Two Weeks in Norway – the Heart of the Glaciers and Fjords – Days 5 to 7
Continuing our trip throughout Norway, we traveled north to the Urnes Stave Church, the Norwegian Glacier Museum, Geiranger and Trollstiggen
Category: Europe
I hope you enjoy my travel blog (even if you aren’t diabetic!) We visited Albania in Sept 2014, England in June 2017, Iceland in June 2012, Norway in June 2016, Portugal in Sept 2016 and Scotland in Sept 2012. (I’ve also visited Scotland 16 times prior to Greg (p-Greg), but haven’t yet blogged about it yet!)
Two Weeks in Norway – with a Svalbard add-on! – Days 1 to 4
I’ve visited Norway five times since 2001 but for Greg I needed to develop one itinerary which would allow him to see it all, in two weeks!
Norway Diabetic Travel Tips
One of the reasons for my “early” visit in 2001 and the subsequent frequent returns is its ease of diabetic travel. So much is so comfortable in Norway. You can focus more easily on the enjoyment of the vacation then on the management of your diabetes.
Ireland Travel Advice and Tips
For the non-diabetics among us, or should I say, “Things I wished I’d known before I traveled to Ireland.” I’ve visited Ireland several times over the past twenty-six years. Oh, that makes me sound so very old. Time just has a way of slipping by, and it’s such a good
Ireland Diabetic Travel Tips
I’ve always envied people who watch for bargain airfare, gobble it up when it appears, and pop over to Europe on a whim. I’ve envied them not because they have the money to do this, but because they have the flexible lifestyle to accommodate such rapid change. As a diabetic
County Waterford to Dublin Itinerary and Video
Although we didn’t spend a great deal of time in Waterford, it was key destination for us, as it is the home of the “Powers” family, aka, “dePooer” family. Me, I’m a Scottish “Kirkwood”, that is, a “Church-in-the-Woods,” but Greg now, he’s a “Poor-person”. He was sad to learn that.
County Kerry and County Cork Itinerary and Video
Several days spent on the Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry, followed by a quick visit to Blarney Castle. We watched others kiss the stone, but we had no interest. There was a man there who disinfected the stone from time to time. But back to Kerry. I had read
Counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Claro Itinerary and Video
We dashed down from Killybegs through Sligo and Mayo, stopping for lunch at Ashford Castle, and arrived in Galway City. After a brief plane-ride to Innishmore in the Arran Islands, we took a pony-cart ride around the island. Our ferry ride back to Galway City included a float-by of the
County Donegal Itinerary and Video
Fast on the heels of Ex-Tropical-Storm Alex, our first day in Donegal was filled with gray scudding clouds, brilliant blue skies, fierce winds, raindrops and everything in between.
Dublin to Antrim County Itinerary and Video
We arrived in Dublin for a quick one-day visit before grabbing our rental car and heading north out of town. We’d left most of Dublin to the end of the trip – a new COVID technique. We would need an extra day at the end to get our PCR test,
Peles Castle, usually first, for us, our final glimpse of Romania (day 11)
Peles Castle is located about two hours north of Bucharest and is a popular day-tripper tour destination. Peles Castle is a Neo-Renaissance style former royal “summer-home” castle set in dramatic mountain scenery. Only 30 minutes from Brasov, we arrived early to the castle, hoping for fewer crowds than the previous
Brasov – another Transylvania Treasure (day 10)
Following our exhausting visit to Bran Castle, we headed to Brasov, which would be our final city in this fantastic 11-day circuit of Romania. Located only thirty minutes from Bran Castle, it took us twice as long as it should have on this sunny Sunday in September. Say that three
Camusdarach
In the days before the Internet, we were vacationing with only our trusty printed guidebook in hand. We meandered down the single-track coastal road, which at that time was the only road, towards the village of Morar. The guidebook had proclaimed the wonders of the Silver Sands of Morar and
Finding the heather at the Seilebost Beach on the Isle of Harris
The year was 2002. Work had been terribly stressful and one Saturday in the beginning of August I sat in the local breakfast café and said forlornly to a neighbor, “I wish I could just leave it all and see the Scottish heather. I’ve never seen the heather.” Until that
Bran Castle – Dracula’s Castle, with a horror story of its own (day 10)
It was at Bran Castle, near the end of our trip, that I fully appreciated the itinerary which Compass Travel had created, and which I had chosen. Bran Castle was a mob scene. We had previously bee-bopped around the countryside seeing all sorts of beautiful and unique sites. Granted, there
Unexpected history at Cetatea (Citadel) Rupea (day 10)
We headed off south from Sighasoara towards Brasov, the home of Bran Castle – Dracula’s Castle. However, on the way we passed a hilltop fort, Cetatea Rupea. “Would you like to visit?” asked Iulian. Would we like to visit a fort? Of course Greg wanted to visit a fort. And
Gypsies (aka Roma) in Romania – a new perspective (day 9)
The Gypsies, or Roma as they are generally called, are the second largest minority in Romania, and the relationship of majority to minority is a fascinating one. I can’t pretend to be an authority on their history or current culture, but on our Compass Travel Romanian tour, we got an
The Biertan Fortified Church built by Transylvania Saxons (day 9)
While staying in Sighisoara, Romania, we took a day trip out into the Transylvania countryside to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Biertan Fortified Church. Why are they UNESCO World Heritage Sites and why would I travel to visit them?
Sighisoara in a brand new light (day 9)
As always, dawn brings a new day, and in Sighisoara, with the bright blue skies, we felt ever so much better than the previous evening. Next on our tour agenda was the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler.
Sighisoara – a medieval walled city in Transylvania (day 8)
Cobblestone streets, tall and narrow townhouses, winding alleyways, Sighisoara has it all, including the imposing and mysterious city hall with its clock tower.
