Destinations
Tips, Trips, and Stories From Our Travels
Whale Watching – Sydney
On Saturday, I took the ferry from Manly to the CBD (Central Business District) of Sydney with some friends and we walked to Darling Harbour. We had booked a 3 hour Whale Watching tour on a two level medium sized ship called Bubbles. It rained in the morning and the...
Bangor West – Rock Climbing
Bangor West - Rock Climbing Bangor West is an area located just west of Cronulla to the south of Sydney. It is a small crag but does have 101 routes according the The Crag with 64% of these being sport routes, 28% trad, 4% bouldering, and 1% top rope. The routes...
Berowra Rock Climbing
Berowra Rock Climbing Berowra, an Aboriginal word meaning "place of many winds," is a suburb located about 40 kilometers north of Sydney. Surrounded by lush parks, it is nestled between Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to the east and Berowra Valley National Park to...
Cabbage Tree Bay #6 – Australian Giant Cuttlefish – Incredible Mating Ritual
As you may know from reading this blog, one of my favorite sea creatures is the Giant Australian Cuttlefish, Sepia apama. These magical creatures, have a lineage that dates back to the Cretaceous period, 66 million years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the...
Cabbage Tree Bay Snorkeling #5 (Red Morwong, Sea Mullet, Yellow Scad, Little Pied Cormorant, etc.)
Today, the sky was grey and cloudy and rain showers fell intermittently, sometimes lightly and other times in heavy droplets that bounced off the balcony table and back into the air. The ocean was unusually calm making surfing futile, but it seemed perfect for...
Eastern Water Dragons!
Australia is renowned for its unique wildlife, and one of these unusual creatures is the Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii). They are known to inhabit the cliffs and bushes along the walkway to Shelley beach near Manly but I almost never see them out and...
Cabbage Tree Bay Snorkeling #4 – Port Jackson Sharks!
Yesterday was windy but the ocean had almost no swell so the waves were relatively small and blown out. Surfing wasn't a great option so I grabbed my wetsuit and snorkel mask and went for a snorkel in Cabbage Tree Bay. The sky was cheerful, mostly clear and sunny...
Cabbage Tree Bay Snorkeling #3 (Green Moray, Estuary Catfish, Fiddler Ray, etc.)
The last few days have made for quite interesting snorkeling and I saw a couple creatures I have never seen before. I compressed the three days into one short 35 second video clip and added captions to indicate the various fish, eel, rays, etc. Check out the video...
Underwater Aliens: The Giant Cuttlefish
Some sea creatures are so unusual and otherworldly that they seem like aliens and you would hardly believe they existed if you didn't witness them with your own eyes. Here are a few insane facts about one such creature, The Giant Cuttlefish: Enigmatic...
Cabbage Tree Bay Snorkeling #2 – Comb Jellies, Sergeant Baker, and More
Since snorkeling here is quite good, it seems likely that I will make an abundance of snorkeling posts. For this reason, I will be numbering them as well as dating them. Generally speaking, I tend to snorkel on days when there is limited surf and the water is calm...
Cabbage Tree Bay Snorkeling #1, Shelley Beach, NSW, Australia
Cabbage Tree Bay is an excellent snorkeling spot just between Manly beach and Shelley beach.
Manly, NSW Australia
The Manly-Freshwater-Curl Curl area is one of my favorite places in the whole world. Manly itself is a small beachside suburb located in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney, Australia. The coastline is stunning and the community is vibrant and fitness oriented. ...
Rock Climbing & Multi-Pitch in Montserrat, Spain!!
Montserrat Montserrat is a picturesque mountain range located just outside of Barcelona, Spain, and is a popular destination for rock climbers from all over the world. The area boasts over 4,000 climbing routes to choose from (see thecrag.com for details), ranging...
Barcelona, Spain!
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain. Known for its rich history, lively culture, and fanciful architecture, the city has something to offer for everyone. We decided to explore some of Barcelona's most...
Marrakech: The Red City
Marrakech, also known as the "Red City," is so named for three reasons: the red-colored clay used to construct many of it's buildings, the reddish-orange color of the sand and desert, and because of the traditional use of red dye in the city's textiles. Today,...
Ronda, Spain!
Ronda, Spain! On a rest day of climbing in El Chorro, we decided to drive a little over an hour to a picturesque little town called Ronda that is perched high on the cliffs overlooking a sweeping valley below. Puente Nuevo bridge The town is known for its deep ravine...
Via Ferrata – El Chorro, Spain!
Yesterday we rented Via Ferrata kits from Finca La Campana El Chorro and did our first Via Ferrata! The 3-4 hour route climbs steeply up the front of a crag called Frontales and includes a zip line between two peaks and then two exposed wire bridge crossings between...
El Chorro, Spain – Rock Climbing!
El Chorro, Spain - Rock Climbing El Chorro is a popular rock climbing destination located in the province of Málaga in southern Spain. It is known for its limestone cliffs and sunny weather, although it is a bit colder in the winter and chances of precipitation are...
Hiking and Climbing in Marbella, Spain
We did a little hiking and rock climbing while in Marbella which was only a short 20 minute drive out of town for both. Hiking While in Marbella, the surrounding mountain range, called Sierra Blanca, appears to have only one peak, named La Concha (since it is...
A Relaxing Christmas in Marbella, Spain
Since we just arrived back to Portugal in October, we were unable to travel back to the USA for Christmas. We had been spending most of our time renovating the new townhouse we purchased and were ready for a break and change of scenery. So, we decided to hit the...
The Dark Side of Surf Culture and Surgery in Portugal
Surf Culture in my mind is a relaxed, calm attitude with a childlike enthusiasm for surf and sun. Unfortunately, it seems like the prevailing disposition these days in surfing is a demeaner more like that of a steroidal bully on a rampage. Beginners are derided as...
Kalymnos, Greece – Rock Climbing Heaven!
According to The Crag, there are 3,950 climbing routes in Kalymnos with most of them being sport routes. The rocky little island is 183 nautical miles southeast of Athens and is located in the Aegean Sea. Interesting, Kalymnos was once known as the sponge trade...
Athens, Greece – The Acropolis!
Athens Greece - The Acropolis! The Acropolis is perched on a limestone cliff overlooking the city of Athens. The area has been inhabited since 4,000 BC but most of the structures were built around 450 BC by the Greek politician and general Pericles. What struck me...
Athens, Greece – Bike Tour!
Athens Greece - Bike Tour The Athens skyscape is dominated by the Acropolis which is the old city center and sits atop a rocky hillside. Around the base are shops and restaurants with pleasant views of the ancient ruins. One good way to get an overview of the sites...
Whale & Dolphin Watching in Madiera!
This morning we went for a 2 hour Whale and Dolphin Trip with H20 Madiera and it was phenomenal! We took the "orange" boat which is a small inflatable raft style boat with an outboard motor. We were so close to the water that the dolphins were within arms length. ...
Madeira Canyoneering!
Yesterday we went on a canyoneering trip with Epic Madeira. We took the Intermediate tour since the Experienced was all booked out. I would say the Intermediate one would be fine for beginners since you really didn't need any rope skills at all. However, the...
Hiking in Madeira!
Hiking in Madeira is simply spectacular. The island is lush and mountainous with waterfalls and levadas (narrow aqueducts) that run throughout the island. Two of the most famous hikes are Levada das 25 Fontes/ Levada do Risco and Pico do Areeiro/ Pico Ruivo/ Achaea...
Rock Climbing in Madeira!
According to The Crag, there are 158 climbing routes in Madeira with most of them being sport routes. The two crags with the most routes are Ribeira Brava and Socorridos. Both of those areas are near the southern coast of the island and in between Calheta, where we...
Rock Climbing in the Algarve Region of Portugal
June-July 2022 Portugal actually has some fantastic rock climbing on the southern and western coasts. Unfortunately, much of it is within the national parks and many crags are officially banned and illegal. If you decide to climb on these crags, it is at your own risk...
Top 5 Things To Do In Funchal, Madeira!!
July 23, 2022 Madeira located in the Atlantic Ocean 320 miles off the west coast of northern Africa and just north of the Canary Islands. Madeira is the name of both the archipelago, and one of the islands within the archipelago (Madeira, Porto Santo, and Desertas are...
Perfect 1 Week Lagos, Portugal Itinerary for Mom!!
May 19-25, 2022 My Mom came to visit from May 18-25, 2022 and we had a wonderful time! Here was our brief itinerary: Thursday, May 19 - Pick up from Airport in Lisbon. Cliff Hike from Luz to Porto Mos to see the gorgeous views of Praia da Luz. Friday, May 20 - Cliff...
Top 5 From My Trip to Lisbon, Portugal!
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 #1 Jeronimos Monastery (The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Belém) The South Portal of the Monastery Jeronimos Monastery was commissioned by King Manuel I (King of Portugal from 1495-1521) and construction began in 1501 but took 100 years to...
Top 4 from our Trip to Seville, Spain!
April 24, 2022 #1 The Royal Alcazar of Seville The Royal Alcazar of Seville or Real Alcazar de Sevilla is a Royal Palace built on the remains of a prior Muslim Palace and Fortress. The Castilian Palace was built for Peter of Castile who was King of Leon and Castile...
Jardin Botanico-Historico, Malaga, Spain
April 19, 2022 This is just a quick post with some of our photos from the Botanical Garden in Malaga, Spain. The garden dates back to 1857 and was initiated by the Loring-Heredia Family with the landscaping being done by a French horticulturist by the name of Jacinto...
Granada, Spain – Geothermal Baths & Travertines
Monday, April 18, 2022 This afternoon, we took a trip out to the Spanish countryside to visit the natural geothermal baths and travertines. In this area, the countryside feels like what you would imagine of the US southwest. It is expansive with rocky hillsides,...
The Alhambra in Granada, Andalusia, Spain!
April 17, 2022 The Alhambra (Al-Hamra or The Red One) is a vast complex of palaces, gardens, and fortresses located in Andalusia Spain. The original palace, gardens, and fortifications were begun by Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar in 1238. He was founder of the Emirate of...
San Sebastian, Spain!
April 14th, 2022 San Sebastian is a beautiful little city in a quiet sandy bay in the north of Spain. The promenade extends all the way around the bay and along the crescent shaped beach from one headland to the other. There are actually two beaches along the bay, the...
Hossegor, France – Painful Surf Lesson
April 11, 2022 In case some readers are unaware, Hossegor is a famous surf spot where they hold the Quicksilver Pro France each year in early October. Kelly Slater has his footprint in the concrete right out in front of our Airbnb actually. I tried but I couldn't fill...
Rocamadour, France!
Rocamadour is a picturesque town, chateau, and cluster of churches built into the side of a cliff in southwestern France overlooking a steep gorge with a tributary of the river Dordogne winding through the valley. It has been a pilgrimage site since before 1,000 AD...
Rock Climbing near Correns, France!
March 31, 2022 It rained the day before so we met up with our guide, Phillippe at 11am to allow the sun to dry out the rock. The day was sunny and bright with mostly clear blue skies and a cool breeze. There are thousands of climbing routes in the area, mostly sport,...
Exploring Gorges du Verdon, France!
March 28-30, 2022 The Gorges du Verdon is a gorgeous river canyon in southeastern France, well known for it's turquoise blue waters and steep limestone cliffs. I am sure the area becomes very crowded during the summer months but during March it is quite, cool, and...
Lac d’Annecy, France (Kayaking, Hiking, Dog-Sledding)
Lake Annecy - March 23-25, 2022 Lake Annecy is a picturesque alpine lake nestled in the French Alps near the border with Switzerland. The water is crystal clear and is excellent for kayaking and other water sports like wake boarding. The surrounding mountains have...
Top 5 from our Trip to Paris, France!
March 20-23, 2022 #1 The Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower The quintessential symbol of Paris, dominating the city's horizon, is the Eiffel Tower. It was finished in 1889 for the World's Fair Exposition (Exposition Universelle), having taken 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days to...
EuroTunnel from UK to France!
Sunday, March 20, 2022 When flying out of the UK to the EU, pets must stay in the hold and cannot travel in the main cabin unless they are service dogs. There is the option of travelling by Ferry to Spain or France but these book up very quickly so you need to plan at...
Goodbye to Cornwall, UK
March 17, 2022 It is with a twinge of sadness that we plan our road trip from the UK and down through France and Spain to southern Portugal. So, I wanted to post a few more photos from the nearby beaches that have brought me many moments of peace, joy, excitement, and...
Lover’s Legend of Crantock Beach
March 13, 2022 We are currently staying in the village of Crantock which is a short walk down narrow roads from Crantock Beach. The walk from the town center is pleasant and leads past old thatch roofed houses with stone walls and a cascading green plant with...
Pentire Point West & Polly Joke, Cornwall, UK
March 7-6, 2022 When surfing at Fistral Beach or Watergate Bay around Newquay, Cornwall, it is not uncommon for a large grey head to rise out of the water near you and something that looks much like a man in a hooded wetsuit will stare at you, looking you straight in...
Wonderful Short Hikes When Driving from Scotland to England!
February 20-21, 2022 We were driving south from Thurso, Scotland back down to Birmingham, England so we decided to go for a couple short hikes along the way. There is a great app called AllTrails that is fantastic for checking out hikes so we used that to figure out...
Top 4 From our Trip to Thurso, Scotland!
February 13-20, 2022 #1 Thurso East Surf Break Me Surfing Thurso East in Cold, Windy, Sloppy Conditions (Thanks to my wife Bi for the Photo!). Not the best body position but at least I got out there. When we were in Newquay, I mentioned I really wanted to catch a...
Top 4 From our Trip to Edinburgh, Scotland!
Edinburgh - February 10-12, 2022 #1 The Real Mary King's Close Tour The Real Mary King's Close Tour is about an hour long walking tour under the streets of the city through long buried tunnels and chambers underground. A close was a narrow street off the main street...
Top 5 From our Trip to Wales, United Kingdom
Swansea Feb 1-4/ Snowdonia Feb 5-9, 2022 #1 Caernarfon Castle Caernarfon Castle is a fortress-palace that was built on the banks of the river Seiont in Wales, UK. The castle took 47 years to construct and is the largest in scale and grandeur of the four castles built...
Top 10 From Our Trip to Bath, England!
Bath (Jan 28-Feb 1, 2022) Bath is World Heritage Site which was named after the Roman baths that were built here in 60 AD. The baths are fed by geothermal springs rising up from the limestone below. These unique properties have made it a famous spa area since ancient...
Top 5 From Our Trip to Cornwall, England!
Cornwall, England (Cubert Jan 17-24 / St Agnes Jan 24-26, 2022) If you prefer rugged cliffs, rolling green pastures, wide sandy beaches, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and cold but uncrowded surf to the city then forget about London and head to Cornwall. Here the...
