Tag Archives: Travel Diary

Ireland: Galway & The Aran Islands

On Our Way To Galway

Our Long Weekend Begins With…

the Galway Food Tour! As soon as we arrive in the city (approximately 2 hours by car from Dublin), we join the small group of international customers of the food tour organized by our friendly guide, Sheena. What a great insight into the culture of a country! A first discovery of this vibrant city, from tasting to tasting: from the Tigh Neachtain’s pub to the Éan restaurant (photos 1 & 2 ci-dessus); from Little Lane Coffee Company to the Truffle pastry shop, to end with a few Irish whiskeys in the McCambridge’s delicatessen and café (photos 1, 2 & 3 below).

The next morning, we take the ferry to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands with an area of 12 km long by 3 km wide. After a pleasant crossing, thanks to the sunny weather, we meet our great guide and quickly collect our e-bikes, because there are crowds. We head towards the famous limestone cliffs. When we arrive in Dún Aonghasa, we are alone in this breathtaking setting, where part of the ocean is turquoise (photos below: A day in Inis Mór). The history is rich and we still visit a few other sites. I would have liked to spend a night on the island, but the last ferry leaves at 3:30 p.m.

The same evening, we dine at Ard Bia at Nimmos. I recommend you to book in advance. This restaurant is very popular and often full. The starter and the main course were just delicious, a real treat (photo-montage below: Where to dine, photos 3,4,5 & 6)! Slow food philosophy with local products. The service is welcoming and accommodating and the atmosphere is relaxed and a bit chic. We also really enjoyed the setting and the very festive atmosphere of the Jekyll restaurant (at the Hyde Hotel) and the very good service and lovely mocktails (photo-montage below: Where to dine, photos 1 & 2).

Throughout the weekend we e-biked around central Galway and on the Salthill promenade along the coast. White sandy beaches with the Aran Islands in the distance (photos below: Cycling in Sathill). We were very lucky with the weather (which quickly changes). And when the weather is nice, the sun is really strong. Our coffee break with feet in the sand at the Jungle Beach Break, is a real pleasure! But the real wealth of Galway: its inhabitants with a certain communicative nonchalance and cheerfulness. I’ll be back.

The Daytrip In Inis Mór (The Aran Islands)

Where Dining

Biking On Salthill Promenade

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Irland

Many thanks to the Tourism Island for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

Portugal: 5 Days By Bike From Porto To Coimbra

5 Days By Bike From Porto To Coimbra

Accompanied by a friend keen on cycling, I accepted the challenge of spending 5 days by bike – in fact 4 days actually pedaling – from the north of Portugal, Porto to the center, Coimbra. Or 180.7 km in 4 days! Hello! Far from being a great sportswoman, I had never done even more than 10-20 km in a day: the exceptional bike ride! In short I knew nothing about it and so much the better (lol)!

I was recommended for more comfort, an electric bike. My friend preferred a traditional bicycle. I’ll stop you right away: we also pedal on an electric bike! It’s not a moped, lol! Certainly less difficult than a real bike, but we pedal anyway! And I can say it remains physical, especially if you do it for 5 hours straight.

So that this challenge takes place in a pleasant way, without having to think about practical details, such as: what do we do with our luggage each morning (because we sleep each night in a different place)? Etc … The VOS Travel agency specializing in bicycle trips, organized our trp: starting with the route mainly on cycle paths in beautiful landscapes, our bikes with local assistance (we received a phone with an emergency number). And of course, our flights, hotels and restaurants. 

One of our bikes is equipped with a GPS with our route recorded day by day. No more unnecessary maps, a simplified navigation! Awesome! In the morning, our luggage is transferred by taxi to our next hotel (from one town or village to another). Our breakfasts and dinners are also planned in advance. And we discover for ourselves picturesque restaurants where to have lunch on the way. What happiness! And a lot of sweat (lololol!) …

Pictures of the best times and locations of our bike trip below.

Day 1: The Arrival In Porto

Day 2: From Porto To Ovar (46,7 km)

Day 3: From Ovar To Aveiro (40 km)

Day 4: From Aveiro To Praia de Mira (40 km)

Day 5: From Praia de Mira To Coimbra (54 km)

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

www.vostravel.be

Related articles : Destinations & Hotel Review

Many thanks to VOS Travel for this amaing invitation. As always these are my opinions.

Japan, 48 Hours in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari-taisha

  

Direction Fushimi

  

The Famous Shinto Sanctuary

For our first morning, we wake up at dawn. From Kyoto station, we take a local train to the south of Kyoto, Fushimi. This is my third visit to Kyoto and surprisingly, my first visit to the famous Shinto shrine Fushimi Inari-taisha dedicated to Inari Okami, the deity of rice crops, abundance and joy.

We arrive before 8 am, but the site is already full of many visitors: tourists and schoolchildren. Without thinking too much, we head to the hypnotic red and black Torii, the giant doors of Shinto shrines. The engraved inscriptions on Torii represent the names of the donors and the dates.

On a slope of the Inari mountain, segments of aligned Torii climb to the summit (233 meters), to go down by another side (see the map of the sanctuary on the last photo below). Naively, we thought the climb would be fast. In fact, it really climbs. There are several levels and some offer a panoramic view of Kyoto (photo below). 

As we get closer to the summit, there are fewer and fewer people. Till finally feeling a contemplative calm among these Torii surrounded by nature. I am cradled by an orange light on an intense green background. Yes I’m back to Japan! Kind of weird, the way back from the top to the bottom of the mountain seemed longer. Plan for the whole visit, an entire morning if you do not like to hurry (and have time to take your pictures alone).

  

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Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Fushimi Inari-taisha, JNTO

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