Tag: travel

Picture Perfect Perth

My husband did not need to ask me twice to come to Perth in Western Australia. He was visiting for work. I’ve never been to this city which boasts that it is the most isolated capital city in the world. Perth’s CBD is bounded by the beautiful Swan River to the south and east and is a modern, vibrant city filled with parks and art with heaps of fabulous day trips to do.

We stayed centrally, by the river at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. I found it to be the perfect base for me to explore all the city had to offer. The only trouble was the cyclone which had been swirling off the Queensland coast had followed us and was now expected to make landfall not far from Perth. This curtailed my plans of river cruises and a trip to Rottnest Island to see the cute Quokka. This was a real shame as the boats all left from the end of our street and would have been so easy for me to access.

Day One was spent in the air. Perth is about five hours away from Brisbane by plane. When we arrived it was windy, but I persevered with my sightseeing and took a long walk along the Swan River, enjoying the many art installations, sights of hundreds of Corella and the lovely restaurant and cafe scene along Elizabeth Quay. After checking out the Bell Tower I enjoyed a great coffee before getting ready to explore the Perth nightlife.

First stop was 18 Knots Rooftop Bar, a lively space located on Level 18 of Doubletree, Hilton. Views over Perth as the sun set were amazing as I sipped a blue – hued Serendipity cocktail made with gin and calvados. Dinner was at Chinese restaurant, Lantern where we enjoyed appetisers and some sizzling stir fries. After a long day of travel we enjoyed a dream filled sleep in our extra comfy room.

Day Two dawned with a little less wind but still unstable conditions. I set off for a yummy brunch at the West Australian Rowing Club, right on the banks of the Swan River. It was delicious and sustained me for my walk along the river and the nearby bridge. Being flat Perth is a very walkable city. We were expecting it to be hot but it was really mild.

Heading to the city centre it was easy to see that Perth is a Mecca for shoppers with David Jones and Myer, as well as all our favourite luxury brands including Dior and Gucci. After walking my legs off and firing up the credit card I headed back for a coffee and a read before heading out to explore another rooftop bar in our hotel. Up by the luxurious pool you find Songbird with indoor and outdoor seating and a great view over Elizabeth Quay and beyond. After a refreshing gin and tonic I headed down to Thai restaurant, Six Senses while hubby headed to a work function at Little Creatures. Six Senses was pumping and I was lucky to nab the last table in this voluminous restaurant. Enjoying one of the best green chicken curries I have ever had I watched influencers filming and being filmed and a mouth watering array of banquet dishes being delivered to the table next door, this included a whole baked fish. A must do if you are a fan of Thai food.

Day Three was rainy as the cyclone had hit further up the coast. Boats were moored and after a wonderful brunch nearby I hopped on a hop on/ hop off bus to see the sights of Perth. I enjoyed sitting in comfort as the rain fell down and visiting the sprawling Kings Park, Perth Mint, WACA, Crown Towers Casino and other well known sites. It’s a great way to get to know a city. Hopping off in the CBD at the end of the tour I searched for souvenirs and whiled away the afternoon at the wonderful Boffin Books. A copy of M. L. Stedman’s West Australian set novel – A Far Flung Life came home with me.

The dinners were just getting better and better every night and we loved visiting the upmarket and very buzzy, 6 Head Steakhouse. My hubby enjoyed his WA steak while I loved my order of Veal Milanese. We strolled around admiring the lights of Perth before a nightcap at Hearth Bar in the Ritz.

After another restful sleep we headed out to our new favourite cafe by the water, The Western Australia Rowing Club, for brunch and a leisurely read of the papers. Walking the city we took in the sights before heading to the lovely Art Gallery of Western Australia where we enjoyed seeing works by Frederick McCubbin, Anne Wallace and a colourful exhibition sharing the work of Paola Pivi.

For our last evening in WA we decided to try the flavours of the state in the ritzy Hearth Restaurant. It was our best meal of the trip with a range of local produce beautifully prepared. A real highlight of the trip! Service, food and wine was top notch.

Sadly we soon had to head home again but I am already looking forward to another extended stay in this inviting state with its friendly locals, delicious food and coffee, art, parks and shopping. Hopefully next time we can visit the wine regions, beaches and finally snap my selfie with a Quokka.

Kinsale Travel Guide: Must-See Spots and Dining Experience

My favourite spot on our Ireland odyssey was the colourful seaside town of Kinsale. This is one of the prettiest spots in Ireland and is known as the “ Foodie Capital” of Ireland so pack your stretchy pants.

Before we drove into Kinsale town we stopped at the site of the Lusitania memorial, a tribute to the passengers lost when the Lusitania was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland. Nearly 1200 people were killed, including 128 Americans and it paved the way for America’s entry into the war.

Set high on a cliff with breathtaking views of the Old Head Golf Course and the wild Irish coastline the memorial contains artifacts and stories. Although a solemn place to visit it’s historically significant and a reminder of the horrors of war. I thoroughly recommend it if you are in the area.

Driving into the little town of Kinsale we were surprised by the number of tourist coaches. We soon found out it was Market Day so the place was teeming with visitors. Luckily for us we were staying a few nights at the lovely Giles Norman House. This was a very comfortable and central spot to begin our exploring.

Shops, boutiques, bookstores and restaurants abound in Kinsale. They are all so quaint, colourful and interesting you could spend a whole day exploring. Several of the restaurants are Michelin – starred so make sure to book your favourites before you arrive. For breakfast try Lemon Leaf, Cosy Cafe and Le Bistro. Great coffee can be found at Collectors and Wild and Tame.

In the evening we wandered a couple of doors down from our accomodation to the inviting Wine Buff. We were greeted warmly by the lovely Kate who pointed us towards some lovely drops. She even secured us a table for dinner at the wonderful Finns’ Farmcuts, where I enjoyed some delicious lamb. We ended up popping in to the Wine Buff most nights and buying a few bottles to take home.

After all the beautiful food and wine, we decided to walk the Scilly Walk up to the Old Fort. We saw some amazing homes along the way, and the views across the water and back towards town and the bobbing sailboats were amazing. It was hard to miss the bright yellow pub, The Spaniard.

Reaching the top we were blown away by the scale of the fort. This was a serious stronghold. Views again were magnificent. We spent hours here exploring on a beautiful fine day. We took the easier but equally scenic walk back to Kinsale and enjoyed exploring bookshops and buying a few trinkets.

On our last night in this lovely place we visited the warm and quirky Bar and restaurant, Bia for dinner, once again following the all knowing Kate’s suggestion. It’s quite a seafood – centric menu so Paul enjoyed a roasted hake while I loved my pesto gnocchi. We both enjoyed a delicious dessert.

Our last day involved one last wander around the town before a fabulous breakfast at Lemon Leaf. We reminisced about all the places we’d love to visit when we were next in town and took the local’s suggestion to drive to Galway via Kenmare. A good holiday always leaves you wanting more and Kinsale managed to steal a bit of our hearts. We hope to return again soon.

A Visit to the Emerald Isle

First Stop -Dublin

It has been a lifelong dream to visit Ireland. My family are Parnell’s …which is a very famous Irish name. So when my son procured tickets to the Oasis concert in Dublin for he and his dad I had to tag along. From the moment we arrived we were amazed by the friendly people, wonderful scenery and unbelievably great weather, food, cafe & pub vibes and the rich art & culture.

Day One

Day One saw us hitting the main streets and searching for the Parnell statue, the buzzy Temple Bar area and strolling along the banks of the Liffey. The first thing we noticed was how walkable this city was and how easy to get around. We stayed across the river from Temple Bar so could pop over for a bit of action and then return to our quieter hotel for the night.

Day Two

One of the highlights of any visit to Dublin is to see the amazing Book of Kells. It is a masterpiece of medieval art created by Celtic monks around 800AD. I may have shed a tear. We also toured Trinity College and its fabulous Long Room, an amazing library which contains 4.5 million books and the famous Brian Boru harp. It also has the impressive Gaia installation. A bookworm’s dream come true. In the evening we enjoyed our visit to Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse and Grill. Sitting outside in a prime spot and watching the world go by was a ‘ pinch me’ moment. I ordered a delicious chicken dish with a light broth and an amazing selection of summer vegetables, with nary a potato in sight. Although we did add a side of the beef dripping chips for a local flavour. A lovely night out!

Day Three

Day three dawned clear and bright. Another blue sky day. Where was the famous Irish rain? Locals warned of a heatwave. The temperature could soar to 25 degrees!!

We took the opportunity to visit Parnell Square and the Memorial Garden before a visit to the lovely St Stephen’s Green. A snaking line of OASIS fans wound along outside the nearby merchandise shop reminding us that the concert was nigh. Oasis music was playing in every shop, bar and restaurant. Excitement was building for the big show.

The afternoon was spent at Dublin Castle. This castle is right in the centre of the city and is absolutely beautiful. I was very impressed with this structure constructed in the early thirteenth century and added to over time. It was built on the site of a Viking settlement and later served as the headquarters for the English. The building is a mix of Georgian and Baroque styles and the drawing rooms, galleries and state apartments were opulent. This is the true heart of historic Dublin.

Dinner was the best of our trip! We visited the restaurant, Pichet. It serves Irish cuisine with French flair. The decor felt like visiting a French bistro so of course I had the duck. This was a Barbary duck breast with orange glazed endive, fennel, duck leg spring roll and pickled walnut jus. It was divine. I followed this up with a coconut dessert comprised of coconut parfait, rum – roasted pineapple, passionfruit gel and coconut sorbet. A fabulous melding of flavours.

The day of the concert arrived and we spent the morning exploring bookshops and stores before a visit to the vast National Gallery. We shared lunch with our son and his partner. That night they had a fabulous time at Croke Park and couldn’t think of a better place to see such an iconic band. It was a night for them to remember always.

On our last morning we shared a brilliant brunch at Jay Kays Cafe before hitting the road on our epic Ireland road trip. Dublin you were grand!