25 Ways to Pretend to be a New Yorker

On my recent trip to New York I wanted to be more than a just a tourist. I wanted to get insider insights and feel like I could be a New Yorker. This is what I learnt.

The anthropologist in me is never content with just visiting a place and being a tourist. I like to feel I’m getting under the skin and finding out what it’s like to be a local there. This was even more important to me than usual when I made my first visit to New York in October. It’s a place I’ve dreamed about visiting for years decades. It’s a place I’ve seriously thought about spending a year in just so I can get to know it. It’s why it’s on my ‘60 things to do before I’m 60‘ list. 

Continue reading “25 Ways to Pretend to be a New Yorker”

Exploring Wick

Wick in Scotland’s far north east has an interesting history that can be discovered on an easy to follow heritage walk. I spent a day exploring Wick and this is what I found.

I’ve always bypassed Wick when I’ve travelled up and down to the far north of Scotland. No particular reason other than that it’s a way off the main A9 route and I’ve always had other places I’ve wanted to visit. This time I was determined to stick to the coastal road and visit some of the places which have found fame since some clever marketing person coined the idea of the North Coast 500 route a few years ago. I’m looking at you Whaligoe Steps.

As I was going to be driving right through Wick it would have been too much of a missed opportunity not to stop and explore for a few hours.

Continue reading “Exploring Wick”

Exploring the Best of Rotterdam’s Architecture

Rotterdam deserves several days, but even if you only have one day you can still get a feel for the city and appreciate its regeneration. Here’s how to explore the best of Rotterdam’s architecture in one day.

Earlier this year I attended a travel blogging conference in Rotterdam and squeezed in an extra day which I spent exploring the best of Rotterdam’s architecture.

I hadn’t realised this was the theme for my day until afterwards when I was looking over everything I’d done that day. That everything seemed to be about architecture really sums up Rotterdam.

Rotterdam has struggled with second-city syndrome for years. Not only does it have to compete with Amsterdam (which would be stiff competition in any country), but it also has to compete which much smaller, but very much better known places like Delft. Continue reading “Exploring the Best of Rotterdam’s Architecture”

9 Things You Need to Know Before Using the New York Subway

My first forays on the New York subway made my head spin. As a seasoned traveller I didn’t think this was possible! As the New York subway has quirks you won’t find anywhere else I’ve made it easy for you by letting you in on 9 things you need to know about using the New York subway so you can be prepared before your first trip.

The New York subway is great. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week and there are stations everywhere. And it’s cheap – only $2.75 for a ride that could take you from one end of Manhattan to the far reaches of Queens or Brooklyn. There are no zones to worry about, it’s a one-size fits all system.

So using the subway to get around New York should be dead easy right? And it is. Sort of. So long as you take account of its quirks and allow yourself a bit of time to get your head round it without beating yourself up when you find yourself in completely the wrong part of Manhattan. Continue reading “9 Things You Need to Know Before Using the New York Subway”

Sunset From the Top of the Empire State Building

Seeing New York at sunset from the top of the Empire State Building was one of the best things I did.

When I visited New York in October I wanted to dig down a bit and find out what the city is really like, not just follow the thousands of other tourists around checking boxes off a ‘must do in New York’ list. I think I did that pretty well and you can read more about it here. However, that didn’t mean I didn’t want to do any of the big touristy stuff – it’s popular for a reason right? – and topping my list was one of the biggest (literally and figuratively) things of all. I wanted – really wanted – to go to the top of the Empire State Building.

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Nightmare at Madame Tussaud’s

I thought Halloween would be the perfect time to share my Nightmare at Madame Tussaud’s with you. I didn’t realise editing the video would be an even bigger nightmare!

I hadn’t intended going to Madame Tussaud’s whilst I was in New York, but I found myself in Times Square one evening with not much else to do and it was just there. Lit up in front of me. It was still open and I had a pass that included free entry so thought I might as well go and see what it had to offer.

Well it was a complete nightmare. So horrific I had to make a video so I could share the experience in full with you.  Continue reading “Nightmare at Madame Tussaud’s”

The Cube Houses of Rotterdam – Quirky Architecture Meets Social Integration

The 38 cube houses of Rotterdam sit at jaunty angles and seem to defy logic. They also played tricks with my memory.

I’d seen the cube houses of Rotterdam before, many years ago, and remembered I’d been quite fascinated by them. So when I found myself in Rotterdam for a travel blogging conference earlier this year, I couldn’t resist going back to see them. Continue reading “The Cube Houses of Rotterdam – Quirky Architecture Meets Social Integration”

I’m a Solo Female Traveller – Get used to it!

After 33 years of travel, most of which has been as a solo female traveller, someone called the police because I was on my own. Yes, really.

Warning! This post may contain swearing.

What do I mean ‘may’? I’ve not even started writing it yet, but I know I’m not going to get to the end without at least a few expletives leaving my keyboard.

Why is the normally chilled Inverted Sheep getting so wound up and hot under the collar? I’ll tell you why! Are you ready for this?

Okay, calm down, deep breaths…

I’ll start at the beginning. Continue reading “I’m a Solo Female Traveller – Get used to it!”

A Tale of Two Castles

Did you know that Shetland used to be part of Norway? And that a lot of the Norse ways survived even after the islands became Scottish? Visiting the two castles is a good way of learning about the history of Shetland during the time of the Earls. This tale of two castles gives a brief outline of the history and helps you to plan your visit to the castles.

Shetland has two castles both of which date back to the time when the Isles were ruled by Earls. Even though both castles are in ruins, there’s enough left of each one to make them fun to explore.

I’ve been to them both several times now and each time I go back I feel surprised by how much of them there is left once you get inside. With both castles, but especially Scalloway Castle, I always get the feeling that they’re bigger on the inside. Now where have I heard that before? Continue reading “A Tale of Two Castles”

Lerwick vs Kirkwall? How does Lerwick compare to Kirkwall?

I love visiting Shetland and Orkney and spending time in Lerwick and Kirkwall. If you’re planning to visit and are wondering what to expect or if you have to choose just one to visit, my Top Trumps style guide is here to help you out.

I’ve been to Shetland six times and Orkney four times. Each time I’ve travelled a lot round the islands and during those travels have popped in and out of their respective capitals numerous times. So I feel like I know Shetland’s Lerwick and Orkney’s Kirkwall pretty well. Well enough, anyway, to have formed opinions on them.

People expect them to be similar, but they’re not. They each have their own distinctive look and particular vibe. I like both for different reasons and when asked which was my favourite was a bit stumped. Of course, my instinct was to say Lerwick seeing as how I feel Shetland is my soul home and all, but with only a second’s thought I started to come up with lots of wonderful things about Kirkwall too.

How to choose? How to compare Lerwick with Kirkwall? I decided to come up with my own Lerwick vs Kirkwall version of Top Trumps and give them both a score on lots of different aspects. Continue reading “Lerwick vs Kirkwall? How does Lerwick compare to Kirkwall?”