Bucket List: Gibralter

After travelling to and around to different places in Spain, Gibraltar has become a place that I really want to visit. I don't know whether it is due to it being so close to Africa, it's warm climate or the fact that is has cool monkeys, I just really want to visit it! 
Gibraltar is situated on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula and is the

entrance and exit to the Mediterranean sea. The only real border that Gibraltar shares is in the north with the Spanish Province of Cadiz in Andalusia. Considering it's attachment to Spain, Gibraltar is in fact a British Territory. Although Spanish assert a claim over the territory and the fact it belongs to Britain, in 2006, under the Gibraltar Constitution of 2006, Gibraltar now rules its own affairs up to its affairs over defense and foreign affairs which remain with Britain.
Really Quick History lesson:
During World War 2, Gibraltar was a key factor in the Allies' fight over the Nazi-dominated Mediterranean territory, Gibraltar is the entrance and exit point for the Mediterranean so it made it easier to contain the fight within the Mediterranean sea. The people of Gibraltar were evacuated and due to General Franco's insistence of Germany not being allowed on Spanish soil, disrupted the Nazi's plan to invade Gibraltar.
Gibraltar became known as the Pillar of Hercules, after greek legend suggests that Gibraltar was fashioned by Hercules.
To-date, considering it is such a small nation with only 32,000 approx. people, Gibraltar is twinned with 4 cities; Ballymena (Northern Ireland), Funchal (Portugal), Singapore and Gibraltar (Venezuela).

Things to do and see in Gibraltar:

• The Rock of Gibraltar: A great place to go and get a view of the Bay, Morocco and Spain. The rock is also home to a lot of Monkeys!!
• The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens: This place in pictures looks absolutely beautiful and definitely a top place I'd like to go and see.
• Wildlife and Animal Watching: It seems like a cool adventure to go out and not only see the monkeys on the island but to also go out into the water and see the dolphins and whales that live in the bay.
• Cable cars: To get a cable car tour, although I hear it is quite expensive, would be a cool, relaxed way to get a look over the bay and the whole
  
  territory of Gibraltar.
• Catalan Bay: This beach seems like a great place to unwind. Seeing an unspoiled beach is rare these days and the water, at least in the pictures, look very beautiful.
• The Architecture: I'd like to take a look around and see what kind of architecture Gibraltar has, whether it is Spanish influenced, British influenced or if it has a totally unique style of architecture.
• The Commonwealth Park: I've heard of this place before and from pictures I have seen, seems like a very nice place to relax and pan out under the sun with a nice drink.
• Food: Being a coastal place, I'd love to try and see if there are many unique food in Gibraltar.

Pic Credit: spain-travel, puretravel, sunborntravel

There is quite a bit to do in Gibraltar and many nice things to see. And when I go to Spain again, I will not skip it! It is a must!

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If you guys want more information or an itinerary on any of my bucket list destinations, leave a comment.

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Travelling To Italy: Part 2

The day after arriving in Italy, it was kind of fun waking up with windows open and not die from the cold. The cool breeze coming in along with the nice warm temperature was quite perfect, to be fair. It was just gone 9am and in came the brother of my friend. Have you ever been woken up and not know where you are? It was having one of those moments. Having someone asking me to play

video games and not knowing where I was, I was lowkey having a mini heart attack, which soon subsided as I realized where I was. 
The first morning consisted of looking around the neighborhood of where my friends house was. Rural-ish Italy is probably the most beautiful place for scenic views in the world. The way the whole town revolved around the valleys and the way the whole place looked in around the mountainous area was quite spectacular. In the early afternoon, my friend and I decided to go to town and he would then show me around. 
We got to town and drove down the typical Italian streets that you would see on tv or something which was quite cool. To see how the Italian people would go about their day to day business was interesting and to see how they would walk right in front of moving vehicles with disregard for safety was quite fun too.
Our first stop was to this quite old museum. The museum is the home of paper and watermarks. This museum dates back to the 12th Century which focuses on the process of handmade papermaking and watermarks of Medieval Italy. The museum was really cool as it gave real demonstrations and show the process of

making paper, which was said to stem from the Arab nations, is done. The museum had a beautiful courtyard with a nice fountain in the middle. It was cool to see how they made the paper and the whole process involved.
The rest of the afternoon was actually really relaxing and nice. My friend and I walked around the center park of Fabriano that had a place called Chalet. The Chalet is a gazebo-like structure in the center of the square that had a bar and refreshment stand. The warm air with a cool breeze made walking around the park really nice, especially when you had a granita in your hand. A granita is a semi-frozen dessert drink that is made from sugar, water and whatever flavor you like. It's basically a slushy but with fresh juices. Sitting down under the sun seemed like the perfect time to call anyone who would become jealous when I told them what I was doing, starting with my sister of course.
We continued to look down around the main Piazza. The square hustled with

the coming and going of people going around on their business. And that was was when my stomach started to complain from lack of food. So, it being Italy, why not go for pizza. I asked where was the nicest pizzeria was, and to my greatest luck, the pizzeria was about 50 steps away! And going from my story about Madrid, you all know how important food is to me. Like even spelling the word food makes me emotional, to be completely honest). The pizzeria was called "Pizzeria del Podestá" and it was not the biggest place, but thats what I liked about it. It was small, but it had a lot of customers, which must have proven how good the pizza was! The pizzas were on display and each one were as tempting as the next, the tears at this stage were almost coming down my face. I ordered two slices of different pieces and a drink which came to €2.50. The two slices of pizza I ordered were the basic Margherita pizza and the Pizza al Proscuitto. No joke I almost passed out at the low price. We sat and ate. Let me tell you. The pizza was a godsend. It was absolute bliss in my mouth which again, gave me an emotional experience. The margherita pizza was better than I had tried besides the homemade one I had the night before and the Proscuitto pizza was absolute deliciousness.
After dinner, it was again, time to walk around and see the town in the evening, and while the sun was setting, it made for the perfect backdrop. After spending time strolling about, my friend turned and said "Oh, we were invited to a party and we will go there now!". I was nowhere near in a fit state to meet people. After walking around all afternoon, I was clammy and not dressed to party in anyway at all. Thankfully on the way down to the venue, I managed to run into a pharmacy and freshen up a bit.
We got to the wine bar where this party was being held. It was the 18th birthday of a friend of my friend. The bar was a real swanky kind of place. Some

monochrome, some class paneling, chandeliers and other cool trimming that made this place seem like a luxury restaurant. The name of it was VM18 and it was a really nice place, high ceilings and all, The party was in full swing, and I was impressed to have gotten a free token. I went and introduced myself to the birthday girl and the other guests who already knew who I was, oddly. I walked around and chatted to different people, not very well because my Italian was non-existent but from body language interpretation, they were glad to meet an Irish person... I think. It was cool to see how Italians do their birthday parties and to see what kind of traditions they have for them. As they sang happy birthday, I was over with the food. They had mini pizzas, mini burgers... just mini everything on massive platters. Emotions were extreme at this point.
That night, sleep was easily achieved as my legs were worn out! Between walking throughout the town and dancing at the party, my poor little legs were tired.
*Pic credit: Pinterest, tripwolf.com*
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Stay tuned for more on my stay in Fabriano and recommendations!
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How to: Travel on a Budget

When travelling, money becomes the dominant fear factor. Whether you'll have enough to do an activity AND eat or having to choose between this and that because you spent too much the day before. It's all a constant struggle (Believe me, I've used the "Eh, I'm tired, I'll pass" excuse but really had no

money). So to avoid having to be totally wary of money, here are five top tips to get by on a budget:

1) Know what you're bringing and budget in advance: Planning out the cost requirements of your trip beforehand- Where you will go, what does it cost etc. will help you decide how much you plan to spend daily and if you'll have money to spare. If backpacking, it's safe to stick to a cheaper daily budget so that you can keep money for more places. Reading reviews from previous travellers to the area will help shape the state of your wallet and which areas are more expensive.

2) Avoid tourist heavy places when dining: It is known that areas with dense tourist populations i.e London, Paris and New York, you would expect to pay highly for a meal. Businesses shape their menus and retail prices because they depend on the demand of the tourist to spend money. Take Madrid for example, in the main areas like Sol or Gran Via that are heavy with hotels and hostels, the restaurants close by will hike up prices for tourists and expect to make money. But take a five minute walk away from the tourist heavy areas and go to side streets, you will find local restaurants that sell good quality food for lower prices, and that is where your money will stretch, is on finding low priced places to eat. Which means you must be open to trying local food!

3) Try learning the language and barter: If you are travelling to a country that doesn't speak your language, chances are that street vendors and places that aren't price regulated will do their best to make a high dollar from you. So

learning snippets of the language and learning how to barter would save you from getting ripped off easily and may even save yourself some money!

4) Accommodation Variety: Just because you have money initially doesn't necessarily mean you need to stay in high quality, high priced accommodation because that splash of cash may be what stops you from doing an activity! Look at staying in hostels, couch surfing or taking friends up on an offer to stay at their house! It saves money, you will get tips on where are the best places to visit and has a friendlier atmosphere than some hotels!

5) A biased opinion of course, but the most important- Travel Blogs and Review Sites: Travel blogs give advice on where to go and may give you helpful hints on the area you are staying in, Better ways to save money and maybe even itineraries for you. Review sites will give you feedback on places to go, how to get there and the affordability, which could save you making a financial mistake!

*PIC CREDIT: elmolinoonline, derekpando.com*

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I hope these tips prove useful to you! These tips are what I've learned myself or have heard from people who travel!

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If you have any other tips, feel free to comment or email and tell me what you think!

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Travelling to Italy- Introduction

Summer 2014 had just started and sure, I was going into my last year of school, the year that decided whether I'd be going to college and instead of putting time into studying for my exams and getting focused for the year ahead or even getting a job. What I decided to do instead was to travel to Italy to visit and stay with a friend for the majority of the month of June and forget my responsibilities while I still could.
To start with how this trip came about, I became friends with an Italian dude who came to my school to study English for a year, and he happened to be in a majority of my classes. He was a funny guy and integrated with the other foreign students, Irish students and myself quite well so it wasn't particularly hard to become friends with him. 
In January 2014, his parents and his brother came to Ireland to visit my friend and during their visit I got the pleasure of going with them to see Bunratty castle in County Clare. And during this trip, we visited a place that is a landmark for Irish history and it gave me a chance to get to know my friends family and friends. During the trip, the offer came about about going to Italy during the summer to stay with them, which I took with a pinch of salt as I've been offered to go many places but never considered going or thought the offer is genuine. My friends mother however, insisted on me going and in an intimidating manner, made me vow to visit over the summer.
Going home that evening, I spoke to my father about the day and how my friends mother had invited me to Italy. Jokingly I asked "Would it be okay if I went?". To my surprise my dad responded "I don't see why not". I had a mini freak attack at that moment. Travelling on my own to Italy. The idea was so cool to think about. I got home and began looking online for the best times to go to Italy and all that jazz. After a month or two of not focusing on school work and thinking about my trip, it was decided that I would fly out to Italy after my summer examinations.
The suspense was literally the worst. And then finally. It came to the 11th of June. As if going away wasn't bad enough, Dad had to drive me to Dublin Airport at 2am, which I'm sure he enjoyed thoroughly. At about 5am I made it to Dublin Airport, super excited and tired but mostly excited to travel Italia! The flight felt like it was taking forever and I got the seat beside a screaming kid which was super fun. So sleep was not visited on my flight but constant phases of zoning out was happening a lot until the bright sun of Rome appeared. 
I disembarked the plane and made my way through the airport like a lost puppy. Not knowing where to go as I don't speak Italian. So taking wild guesses at every turn to firstly find my luggage was a fun challenge and then the task of getting my big case and finding the exit was another fun challenge. My life is just a constant challenge. Eventually I managed to make it through immigration and out to the arrivals doors. Looking around, I couldn't see my friend and his father who were meant to be picking me up. "I'm alone in Rome. Just my luck" Was my first thought. "I'll probably die here" was another thought. Thankfully that 30 seconds passed and my friend came in through the airport door, which halted the thoughts of the awful ways I could die in Italy. What my friend failed to mention was that his house was actually 3 hours away from Rome by car on the east coast. Which is exactly as long as it sounds. But I will say, the views of the valleys and towns we past by was absolutely breathtaking. The scenery and views made the trip seem not so long. 
The place we were heading to was a town called Fabriano. I'll give more detail on Fabriano later.
We finally made it to the house of my friend after what felt like forever in the car. The area my friend lived was quaint and just outside the town, so you could hear the crickets and stuff. Surrounding his house was the most amazing views of mountainous areas I have seen. The whole place just felt very authentic. The rest of the afternoon/evening that was left consisted of lounging around in the sun to shake off the jetlag and just basking in the Italian air. That was until dinner was served. No word of a lie, four homemade pizzas placed in front of me. I thought my lifelong wish had come true. 
Surrounded by Italian company, eating homemade pizza and having real Italian wine, it was kind of a special moment that all tourists should experience sometime.
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Sligo: Strandhill Beach

Today was another interesting day in the course of Tourism with Event

Management. One of the interesting modules done at the course in IT Sligo is Adventure Tourism, which not only looks at the theory and trends in Adventure Tourism in Ireland as a niche market but gives us an experience of adventure

tourism and shows us what its like for businesses and tourists in the growing

adventure meccas of Ireland, Sligo, which is becoming the Adventure Capital of Ireland and North West Europe.Today's class was not short of adventure. 
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Getting to college was a lovely trek with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. A usual morning I thought and we'd be caught in torrential rain. Today was the day we got to venture out to Strandhill Beach, outside of Sligo Town, to

perform a dry run of our teambuilding activity which would be used for real clients on the following Wednesday. It was a group assignment and although it was a project, a light-hearted approach was taken towards the whole task, to make it fun as well as a project requirement.
After the theory class, we all congregated at the entrance to the college, The sun was still out and it was actually warm. Everyone sprawled across the plaza of the main entrance, a guy playing the pan flute which created a lovely rustic vibe throughout the plaza and echoed across the campus. The day that was in it was something spectacular and none of us were prepared for. Commence lobsteration!
We got on the bus and headed towards the famed Strandhill. A place in Sligo I had never been to before but was super excited to check out. 
The bus, after about 20 minutes of a journey, came to a stop in the village of Strandhill. Before the doors of the bus even opened, the scenery from the bus itself was actually stunning. Like breathtakingly so. Then the bus door opened and the smell, it was the smell of childhood nostalgia. The salt in the air from the water brought back lovely memories of going to the beach with my father, mother and sister as a child, which was nice to experience. 
Strandhill itself was a little slice of beachfront bliss. All the little shops, public houses and houses huddled together before reaching the promenade. The promenade was bustling with people in the early afternoon of a day that can only be described as glorious. Families laughing and giggling together, the older people relaxing and gazing upon the water and the surfers itching to get in the water. It was a sight you'd have thought was scripted from a tv show. We hustled our way through the promenade and down onto the beach. Initially coming off the promenade, it gets a bit rocky heading towards the sand, which to some, may add to the adventure.
Walking along the beach was a breath of fresh air. Sunglasses on, soaking in

the sun and feeling the lovely fresh breeze was something I think the whole group enjoyed immensely. We walked along the beach until we took a rather sharp right turn (following the lecturer) into what is known as "Shelley Valley". The sand became a bit more loose and the grass became a main feature until we walked into the valley itself. Sand Dunes galore. I've never seen anything like it. Shells all over the sand made for a pretty unique effect on this, basin like, sand dune valley. The most prominent of sand dunes was a super tall sand dune that was beckoning us all to go and roll down it. But we resisted temptation. Barely. The afternoon was spent looking, participating in and helping the class run and improve their teambuilding activity while we enjoyed the beautiful day.
Later on that day, after all activities were done, we headed back along the beautiful beach under a cloudless sky towards the little shops and eateries to go to one of the most famous places in Strandhill. Mama Johnstons. A place that all people who visit Strandhill or live there have spoken about and sung the praises of their delicious ice-cream. So leaving without purchasing the ice-cream would have been a bit rude, right? So of course I divulged! And I must

say, I was not disappointed one bit. It hit the spot on such a warm day and made returning home even harder!
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On a trip to Sligo, Strandhill is definitely a MUST! Amazing food at the Strand Bar, hospitable people and amazing scenery. It's a lovely area for families, backpackers, tourists... It's a lovely area for all! Luckily, a bus runs from Sligo town to Strandhill so access to the main Sligo area is possible! So venture out to Strandhill! Try surfing with the Strand Surfing School along the promenade. Walk along the beach. See the sand dunes. Have a nice meal whilst looking out at the water! An amazing place, not to be passed!
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Bucket List: Venezuela

Through heavy influence since September, Venezuela has steadily grown as place on my bucket list. Although many Venezuelans have varied on if a non-Venezuelan should visit the country. Some

Venezuelans reckon the country may be a bit dangerous for foreigners due to a lot of political activity but then again, no country in today's society is danger free, and there is a lot of places to enjoy yourself in the country so a venture to Venezuela would definitely pay off.
Venezuela is located in the North of the South America. To it's west is Shakira-producing Colombia, beautiful Guyana on the east and the islands of Trinidad and Tobago on the North East. It is a coastal country on the Atlantic Ocean and is considered a Caribbean country. Being in the South American continent, it is not far from Mexico, Brazil and Peru.
A brief history:
Venezuela was colonized by Spain in 1522 and in 1811 it became the first Spanish-American colony to declare independence which took 10 years to

actually come into effect. It then took a further 9 years to gain full independence. The launch of the Bolivian Revolution which begun the 1999 Constitution Assembly saw a new constitution being written up, the new constitution changed the name of the country to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

*Pic Credit: wanderingtrader.com, absolut_venezuela.com, worldfortravel.com, trekearth.com*

Reasons to Visit Venezuela:

• Climate: A major reason to visit Venezuela would be the weather. With it being a Caribbean country, Venezuela has a warm and tropical climate that would most likely turn me into a lobster in minutes. The lovely
  
  tropical climate would give whatever activities planned an added bonus. Annual temperatures get to 35 degrees celsius which is pretty cool!
• Biodiversity: Venezuela ranks at number 7 of the most biodiverse country in the world, which means Venezuela has really cool and unique flora and fauna that would be incredibly cool to see. The country has broadleaf forests and it's habitats range from the Andes Mountains to the West Amazon Basin.
• Andes Mountains; In Venezuela lies the Pico Bolivar, the highest peak in Venezuela that belongs to the Andes Mountain range. I'd say this is a
  
  pretty perfect place to go hiking and maybe see some amazing views of Venezuela. Near to Pico Bolivar is what seems to be a quaint but nice place called Merida, going from online reviews, it is safe and peaceful.
• Coast Islands: It may not pop up on your travel but from reading online stories of visiting Venezuela, it seems that Margarita Island to the north is a beautiful place to visit. Around these islands, it is popular to go snorkling and diving, which is something I'd always love to do!
• Angel Falls: It is one thing to see a waterfall and think it naturally beautiful, but I'd say to see the highest waterfall in the world would be quiet breathtaking. The falls are hidden in the National park so getting there would mean a trek through the jungle which would be a cool thing to do in the meantime.
• The Amazon!: From the trek to the Angel Falls, it would be so amazing to go and see the part of the Amazon in Venezuela which is the largest ecosystem in the world and chances are, you'll come across a lot of
  
  animals and cool stuff!
• Travelling to unique parts of Venezuela: Seeing rural parts and getting to see the root of Latin American culture would just be such a cool experience that I would love to see starting with Venezuela!
• The Food: Venezuelans are said to have a great gastrotourism sector that I'd love to sink my teeth into!

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What do you guys think?! Would you travel to Venezuela? Leave a comment with any thoughts!

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Topic: Generational Holidays

Going into college and moving away from home, you mentally start cutting away at the ties from your family life, being guided and told what to do and now to make your own decisions. From then on it's a change from "Where will mom and dad bring us this year?" to "Will I backpack alone or with my friends?" as you being to independently travel, or so it used to be.

From research undertaken by local tourism boards internationally in 2015, the results indicate an increase in repeat visitors with their families and certain business owners in destinations say they have known certain families for years and now the kids they used to know are bringing their kids. A driver for a coach trip company said "Parents bring their grown up children on trips and when they reach their destinations, the children will remember the trip and the possibility of them returning is higher in the future, due to their parents input" Which indicates that the same location would see the same people.

Todays generation are starting to appreciate the concept of "Quality time" with siblings, parents and grandparents and aren't as negative towards family holidays. Todays leading travel experts suggest that there will be a growth in generational tourism and family holidays but with an added educational twist, with our generation having a strong emphasis on education, it is now holidays like a safari or camping or skiing holidays that are strong winners for generational tourism.

What do you think? Will generational tourism be a target for tourism of the future? Will solo travel among young people die down?

Lake Isle of Inishfree

Stand Up Paddle boarding. Sounds like something you'd do on holiday or something you wouldn't necessarily see yourself doing. Fortunately for me, in my degree of studying Tourism, one of the

things my class gets to do is weekly trips to different types of adventure tourism.
This week on our itinerary for Adventure trips was "Stand Up Paddling" and anyone who has heard of what Stand Up Paddling is, it wasn't so much "Oh this will be so fun" it was more "It will definitely be me who falls in the water" so initially it seemed a slight bit daunting to not only me, but a few others in my class.
Up until the day, the weather in Ireland has been very hit and miss. You could most likely see all four seasons in one afternoon, so the thought of being out on a lake with who knows what kind of weather was not the most inviting idea. Coupled with the thought of falling in freezing water and all these different mindsets, it was quite apprehensive.
This morning (13/April/2016) came about and when I opened the front door, it came as a bit of relief. There was some sun in the sky, it wasn't windy and not a raindrop in sight. I popped some sunglasses in my pocket but still put on like, ten layers because of Ireland's unpredictable climate. So that was one less thing to worry about.
Wednesday mornings start with the theory of Adventure tourism, and as if getting in the water on a paddle board wasn't scary enough, today's topic was on risk and how to assess risk during activities and adventure events etc. So knowing what could go wrong left me thinking "I'll be the one to drown" "There'll be a fatality" "Will I suddenly get some medical condition and like, die in the water?" It was mentally freaking me out.
We got the bus at 11:30 and made our way to the Lake Isle of Inishfree. The road trip towards the

lake itself was so pretty going down the rural roads just off the town and driving around the lake. The hills and mountains gave a valley-like effect to the area and gave one of the most visually perfect landscapes. Through the countryside we went until the bus couldn't go any further, so off we got and walked the rest of the way towards the lakefront. The walk was a nice little stroll and gave us some leg warm ups before getting in the water. There was nice scenery, cool landscapes and an unusually colored cottage. It was a lovely preface for what we were about to do.
We made it to the lakefront and immediately were introduced to the activities we were about to do. Dave O'Hara, the instructor, made his way to the water to explain the drive, passion he has and trends on SUPing. After a few words, he mentioned his co-workers, including the star of the day, José. José, the little Jack Russell dog ran and lept onto Dave's paddle board, winning everyone over with his cuteness. It was interesting to see how he manoeuvred the board and interesting to hear the history behind his introduction of Stand Up Paddling strongly in the Sligo Region and how much not only SUPing itself but how we can help make Sligo a real Adventure Capital, through inspiration of Queensland, NZ.
After initial introduction, there was no hesitation to get life vests on and split the class up. Some would start of Paddle Boarding and the rest would take a look at the surrounding areas and how

scenic the who Lake Isle of Inishfree actually is with a speedboat trip on the lake. I found myself on the first speedboat tour of the area. The boat had made its way all the way from Sardinia and looked like the kind of boat seen cruising on the Mediterranean. Declan, the driver of the boat, gave what I can only describe as a whirlwind experience of the lake, including stopping to take a look at Parke Castle along the lake edge. It was interesting to hear him speak on the opportunities getting a boating license or getting involved in water sports can bring.
The boat ride took a solid 20 minutes and gave a beautiful taste of rural Ireland and gave a bit of appreciation to the ruggedness of it all. We ventured swiftly back towards the area that the SUPing group were in and made the transition from sitting back and enjoying the views, to feeling like you've

been put on a waterbed. Initially, looking at others on the board, I was thinking "doesn't actually look that bad". I made my way on to the board, and because I was focusing on my legs and not on where I was going or what I was meant to do, I was making the board sway from side to side. So I was basically freaking myself out. Concentrating on what Dave had said about having time for Zen and Relaxation, to just zone out and look around, it was exactly what I had though about the others not that bad at all. It went from being something to freak out about to something genuinely therapeutic. It was nice to share the experience too but also enjoyable to see one or two people falling in the water. Blaming it on José the dog, of course. Coming back to land, it was really time to take in what exactly

happened! Pictures taken and brief thanks given, we headed back up the trail towards the bus but heading to the pub in the nearest bar, obviously!
To paddle in a lake that contains so much unscathed beauty was something I know I would have regretted if I didn't participate. But gladly I didn't let myself chicken out and actually went for it, and it is something that if you haven't tried then I highly recommend trying it and if you've done it before, keep doing it and venture to Sligo. It's something that not even pictures can do justice. The surrounding views of Sligo and the North West of Ireland, just becomes the icing on the cake.
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SUP For All:
Today's Experience was given to us by Dave O'Hara and his co-workers Declan and Ruben, who made the experience enjoyable and relaxing for everyone. Their introduction to these activities gave us a real exploration of the environment and gave us a new skill, that can be used all over the world. SUP for All gives the Stand Up Paddling experience to anyone. 
For those wishing to find out more on SUP For All, please follow these links or contact info below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUPforall/?fref=ts  (Please like!)
Email: info@supforall.ie
Website: www.supforall.ie
Or find them on instagram @Supforall
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Leave your feedback on Stand Up Paddle Boarding! Have you guys done it? Would you do it here in Ireland? Let me know!
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Travel Tip: Document Your Travels

Whether it be writing it down in a journal, typing it on the notes section of your phone or putting a blog online, I think that one of the greatest problems people have after they return from travel is to not being able to remember certain parts of the trip or not literally

forgetting a full day of their trip (It's happened to me). And it can be quite sad when that happens because it may have been the best trip you've been on, and sure you can take pictures of where you've been, who you were with or what you've done but technology has a tendency to be cruel and suddenly all your pictures are all gone!

So what I'd recommend is investing in something that you can treasure and keep hold of no matter where you go. It would be a cool momento besides fridge magnets and other general souvenirs, and having something that details what you felt and thought during your trips. It's something to share with others and could possibly attract others to the destination.

So here are my top items/places for you to use on your travels to document where you've been and what you've done:
*Pic Credit: etsy.com, notonhighstreet.com*

• Instagram and picture-based social media: Uploading a few pictures during your travels might not just be to see how many likes or pins you get on your social media but can also be a way to have pictures there for you to look back on. Use hashtags that signify what you were doing that could make you think "Oh I remember when we did
  
  that..."
• A Map and Thumbtacks: It seems pretty unconventional but a cool way to document your travels in a way is to have a map on your wall or ceiling of your bedroom and put thumbtacks on the places you've been and places you'd like to go. On the places you've been, maybe clip on a post-its or a few pictures as little memories of the trip.
• Pen and Paper: Nothing can beat the old pen and paper. In here, you can do your doodles and write little memos about your time in such and such a place but not skipping out on details you remember and can be a very sentimental. The nostalgia of reading old pieces of writing can be quite nice and give you flashes of your trip.
• What I'm Doing Now: BLOGGING! You never know who will want to read your experiences and find them both entertaining and informative. It is such a good release and way to always have your trips out there. Be sure to check out as many blog and vlogs as you can for cool stories!

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What do you guys think? Should we document our trips more? What do you use to document your trips? Leave a comment below!

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Food Review: La Cabana

La Cabana is a food stall specialising in authentic Spanish and Latin food. It was set up in February 2014 with a rebrand in 2016. La Cabana is run and owned by Sligo local, Kerrie Carroll and her family and operates mainly from Standhill People's Market. 

The idea for the stall came from a passion for travel and a love for South American and Spanish cuisine, and introducing it to the Sligo market has garnered visitors from all over to try their authentic food. La Cabana concentrate on ingredients that have a fair trade impact, coming from Valencia but also source local produce and find it important to put a stamp on diversifying the gastronomic culture of the north west. 
The main dishes and specialities of La Cabana are as follows:

• Paella: Their Paella is Valencian inspired with their spices imported from Valencia but infuse some local produce to make it authentic.
• Nachos
• Puchero
• Soups
• Patatas Bravas

La Cabana have created their own sauces which can be used as salsa sauces but are recommended as sauces to be used in dishes. These sauces are called "Mojo Sauces" and they come in "Mojo Green" and "Mojo Red". The sauces are visually like pesto but have a taste like salsa and from tasting the sauces myself, are very complimentary with nachos and even bread!

With our range of delicious and colourful Spanish and Latin dishes. Freshly prepared with

authentic, specially  imported spices, combined with the best of local ingredients. At La Cabana they provide amazing food for markets, festivals and for your to consume at home.
They cater any event with unique, healthy and beautiful food that is sure to bring passion to any gathering.

I recommend La Cabana as they bring a unique flavor of food the North West of Ireland. They give a real taste of Spain and Latin America. Their sauces are a great creation and I suggest anyone who is travelling in the North West in the Sligo area to venture to Strandhill, take in the views and visit the La Cabana stall to purchase Paella, Soup or some other beautiful cuisine crafted in front of you! Be sure to check them out!

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Out of 10, they get a definite 10. They're a fresh company with a great idea to integrate the taste of Spain to the Sligo and Irish market. For more information on La Cabana, please check out and like their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/La-Cabana-1231131646902461/?fref=ts

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Bucket List: Faroe Islands

Do the Faroe Islands exist? I'm still not sure. The Faroe Islands are archipelago in Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic Sea. Between Iceland and Norway, for you and me. The country only has 48,000 people, being on an island that's

considered small, the Faroe Islands must be tiny. The islands are a country within the Kingdom of Denmark (Yes, Denmark has a Kingdom. Who knew). But be warned, the Faroe Islands has a "Subpolar Oceanic Climate" so, I'd bring a jacket and maybe a scarf cause it's cold and rainy!
Quick History Lesson: Once upon a time, the Faroe Islands belonged to the Kingdom of Norway (Yes, that has a Kingdom also). In the 1800's, a treaty was made to give control of Iceland, Greenland and Faroe Islands. And since then, the Faroese have control over some domestic matters but bigger political matters remain with the Danish government. 
During World War II, British troops actually invaded the Faroe Islands, as Germany invaded Denmark, which strengthened their North Atlantic control. In recent years, the Faroe Islands have been trying to gain independence.

Reasons to go to the Faroe Islands:

• The Scenery: Being a selection of Islands, the Faroe Islands have beautiful views. A friend from the Faroe Islands has said the her view in the morning is actually a reason to love Mondays. Hillwalking and hiking would be a really cool thing to do, obviously covered up because you
  
  wouldn't be long getting frostbit. If hiking in the Mykines, you will come across a lot of Puffins, which would be a really good reason to visit also. Those little things are so cute, even though I have a fear of birds...
• Fresh Stuff: In the Faroe Islands, one of the biggest professions is Fishing. A main traditional diet in the country is either fish, whale or fermented lamb. Today in the Faroe Islands, you'll see a fresher take on some Scandinavian dishes but also innovative ways too cook. Here, local and visiting chefs practice foraging for their ingredients. Also, going by what some people from the Faroe Islands say, they get the biggest catches. 
• Music: Although not the first thing that comes to mind, the Faroe Islands has a very active and unique music scene. With it's own symphony orchestra and it's own concerts, the Faroes have a thriving music scene and a proficiency for live music.
• Fishing: With different Islands in the archipelago, I'd say fishing would be a pretty cool experience to go fishing and see different Islands in the distance. As long as I don't see whale killing or anything, I'd be okay. A relaxing time in the cold would be nice and therapeutic. 
• Undiscovered Areas: I'm sure due to it's climate and not many people considering it as a tourist attraction that there are many areas of the Faroe Islands that are yet to be discovered. It would be cool to hike through and take boats between the different islands and see what others haven't and trek through undiscovered parts.

*Pic Credit: cruisingoutpost.com, 4photos.net

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What Do You Guys Think Of The Faroe Islands? Have you been there or would like to go?

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Travelling Ireland: Pub Culture

One of the many things associated with Ireland, next to leprechauns, green fields and rowdiness is the stereotype that all Irish people are seasoned drinkers. When people think of Irish people, they generally picture us as red-headed, uncomprehendable, drunk messes. I'm not saying that's wrong now,

but for us Irish people, the pub culture is a quite important staple in our traditions and I suppose, what we try to do for visitors, is welcome them to the warm and friendly pub culture environment and show them it's not what the stereotype says!
Traditionally, there were three main havens for Irish people in both urban and rural centres. The Church, the football pitch and the pub. The pub generally coming after the first two. After mass or after a match at the football pitch, it was just second nature to go for a pint or two in the pub (Sprite for the kids, of course). The pub was the focal point of the community and is basically where the term "craic" comes from. Because after feeding some people one too many pints, a sing-song would break out, rounds would be ordered and even after the official closing hours of the pub, people enjoyed their time in the pub and kept having "mighty craic altogether!". 
It's easy to see that internationally, the warmth and friendliness of Irish hospitality in terms of public houses has spread worldwide with a majority of worldwide cities having at least one Irish pub. You will see, wherever an Irish person goes for a holiday, one of the first things they will look for is an Irish pub. Although it's easy to describe what pub culture is like, it's also going without saying that the whole consumption of alcohol and all of that has to be sensibly and not to overdo it. But again, Irish drinking culture is an important social factor to us Irishmen.

Below are some tips and info on how to fit in to the Irish Pub Culture:

• Guinness: If it is your first time or if you are coming back to visit Ireland, trying an Irish poured Guinness is a must. Barack Obama did it! However, to get the perfect pint, you may be waiting a good 3 or 4 minutes to pour and then leave to settle before drinking it! Fair warning, don't judge Guinness off the first taste, it takes at least 2 to be having good craic! If you find yourself in Dublin, a trip to the Guinness storehouse is almost an unwritten rule!
• Irish Whiskey: Not a big fan of Whiskey myself (Too many stories behind that...) but when coming to Ireland, trying our two most famous whiskeys;
  
  Jameson and Bushmills. Jameson is popular internationally too but to say you've had it on Irish soil is grounds for a nice story to tell!
• Cider: If you're not a stout or lager person, try a Bulmers! It's a nice cider that is quite popular here in Ireland.
• Singing: If a sing-song breaks out and you're visiting the pub. I guess my only bit of advice is to not sit awkwardly because people seem to sense that and then target you to dance with them, so just smile and sway to the music!
• Tipping: Here in Ireland, tipping the barperson isn't mandatory. It's certainly an appreciated gesture but don't feel bad if you don't tip, it's not unusual. 
• Rounds: A big social aspect of being with a group in the pub is ordering rounds. It's an unsaid rule that each person in the group buys a round of drinks for the others in the bar. However, if it's your round but don't feel like drinking anymore, ask to buy on someone else's round. Leaving when it's your turn to buy may come across as rude to Irish people.
• Embrace it: The biggest tip I can give if you are travelling Ireland and want to experience the pub culture is to see it at it's glory. Go on a Sunday
  
  afternoon to see a gaelic football or hurling match. Chat to the barman. Chat to someone at the bar, they'll tell you stories and if you're chatting for a while, they may start making fun of you, but all in jest! It's common to do it over here, so be prepared!

*Pic Credit: politico.com, besthesda365.com, euvs.com, drinkstuff.com*

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Hope this gave you insight into a bit of Irish culture! You just have to come and try it for yourselves!
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Sligo: Yeats' County

Sligo is a coastal seaport county in the North West of Ireland within the province of Connaught and is the largest urban centre in the North West. The name Sligo itself is a version of the Irish word Sligeach which means "Shelly place" and derives from the fact that along the coast and rivers there is a lot of

shellfish.
Sligo's contribution to history is exampled by the amount of ancient sites and it's megalithic tombs which date to prehistoric times. The surrounding areas of Sligo town actually has the highest density of prehistoric archaeological sites which can be seen at Carrowmore Megalithic Tomb site. Other historic sites and facts about Sligo include:

• Knocknarea: A mountain in Sligo capped by a great cairn which is said to host some remains of Queen Maeve. Many legends surround the whereabouts of Queen Maeve's burial and Knocknarea, a scenic trail, is one of the locations assumed to hold remains. The peak itself is a monolithic, limestone mountain positioned between the bays of Sligo and Ballysadare.
• Sligo Gaol: Sligo Gaol is a fragment of Modern Irish History. The Gaol was used as a prison to hold people like Michael Collins and local criminals. During the time of the famine and times of great depravity in Ireland, people would commit petty crimes like theft to be put in the jail as it was heated, had water (From the Garavogue river) and had food. Around 50% of the Gaol still stands and during this year, efforts are being made to open it up to the public. Check out my Friends of Sligo Gaol post for more info.
• The Model Art Centre: The Model Art centre holds the Niland exhibition
  
  which includes pieces by the brother of famed poet, W.B Yeats, Jack. B Yeats and piece by other Irish artists as well as sculptures. 
• Lissadell House: This house/land was granted to Elisabethan soldier, Sir Paul Gore after the Nine Years War. It is also rumoured that Lissadell House was a summer residence for William Butler Yeats
• Yeats' Grave: In Drumcliff, there is a site dedicated to Yeats's Grave with a guided tour.

Culture is a big thing in Sligo, music being the stand out piece of culture well known in Sligo. Musicians both domestic and from all over the world come to Sligo to play intimate sets and be in the centre of a hub of Traditional Irish Music. It is even stated that Sligo has it's own style of music.

In terms of literature, Sligo is well represented by laureate, William Butler

Yeats, but besides Yeats, it is also rumoured that "Dracula" creator, Bram Stoker and his origins stem in Sligo.

Sligo also hosts a vibrant nightlife with a number of nightclubs, music bars, late night bars and a general sense of entertainment. Sligo has a sizable student population and most of the entertainment happens on the riverside which has most of the well known spots to go for a bit of "craic and ceol". In many bars, there is usually live traditional music and contemporary music.

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Sligo gets a good number of tourists, but their service sector is the dominant sector in the economy of Sligo. From a tourism point of view, Sligo isn't a bad

area. It boasts over 5 top quality hotels, a plethora of restaurants and a number of tourist attractions in the surrounding areas. Sligo is a county on coast, so from Sligo centre, it isn't that far to travel out to beaches like Strandhill or venture out to Rosses Point. 

With that being said, the stepping stones have been put in place for Sligo to develop even more. There isn't much within the town of Sligo to keep tourists there for too long. There could be possible development of more tourist attractions. Make Sligo more attractive for visitors, try and develop more unique events that will draw more tourists. Display what makes Sligo unique. Events that could come or be developed in Sligo:

• Try get the Volvo Ocean Race to come to Sligo
• Have a Sligo Music Festival 
• Have local businesses develop a weekend market in Sligo

Things like this will draw attention to Sligo and could grow it's tourism sector.

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What do you guys think? Is Sligo doing okay? Could more be done? And would you visit Sligo?

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