PostCards while I am travelling……..
Trip Planning
Planning a trip overseas is all part of the experience of travel, it takes a lot of research into destinations, flights, accommodation choices, what to see and do, how to get around once you are there, etc, etc, etc.
Flying into Venice
I flew into Venice Marco Polo Airport from London to begin my solo Italian Adventure in early spring, hoping to get ahead of the crowds. This trip was taking me to visit Venice, Florence, Siena, Pisa and Cinque Terre
Heathrow to London
I’ve never found arriving at Heathrow to be as daunting as some have led me to believe – it’s all well sign posted and, basically, just follow the crowd. I need the Piccadilly Line as it goes directly to Green Park.
Herd Of Hope
A herd of elephants arrived in Spitalfields back in 2020. This amazing art installation, of 21 bronze elephants created by Gillie and Marc to raise awareness of the damage caused by poachers.
Sydney to London on QF1
Flying to London from Sydney on QF1, all booked, all packed, having decided to fly on Qantas again hoping things were getting better as Vanessa Hudson, the new CEO, had promised!! And, I have enough Qantas points to apply for an upgrade
Boxing Day Walk
A short Boxing Day walk around St James’s in London learning a bit about the history of the area and walking off Christmas lunch.
Christmas Day in London
Christmas Day in London is so much better for looking at the Christmas Lights than Christmas Eve!!
Christmas Eve in London
The Christmas Lights in London are amazing!! Everywhere you look the streets are all decorated with the most unbelievable lights.
Walk Around London
The big walk I failed to do the previous day had heavy rain, light drizzle and even some sunshine
Arriving in London
Jetlagged up to the eyeballs, I set off exploring the neighbourhood
Flying with Qatar Airways
My first flight with Qatar Arways was a big success!
Strolling through the tranquil Palermo Botanic Gardens took me to this lovely glass house, complete with a statue of the Genius of Palermo with a giant snake biting his chest, then on to ponds full of lily pads. The gardens are just down the hill from the station, and a peaceful escape from the gritty, grubby city centre.
#palermo #solotrip #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #palermosicily #palermobotanicalgarden #thegeniusofpalermo
Palermo here I come... and what better welcome than Teatro Politeama on my doorstep✨️
#solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #palermo #palermo
I would never get tired of walking around Toarmina, always something interesting to see 💖
Click the link to my website, in the bio, to read about the hotels I stayed at on my recent solo adventure to Malta and Sicily 🥂!!
#taormina #taorminasicily #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure #seeeverythingdoeverything #ancientsicily #isolabella #beautifulview
Looking for a place to stay in Sicily or Malta? Click the link in the bio to read my reviews of the hotels I stayed in on my recent solo adventure.
#sicily #Syracuse #palermo #piccolocasamia #hotelpoliteamapalermo #solotrip #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure #traveltheworldworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #whereistayed
Walking around Barangaroo to Walsh Bay, looking out over Sydney Harbour towards Balmain, Anzac Bridge and across to Luna Park on the north side.
#sydneyinspring #sydneyaustralia #sydneyharbour #barangaroo #sydneyharbourwalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
The Nymphaeum is the only structure within Fort St Angelo which has never had any
military function. It was built in 1531 for the Grand Master of the Knights of St John as a
relaxation area, in part of a medieval tower.
As the Nymphaeum was built with its back to the sun, it offered constant shade against Malta’s hot summer. Still used today by the Knight Resident of the Order of St John, who I believe lives here. I hope he didn`t mind me sitting here for a while!! ✨️
# Nymphaeum #FortStAngelo #MalteseHistory #SoloTravelMoments #Birgu #solotrip
#neverstopexploring
Sicily`s Palermo, where historic buildings meet sunshine and flowers in the Politeama area and down Via Maqueda, which was always good for an evening stroll.
#palermosicily #palermo #teatropoliteama #teatromassimopalermo #viamaqueda #sicily #soloadventureinsicily #solotravel #traveladdict #traveltheworldwithme
The moon shining brightly over Taormina, and Mt Etna, puffing away in the distance, taken from the roof top terrace @hotel_isabella_taormina
#taorminasicily #taormina #soloadventureinsicily #solotravel ##seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #mtetna #mtetnasicily
Visited the Titanic Exhibition and lived to tell the tale ✨️ but honestly, the harbour views and the walk around Walsh Bay and The Rocks stole the show!!
#sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourbridge #walshbaysydney #seeeverythingdoeverything #myhometown #explorethecityyoulivein
Everywhere you look in Taormina, there is another magnificent view, from Isola Bella to Mt Etna✨️
Click the link to my website in the bio to read about the hotels I stayed in on my solo adventure to Malta and Sicily🥂💖
#taormina #taorminasicily #visitsicily #isolabella #isolabellataormina #mtetna #solotravelinsicily #solotravel #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme
Malta is definitely yachty heaven!! As the ferry from Valletta crosses the Grand Harbour to Birgu, the middle of the Three Cities, the Marina is jam packed full of yachts.
Pics 1 to 4 are Vittoriosa Marina as the ferry heads past the Birgu Waterfront to the ferry stop near the Maritime Museum.
5. The view from Valletta across the Grand Harbour to Birgu.
#malta #3cities #3citiesmalta #vittoriosamarina #birguwaterfront #yachtsyachtsandmoreyachts #yachtyheaven #solotrip #solofemaletravel #soloadventure #solotravelinmalta #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #travelvibes
After visiting the Duomo di Cefalu, I followed the path behind the Duomo, which leads to the path to walk up Rocca di Cefalu. The giant rocky headland that promises amazing views and remains of old castles. By the time I was at the half way point, my knees were saying `nope, we`re good, here is enough`!! No need to go further up, I went back down to sea level and continued to explore the beautiful town of Cefalu.
#cefalù #cefalucathedral #roccadicefalù #amazingviews #oceanviews #historicsicily #solotravelinsicily #solotrip #traveltheworldworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #exploretheworld #traveladdict
Porto Nuovo, or `new gate`, was built in the 15th century, but after a fire, the current gate was built in 1669. Guess `new` is relative! This spot became a hub for me - markets nearby, lovely parks and the bus stop to other towns like Monreale, was just through here. Located on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo.
To read about the places I stayed on my solo adventure to Malta and Sicily, click the link to my website in the bio.
#palermo #palermosicily #Sicily #portonuovo #soloadventure #solotravelinsicily #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip #seeeverythingdoeverything #sicilianhistory #neverstoptravelling
Strolling through the gardens of Government House, taking in the stunning views of Sydney Harbour while I wait for my house tour to start.✨️ I`m going to snoop around like it`s an open house - who knows, I might want to move in 💖🥂 And yes, I do😍
#governmenthousesydney #sydneyweekend #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyaustralia #sydneyharbour #fountain #beautifulgardensoftheworld #historicsydney #seeeverythingdoeverything #explorethecityyoulivein #myhometown
Taormina-Giardini railway station💞 just as beautiful as everything else in Taormina ✨️
Used as the film set for The Godfather.
From here I continued on my solo adventure to Palermo, via Messina.
#taorminasicily #taormina #taormina-giardini #traintravel #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure #sicily #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme #traveladdict
My stroll through the tranquil Palermo Botanic Gardens, where I came to a lovely glass house, ponds full of lily pads and this man known as the Genius of Palermo (at least they have one!!), the protector of the city, with this enormous snake chomping into his chest.
#palermo #palermosicily #palermobotanicalgarden #geniusofpalermo #solotrip #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure #traveladdict #neverstoptravelling ##seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldworldwithme #glasshouse #lilyponds
Just took a free tour of Government House in Sydney`s Royal Botanic Gardens... now I`m considering a career change... Governor General, here I come! ✨️
#govermenthouse #governmenthousesydney #royalbotanicgardens #sydneyrbg #explorethecityyoulivein #walkinthepark #historicsydney #sydneyweekend #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks
The Spring Flower Show 💐every year at David Jones city store, not sure that this one is my favourite 🤔 what do you think?
#davidjonesflowershow #sydneycbd #sydney #flowerseverywhere #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
My wanderings around Palermo took me through the hustle and bustle of the markets ✨️ all the fruit, herbs and seafood were all so fresh and colourful......the vibe with all the vendors shouting over each other competing for attention was loud, crowded, chaotic, frantic and amazing........not at all tranquil like these photos depict!!
To read about the places I stayed on my solo adventure to Malta and Sicily, click the link to my website in the bio.
#palermo #palermomarket #freshseafood #sicilianlemons #soloadventure #solotravelinsicily #SoloTravelMagic #sicily #palermosicily #lemonandbasil #traveltheworldwithme
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
Strolling along the southern side of Sydney Harbour Bridge from Walsh Bay to The Rocks.
#sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyharbour #sydney #historicsydney #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbourwalks
`Angels of Our Time` sculpture of a modern couple of angels in business clothes relaxing in Parco Trevelyan in Taormina.
#angelsofourtime #artinthepark #parcotrevelyantaormina #parcotrevelyan #beautifulpark #taormina #taorminasicily #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #walkinthepark
An evening stroll through Taormina ✨️ around Piazza Aprile IX and down Corso Umberto deciding where to go for dinner🥂
Click the link to my website in the bio to see my reviews of the hotels where I stayed in Malta & Sicily🥰
#taormina #taorminasicily #piazzaapriletaormina #corsoumbertotaormina #lapassagiata #eveningstroll #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure #seeeverythingdoeverything
Flying into London, it`s been a while since I have flown in during daylight hours, without low cloud or fog to get a few pics from the air!! It would have been better with full sun 🌞 maybe next time....so lovely to walk through St James`s Park🥰🌺🥂
#London #Thames #riverthames #buckinghampalace🇬🇧 #kensingtonpalace #stjamespark #stjamesspalace #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #solotravelinlondon
Exploring Gozo one historic gem at a time—on an open-top bus, naturally!
From boats rowing out of caves, to the mighty Cittadella keeping watch over Victoria.
First fortified during the Bronze Age, then rebuilt by the Knights of St John after the
Ottoman raid of 1551.
Spotted Ta’ Kola Windmill, built way back in 1725. Once home to Gozo’s village miller,
now a beautifully preserved peek into rural Maltese life.
St George’s Basilica, the “Golden Church,” a baroque beauty dating back to the 17th
century, full of marble, gold leaf, and ceiling frescoes.
And let’s not forget the Gozitan streets—stone balconies, colourful doors and centuries
of stories carved into every corner.
If you`re solo travelling like me, Gozo’s open-top bus is a brilliant way to soak up the
island’s deep history—no navigation stress, just sunshine, stories, and sea breeze.
#GozoHistory #MaltaHeritage #SoloTravelChronicles #KnightsAndWindmills.
#GozoBusTour #SoloTravelMalta #HistoryAndHairdos #CaveBoatsAndCathedrals
Isola Bella, the little island paradise on the beach below Taormina✨️You have to walk through knee deep water to get there. I had my water shoes and small travel towel - ready for anything😂🥂
Read about the hotels I stayed in on my recent solo adventure in Malta and Sicily, click the link to my website in the bio.
#isolabellataormina #isolabella #taorminasicily #taormina #islandparadise #downbythesea #soloadventure #sicily
Where I stayed on my recent solo adventure in Malta and Sicily✨️ click the link in the bio to read my new post about where I stayed...and why.
Loved the Grand Harbour Hotel in Valletta 💖 the views were hard to tear myself away from⚓️
Not sponsored, all honest reviews 🥂!!
#grandharbourhotelvalletta #malta #soloadventure #solotrip #whereistayed #visitmalta #traveltheworldworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Spring Festival Taormina style ✨️ everywhere you look - flowers 💖
This is how spring should be!
#taormina #taorminasicily #springfestival #flowerseverywhere #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
The beautiful ancient streets of Ortigia Island in Sicily.✨️Perfect for aimlessly wandering through exploring whatever comes along.🌞
#ortigia #ortigiaisland #Syracuse #sicily #sicilytravel #visitsyracuse #solotravelinsicily #streetofortigia #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
A short train trip from Syracuse to explore Noto✨️ It was completely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1693. After a short walk up the hill from Noto Station, you find yourself walking through the city gates into a Sicilian Baroque paradise 🥂
#noto #daytripfromsyracuse #soloadventure ##solotravelinsicily #notocitygates #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme
Cruising around Gozo in an open-top double decker bus, not normally my chosen
method of transport, but with only one day in Gozo before catching the ferry back to
Valletta, it seems like the best way to see more of the island.
📍Gozo Harbour – picture perfect.
⛪That church watching over the harbour? That’s Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, doing
her best to photobomb every shot.
🚜Oh, and a bonus quad bike gang rolled past—clearly living their best adventure
movie moment. Another very popular way to tour around Gozo.
Solo travel tip: Open-top buses are a fab way to see the island without the stress of
maps or dodgy parking. Just sit back, snap some pics, and enjoy the breeze! ☀️I met a
lovely couple from Chichester in England to chat with on the bus.
#GozoIsland #SoloTravelMalta #BusWithAView #OpenTopAdventures #GozoVibes
#MaltaAdventures #SoloTravelMagic
Taormina is the prettiest place in Sicily 💖 after a short train trip from Syracuse, then a bus up the hill from the station, the whole town was decked out in flowers for the Spring Festival.
✨️I checked into the lovely @hotel_isabella_taormina , then wandered up and down Corso Umberto with a big smile on my face 🥰💖
#taormina #taorminasicily #hotelisabella #springintaormina #flowerseverywhere #solotravelinsicily #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #beautifultown
After more exploring Noto on my day trip from Syracuse, in Sicily ✨️I indulged my passion for a bit of fried seafood, then followed that with a Sicilian gelato 😋
#noto #sicily #frittomisto #gelato #exploringsicily #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure #traveltheworldwithme ##seeeverythingdoeverything
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
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
After visiting Isola Bella, I had lunch at one of the beach clubs, ✨️before walking up all the steps back up to the road. Then down the hill to Mazzaro to catch the bus up to Taormina......because the cable car was closed for maintenance 😒
For info about the hotels I stayed in on my recent solo adventure to Malta and Sicily, click the link to my website in the bio.
#isolabellataormina #islandparadise #isolabella #pizzabythesea #aperolspritz #solotravelinsicily #taorminasicily #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme
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
Lower Barrakka Gardens looking over the entrance to the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta.
1. Temple memorial to Sir Alexander Ball, Royal Naval Officer who served as the Commissioner in Malta from 1798 to 1809.
2. View from Lower Barrakka to Upper Barrakka (the arches in the centre of the photo).
3. Memorial to the Unknown Soldier.
4. Trojan warrior Enea.
5. Another angle of the temple.
#lowerbarrakkagardens #lowerbarrakkagardensvalletta #malta #Valletta #unknownsoldiermemorial #siralexanderballmonument #enea #grandharbourmalta #solotrip
#solomidlifefemaletraveler #solotravel #solotravelinmalta #adventure2025
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
Wandering through Valletta’s streets is like walking through a living museum — only with
better coffee ✨️Full of character, history, and photogenic facades.
Founded in 1566 by the Knights of St. John, Malta’s capital is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site packed with baroque beauty, colourful balconies, and more steps than your step
counter ever asked for. From Grand Harbour views to narrow laneways, every corner has
a story (and probably a pastizzi shop nearby).
📍Valletta, Malta
🏛 Built after the Great Siege of 1565
#VallettaStreets #MaltaHistory #UNESCOWalks #SoloTravelMalta
#WanderingWithPurpose #MaltaByFoot #StreetsOfValletta #MaltaMagic #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
💫Standing beneath one of the largest unsupported domes in the world at the Mosta
Rotunda, and wondering how on earth it’s still standing — especially after a WWII bomb
fell through the dome and didn’t explode! 😲
This beautiful church in the heart of Malta is a must-visit — stunning architecture, a
miraculous history, and serious ceiling goals. I first spotted it way off in the distance
when looking out from Mdina. After another bus trip from Valletta, I was here in
Mosta climbing up into the dome of this church built in the early 1800s.
📍Mosta Rotunda (aka the Rotunda of St. Marija Assunta)
🎨Inspired by Rome’s Pantheon
💣WWII miracle in 1942 — true story!
#MostaRotunda #MiracleChurch #MaltaMoments #SoloTravelMalta #solotrip
#mosta
#malta #HistoricChurches #WanderlustMalta #MaltaMagic #solotravelmoments
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
Cefalu`s Duomo, a masterpiece that took 100 years to build and opened its doors in 1240 ✨️. The exterior belies the intricate interior design, with delicate carvings and stunning mosaics everywhere.
#Sicily #cefalù #cefalusicily #duomodicefalù #cefalucathedral #solotrip #solotravelinsicily #soloadventureinsicily #traveltheworldworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #historicsicily
Beautiful Taormina on Sicily`s east coast. Little streets and stepped lanes there just for exploring.✨️
Who doesn`t need a Dolce & Gabbana Vespa??? Perfect 💖🥂
#taormina #taorminasicily #solotravelinsicily #soloadventure @dolcegabbana #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme #flowerseverywhere
Sydney`s Jacaranda trees are bursting into bloom! Hopefully this wintery snap doesn`t put the brakes on it......🤔 Enjoy the stunning purple displays (and then complain about the slippery footpaths and car stains as the flowers drop) 😂 It`s all part of the annual ritual✨️
#jacarandas #sydneyinbloom #therockssydney #sydneytownhall #explorethecityyoulivein #historicsydney #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Below the buildings on the south side of Corso Umberto, this 2nd Century Naumachie is the foundation of places like @hotel_isabella_taormina ✨️(in the first photo), where I stayed!!💖
#taormina #taorminasicily #hotelisabella #naumachietaormina #solotravelinsicily #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme
They built a new walkway crossing over the Mororway, it will have a roof to protect us from the sun and rain they said.
Turns out it only has a strip of roof on one side, so in the morning the shade is on the motorway below, and in the afternoon the shade is on the other side of the motorway below.
Then they cut holes in the roof, the shape of bugs (!?!), no doubt to let the sun and rain through 🤔
In the middle of the day, the shadow from the roof with the holes in it turns into an X rated phallic display!!
Do you see that, or it it just me??🤣
Should there be a Parental Guidance warning before walking on to the foot bridge???
#northsydney #nswgovt @north.sydney #phallicart #walktowork #morningcommute #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyuncovered
Teatro Antico, the ancient theatre in Taormina, built in the 3rd Century, still showing productions today.✨️
#teatroanticotaormina #taorminasicily #taormina #Sicily #sicilytravel #solotravelinsicily #seeeverythingdoeverything #ancientruins
The markets in Ortigia, Syracuse can get very loud as the sellers sell their goods!! Especially as is gets on towards closing time...
#ortigia #syracuse #sicily #markets #fruitandvegetables #artichokes #soloadventure #solotrip #seeeverythingdoeverything
Tarxien Temples, a short bus trip from Valletta on the #81. This is the home of what is assumed to be the first people who lived in Malta. This complex dates back to 3400BC, so really, really old!!!
#tarxien #tarxientemples #malta #ancienthistory #ancientcultures #prehistoriclife #earlylifeinmalta #solotrip #soloadventure #solotravelinmalta #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme
