19-Dec-15

Jumping on their first sleeper train, Peter & Penny overnighted it through Malmo and into Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden. In the early hours of a December morning Peter & Penny meandered around the streets of Stockholm, and watched the city wake. Peter was very excited to visit the City Hall in Stockholm, the location of the annual Nobel Prize ceremony. Just as the sun was beginning to rise, the couple walked through the courtyard of City Hall, admiring the stone plaques on the wall commemorating Alfred Nobel and the huge, lit Christmas tree reaching up above the arches. The pair wandered back through the streets, with a cup of coffee while resisting the pickled herring on offer. Before continuing on with their Scandinavian farewell to Europe, Peter & Penny visited the Skansen open-air museum. They watched the glassblower making Christmas decorations, so the pair purchased one for their tree to remember their visit to #9 Sweden.

16-Dec-15

After Christmas, Peter and Penny planned to say goodbye to Europe for a while. As they waited for their visas to head west, they had enough time to skip north in search of snow and reindeer. With less than a week to spare they packed their thermals and headed for the almost nearly perfect region. First stop on their Scandinavian tour was country #8, Denmark. Arriving after dark, the two wrapped up tight and set out for the bright lights of Tivoli. There they found a true winter wonderland, a Christmas delight. Hours of fun later, dizzy from the rollercoasters, full from the fare and having found their perfect tree ornament, they returned to their hotel library bar to sip hot drinks and plan the day ahead. No snow yet, but on a crisp winter night Copenhagen certainly seemed almost nearly perfect.

13-Jul-15

Before moving further afield next year Peter & Penny thought it was about time they set their sights on the green green grass of home. The pair packed up the car, with sun cream, windbreakers and umbrellas, and decided to take in as many counties as they could on their ring of Ireland. They left the north coast bound for the deep south of Cork, with stops first in Monaghan and Kildare. After tasting the delights of the English market and kissing the Blarney stone (not that Peter really needed to) they ventured off west in search of rocks and roses. After stops in Kilarney, Tralee and Ennistymon they arrived at the cliffs of Moher. As Peter quickly adjusted his camera lens, the sheepish Penny could only focus on not looking down. After a quick snap and a long day, they were off for forty winks in Lisdoonvarna. With a sedimentary start to the day taking in the sights of the Burren, Peter & Penny made great time on their return to the North, stopping for a late lunch in a seemingly French invaded Sligo. On returning home and tracing their journey across the Emerald Isle the pair were beside themselves with giddiness as they realised they had managed, in 5 days, to visit 21 counties of #7 Ireland.

03-May-15

As Peter & Penny found themselves so close to the principality of Andorra they decided to head north to the Alpine state and see what it had to offer. Amongst the numerous snowy topped peaks and the half price cigarettes the pair wandered aimlessly, hand in hand, still unsure whether to thank people in Catalan, Spanish or French. It turned out the former was the most appropriate. After lunch in Andorra La Vella, while searching for an afternoon coffee, the twosome stumbled across a statue overlooked by the dark and looming alps. The iron man with his belongings packed up in his briefcase felt strangely reminiscent of our wandering pair. Both Peter & Penny enjoyed making this their first double country trip and couldn’t wait to start organising their next destination on the bus ride back from #6 Andorra.

02-May-15

Peter and Penny had just enough time after Italy to brush up on their Spanish before a Mayday break in el destino #5.  But the pair, not a word of Catalan between them, thought they’d ended up in the wrong destinació when they reached Barcelona, Spain.  Fortunately, they didn’t need the lingo to understand the hard-to-believes of this city and its environs.  Not once were they rendered speechless by Gaudí’s extravagance, or dumbfounded by the Dalí’s surreal, not to mention gobsmacked by the late opening hours on La Rambla.  Peter and Penny went all the way to the Theatre-Museum in Figueres to take picture #6 and when they’d given up trying to make sense, they only wished they could turn back their watches and make many more persistent if perplexing memories.

15-Apr-15

On a last minute whim, Peter and Penny made Florence Italy destination #4.  With a quick detour through the birthplace of balsamico and bolognese they made only a short stop in the home of the renaissance.  In the shade they glimpsed Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Venus as well as roaming the Medici corridors. Back outdoors in the beaming sunshine, Florence offered many delights, not only to the eyes but to the taste buds. Among its diamonds they saw the magnificent cathedral before window shopping on the ponte Vecchio. They walked off lasagna, pizza and Peter’s favourite gelato (pistachio) on a worthwhile hike up to the Piazzale Michelangelo. A highlight in Florence is hard to choose, but this panorama was certainly second to none.

21-Dec-14

With Christmas approaching Peter & Penny decided to really outdo themselves and jet off to Berlin to visit the world famous Christmas markets and relax before the hustle and bustle of the festive period begins. After numerous photo opportunities around the markets and the Berlin Wall Peter & Penny took the sightseeing to the political sector of Berlin, that houses an abundance of newly built embassies and the German Parliament building, the Reichstag. Having traversed around the dome of the Reichstag and taken in the sights of Berlin from this unique and breath-taking vantage point Peter & Penny left still unable to find the perfect travel photo. But as they headed to Starbucks to discuss this predicament over a Christmas blend Americano they found themselves smack bang amongst the aforementioned embassies in the shadow of Berlin’s largest Christmas tree and the Brandenburg gate. To top it all off just between these two behemoth wonders of the Berlin skyline stood a large white menorah for Hanukkah. Since Peter & Penny had just 3 days before experienced the lighting of the menorah for the first time, back in Northern Ireland on the 4th day of the Festival of Lights, this scene seemed quite apt. Peter & Penny enjoyed a mulled wine that evening feeling over the moon about their trip and wished #2 Germany a very Merry Christmas.

29-Sept-14

Peter & Penny started their travels on a trip to Scotland to see the 2014 Ryder Cup. After Europe retained the cup in convincing fashion at Gleneagles Peter & Penny thought it apt that they take their first photo at one of the most famous golf courses in the country known as the ‘Home of Golf’ so on their way back to the ferry at Cairnryan they stopped off at Turnberry. Although independence didn’t come to fruition last week Peter & Penny still thought Scotland was worth a visit and were excited to take there first photo there, to tick off #1 United Kingdom.

08-Nov-14

Before venturing off to more exotic European destinations Peter & Penny thought they best do their home country photo. So on a cold night in early November they popped out to Dunluce Castle on the north coast of Northern Ireland hoping the full moon might illuminate the ancient structure. To their disappointment, although they could see the whole of the moon, the castle remained shrouded in darkness. However, they were still happy with their nighttime photo in their home Northern Ireland

18-Sept-15

By the time September came, Penny had itchy trotters and Peter was already planning their next adventure. With the Rugby World Cup only a hop, skip and waddle away, he got his wings on a pair of tickets. He also set his sights on visiting a pair of countries in one weekend. Over land and water, with no time to spare, the pair set out for England. First stop: Stonehenge. With darkness approaching fast, Penny took time to wonder how those early humans had managed to create such magnificent structures with just basic tools. Meanwhile, Peter’s ancient Satnav was taking an historical course to Wiltshire. Luckily the two were only too happy to take the scenic route and arrived just in time to watch an autumn sun set over the prehistoric site.

19-Sept-15

With an early alarm clock, green shirts on and tickets in hand Peter & Penny made their way to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, as a contingent of Irish faithful attempted to invade and paint the city green. Canada was the unwitting foe in Ireland’s first Rugby World Cup match. It was a strong showing from the Irish in a 50-7 win in Wales and Peter & Penny made sure to take a quick snap amongst the joyous supporters in attendance. They didn’t have long to enjoy the atmosphere of Cardiff as they set off to Holyhead and the ferry home. But on their way the pair managed a fleeting visit at the town with the longest name in the world, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Although neither could pronounce it, they were intent on getting a photo before being whisked away on the late night ferry from Wales.