The occupation of Northern Ireland by British armed forces turned out to be the longest in British military history, and stretched over an unimagined period of thirty five years. What started as a limited intervention to quell unrest in Derry turned into an ongoing nightmare for all involved, whether your sympathies lie with the republican or the unionist cause. Sectarian violence exploded in Belfast during 1969, and made this city world famous for all the wrong reasons. The British completed a withdrawal of their forces in May 2007, and finally locals and travellers alike can pass unimpeded between the Republic in the south and Northern Ireland. Massive amounts of investment money have poured in from the EU, Britain and the…

The Galway races are one of the premier annual events in Ireland, and it's fortunate my visit coincides with the week long festival taking place in this city on the west coast of Ireland. The fillies are out for a canter on the streets, with several dutifully escorted by dapper gents. Everyone in town looks a million bucks, er ... except me that is, but nevertheless I'm happy to join in the fun. The actual racing is comprised solely of hurdling, and Irish stayers are world renowned jumpers. I was fortunate to be in the pub on thursday to watch the biggest race of the week over a pint of guinness. The last journal left off, dear reader, at the…

Belgium has proven to be quite the surprise packet, dear reader. The country is famed for the quality of the home made chocolates and beers, which guarantees a special place in the hearts of male and female travellers alike. The most impressive feature for us, however, is the beauty and elegance of the architecture as we strolled around the cities. It all adds up to a superb travel package, and Brussels is also the home of the European Union parliament ensuring the country is at the heart of what is happening within the EU. Belgium is a somewhat surprising detour, when the plan for this trip is to explore the UK and Ireland, but it's all good! Let's recap briefly,…

The Millennium stadium in Cardiff towers over the centre of the city, and would have to be the most incredibly placed major stadium in the world. When the train pulls into Cardiff central you are right in the heart of the Welsh capital, and all a traveller needs to do is walk out of the station exit and there she is! This monster of a stadium seats 72,000 people, and was the home of the FA cup final while the long delayed building process for Wembley stadium was being finalised. It was built for the 1999 rugby world cup in record time, and certainly is an imposing sight in the middle of the otherwise sedate and peaceful capital of Wales.…

Flying into Heathrow airport early on a sunday morning is the catalyst for more travel adventures in this wonderful part of the world. London is a buzzing metropolis ... a money making machine, a giant in fact that can swallow up another Aussie backpacker without even a second thought. This is where it's at baby, here in the heart and soul of Europe. London is a financial juggernaut, although currently suffering a rather serious bout of indigestion along with the rest of the world as the credit crunch continues to bite. But enough of global financial concerns for the moment, let's get down to the nitty gritty and some new travel adventures from your intrepid travel correspondent, as I get…

An erotic male fantasy could well involve romantic Paris, and having a passionate affair of the heart with a Frenchwoman. Well, it certainly isn't my fantasy ... anymore! The city of romance has cast a magical spell over my lover and I, as this latest European travel adventure rapidly draws to a close here in France. Paris is a beautiful city particularly when lit up spectacularly after dark, and the romantic strolls taken with my kind and gracious host have served to deepen my admiration for Paris and her charming inhabitants. The French seem to possess an effortless charisma, constant reader, and even the dazzling charm of a St Germain waiter serving us a drink left me shaking my head…

I barely managed to extricate myself from a serious clinch with a travel friend in time to catch the overnight bus from Seville to Lisbon, and send a cyber kiss to you cherie *mwah - mwah*. Eurolines decided, in their infinite wisdom, to schedule a traveller friendly departure time of midnight for the bus from southern Spain to the Portuguese capital, and to top it off the bus was scheduled to arrive in Lisbon at 5:30am Portugal time. I´d like to meet the genius who thought up that timetable ... Not! Anyways, it´s all good, and I was surprised to see my Chinese comrades from the dorm room we shared at a Granada hostel were also on the bus. It…

Southern Spain is a magical part of the world, dear reader, but situated precariously close to North Africa. Historically this has proven to be a problem for the Spanish, as Muslims conquered almost the entire Spanish peninsula by the year 714, and continued to rule Andalucia for the next 800 years. The enduring Muslim legacy of the Moors lives on in the architecture and culture of the major cities in Southern Spain, which have gone on in recent times to become major tourist attractions for Muslims and Christians alike. I left Madrid as the great European adventure rolls on, and planned to take the train south to Andalucia, heading towards Cordoba. To my surprise there weren't any tickets available on…

Spain is a country famous throughout the world, dear reader, whose language and culture have branched out to dominate Latin America. But that doesn't lessen the excitement of visiting the country for the first time. Barcelona and Madrid are the two most famous cities in Spain, and are the focus of my first week travelling in this wonderful country. The train journey from southern France into Spain hugged the mediterranean coast, and was an interesting experience. Right on the border we entered a long tunnel, and magically re-entered the light to be in a Spanish speaking country. Voila, that was pretty easy! There were no border signs, no customs and no officials. The train travellers all waited in a terminal…

The French Riviera epitomises all that is glamorous and fabulous about the south of France, and I send fond greetings from this spectacular part of the world. What a difference a four hour journey on the TGV can make, as I have been basking under glorious blue skies every day, after arriving from damp and chilly Paris on the train. Just as Paris displays in it's glory all that is old, traditional and romantic about France; the French Riviera and Provence show the brash, young and dynamic side of the country. The last journal left off, dear reader, after a day trip to super rich Monaco from my hostel in Nice, and my final night back in Nice included going…