Circumnavigating Manhattan
Trip Over to New York
After a late and lazy start on a very cold New York morning – we walked down to the Corner Café at 6th Avenue and 23rd Street, bought some Smoked Salmon Bagels with Scallion Lox to go. Then wandered down 22nd Street to the Hudson River, from there we had leisurely walk all the way up the Riverside to the 42nd Street Pier where we bought tickets to go on the Circle Line 3 hour boat trip right around Manhattan Island, and sat down to eat our bagels before boarding.
Taking up our positions outside on the upper deck in seats at the back of the boat, it was absolutely freezing, but that was the best place for taking photos. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the wind chill certainly made us wonder what we were doing on a boat. Once we got going there were plenty of opportunities to run inside to warm up. My hat, gloves and scarf certainly earned their keep that day.
As the ferry pulled away from the pier the excellent, informative and entertaining commentary began, John really knew his stuff and how to deliver it, we learned so much along the way. First going south down the Hudson past Chelsea Piers with the golf driving range jutting out on the river, then on towards Ellis Island and out past the Statue of Liberty – everyone onboard went wild taking photos of the statue and each other with Lady Liberty in the background. The boat then turned back past the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and started heading up the East River, the wind was like ice!!
Past the New York Helipad with a constant stream of helicopters landing and taking off, then under Brooklyn Bridge, under Manhattan Bridge, under Williamsburg Bridge, past the ruins of the Roosevelt Island Smallpox Hospital, under the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge and the Roosevelt Cable Car, past Gracie Mansion where the NYC Major lives, should he choose to.
At this point I discovered that local New Yorkers are quite uninformed about landmark bridges outside New York. As I was flying in to NYC a week or so earlier, we flew over Manhattan, I could see a bridge that looked like a much smaller version of Sydney Harbour Bridge. One evening we were chatting with a waitress at the Ace Hotel Lobby Bar about things to see and places to go in NYC, she had asked where we were from, etc, etc. I asked her what the name of the bridge that looks like Sydney Harbour Bridge was. She replied, “I don’t know what Sydney Harbour Bridge looks like”. I was quite shocked. Is it just me or should educated people in first world countries know this? I thought Sydney Harbour Bridge was up there with the great monuments of the world that all kids learn about at school, and all adults hear about regularly? Eiffel Tower, London Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Sydney Harbour Bridge…….??
On another occasion, I was at the ‘Top of the Rock’ taking in the magnificent view from the top of the Rockefeller Center. From there you can see the bridge in question, I asked the security guy what the bridge that looked like Sydney Harbour Bridge was called, he looked and said, “That’s the RFK Bridge”. But no, on the Circle Line Cruise John informed us the rail bridge behind the RFK Bridge is Hell Gate Bridge, he went on to tell us it was the prototype for Sydney Harbour Bridge, (I’ve heard that the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle, England was the prototype………………..?!!?)
Anyway, to cut a long story short…….the bridge that looks like Sydney Harbour Bridge is actually called Hell Gate Bridge!!!! It’s a rail bridge only, opened in 1916. The Tyne Bridge in Newcastle, England was opened in 1928. Both clearly influential in the design of Sydney Harbour Bridge, but I believe it was the builders of the Tyne Bridge who won the contract to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Cruising on further up the Harlem River, under Wards Island Footbridge, under University Heights Bridge and many more bridges, past the Columbia University Boat House, past Yankee Stadium and up to the tip of Manhattan Island, under the High Bridge Aquaduct (now a foot bridge), under the Henry Hudson Bridge where we had to wait for the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge, a pivoting rail bridge, to open up to we could pass through, then it spins back into place for the rapidly approaching train to cross. Trains have priority and everything is timed perfectly – generally. Only a few mishaps along the way, like the time someone drove a car on to the bridge into the path of the oncoming train (and survived!), or the time a boat hit the bridge and brought the trains to a standstill……… From here we were able to turn down the Hudson, and mercifully a change of wind direction, no longer quite as icy.
Looking up we could see the Cloisters, which form part of the Met Museum exhibition, built from parts of various European Monastries, all shipped over to New York over one hundred years ago. As we got closer to George Washington Bridge we could see the “Pumpkin House” (named because at night it looks like a Halloween pumpkin), which sits surronded by towers of apartments. An amazing piece of architecture that once sat all alone perched out from the cliff face looking over the Hudson.
The Little Red Lighthouse sits under George Washington Bridge like a toy, dwarfed by the giant bridge. Further down we passed Grant’s Tomb, and tribute to General Grant. He and his wife lie here in the tomb based on Naploeon’s Tomb. Then passing the Riverside Church and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Then the geology changes – the northern end of Manhattan needs parkland around the coast to sure up the island to support the buildings, south of 72nd Street the island is sitting on deep bedrock right down to Lower Manhattan so the building goes right to the edge of the island.
As the boat cruised back towards 42nd Street Pier, past Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, John told us about the day Captain Sullenberger brought Flight #1549 down on the Hudson and all 155 passengers and crew were safely rescued – Circle Line Cruises were on hand to pump water out and help with the rescue.
Itinerary for Trip Over to New York
Flew from Sydney to New York on Qantas via LA.
Arranged to be picked up at JFK Airport with Viator for the drive into Chelsea, also used for the return trip.
Stayed for a month in magnificent artists loft in Chelsea, found on VRBO.
Bought a one month travel ticket for the NYC Subway.
Beautiful weather to walk around Cremorne Point....finally.....for weeks it has been too hot, too humid, too stormy, too windy, too just generally unpleasant - then today...Perfect, just right 🌞🌞😍!
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#sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyoperhouse #sydneyharbourwalks #perfectday #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #boats #outonthewater
Up in the north western corner of Sicily, I visited an area called Segesta to see a temple built in 400BC, a Greek/Roman theatre (they`re still working on the finer points of its beginnings!). Then to Trapani to see the salt pans, apparently they usually have pink flamingos, but it was too windy for them....
We then went up to the medieval walled city or Erice, the views over the whole area from this vantage point being 800mtrs above sea level were incredible. There is a castle up there from the 1100s and all the other churches, walls, etc from the 1400s.
#trapani #segesta #erice #Sicily #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #neverstopexploring #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
This parade has been going up and down Cirdo Umberto in Taormina all afternoon!! Lots of drums, dancing and horses wearing more flowers than any horse is meant to!! I`m still not sure what it`s all about - but is that important??
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#taorminasicily #taormina #cittataormina #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
My adventure begins!! Leaving Sydney for London, then Malta, then Sicily 🥂🌞🌞🌞
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#Sydney #sydneyaurport #Qantas @qantas #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #nextadventure #traveltheworldwithme #londoncalling #upintheair
It was hot, then it got very humid, lots of cloud.....maybe rain later, but there was a nice breeze on the harbour. I`m ready for summer to end....
#sydneyharbour #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #lookingforthebreeze #cremornepoint #sydneylocal #sydneyoperhouse #sailingonsydneyharbour #nativeaustralianflowers
My last evening in Syracuse, it has been a really lovely place to explore. Making my way up the east coast of Sicily, I`m off to Taormina today.
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#syracuse #syracusesicily #syracusesicilystreets #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly #traveladdict
Walking around Valletta from the Grand Harbour Hotel, there was a choice of walking up lots of steps in every direction, except down to the water front. All the steps are centuries old, and not evenly spaced, and they go on forever!!! It does get easier.....😜
1. Having made it to the top, I took this photo to show the height of this hill, but it actually looks quite flat! It isn`t 😳
2. Looking down to Victoria Gate.
#valletta #vallettamalta #Malta #streetsofvalletta #stepsstepsandmoresteps #victoriagate #solotrip #solofemaletravel #solofemalemidlifetraveller #solotravelinmalta #adventure2025 #seetheworldthroughmylens #exploringvalletta #neverstoptravelling #seeeverythingdoeverything
The never ending parade in Taormina continues.....
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#taorminasicily #taormina #sicilytravel #sicilytourism #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip
Caught the fast ferry from Valletta to Gozo, had a wander around Victoria, then went all over the Island on top deck of a bus!! That was quite an experience - a double decker bus negotiating streets designed for a horse and cart!! There were times that there was only inches to spare either side!
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#gozo #gozoisland #hoponhopoffbus #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveladdict #neverstopexploring
A lunchtime walk in Hyde Park today, the Archibald Fountain has been all cleaned up, the flowers are blooming and the bin chickens are loving it!!
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#archibaldfountain #hydeparksydney #sydneylocal #sydneylife #sydneycbd #binchickens #binchickensofinstagram #flowersinthepark #lunchtimewalk
One of the most beautiful stores in London, Liberty has an amazing history, built in the mock Tudor style from the timber from 2 old ships! Located on Great Marlborough St, off Regent St, near Oxford Circus it`s a great place to start any shopping expedition in London, even if it is just window shopping 😍
#libertyoflondon #shoppinginlondon #beautifulshopsinlondon #londoninspring #londonlife #londonstyle #solotrip #solotravelinlondon #solofemaletravel #soloadventure #adventure2025 #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #flowers #libertylion #glassceiling
Caught the bus down to the seaside today, the pebbles were bigger than I`ve seen on any beach anywhere, it was like a rock quarry!! How people were sitting on it was a mystery! Then to top it off it was high tide and I was ill equipped to walk thigh deep through the water to get to Isola Bella. Now I know what to prepare for, I`ll have another go later......
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#taorminasicily #taormina #isolabella #isolabellataormina #sicilianbeach #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinsicily #downbytheseaside
The Snake went up in Sydney`s Queen Victoria Building as soon as the Christmas Tree came down - wonder what`s coming next.....?
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#yearofthesnake #queenvictoriabuilding #queenvictoriabuildingsydney #shoppinginsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneylocal #sydney #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd
It`s quite mesmerising watching the man in the clock resetting the time every minute, just outside Paddington Station, London. Sorry about all the camera movement as people wanted to get past me!!
#manintheclock #Paddington #paddingtonstationlondon #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
A beautiful spring day in London, cool, crisp, but so much warmer than I was expecting 🌞 St James`s Park was in full bloom🌼🌷⚘️🌺
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#London #stjamesspalace #stjamespark #magnolias #pinkblossoms #walkinthepark #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
After a bit of window shopping and a long walk through Hyde Park to Kensington Garden, it rained, it was windy, the sun tried to come out, then it got really cold. I went to the `Dress Code` exhibition at Kensington Palace, the Palace is in the middle of a major conservation project have all the sash windows replaced so the whole building is covered in scaffolding......
#hydepark #hydeparklondon #kensingtonpalace #kensingtongardens #fortnums #oxfordstreet #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
For more info about train travel in Italy and where I stayed on my recent solo Italian adventure to Venice, Florence, Siena, Pisa, La Spezia and Cinque Terre - click the link to my website in the bio.
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#solotravelinitaly #solotravel #solotrip #italytravel #italianadventure #madeinitaly #tripovertoitaly #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict #travelinitaly #italytrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Taormina has to be one of the prettiest towns, there is a festival on that seems to involve a lot of flowers, and there are a few thousand more people here than I was hoping for, but we all seem to be getting along!!
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#taormina #taorminasicily #visitsicily #flowers #italianhistory #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
After wandering through St James`s Park, I went over to Chelsea to see the Flowers exhibition (no longer on, sorry!!) @saatchi_gallery in Duke of York Square, there were some amazing pieces there. They have some great exhibitions in this gallery, so even though this one is over, there will be others, and having a coffee out in the square is always a good idea.💐💕 Determined to keep busy and nor let the jet lag take hold, from here I made my way over to South Kensington to the V&A Museum....
#saatchigallery #chelsealondon #amazingart #flowers #flowersatsaatchi #solotravel #solotrip #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #artinlondon #dealingwithjetlag #traveltheworldworldwithme #solotravelinlondon
Went off into the countryside to the village of Shere in Surrey, just a short train trip from Waterloo Station, a fabulous pub lunch!!
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#shere #englishcountryside #whitehorsepub #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #waterloostationclock #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #magnolias #sherechurch
Looking out from Cremorne Point on Sydney`s North Shore, watch ferries go by, sailing boats, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, it`s all there 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🥂
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#sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneystyle #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldworldwithme #outonthewater #boatsboatsboats #sydneyweekend #sydneylocal #myhometown #sydneyaustralia #sydneynorthshore #sydneybythesea #sydneyinsummertime
After the rush of posting Reels and Stories while I was travelling, I now have time to go through the whole adventure again in a more orderly fashion!! My recent solo adventure was flying from Sydney to London, then to Malta and Sicily. All the Reels and stories are available in my feed and in Story Highlights.
1. At Sydney Airport
2. Travel outfit, ready for the long flight, add a jacket and I`m ready to get from Heathrow to central London.
3. My seat on QF1 for the next 24 hours......😳
4. Flying over Sydney after take off.
5. Sunrise over Austria as we get closer to London
#qf1 #adventure2025 #qantas #sydney #sunrise #planeseat #traveloutfitoutfitoftheday #solotrip #solofemaletravel #soloadventure #solotravel #neverstoptravelling #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldworldwithme
Such a beautiful weekend in Sydney, the weather is just perfect!! The sun glistening on the water around Cremorne Point!! 🌞😍
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#cremornepoint #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneylife #sydneylocal #Sydney #sydneyaustralia #sailingonsydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #rockformations #sunglisteningonthewater
The walled city of Mdina, the old capital of Malta, sitting high up on the hill looking out over the country.
It was a bit like arriving in Disneyland at first, actors dressed up as whatever they thought medieval Maltese dressed like and whipping people in stocks, while the horse carriage drivers touted for business, but once you get through all that, it was very beautiful.
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#mdina #mdinamalta #mdinathesilentcity #mdinastreets #maltalife #malta #solotravel
#solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #neverstopexploring #exploretheworld
Today I set off on the #51 bus from Valletta to Mtarfa in central Malta, in search of the hospital my brother and I were born in. I had read is was now a college, but it seems to be all closed up behind locked gates. I climbed up on walls so I could get a photo of those magic words above the entrance, "David Bruce Royal Naval Hospital".
A few days ago I found the house we lived in in Tarxien, not far from Valletta. We moved back to England when I was 6 weeks old, so memories are a bit sketchy!!
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#malta #whereiwasborn #myfirsthome #mrarfa #royalnavalhospital #maltalife #neverstopexploring #backwhereitallbegan ##solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes ##traveltheworldwithme
A short train trip from Syracuse, then a walk up the hill to Noto. A town with more churches per square inch than I`ve ever seen!!!!
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#noto #notosicily #sicily #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
St Thomas` Bay in Marsaskala out on the east coast of Malta is really pretty, I walked all around the harbour and came across St Thomas` Tower built in the early 1600s to repel the invading Ottomans, they were sent packing once they saw what the Maltese were made of!! There were salt Pans along the way, and as usual for Malta, a lookout bunker on every headland.
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#marsaskala #stthomasbaymalta #stthomastower #maltascats #exploremalta #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #traveladdict #traveltomalta #visitmalta
I got out of Heathrow and on to the Piccadilly line in record time, QF1 arrives early, before peak hour, I always stay in St James`s @royaloverseaslondon - location, location, location - it looks over Green Park half way between @theritzlondon and @clarencehouse. I got up to my room, checked the amazing view, quick change and off to St James`s Park - then I know I`ve arrived 🥰🥂
1. The Royal Overseas League, St James`s.
2. View from my room of Westminster Abbey and Victoria Tower at the Houses of Parliament.
3. Elizabeth Tower, (Big Ben) my bedside clock!!
4. I also have a view over the roof of Clarence House, King Charles is home, the Royal Standard is flying.
5. Ready to hit the streets of London.
6. St James`s Palace with police on horses strolling past.
7. Buckingham Palace across the lake in blossom filled St James`s Park.
#royaloverseasleague #royaloverseasleaguelondon #westminsterabbeylondon #victoriatower #housesofparliament #elizabethtower #bigben #clarencehouse #royalastandard #londonready #outfitoftheday #mountedpolice #stjamesspalace #buckinghampalace #stjamesspark #londoninspring #solotrip #solotravel #solotravelinlondon #adventure2025
I`m in planning mode getting ready for my next Trip Over The World. Read the new post about my planning process by clicking the link in the bio.
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#tripplanning #tripplanningtime #malta #sicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme
On the morning commute the sky couldn`t make up it`s mind - all blue sky and fluffy white clouds in one direction, and very grey in the other.....this continued all day leading into the Australia Day long weekend.
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#morninginspiration #morningcommute #flowersinthestreets #walkinthepark #whiteflowers #pinkflowers #sydney #sydneystyle #northsydney #stleonardspark #stleonardsparknorthsydney #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
I think this critter is a Water Dragon, apparently they live around Cremorne Point on Sydney Harbours North Shore. We just stared at each other for a while, then he ran off down into the bush towards the water.
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#waterdragon #sydneyweekend #sydneynorthshore #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneybythesea #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyharbour #sydneyoperahouse #sydneywaterdragon #cremornepoint #cremornepointwalk #pinkflowers #blueskyandsunshine
All the decorations are nearly down as Sydney marches into 2025, walking through @theqvb on my way to work is a beautiful way to start the day, especially as it`s been soooooo hot and humidity, or raining lately, a bit of air-con helps!!!
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#sydneyafterchristmas #qvbsydney #queenvictoriabuilding #queenvictoriabuildingsydney #shoppinginsydney #dailycommute #walktowork #streetsofsydney #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneystreets #sydneycbd
Manoel Island, just next to Valletta in Malta, was the Royal Navy Base prior to 1964. Fort Manoel is apparently being renovated to make it safe to visit. But all the other buildings that were used by the Navy have just been left to fall apart. It is the strangest place, all the buildings would have been functional, but have just left derelict for the past 60 years.
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#manoelisland #Malta #derelictbuildings #valletta #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
After arriving at Venice`s Marco Polo Airport, I caught the Alilaguna Water Transport directly to Rialto, then when I left Venice by train to Florence, I caught the Vaporetto from Rialto to Ferrovia, the ferry stop at the station, then straight on to the train, suitcase in the gap between the seats, and off we went, so efficient. Very easy, even for an old chic like me on a solo Italian adventure!!🥂
For more info on the art of train travel in Italy, click the link to my website in the bio.
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#venice #grandcanal #solotravel #traintravelinitaly #italiantrains #alilaguna #alilagunaferrytoairport #vaporetto #ferrovia #venicerail #venicetrainstation #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #outonthewater #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Some of the places I visited on my solo Italian adventure
Top row - Venice, Florence, Siena
Bottom row - La Spezia, Porto Venere, Lerici
For info on where I stayed and how I got there, travelling solo with luggage, click the link to my website in the bio.
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#venice #basilicasanmarco #florence #pontevecchio #siena #sienabelltower #laspezia #portovenere #lerici #Italy #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #madeinitaly #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #italytrip #italianadventure #alianarchitecture #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #oldbuildingsmakemehappy #historicbuildingsenrichourlives #historicitaly
Upper Barrakka Gardens, a lovely park looking over the Grand Harbour, there`s not much space in Valletta for parks!! The photo of Victoria Gate in the previous post was taken from here, so having walked up all the steps, this is a good place to catch your breath before exploring more of Valletta. The Upper Barrakka Gardens are on the same level as the main street through the city, so you get a good break from all the steps!!
#upperbarrakkagardens #upperbarrakkagardensvalletta #Malta #valletta #vallettamalta #solotrip #solofemalemidlifetraveller #solofemaletravel #soloadventure #solotravelinmalta #seetheworldthroughmylens #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldworldwithme #adventure2025
I couldn`t enough of the view from the Grand Harbour Hotel in Valletta across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities, staying here for 10 days was a fantastic base to explore Malta from. If you look closely at the roof top terraces in the lower section of pic 1, there is a toilet next to the BBQ, I hope it`s not connected!!!
1. Looking towards Senglea, the southern most of the Three Cities across the Grand Harbour.
2. Looking towards Birgu, and Fort St Angelo.
3. Victoria Gate, built in the late 1800s, was the main entrance to Valletta from the Grand Harbour.
4. The Grand Harbour Hotel, my home in Valletta, loved it 💖
#valletta #vallettamalta #grandharbourhotelvalletta #grandharbourmalta #3cities #senglea #birgu #fortstangelobirgu #victoriagate #malta #solotravelinmalta #soloadventure #solotrip #adventure2025 #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldworldwithme
With only one more day in London before my flight to Malta, I headed over to Waterloo Station and caught the train to Esher in Surrey to meet some friends to go to Shere for lunch. Until I resized this photo of the Waterloo Station clock, I had never noticed it has cheat numbers in red for 24 hour clock time!!! The clock is way up in the ceiling at the station, so you`d have to have binoculars for eyes to see those teeny-weeny numbers!!
#magnolias # blossoms #waterloostationclock #outfitoftheday #sherevillage #londoninspring #londonlife #solotravelinlondon ##solotravel #solotrip ##neverstopexploring #solofemalemidlifetraveller #adventure2025 #londonready #londonstyle
I went all over the place today, 23,000 steps!! Walked down through St James`s Park to the Jewel Tower behind Westminster Abbey, then caught the tube to Canary Wharf to look at the Whale made from waste. Then Elizabeth line to Paddington for lunch. Walked from there to Regent`s Park, then down through Marylebone and Mayfair, and as it was now such a lovely sunny evening, I walked around St James`s Park again.....now having a glass of wine looking over Green Park🥂💖
#Paddington #paddingtonbear #jeweltower #canarywharf #regentspark #stjamessPark #solotravel #seeeverythingdoeverything
#solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
Around 45 minutes on the train from Palermo, Cefalu is a pretty seaside resort town with old historic buildings, like the duomo that opened in 1240. The beaches are sandy here so in peak summer they must be packed. I wanted to walk up to the top of the rocky backdrop, but I got to the half way point and someone told me there were another 275 uneven steps to climb up from there, so I opted out, my knees were already feeling it!!
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#cefalù #cefalubeach #cefalusicily #cefaluduomo #visitsicily #solotravel
#solotrip #seeeverythingdoeverything #neverstopexploring
A few flowers on trees and hanging over people`s fences on the local streets.
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#neutralbay #neutralbaylocal #neutralbayliving #sydneysnorthshore #orangeflowers #pinkflowers #streetsofsydney #sydneystyle #sydneystyle #sydneynativeplants #sydneyaustralia #sydneystreets #sydneywalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Different story today, they forecast sun and it happened 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞 finally!!
#stleonardspark #northsydney #blueskyandsunshine☀️ #walkinthepark #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyweekend
I started the day by walking a couple of kms up the coast, then came back and walked all around the edge of Ortigia visiting castles and forts along the way. At least Syracuse and Ortigia are relatively flat!!!
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#syracuse #ortigia #ortigiaisland #ortigiasiracusa #italianhistory #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #madeinitaly #traveladdict #italytrip
All the wildlife came out to see the end of 2024, before their habitat gets taken over by human wildlife all looking for a fireworks watching spot for the big show at midnight on Sydney Harbour. Further around Cremorne Point the "No Alcohol" signs were all being put up, Porta loos were being put in place, home owners were putting up signs to ask people not to climb on the fences and garden walls - the price you pay to live in this beautiful area, one night of hell to start off every new year!!
#cremornepoint #cremornepointwalk #seeeverythingdoeverything #sydneywildlife #sydneynorthshore #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneycoastalwalks #lizards #kookaburras #sydneybythesea #sydneyharbour #sydneyferries #boatsontheharbour
First day in Syracuse, arrived early on the ferry from Malta, then a train from Pozzallo to Syracuse. My hotel room wasn`t ready so I walked around Ortigia, had a coffee, checked out the markets, then my room was ready. I settled in then headed off to the archaeological park.....lots of ancient Greek arches, amphitheatres, and lots of modern bronze castings of ancient Greek things!!!
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#syracuse #sicily #sicilytourism #sicilytravel #visitsyracuse #archaeology #ancientgreekhistory #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
This seems to be all it does in Sydney these days, although there is a fine day forecast for tomorrow 😊 As I walked through St Leonards Park this morning on my way to work, there was everything from torrential to drizzle.
Most of NSW north of Sydney has completely gone under in floods, so the rain in Sydney is nothing compared to what others are going through 😒
#stleonardspark #rainfall #waterwaterandmorewater #morningcommute #walkinthepark #northsydney #northsydneyintherain
Went on an excursion through the centre of Sicily to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento near the south coast, then remains of Greek Temples built on the 5th century BC! Then we went down to the coast to look at Scala dei Turchi, the natural formation of step like ridges in the rock. Ottomans Turks found shelter here, giving it the name.
#valleyofthetemples #agrigento #agrigentosicily #scaladeiturchi #Sicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
Right in the centre of Taormina is this over grown 2000 year old Roman Baths, inhabited by stray cats. There is a sign pointing to it, but it`s a bit of a mess.....then on the other side of the square is an old Roman theatre, also dating back to the 1st century.
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#romanbaths #romantheatre #taormina #taorminasicily #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinsicily
Big day yesterday, out and about on Malta`s buses, so far so good, with my 7 day ticket in hand, went off to Tarxien, Marsaxlokk, Sliema and back to Valletta.
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#malta #marsaxlokk #fishingboats #maltalife #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #traveladdict #seeeverythingdoeverything
A big day of wandering all over Palermo. It`s a grubby, gritty city, everything needs a good wash, but you get over that pretty quickly!! Easy to get around on buses and walking, the Ballaro Markets are quite an experience, all the vendors shouting, very crowded, seafood sitting out in the sun, cooking various gizzards to put on bread rolls (no thanks!!) Then I escaped to the calm of the botanical gardens....
#Palermo #palermosicily #ballaromarket #mercatoballarò #botanicgardens #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
