My first trip abroad was at the age of 19 with a friend I'd been to school with. We had been to see "Shirley Valentine" at the cinema and promptly decided we wanted to go to Greece (although for slightly more innocent reasons than featured in the film). Although I did take a few trips abroad after that, it wasn't until I hit my 30th Birthday that I decided that if I couldn't find anyone to go with me, I should just go by myself. Since it was a special birthday, I celebrated by touring Italy on a two week coach trip. It was going to be a once in a lifetime thing, but of course once you start you just can't stop. I've been on a mix of trips ever since. There have been other coach trips round Portugal and Spain, independent breaks to youth hostels in Paris and Amsterdam and even a week in a B&B in Bruges. The funny thing is now I'm travelling, quite a few of my friends and family seem keen to join me. My advice is don't just wait for things to happen, get out there and enjoy yourself now.

 
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Travelbug71 has visited 2 places in 122 cities in 19 countries and has written 23 travel blogs with 194 entries.

Travelbug71's Travel Blogs & Reviews

Subscribe to Travelbug71's blog feed 23 blogs written
October092009

Albi & Carcassonne, France

France | 10 entries
Blog Entries

 Arriving in Albi

Albi, France | Oct 09 '09 | 0 reviews

 Exploring Albi

Albi, France | Oct 10 '09 | 0 reviews

 Bruniquel

Bruniquel, France | Oct 11 '09 | 0 reviews

 St Antonin Noble Val

Saint Antonin Noble Val, France | Oct 11 '09 | 0 reviews

 Najac

Najac, France | Oct 12 '09 | 0 reviews

 Cordes-sur-Ciel

Cordes, France | Oct 12 '09 | 0 reviews

 Castres

Castres, France | Oct 13 '09 | 0 reviews

 Carcassonne

Carcassonne, France | Oct 13 '09 | 0 reviews

 Toulouse

Toulouse, France | Oct 14 '09 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Albi

Albi, France | Oct 09 '10 | 0 reviews
November062008

Gibraltar

Gibraltar | 3 entries
Blog Entries

 Gibraltar: Day 1

Gibraltar, Gibraltar | Nov 06 '08 | 0 reviews

 Gibraltar: Day 2

Gibraltar, Gibraltar | Nov 07 '08 | 0 reviews

 Gibraltar: Day 3

Gibraltar, Gibraltar | Nov 08 '08 | 0 reviews
August312008

Tales from the Damp Dales

Blog Entries

 Grassington, Yorkshire Dales

Grassington, United Kingdom | Aug 31 '08 | 0 reviews

 Bolton Abbey to Grassington, Yorkshire Dales

Grassington, United Kingdom | Sep 01 '08 | 0 reviews

 Grassington to Conistone, Yorkshire Dales

Grassington, United Kingdom | Sep 02 '08 | 0 reviews

 Grassington to Linton, Yorkshire Dales

Grassington, United Kingdom | Sep 03 '08 | 0 reviews

 Farewell Grassington, Yorkshire Dales

Grassington, United Kingdom | Sep 04 '08 | 0 reviews
June272008

Bled and Slovenia : Lakes, Caves and Mountains

Slovenia | 9 entries
Blog Entries

 Bled : Arriving via Salzburg

Bled, Slovenia | Jun 27 '08 | 0 reviews

 Postonja Caves : Beware of the Dragon

Postojna, Slovenia | Jun 28 '08 | 0 reviews

 Lipica : Dancing White Horses

Lipica, Slovenia | Jun 28 '08 | 0 reviews

 Bled : A Long Way Round

Bled, Slovenia | Jun 29 '08 | 0 reviews

 Bled : A Long Way Up (and Down)

Bled, Slovenia | Jun 30 '08 | 0 reviews

 Bled : The Vintgar Gorge

Podhom, Slovenia | Jul 01 '08 | 0 reviews

 Bled : A Long Way Round (again)

Bled, Slovenia | Jul 02 '08 | 0 reviews

 Venice : A Long Day Out

Venice, Italy | Jul 03 '08 | 0 reviews

 Bled : Going Home

Bled, Slovenia | Jul 04 '08 | 0 reviews
June132008

Cumbria and Northumbria: A Tale of Two Coasts

Blog Entries

 Arriving in Cumbria

Flookburgh, United Kingdom | Jun 13 '08 | 0 reviews

 Coniston Water and Grange-over-Sands

Coniston, United Kingdom | Jun 14 '08 | 0 reviews

 Coniston

Coniston, United Kingdom | Jun 15 '08 | 0 reviews

 Windermere

Bowness on Windermere, United Kingdom | Jun 16 '08 | 0 reviews

 Barrow in Furness

Barrow in Furness, United Kingdom | Jun 17 '08 | 0 reviews

 A Whistlestop Tour of the Lake District

Lake District, United Kingdom | Jun 18 '08 | 0 reviews

 Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetland Trust

Burscough, United Kingdom | Jun 19 '08 | 0 reviews

 Hadrian's Wall

Greenhead, United Kingdom | Jun 20 '08 | 0 reviews

 Lindisfarne - Holy Island

Lindisfarne, United Kingdom | Jun 21 '08 | 0 reviews

 Alnwick

Alnwick, United Kingdom | Jun 22 '08 | 0 reviews

 Seahouses

Seahouses, United Kingdom | Jun 23 '08 | 0 reviews

 Berwick on Tweed

Berwick-upon-Tweed, United Kingdom | Jun 24 '08 | 0 reviews

 Ross Back Sands

Ross Back Sands, United Kingdom | Jun 25 '08 | 0 reviews
November292007

Paris at Christmas

France | 3 entries
Blog Entries

 Paris: Day 1

Paris, France | Nov 29 '07 | 1 review
show reviews

 Paris: Day 2

Paris, France | Nov 30 '07 | 0 reviews

 Paris: Day 3

Paris, France | Dec 01 '07 | 0 reviews
September022007

Venice Unmasked

Italy | 5 entries
Blog Entries

 Hello Venice

Venice, Italy | Sep 02 '07 | 0 reviews

 Venice: Secrets, Lies and Vaporetti

Venice, Italy | Sep 03 '07 | 0 reviews

 Venice: Ghettos, Gold and Galleries

Venice, Italy | Sep 04 '07 | 0 reviews

 Venice: Tombs, Towers and Treasures

Venice, Italy | Sep 05 '07 | 0 reviews

 Ciao Venezia!

Venice, Italy | Sep 06 '07 | 0 reviews
June082007

York 2007

United Kingdom | 17 entries
Blog Entries

 York: Base Camp

York, United Kingdom | Jun 08 '07 | 0 reviews

 York: A walk on the wild side

York, United Kingdom | Jun 09 '07 | 0 reviews

 Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire

Bolton Abbey, United Kingdom | Jun 10 '07 | 0 reviews

 Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire

Bempton, United Kingdom | Jun 11 '07 | 0 reviews

 York: The Minster and The Treasurer's House

York, United Kingdom | Jun 12 '07 | 0 reviews

 York: Vikings and Museums

York, United Kingdom | Jun 13 '07 | 0 reviews

 York: City Walls

York, United Kingdom | Jun 14 '07 | 0 reviews

 York: Underwater

York, United Kingdom | Jun 15 '07 | 0 reviews

 Castle Howard, Yorkshire

Castle Howard, United Kingdom | Jun 15 '07 | 0 reviews

 Mother Shipton's Cave, Yorkshire

Knaresborough, United Kingdom | Jun 16 '07 | 0 reviews

 Harlow Carr, Yorkshire

Harlow Carr, United Kingdom | Jun 16 '07 | 0 reviews

 York: Roman Empire to the Age of Steam

York, United Kingdom | Jun 17 '07 | 0 reviews

 Brimham Rocks, Yorkshire

Summer Bridge, United Kingdom | Jun 18 '07 | 0 reviews

 Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire

Fountains Abbey, United Kingdom | Jun 18 '07 | 0 reviews

 Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire

Bempton, United Kingdom | Jun 19 '07 | 0 reviews

 Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire

Bolton Abbey, United Kingdom | Jun 20 '07 | 0 reviews

 North Yorkshire Moors Railway

May232007

Huffin' and Puffin' in Northumberland

United Kingdom | 5 entries
Blog Entries

 Watch out Seahouses, here we come!

Seahouses, United Kingdom | May 23 '07 | 0 reviews

 Lindisfarne, the Holy Island

Lindisfarne, United Kingdom | May 24 '07 | 0 reviews

 A Wild Time on the Farne Islands

Farne Islands, United Kingdom | May 25 '07 | 0 reviews

 Alnwick Gardens and Barter Books

Alnwick, United Kingdom | May 26 '07 | 0 reviews

 Bamburgh or Bust!

Bamburgh, United Kingdom | May 27 '07 | 0 reviews
December072006

Christmas in Valkenburg

Netherlands | 5 entries
Blog Entries

 Destination Valkenburg

Valkenburg, Netherlands | Dec 07 '06 | 0 reviews

 Valkenburg: Christmas Caves and Hotel Antics

Valkenburg, Netherlands | Dec 08 '06 | 0 reviews

 Valkenburg: Early Morning Shopaholics

Valkenburg, Netherlands | Dec 08 '06 | 1 review
show reviews

 Monschau: A German Christmas Market

Monschau, Germany | Dec 08 '06 | 0 reviews

 Bruges, Bargins, Booze and Boats

Brugge, Belgium | Dec 09 '06 | 0 reviews
July302006

Bobbing about in the Baltic

Europe | 13 entries
Blog Entries

 Harwich

Harwich, United Kingdom | Jul 30 '06 | 0 reviews

 The Keil Canal

Keil Canal, Germany | Jul 31 '06 | 0 reviews

 All at Sea

Baltic Sea, Poland | Aug 01 '06 | 0 reviews

 Stockholm

Stockholm, Sweden | Aug 02 '06 | 0 reviews

 Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland | Aug 03 '06 | 0 reviews

 St Petersburg (Day 1)

St. Petersburg, Russia | Aug 04 '06 | 0 reviews

 St Petersburg (Day 2)

St. Petersburg, Russia | Aug 05 '06 | 0 reviews

 Tallinn

Tallinn, Estonia | Aug 06 '06 | 0 reviews

 Gdynia

Gdynia, Poland | Aug 07 '06 | 0 reviews

 Rostock

Rostock, Germany | Aug 08 '06 | 0 reviews

 Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark | Aug 09 '06 | 0 reviews

 All at Sea (again)

Baltic Sea, Poland | Aug 10 '06 | 0 reviews

 Harwich

Harwich, United Kingdom | Aug 11 '06 | 0 reviews
June152006

Paris, Robbie and Me

France | 2 entries
Blog Entries

 Getting There! Getting Where?

Paris, France | Jun 15 '06 | 0 reviews

 Paris Sights and Sounds

Paris, France | Jun 16 '06 | 0 reviews
August262005

Brilliant Bruges

Europe | 14 entries
Blog Entries

 Berkshire to Bruges ... by Train

Newbury, United Kingdom | Aug 26 '05 | 0 reviews

 Bruges : Finding my Feet

Brugge, Belgium | Aug 27 '05 | 0 reviews

 Bruges : A Slowboat to Damme

Damme, Belgium | Aug 28 '05 | 0 reviews

 Bruges : Exploring the Canal Ring

Brugge, Belgium | Aug 29 '05 | 0 reviews

 Bruges : Reaching New Heights

Brugge, Belgium | Aug 30 '05 | 0 reviews

 In Flanders Field

Brugge, Belgium | Aug 31 '05 | 0 reviews

 German Cemetery, Langemarck

Langemarck, Belgium | Aug 31 '05 | 0 reviews

 Tyne Cot Memorial, Passchendale

Passchendale, Belgium | Aug 31 '05 | 0 reviews

 Mount Kemmel

Mount Kemmel, Belgium | Aug 31 '05 | 0 reviews

 Talbot House, Poperinge

Poperinge, Belgium | Aug 31 '05 | 0 reviews

 Iper

Iper, Belgium | Aug 31 '05 | 0 reviews

 Diksmuide (Trench of Death)

Diksmuide, Belgium | Aug 31 '05 | 0 reviews

 Bruges : Shopping and Frits

Brugge, Belgium | Sep 01 '05 | 0 reviews

 Bruges to Berkshire ... by Train, Again!

Newbury, United Kingdom | Sep 02 '05 | 0 reviews
May122005

Pompeii: In the Shadow of Vesuvius

Italy | 5 entries
Blog Entries

 Journey to Sorrento

Meta di Sorrento, Italy | May 12 '05 | 0 reviews

 Up Pompeii

Pompei, Italy | May 13 '05 | 0 reviews

 Herculanium

Ercolano, Italy | May 14 '05 | 0 reviews

 Shopping in Sorrento

Meta di Sorrento, Italy | May 14 '05 | 0 reviews

 Leaving Sorrento

Meta di Sorrento, Italy | May 15 '05 | 0 reviews
September172004

Spanish Panorama

Spain | 30 entries
Blog Entries

 Madrid

Madrid, Spain | Sep 17 '04 | 0 reviews

 The Royal Palace, Aranjuez

Aranjuez, Spain | Sep 18 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Cuenca

Cuenca, Spain | Sep 18 '04 | 0 reviews

 Leaving Cuenca

Cuenca, Spain | Sep 19 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Valencia

Valencia, Spain | Sep 19 '04 | 0 reviews

 Leaving Valencia

Valencia, Spain | Sep 20 '04 | 0 reviews

 Peniscola

Peniscola, Spain | Sep 20 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain | Sep 20 '04 | 0 reviews

 Gaudi's Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain | Sep 21 '04 | 0 reviews

 Leaving Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain | Sep 22 '04 | 0 reviews

 Saragossa

Zaragoza, Spain | Sep 22 '04 | 0 reviews

 Pamplona

Pamplona, Spain | Sep 22 '04 | 0 reviews

 Santuario de Loyola

Loyola, Spain | Sep 23 '04 | 0 reviews

 Bilbao

Bilbao, Spain | Sep 23 '04 | 0 reviews

 Burgos

Burgos, Spain | Sep 23 '04 | 0 reviews

 Segovia

Segovia, Spain | Sep 24 '04 | 0 reviews

 Avila

Avila, Spain | Sep 24 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Salamanca

Salamanca, Spain | Sep 24 '04 | 0 reviews

 Leaving Salamanca

Salamanca, Spain | Sep 25 '04 | 0 reviews

 Trujillo for Lunch

Trujillo, Spain | Sep 25 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Seville

Seville, Spain | Sep 25 '04 | 0 reviews

 Seville

Seville, Spain | Sep 26 '04 | 0 reviews

 Jerez

Jerez, Spain | Sep 27 '04 | 0 reviews

 Ronda

Ronda, Spain | Sep 27 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Granada

Granada, Spain | Sep 27 '04 | 0 reviews

 The Alhambra, Granada

Granada, Spain | Sep 28 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Cordoba

Cordova, Spain | Sep 28 '04 | 0 reviews

 The Mezquita, Cordoba

Cordova, Spain | Sep 29 '04 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Madrid

Madrid, Spain | Sep 29 '04 | 0 reviews

 Madrid

Madrid, Spain | Sep 30 '04 | 0 reviews
September042003

Amsterdam on a Budget

Netherlands | 1 entry
Blog Entries

 Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands | Sep 04 '03 | 0 reviews
April182003

Postcards from Portugal

Portugal | 17 entries
Blog Entries

 Day 1 - Arriving in Faro

Faro, Portugal | Apr 18 '03 | 0 reviews

 Day 2 - Lagos

Lagos, Portugal | Apr 19 '03 | 0 reviews

 Day 2 - Arriving in Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal | Apr 19 '03 | 0 reviews

 Day 2 - Albufeira and Portimao

Albufeira, Portugal | Apr 19 '03 | 0 reviews

 Day 3 - Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal | Apr 20 '03 | 0 reviews

 Bucaco Forest

Luso, Portugal | Apr 21 '03 | 0 reviews

 Luso

Luso, Portugal | Apr 21 '03 | 0 reviews

 Fatima

Fatima, Portugal | Apr 21 '03 | 0 reviews

 Batalha

Batalha, Portugal | Apr 21 '03 | 0 reviews

 Arriving in Porto

Porto, Portugal | Apr 22 '03 | 0 reviews

 Daytrip to Braga

Braga, Portugal | Apr 23 '03 | 0 reviews

 Viseu

Viseu, Portugal | Apr 24 '03 | 0 reviews

 Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide, Portugal | Apr 24 '03 | 0 reviews

 Sightseeing Porto

Porto, Portugal | Apr 24 '03 | 0 reviews

 Evora

Evora, Portugal | Apr 25 '03 | 0 reviews

 Leaving Castelo de Vide

Castelo de Vide, Portugal | Apr 25 '03 | 0 reviews

 Faro

Faro, Portugal | Apr 26 '03 | 0 reviews
April152002

Postcards from Paris

France | 2 entries
Blog Entries

 Paris - Day 1

Paris, France | Apr 15 '02 | 0 reviews

 Paris - Day 2

Paris, France | Apr 16 '02 | 0 reviews
September302001

The Magic of Italy

Italy | 13 entries
Blog Entries

 Venice

Venice, Italy | Sep 30 '01 | 0 reviews

 Assisi

Assisi, Italy | Oct 01 '01 | 0 reviews

 Ravenna

Ravenna, Italy | Oct 01 '01 | 0 reviews

 Rome

Rome, Italy | Oct 02 '01 | 0 reviews

 Rome

Rome, Italy | Oct 03 '01 | 0 reviews

 Tivoli: Villa d'Este

Tivoli, Italy | Oct 03 '01 | 0 reviews

 Sorrento

Meta di Sorrento, Italy | Oct 04 '01 | 0 reviews

 Pompeii

Pompei, Italy | Oct 04 '01 | 0 reviews

 Capri

Capri, Italy | Oct 05 '01 | 0 reviews

 Herculanium

Ercolano, Italy | Oct 06 '01 | 0 reviews

 Amalfi Coast

Amalfi, Italy | Oct 07 '01 | 0 reviews

 Sorrento

Meta di Sorrento, Italy | Oct 08 '01 | 0 reviews

 Florence

Florence, Italy | Oct 09 '01 | 0 reviews
October121994

Austria

Austria | 6 entries
Blog Entries

 Oberammergau

Oberammergau, Germany | Oct 12 '94 | 0 reviews

 Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau

Hohenschwangau, Germany | Oct 12 '94 | 0 reviews

 Lechaschau

Lechaschau, Austria | Oct 12 '94 | 0 reviews

 Garmisch Partenkirchen

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany | Oct 12 '94 | 0 reviews

 Linderhof

Linderhof, Germany | Oct 12 '94 | 0 reviews

 Innsbruck

Innsbruck, Austria | Oct 13 '94 | 0 reviews
May311992

Greece

Greece | 7 entries
Blog Entries

 Aegina

Aegina, Greece | May 31 '92 | 0 reviews

 Athens

Athens, Greece | Jun 01 '92 | 0 reviews

 Corinth Canal

Corinth, Greece | Jun 02 '92 | 0 reviews

 Mycanae

Mycanae, Greece | Jun 03 '92 | 0 reviews

 Olympia

Olympia, Greece | Jun 04 '92 | 0 reviews

 Epidaurus

Epidavros, Greece | Jun 05 '92 | 0 reviews

 Aegina

Aegina, Greece | Jun 06 '92 | 0 reviews
June301990

Kos

Greece | 1 entry
Blog Entries

 Kos

Kos Island, Greece | Jun 30 '90 | 0 reviews
February041989

Welcome to the EEC

Europe | 8 entries
Blog Entries

 Blankenberge, Belgium

Blankenberge, Belgium | Feb 04 '89 | 0 reviews

 Ostend, Belgium

Ostend, Belgium | Feb 04 '89 | 0 reviews

 Brussels, Belgium

Brussels, Belgium | Feb 05 '89 | 0 reviews

 Bruges, Belgium

Brugge, Belgium | Feb 06 '89 | 0 reviews

 Luxembourg

Luxembourg, Luxembourg | Feb 06 '89 | 0 reviews

 Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg, France | Feb 08 '89 | 0 reviews

 Calais

Calais, France | Feb 10 '89 | 0 reviews

 Paris, France

Paris, France | Feb 10 '89 | 0 reviews

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Favorite Photos

Batalha, Portugal
Lutherian Cathedral, Helsinki
Albureira, Portugal
St Mark's Square, Venice
Peterhof, St Petersburg, Russia
Canal View, Portugal
Cork Oaks, Portugal