Tongue Thai’d

So… today has been a lesson in a number of things. Firstly, dealing with the heat. Wow, is it hot. I mean, it is bearable at night with a breeze, it is after all, the Thai winter! But… daytime… ok… remember, THAI WINTER! Daytime is about as hot as it ever gets in Ontario… and …

Smiles On The Horizon!

First things first: Barcelona Photos And next.. just wanted to say quickly that I arrived safely in Firenze (Florence) last night and am staying with the most wonderful couple, Francesca and Gianluca. It is hard for me not to love anyone that has a beautiful authentic Tuscan meal and wine for me, never mind a …

Dos Cerveza Por Favor

Alright, so it’s January 26 and I’m writing this while sitting on a balcony overlooking the bustling Las Ramblas in Barcelona, wearing a T-shirt and squinting at the screen because of the sun that is bathing me. It’s about 20 degrees and just absolutely beautiful here. The best part: I’m only spending about 3 euro …

Athina Wanna Go Back To Italy

The Photos So yeah, if you ever get the chance to go to Athens and it’s free to go, and you can stay in a hotel or something… by all means, go for it. But, if you’re just looking to kill some time before going to Thailand… just go to Thailand. There have been parts …

How Frigin Cool Am I!!!!

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Europe/UK-Ireland/2004/01/20/319087.html That’s right folks – officially published travel writer Ryan McLaughlin. 🙂 Stay tuned for more as the editor is “looking forward” to what I come up with next. I just got back from a day trip to Meteora – it was incredible. It’s this place in sorta North Central Greece that has all these …

Living With Strangers: A Freeloader’s Tale

Every time I tell a new traveller that I’ve just finished trekking around the United Kingdom and Ireland for two months and haven’t paid a thing for accommodations, most stare at me blankly, at least until the “what’s the catch” look begins to seep in. “No, no, seriously,” I’ve said countless times, but still they …

Italia, There's Something About Italy

Slowly sipping my second bottle of Mythos Hellenic Lager Beer I bought for 0.85 euro at the Mini Mart here in Athens, I wonder two things: (a) Will I ever make it back to Amalfi, quite possibly the most beautiful place I’ve been and (b) what the hell movie is this with Cybil Sheppard, Joe …

Roman Around

Yesterday morning (alright, noonish) Cathy and I took the metro down to the Colosseum. Holy crap! You walk out of the station and it is RIGHT there sitting in its 2,000-year-old glory. Standing there in its shadow really made me appreciate my trip. I mean, how cool is that – the frigin Colosseum! We decided …

French Wine In Roma

It just turned midnight and I’ve now been away from home for more than two months. Surrounded by chatter in a number of languages, I write this while in the “common” room of the Yellow Hostel in Roma, Italy. My day leaving Dublin went much smoother than the day I arrived there. I was preparing …

Sacralicious

It’s been a busy week since I left Belfast, and leaving Belfast proved no small challenge. Last Monday Carol left for Prague for the New Year celebration. I too was supposed to depart, but because I had stayed up the entire night before scouring the Internet for flight deals to Bangkok and various other travel …