Around the World in Nine Years

Olivia and Pat Murphy set off in 1999 in their 41ft Sloop called Aldebaran. I worked with Olivia in the Irish Red Cross. They set off in 1999 and crossed the Atlantic. They spent quite some time cruising the Caribbean, visiting the Islands and kept sending back reports of their adventures. After about a year they passed through the Panama canal, visiting the Galapagos and many other islands on the way to New Zealand. During the years They both returned to Ireland for Weddings, Births and to catch up with friends. They also spent quite a long time in Australia in a camper van. Their trip continued along Indonesia, Singapore, Malasia and Thailand. In 2007 they made the perilous passage from Thailand to Turkey via “Pirate Alley” in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. They finally arrived back in Ireland late this Summer.
They have their own website www.patandolivia.com

Cafe in Lisbon

There are so many cafes in Lisbon, so much choice from fresh fish restaurants, cafes selling home made soup for 60 cent, Portugal also has their own local versions of MacDonalds with local meals and a drink and a dessert for really good prices, about 6.00 Euro I think. Above the Baixa Chaido Metro station there was 4 floors of small cafes and restaurants both local and american types to please all tastes and budgets. On the first night we arrived quite late so stumbled upon the centre over the Metro station, The local cafe was a tiny bit like McDonalds but much better food and offered beer and wine included in the meal. Cafe was also spotless as seemed most cafes in Lisbon. The Santa Justa Elevator is a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower with excellent views of the City and also has a little Cafe serving snacks and drinks. Thats about it for 2008, have started looking for new places to go in 2009. Also hope to get a few more Family stories but awaiting input from family historian.

December 2008 Lisbon

Went to Lisbon last year but returned again, its a good place to visit in Winter or anytime. We visited mainly the same places. We went on a boat trip across to Cahicas and got another boat back to Belem. Went to Sintra, this time went to to historic area, it was mainly full of shops and cafes. The castle is Sintra is up a very steep hill and simply too many steps there. So gave it a miss this year. On Sunday we discovered there is a Parade of Horseguards in Belem, unfortunately it was finishing just as we arrived.

Views of Lisbon

Famous Cafe in Lisbon, and night time photo of the castle overlooking Lisbon.

Lisbon II

Going back to Lisbon in November. Have seen many interesting places in Lisbon but you can always find something interesting and new places when you return to a city. Staying quite central but not in the same Hotel as before. Last year stayed in a very central and cheap Hotel but decided to pay extra and try elsewhere. The offer of free wireless internet clinched it for me. Mum is still recovering from her Knee Op so Lisbon is a good choice for easy transport links and we know the area from previous visits.

Last year went on a ferry to the other side of the river to Cahicas, and hope to go again, plenty to see there and loads of fish restaurants and old cafes. Might get a ferry back to Belem, a town about 3 km from Central Lisbon and full of Restaurants, cafes and several Museums. Hope to go back to Sintra, plenty to see and do there and plenty of shops selling all kinds of Christmas tat and cheap presents. Mum loves those shops and brings back loads of crap. I got presents in Sintra for some friends last year so I hope they ant reading this.

Hope to try some new Restaurants and return to one we enjoyed last time.

Travel Mistakes

I always do loads of planning before booking any trips. Not all plans work out. For the last trip thought it be a good idea to stay in Mestre, near Venice, Italy. Deliberately looked for a Hotel near the railway for ease of travel. Looked up 'trip advisor' which is a usually very good source. The 'Club' Hotel was supposed to be about 100 metres from the railway. Actual distance is 1.5 km and the Hotel itself doesn't claim to be 100m away. The Hotel however fails to mention the fact that it is completely isolated from the town and at night there is only one Trattoria or Cafe. I knew in advance that trattoria was poor as I had read several reviews saying to avoid. Run by an Italian cousin of Basil Fawlty, he is or was too busy laying out tables to take orders and he made us wait 30 minutes before coming over to take our order. Another 30 minutes our meals arrived. Not really bad but it all tasted like it was heated up and not fresh and of course expensive. Most evenings we avoided it except to buy an ice cream or a take away coffee.
I did walk one evening to see how long it took back to civilization. It did take about 30 minutes including a walk under a motorway through an underpass full of grafetti and unmentionable smells.
Another long held plan was to go to Trieste on Train and apart from visiting the sights go up to the hill above Trieste to Opicina via the Funicular Tram. Unfortunately following an expensive overhaul the tram has suffered numerous breakdowns and runaways so has been closed for repairs. It looks as if the money spent was mainly wasted and apparently the inferior cables installed have completely broken down. Instead we got a bus which took us along a similar route to Opicina. Even finding the tram initially was difficult as the sign posts point you in the wrong direction. Possibly 'they' do not want you to find it and hope to close it down due to lack of patronage. A local Bus driver was very helpful and told us where to go for the replacement bus service and told us to enjoy our holiday. So not all service workers went to the Basil Fawlty School of Charm. 'We' had a similar Tram in Ireland serving the Hill of Howth, it closed down before I was born as there was no money to renovate it despite it being a tourist attraction.

Extra. One week later after visit to Trieste the tramway re opened! Bad timing?

Venice

After London was time to return to Italy. Booked to stay in Mestre and planned to go to nearby Venice and other cities. On the first night arrived at Marco Polo Airport. We were sold the wrong tickets at Airport for a non existant bus service, so along with others got on another Bus going to Mestre. Luckily Italian Bus companies rarely send inspectors. Anyhow arriving in Mestre holding the directions to the hotel, we eventually decided to get a taxi. Turned out the directions were completly wrong and the Hotel had mysteriously moved 1.2 km further along the road. The only real bad point of the hols was the difficulty getting buses back to the hotel and we eventually gave up and got a taxi. We did all the main Islands of Venice, Burano, Murano and Lido. Also spent a pleasant day in Trieste which was about 160 km away on a train journey. We also 'did' Padua and Treviso. Unfortunately on the final day it rained and thundered all day so we just went early to the Airport and waited and waited and waited.

London

Went over to London for a few days. Seem to always do the same things and visit same places. Visited a few new places this time. having rad a magazine article I paid a visit to a couple of 1950's style Italian Cafes, 1 in Bethnal Green and the other near Fulham Football Ground. the one in Bethnal Green , E. Pellicci has been listed by the local council planners. Inside the Interior is decked out in Wood Marketry and hasnt changed in 50 years. The food is all 'greasy Spoon' type but cooked just right. Also full of locals chatting like a real life version of 'Eastenders'
. http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/Pelliccifeature.htm
The other cafe the Riverside Cafe is right outside the bus station and Tube at Fulham. Again well worth a visit for the food the decor and athmosphere. If your going to a city for a second or third visit its well worth researching more unusual things to do. Another cafe well worth a visit is the Ace Cafe. Its a modern version of a 50's 'Transport' cafe where car and biker nuts meets ever night.

Nice in Nice

Never been to Nice or that part of France but Mum went there many times with Dad years ago. Having found the usual goodish deal on flights also got a good deal on Hotel as well and near the main street in Central Nice. Nothing really wrong with the accomodation except the french obsession with never painting rooms or replacing carpets until completly worn out. However it was very central right beside the new Tram and train stations. You could probably spend more time in Nice but me and Mum planned a few trips to Cannes, Grasse, Monaco and up the mountains to Tende. On the flight over from Dublin there was some delay landing so we circled the general area several times and one of the Air Stewards gave us a running commentary and also telling us how lucky we all were to be staying in Nice and to enjoy the cuisine.
Never been one for expensive meals but in Nice there is no shortage of reasonable Restaurants and there were at least 20 such right beside our Hotel. On The first night we went past a small Restaurant that was fairly packed unlike most in the area and decoded to try it the next night. The meals were nearly all a set meal, starter, main course and dessert. Wine was extra. Amazingly the food and drink was less than 20 euro each and have to say it was the freshest and best meal I have had for years. The next night that Restaurant was closed so we tried another across the street. Only slightly more expensive. Slightly meaning one Euro. However the meal was as good as the previous night. Not a proper survey but a 100% success rate there.
Another day we went on a train to Tende. Its called the Train de Mervilles and it follows the old Salt route over the mountains to italy. The Train goes further into Cuneo but was too far for one day trip. In Tende we eat outside with rolls and cakes from the local shop. More to follow.