite modern and is very impressive. Inside was free to visit, but there was an admission fee for the tower.

Hallgrims Church

My final stop of the day was to Sundhöll geothermal pools. This was probably the cheapest thing I did and cost a fraction of some of the bigger, more well known spots. It has full facilities, including lockers and showers and is open from early morning to late evening. There is a steam room, plunge pool, hot tub and swimming pool. I definitely enjoyed this a lot and it's another thing I would highly recommend.

The below is a picture of the sculpture called the Sun Voyager which sits along the shoreline.

Northern Lights Tour

I did this tour which starts late evening and involves about an hours drive out of the city. I wasn't lucky enough to see the Northern Lights. Reykjavik Excursions do allow you to rebook onto the next available tour to try again if you don't see them. This did involve standing in a freezing cold car park in the dark for an hour and a half and I can't say I was in a rush to repeat that experience. Good place to get some night photography practice in though - got some lovely photos of scenery I couldn't even see.

Night photography of scenery I couldn't see without the photo.

The Golden Circle Tour

This was a day trip from Reykjavic Excursions with 4 decent length stops to visit some of Iceland's beautiful nature. The disadvantage of this is the places are all tourist attractions, so lots of coach parties were around at each stop. Again it could get very cold out, so go prepared.

The first stop was to Fridheimar which are greenhouses for growing tomatoes hydroponically under artificial lights. We were given a brief explanation of the business and on growing tomatoes in Iceland. They have a tomato themed bar, serving drinks and tomato soup, which was very nice.

Our second stop was to the geothermal area, with hot springs and a Geysir that erupts around every 5-10 minutes. It was absolutely stunning to see. I didn't make it round the full site because it was really icy and slippery - plus I don't own crampons. There is a visitor centre consisting of a shop and restaurant across the road to go and warm up in once you have visited the geothermal areas.

Hot springs in the geothermal area

We then stopped at Gullfoss which is an absolutely beautiful waterfall which can be viewed from a couple of different points. It's pretty spectacular, but another very cold stop.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Our last visit was to Gestastofa visitor centre, from which there a couple of different paths you can walk along and it links back to the start of democracy in Iceland. The views from here really were incredible. We were there as the sun was beginning to set over the glaciers and mountains which just added to the incredible views. I rate my photos, but they just don't so it justice.

One of the many stunning views

Suffolk Staycation

It's been a long time since I have been able to go anywhere due to the coronavirus pandemic, but we finally made it away for a short staycation in Suffolk, so here are my photographic highlights.

Sutton Hoo

Sutton Hoo is an Anglo-Saxon burial ground, made more famous by a Netflix film called 'The Dig'. Most of the artefacts are held by the British Museum in London, as some very significant objects were found here. It is set in some beautiful surroundings and there is a small exhibition building, but in all honesty there isn't masses to see here and the site itself is owned by the National Trust. It has an interesting history, it could just do with showcasing it more over the actual site. Nice place for a walk though.

Below is one of the burial mounds at the top of the site. Next door is a pig farm, which I found much more interesting.

This is a lifesize replica of the impression left by the boat under the burial mound in which the King was buried:

Woodbridge

Woodbridge is a town situated by water and by crossing the train line you can walk down by the Quayside, where we spotted a pair of Oyster Catchers (birds), which was a treat for my inner bird watcher, It has a collection of cafes and shops and is a pretty little town.

Oyster Catchers at the Quay

Sculpture at Woodbridge Quay Church

Southwold

Southwold comes with all the great aspects of the English coast; brightly coloured beach huts, a pier complete with an amusement arcade and a great high street for shopping. It is also home to Adnams brewery, which although we didn't visit, we could certainly smell.

Southwold Beach Huts

The pier not only has a great cafe, but is also home to this water clock, which on windy days you have to be careful walking around if you wish to stay dry. Every half an hour the water drains and the figures shorts fall down :) which makes it all the more entertaining.

Southwold Pier Cafe - just take a moment to admire my hot chocolate :)

Southwold also seem to have taken to knitting hats for all of their post boxes, which make for great amusement and photography. This one is a beehive but I also saw one with a Church and another with a Seagull. Brilliant for a good game of eye spy.

Dunwich 

Dunwich used to be a large costal town with a population of around 4000, however much of it has fallen into the sea and only a permanent population of around 50 remain. It comes with a beachside cafe and a small museum and appears very popular with visitors.

It used to be home to several Churches, although all by St James' have been lost to the sea. In the Churchyard of St James' is a pillar from All Saint's Church which was relocated just before it fell into the sea in the 1920s and the remains of St James' Leper Hospital, seen below.

St James' Leper Hospital

St James' Church

Boxford is a village, but it is home to what is recorded to be Britain's oldest shop dating back to 1420 which sits next to a rather nice cafe. It is a regular village shop, but it has labelled a lot of it's produce with a sticker for the tourists visiting Britain's oldest recorded shop.

Sudbury

Sudbury is a much larger market town with lots to do, including a Church in the town centre and lots of shops.

Road Trip to the Eden Project

Avebury

Avebury village comes with a neolithic stone circle and Europe's largest artificial mound at Silsbury Hill. This stands opposite Long Barrow burial mound. The mounds are visible from the main road and there are some conveniently located lay-by's if you want to explore them further. Avebury henge is accessed from the National Trust car park which allows you to walk around the stone circle and into the village and the museum. I can recommend the National Trust cafe's cream tea. On the way out we saw a chalk white horse carved into the hillside at Cherhill, just next to the Obelisk. It's the 3rd oldest in the UK, but it is tricky to spot from the road.

Silsbury Hill

Avebury Henge

Bristol

Bristol is home to the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. This can be accessed from a view point near to the Zoo, but we also had a good scenic view from a lay-by on the outskirts of Bristol.

We also visited SS Great Britain, a merchant ship launched in 1843 and built by Brunel which was once the longest passenger ship in the world. The car park costs about £2 for for 2 hours, but can be redeemed with a ticket to the boat. We felt the tickets were a tad pricey so we looked at the ship from over a fence.

Bristol Aerospace has a car park and is home to the last Concorde to land, with over 5000 flights to the aircraft. The Concorde has it's own hanger and associated displays, allowing you to walk through the famous aircraft. The main museum is testament to the planes built at Bristol throughout WW1 through to the modern day, with Airbus and Rolls Royce buildings located nearby. It is interactive so is good for all the family to enjoy.

Bath

I recommend Bath as a city to visit, with all the main tourist attractions in close proximity to each other. The Roman Baths and the Abbey are central places to visit. The Baths are laid out as they would have been and the pump room has water from the spring (which doesn't taste great) and is a great way to learn about Roman history. Bath Abbey is beautiful and you can take a tour up to the Tower, taking you onto the Abbey's roof and earning you some great city views.
We walked along the river to see Poultney Bridge and then up to the circus and Royal Crescent, a crescent of terraced houses. This stands next to the park which is in itself very pretty. I had a super chocolaty brownie in a chocolate shop whilst my dad visited the neighboring fudge shop.

Poultney Bridge

Bath Abbey

If you like literature there is also the Jane Austen Museum amongst other places to visit. I recommend the glass factory which comes with demonstrations and lets you blow a glass bubble.

Cheddar Gorge

Unfortunately I did not get to visit Cheddar Gorge so just drove through the site. This is home to some incredible cliffs and caves and is definitely somewhere I need to go back and visit. Parking is £5 for the whole day and there is a little street of shops to visit and have lunch. Great place for walkers and explorers.

Cheddar Gorge

Rodney Stokes

Rodney Stokes is a thankful village, meaning all those who went to fight in WW1 returned. In this case 17 men and 4 women. The village church has dedicated thanksgiving window which makes for an emotive piece of history.

Wells

Wells Cathedral is home to a medieval stained glass window, called the Jesse window and an astronomical clock from circa 1390. It is built with magnificent scissor arches and is a stunning piece of Medieval architecture. The cathedral stands at the end of a busy high street with lots of shops and places to eat.

Wells Cathedral

Astronomical Clock

Glastonbury

Glastonbury is better known for its festival but is home to a Tor (so good for walkers) and the ruins of an old Abbey. The high street has a number of shops which spill out the sense of incense into the street.

Exeter

We stayed in Exeter to allow us to visit the Eden Project in Cornwall. On our way here from Bristol we drove through Cheddar Gorge, which has incredible cliffs and caves and is certainly worth a visit in its own right. Exeter is full of history and home to Exeter Cathedral which is also very impressive. There is a lego model of the cathedral being built inside the Cathedral which stands opposite St Martins' Church which was consecrated in 1065. The city walls are visible from nearby Northernhay Gardens and there is a lot of shopping available. We enjoyed a brilliant cream tea from a cafe overlooking the Cathedral called Tea on the Green. The Mill on the Exe is a riverside pub with great food and a lovely atmosphere, which I also recommend.

Exeter Cathedral

St Martin's Church

Eden Project

The Eden Project is built in a disused clay pit and now consists of two biomes and an expansive outdoor space. The first of the biomes is dedicated to Mediterranean plants and contains lots of flowers, fruits and vegetables. The second is a rain-forest with Malaysian Rhul Rhul birds to help manage the cockroach population and acting as natural insecticides. The female birds look like mangoes with black heads, whilst the males are black with red crests and live freely inside the biome. There is a cattle grid to stop them escaping, but I am reliably informed that they don't like the cold so tend to retreat back inside pretty quickly. There is lots of information around the site, so it is certainly an educational place to visit. It is also home to a collection of artwork, such as an electronic crowd and a very cute wire Orangutan.

Eden Project Biomes

Rainforest

Mediteranean

Female Rhul Rhul

Salisbury

This was a flying visit on our drive home having driven past Stonehenge on our way down the A303. We visited Salisbury Cathedral which has a facsimile of the Magna Carta on display in one of the alcoves. The font is a modern piece of artwork and sits proudly near the entrance.

Prague, Czech Republic

My dad and I visited Prague for 3 nights in order to go and visit the Christmas markets. I had looked at maps of Prague, but struggled with the language and resorted to a decent guide book. At Prague airport we bought a 72 hour travelcard, which covered us for buses, metros and trams. This came in useful as my dad LOVES a bus ride.

Namesti Miru

Our hotel the Clarion was located a short walk from 2 metro stations on different lines and had a tram stop a few doors down. The hotel was comfortable and had a decent breakfast buffet, with a very helpful receptionist.

So what did we do?

We visited a couple of Christmas markets which were all beautifully decorated and enjoyed honey wine. I also tried Trdelnik, or chimney cake which is cooked on a spit over a fire. I recommend both very highly.

We took a road train from the Old Town which took us through the Jewish quarter (Josefov) and up towards Prague castle. It took about 45 mins and cost 280Kc each, but was a nice way to spend some time. The famous Astronomical clock is tucked around the side of one of the Churches in the Old Town Square, but is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and definitely worth a visit. We took a walk along the river which lent itself to some lovely views, including one of a replica of the Eiffel Tower up on the hill.

The Astronomical Clock

Wencelas Square (also known as Vaclavske namesti) is a great place to go out for restaurants and shops. We came here in the evenings to find a place for dinner and it had a great view of the museum with a statue of King Wencelas in front of it. Down at the Mustek end was a great sweet shop; Candy Miners. Words don't do it justice, so if you are ever in Prague go and experience it for yourself - it's worth it.

Walking up to Prague Castle

We also visited the Prague Castle complex, although we didn't buy a ticket to go inside any of the buildings. The site has a grand castle at its centre and some very nice architecture. Whichever way you get there the castle is stood proudly at the top of a hill, but the view from the entrance was definitely worth the effort. The view over Prague with lots of Church spires and the TV tower was lovely (and it was downhill all the way to the tram stop). Opposite the tram stop is a memorial for WW2 in the form of a sculpture of the Czech flag.

View from Prague Castle

So only a quick visit, but certainly an enjoyable one. The flight from London took less than 90 minutes so it's perfect for a short weekend city break.

Sri Lanka 2019

After two and a half years since I was last in Sri Lanka I decided it was time for another visit to this stunning country. The visa fees have been waived for a few months as the country tries to encourage the tourists back after the incidents at Easter this year, especially as the tourism industry is the main employment industry in Sri Lanka. I was frivolous and had a driver to take me around, saving me from public transport but costing me a fair bit. My driver took me to places I both had and had not heard of and was able to explain about the different places we passed through.

Colombo

I didn't spend long in Colombo and stayed in two different hotels along marine drive which runs along the coast. The first night I stayed at the OZO which had a good buffet breakfast overlooking the Indian Ocean. You didn't need a sea view room as you could go up to the roof terrace which has an infinity pool and bar and then breakfast came with a view. 

I spent the afternoon with my friend and we visited a number of places, including a mall, dilmah tea lounge and Independence Square. The lotus communication tower is now coloured with a green stem and pink flower in the centre of Colombo (when I visited Colombo in 2017 it was still all white) and is the largest self supporting structure in South Asia.

Independence Square

Lotus Tower

               

My final night in Sri Lanka was spent at the Marino Beach Hotel which was absolutely incredible. The large roof terrace has an infinity pool and a garden and was just stunning. The room was modern with a complimentary mini bar and a view over the city and the sea. The hotel provides access to a shopping mall, which is home to a 9D cinema and a virtual reality gaming centre.

Millennium Elephant Foundation

I was taken to the Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF) in Kegalle having expressed my love of elephants. The aim of the MEF is to improve the welfare of domesticated elephants in Sri Lanka. They have a little 'museum' to tell you about the foundation and the elephants. They have the only elephant born to a domesticated elephant in Sri Lanka and are also sponsored by Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer. They have a choice of packages for visitors or you can volunteer and go for a longer period of time and help to look after the elephants. My visit was short but very interactive and I definitely had a naughty elephant who decided I needed a shower (gravel and all), luckily there was a shower I could use to rinse out the gravel and change - if you do visit take a towel and a change of clothes just in case.

Passikudah and Trincomalee

The public beach in Passikudah was actually nicer than the hotel's bit of beach. I did not find a huge amount to do in Passikudah and stayed by the hotel pool enjoying the good weather.

We had a day trip to Trincomalee and visited a large Hindu temple at Fort Frederick. The temple was intricately decorated and very colourful with a large statue outside. It is to one of the God's associated with fertility and there were little wooden cots tied up everywhere where people had been praying for a baby. Whilst most of Fort Frederick appears to no longer be there the fort gate still stands and inside the complex there are a lot of deer.

Temple statue

Example of the little wooden cots

Trincomalee beach

From Nirali beach we took a boat to Pigeon Island. This island is protected and you have to pay a $25 fee to be allowed to go over to the island. We hired a boat and snorkeling equipment from a hotel and I spent the afternoon snorkeling from the beach of Pigeon Island. There is a beach either side of the island from which you can snorkel, although I saw much more on one side than the other. I was lucky that someone took pity on my lack of confidence and came out with me, enabling me to see turtles and a shark along with lots of pretty fish and corals. Everyone in Sri Lanka is so friendly and they didn't want me missing out.

Turtle

Ella

I stayed at the Ekho Ella which was a beautiful hotel with a view over Ella rock and Little Adams Peak. The room had a train theme and the hotel was located a short walk to the bars and restaurants of Ella. 

View of Ella Rock from hotel room

On the way in to Ella we visited the Halpewatte tea factory and despite being out of season you could still go on a tour of the factory. There was a tea tasting session with the 4 types of black tea produced and a little shop selling their tea in very tourist friendly packaging.

We visited the Demodora 9 arch bridge, which has a train line running across it. It is free to visit and I felt much safer by the fact there was a train strike. The bridge is a bit of a trek to access but it is located in a very scenic spot in the valley with tea plantations nearby. We also visited Ravana waterfall which is just beautiful with a little viewing platform too. There was a man with a street food stall selling wedges of fresh mango which were delicious. My driver also took me to visit Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery which is at the top of one of the hills. The monastery itself is still being built but the view was lovely and there is a model of how it will look.

Demodora 9 arch bridge

Ravana Falls

Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

Ella is also popular for hiking and we went to Little Adams Peak. This is actually made up of 4 peaks but due to my lack of fitness I actually only made it over 2 of the peaks. It overlooks Ella rock (which you can also hike up) and is really pretty. If you are adventurous it is also home to Sri Lanka's longest zip line, with 2 lines spanning over half a kilometer and located near the top of Little Adams Peak.

View from Little Adams Peak

My lovely driver took me to see one of his relatives for a cooking lesson and whilst I wasn't very helpful it was really interesting to see the preparation of the fresh food over 2 gas rings and an open fire. The curries made were absolutely delicious - Sri Lankan food is incredible and has so much flavour to it.

Sri Lankan Cuisine

Security

People asked me a lot about security before and whilst I was away. The hotels in Colombo scanned your bags whenever you arrived at a hotel and there were 5 security points to pass between being allowed into the airport complex to actually getting on the plane. I felt safe wherever I went and was not hassled when I went out alone. The only problem I had was being out of season I was the only person staying in one of the hotels which meant I felt a bit watched, but certainly not unsafe.

View from Little Adams Peak