Caroline

Unspoilt, charming city full of friendly, helpful people.

Oideas Gael organises Irish courses in Glencolmcille (Gleann Cholm Cille) and the village of Cashel. From the class room, you have a view of the Atlantic Ocean, and Slieve League. From day one you are immersed in Irish language, music and culture and their method ensure you’ll be talking a few words ‘as Gaeilge’ quickly. If language isn’t your thing, you could do the hill walking course, or archeology course.

Though I never did become fluent in Irish, I enjoyed my stay in the valley immensely and went back for another taste twice or more. The area is remote and barren, but beautifully so.

www.oideas-gael.com

Twice in my life I travelled through Toronto. Once with my parents in 1976, on our way to Vancouver. It was our first big trip but we were unimpressed because we couldn’t a decent restaurant to have dinner. I think I bought a pair of cowboy boots.

In 87 I had 7 hours between flights so I took a bus to a mall and bought U2’s The Joshua Tree on LP and cassette tape (so I could listen to it on my flight back to Europe). I remember being so lost in the music, I forgot all about shopping and just sat down and listened and waited until it was time to go back to the airport.

Worth visiting? I guess I don’t really know. But it was worth remembering.

It’s been thirty years since I visited Jakarta. I’ve forgotten most of it, but remember sateh kambing from the side of the road, roast corn on the cob from the sellers at Tangkuban Prahu (with the smell of sulphur in the air). Pigeons seemed to be on the menu a lot and I ate a lot of fried frog legs too.

Three words. Tou. Rist. Trap. The equivalent of London’s Leicester Square, but much smaller.

Almost impossible to avoid as it’s very central. Go to Nieuwmarkt (near Central Station) for a better experience of Amsterdam life, or go to de Pijp, much cooler (closer to Amstel Station).

It’s where I live, or close enough. I can probably see part of it from my window, if I stretch far enough.

It’s worth visiting, but when I was there it was too crowded and the tour was dominated by Italians who had brought their own interpreter who kept live interpreting the Irish guide’s explanations. Couldn’t wait to get away from the group.

It’s a hard place to get to if you don’t have transportation.

About an hour away from Dublin on the bus it’s just about OK for a day trip. Wasn’t impressed, sort of a ‘typical’ inland Irish town. If you are looking for a good day trip from Dublin, go to Glendalough.

Peaceful and beautiful, but I remember the scones in Roundtree best…

Went here to try out my newly learnt ‘Gaeilge’. Got that look that says ‘who the fuck are you trying to speak our language’. It’s beautiful though.