Still-In-Perspective

The Colourful & charming Chiavari

Chiavari is a small fishing town on the Ligurian coast. Its streets are cheerful, full of colour and character. The pastel-painted town looks sunny and festive next to the dazzling water. The seafront is lined with swaying pine trees and a nice promenade.

And what’s an Italian town if it doesn’t embody some of the country’s most stereotypical clichés? In Chiavari you will find narrow cobblestoned streets, cathedrals, laundry hanging outside to dry, parked vespas, delicious fresh pesto, sparkling beaches and many tanned Italians sunbathing in the glowing sun. 

“One of the great joys of traveling through Italy is discovering firsthand that it is, indeed, a dream destination.” – from the book “Italy Luxury: Family Hotels & Resorts” by Debra Levinson

Afternoon walks to Caisteal Maol and the Legend of Saucy Mary

Opposite Kyle of Lochalsh and the Skye Bridge, just to the east of Kyleakin, the predominant ruins of Caisteal Maol sits perched on top of a small hill. While the castle is a fantastic viewpoint and lovely afternoon walking destination, it was once a Viking fort used to monitor the passing of ships through the Kyle.

The legend surprisingly is not based on the victories of a great King or warrior, nor the magic of a faerie or an elf, rather this story is based around a feisty Norwegian princess.  Local legend says she laid a great big chain between her castle on the Isle of Skye across to the mainland, and no ship could pass safely without first paying the princess a toll. Once the toll was paid, the princess would let the ship pass. And then she would flash the sailors her boobs.

To add to the story, it is also said that her remains are said to be buried a the top of the mountain Bein Na Caillich (the hill of the old lady). She now resides high above all of Skye to keep watch and enjoy the aromas of freshly baked scones floating down wind from her beloved hometown. 

This is the tale of “Saucy Mary,” a local legend on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. This amusing tale is a perfect example of the types of stories the Scots seem to like best — based loosely in fact and brought to life with expressive story telling and dirty humour. Now the fact here is that there WAS at one point a Norwegian princess on the Isle of Skye, and the ruins of Castle Moil are still there in Kyleakin, the rest however is left to the imagination of the Scots and local's love for folklore.

The castle is a magnificent lookout and great little walk if you are looking for some sight seeing in Kyleakin. Near the main car park in Kyleakin, follow the road around the bend and take the gravel path up to the cross on the hillock up to the viewpoint. This walk is short and straightforward, though you will cross a beach which is best avoided at high tide, and the last section up to the ruin is on steep grass. Once you are up there it is easy to understand why the castle was built here in this commanding position above the Kyle of Lochalsh.

Kyleakin

The Isle of Skye, Scotland

Kyleakin, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Home sweet home, what more can I say. Kyleakin and Skye Backpackers become my second (third, fourth & fifth) home while I was travelling. From the moment I arrived my heart was captured, not only because of it's overwhelming natural beauty, but also because of all the kind hearted characters that inhabit this beautiful island. Initially I only planned to stay for 2 weeks (and thought that was more than enough time) but I ended up staying for 8 weeks and never wanting to leave.

The Isle of Skye, or in Scots Gaelic 'Eilean A Cheo' meaning Misty Isle, is located on the north western coast of Scotland. It has become one of the most popular tourist sites among the Scottish islands, made famous by romantic tales of it's mountains, mist, sea lochs, and castles. 

Kyleakin is the first village you will come across as you cross the bridge from the mainland to Skye. Do not overlook this place. Make sure to stop in at the local Hakon Bar and Restaurant for a few drinks with the locals and a delicious meal. This place is down on the coastline and well worth the visit. 

The local backpacker hub, Skye Backpackers is a cosy and homely community that will welcome you in from the moment you walk through the door. This place is made up of a variety of quaint dorm rooms with themes that will put a smile on your face as soon as you discover which bed/room you will be sleeping in. Make sure to socialise in the great kitchen area, take advantage of the free tea and coffee, then go sit down and relaxe by the open fire place in the lounge area to socialise with the staff and fellow travellers. 

The Isle of Skye, and in particular Kyleakin truly is a special place! If you love getting lost in nature, listening to captivating tales of local legend and pounding back a few scotches after a long day climbing mountains or bathing in nearby fairy pools, then this is definitely the place for you.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Isle of Skye, just do it!

Knock Castle Is a majestic rocky headland projecting into Knock Bay on the coast of Skye's Sleat peninsula. This is a fantastic little spot to come for an afternoon walk to relaxe, take in solme local history and embrace the amazing views. Plus if you are lucky you might even run into one of the friendly locals with hot tips on how to spot some of the adorable otters making their daily swim home.

This hidden gem can be found just over six kilometres north east of Armadale. From here the history rich castle stands out against the Sound of Sleat in the background, And the scene completed by the rugged landscape of Knoydart in the distance.

There is no way to get to Knock Castle directly by vehicle or any signposts directing the visitor to Knock Castle, but you can reach it by following a walking track. First you will have to scuttle your way past some farm land, then down along the coastline, finally you need to make your way up the grassy slope and then you reach what is left of the castle itself. 

What you find are the fairly slight remains of several different parts of the castle. The bulkiest wall stands at the southern side of the site and seems to be part of a keep dating back to the 1400s. The site now occupied by the castle was originally the site of an Iron Age fort, Dun Thoravaig. 

Road Tripping from Glasgow to the isle of Skye

8 hours on the road heading north through the dramatic and unbeliveable beautiful country of Scotland. It is hard to put in words just how magnificent and beautiful this country's landscape is. Always changing from lochs to mountains to meadows to dramatic cliffs and then pristine coastlines. Every inche is incredible. Postcard views and stunning scenery. Nature touched by the hand of God and then sprinkled with a bit of fairy dust. 

The Secret Lake near Avignon

Why head to the Mediterranean this season when France's great Alpine lakes have uncrowded beaches, sparkling fresh water ready for you to take the plunge? 

I was lucky enough to guided by some very cool Avignon locals to one of their secret off the grid lakes. Hidden somewhere south of Avignon near the town of Les Baux-de-Provence,  there is a wonderful lake with the brightest turquoise water I have ever seen. Just off a bumpy dirt road, this lake provides a hidden oasis perfect for escaping the summer's hot heat. 

While sun bakers lay lazily by the water edges, swimmers refresh themselves in the cool water and adrenaline junkies climb the surrounding cliffs to hurl themselves with a leap of faith into the lake depths. The lake is both serene and exhilarating at the same time, 

The surrounding landscape itself is even more dramatic with beautiful scenery and diverse flora. There is a rocky beach leading into the vibrant cool water, shady spots under the trees, walking paths all away around the lakes edges, dramatic cliff edges for great views and the Chaîne des Alpilles mountain range in the background to top it all of.  

The Theatre Festival of Avignon

For nearly a month every year, the theatre world can be found in Avignon for an international celebration of everything performing arts. From theatre, dance, poetry, film, philosophy, exhibitions, modern literature and more, the Festival d'Aviginon is meeting place for innovation and creation.

Every year in July, Avignon comes to life, transforming into a living theatre city. Every inch of the architectural heritage buildings is covered in a bright smorgasbord of posters fighting for attention. Local stores and cafes morph into various performance venues, to welcome the tens of thousands of theatre-lovers who make the journey to this fantastic event.The festival is a popular and contemporary artistic adventure that has been running for over 70 years. Today it is one of the most important contemporary performing arts events in the world.

The south of France isn't all celebs and over-priced cocktails. Sixteen kilometres from Marseille lie the hidden romantic seaside village of Cassis. 

I was lucky enough to stay up in the hills beside the village during the summer and it was absolutely perfect.  It is a beautiful escape if you are looking to get away from the city and experience good restaurants, the ocean and there are many places to walk around town plus the cliffs. The perfect romantic getaway to get reacquainted with your partner, yourself or simply to relaxe. 

Cassis offers visitors a glimpse of life in a quaint provencal fishing village. What was once an ancient fishing port, is now a picturesque little village centred around a beautiful harbour. The port is lined with terrace cafés and restaurants, perfect for relaxing in the sun and getting lost in the magnificent views of the surrounding area. Alternatively you can admire the vast array of yachts, fishing boats and sightseeing boats ready to venture out to the nearby calanques. 

The winding streets through the village itself offer a mixture of pastel-coloured houses, boutique shops and many more charming cafes. You can easily wander the village by foot and explore as you walk between the hillside vacation houses and the beach just south of the port. Down by the vibrant pebble beach you can sun-bake for hours and if you can drag yourself away from the turquoise postcard views, there's plenty of options for an afternoon pick me up, whether you prefer a coffee, wine or cocktail.

Port Vell,Barcelona, Spain

Port Vell is a people-watchers paradise, full of colourful characters and a vibrant energy that makes you want to wander and observe endlessly. 

Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain

Park Güell is a playground for the mind: combining living art, beautiful gardens, wonderful views and unique architecture. Designed by the famous architect Antonio Gaudi, it’s a strange, enchanting place where his passion for natural forms really took flight – to the point where the artificial almost seems more natural than the natural.

Mercat la Boqueria, Barcelona

The Mercat la Boqueria is a temple to gastronomy. The market offers a paradise for the senses, a collection of smells and colours and all things edible. 

Take a look at where locals and visitors alike can get lost in the riot of food options, from fresh fruits and vegetables to prepared juices and salads to jamon and tapas and seafood, meats, bread, spices, and so much more. Best of all the prices are all really quite reasonable. So if you are like me and love enjoying many options, you can go crazy with a selection of treats from many of stalls. 

One caution though - It is not for the faint of heart or vegetarians. These markets do not shy away from using all parts of animals in their cuisine, and some of the meat stands vividly display the various organs and heads of the animals. Maybe it is best for you to skip on ahead to the pastries and breads!