Plans

Next two holidays are already booked. Just done up a map of the places in Europe already visited and marked up the places I hope to return to or visit for the first time. Some places are nice to go again and sometimes I missed something such as the little Blue tram in Barcelona was closed when I visited last Spring. In Porto thy had just opened a new Metro but more interestingly they had started building a new 'Old' tram route in the City Centre but had run out of money. That route opened in 2008. Perhaps on a holiday to Lisbon we could get a train up to Porto and spend a day in Porto and get to see the centre via the old Trams, then stop of at the Cafe Majestic and back to Lisbon.
When In Germany I hoped to go on an old Steam train called the Vulkan Express near Brohl, but arrived on the wrong day so had to make do with a visit to Königswinter, which was a delightful old village which had its own cog wheel railway up to the top of the Drachenfels Hill. So not a wasted journey at all and an excuse to return.
Was in Mallorca a few times but never managed to go to Palma except for a quick tour. Years ago Mum and Dad were there and they went on the Soller Tram and Dad always said to go on it. Its more of a train really and its really the scenery and the twists and turns on the way to Soller that are of interest. I actually got as far as the Tram station but my friends wanted to get back to Santa Ponsa.
Still have plenty of places to see over in the U.K. and having been watching a T.V. series of British Railway Journeys has given me more ideas. Just hope the BBC don't commission some new series of Great European Railway Journeys or I will be traveling forever.

Venice and Trieste

Booked a holiday for March. Booked on Air Lingus flight rather than Ryanair. Both have extras to add but somehow Air Lingus now nearly as cheap and less extras and stupid fees etc and easier to get through the booking process. Also got a good hotel in Mestre which is a short bus ride into Venice itself. Last time in Mestre got caught out by the Hotel being much further away than advertised from the centre and buses ran infrequently so we had to get a taxi several times. Also at night there was only one Trattatoria nearby which was run using the Basil Fawlty school of Restauranteuring. We managed to get seated but then the Waiters had to tidy up all the empty tables and after about 15 minutes decided to take our order. Another 30 minutes or so later we finally got our order which was completly bland and cold. We only went back to get ice cream to take away.
This year in Mestre they have opened a new Tram line which goes past our Hotel. However rather like in Dublin the tram doesnt yet reach the Airport and its also stops about 500m away from the bus station. Eventually it is supposed to reach Venice but thats still a long way away.
Last time in Venice we went to Trieste and hope to go again. Last time in Trieste I wanted to go on the Opicina Tram but alas it was broken down and we had to make do with bus which did however still bring us up to a mountain view looking down over Trieste.
One place we have not gone to is Vicenza which supposed to be another beautiful town to visit. Also some of the smaller Islands of Venice might be worth exploring.