Ain't nobody gonna blow this trumpet the way I can blow it...

I was amused at your observation about Barter books being the sort of place you get bearded blokes pottering about.
Couldn't deny that, could I?

Ever had the feeling you were being stalked?

Having read the blog, it bears an uncanny resemblance to my own recent visit, I must say.
Except that I didn't wimp out of the glorious walk along the coast to Dunstanburgh and beyond ... that's probably where I shook him off.

You should invest in some of these mate

I'm planning a trip to Northern Ireland to see the Titanic Experience and other stuff. However, the only time I can really get away is between the 6th and 16th July. Does anyone on here think there's be any problems given the close proximity of the 12th?

It shouldn't be a problem if you use your common sense and don't walk down the Falls Road, dressed in orange and waving a union flag

Yes, Lake Garda in April, it was stunning. Close enough to Verona for a trip there. Only stayed a couple of nights as it was part of a bigger Italian trip. I would definitely go back it's beautiful.

I've just not long got back from 3 weeks in Italy. Florence, Bologna, Venice, Verona, Garda. Only place I got bit (and bit bad) was Venice.

thanks, I think we've shelved Italy for this year, we want to go on July 14th and it's becoming a bit of a stand off at home, so package deal to Cape Verde looks on the cards instead!

You'll have no problems in Norther Ireland on July 12th, unless, as cod'ead says, you wander down the falls road with your union jack umberella.

Looking for somewhere to go in October (middle 2 weeks) - beach holiday, all inclusive.

Want good weather so thinking Cape Verde or Dominican - is Egypt hot enough?

Staithes is a picturesque place, but beware of going in the sea. The water there often fails the quality standards. (do a google)

Can anyone recommend a nice guesthouse around the Lake District or the north Yorkshire Moors? I'm struggling to find somewhere that allows children & doesn't cost the earth.

Len Casey has a guesthouse in the Lakes. He might even thriw a stiff arm in with the B & B

Thanks for the warning but to be honest I would never dream of going in the sea of my own volition, I'm quite happy just looking at it.

I've just come back from 11 days of pretty much heaven...

Started with a train journey down to London - been many times before, but Gemma and I love it, so we went. Few drinks and a go in the casino on Leicester Square (which has been redeveloped and is now open) before getting an early night.

Reason for the early night - and the trip to London - was that we were getting the 5.40am Eurostar to Paris. I'd never been to France before, save for a trip to the WWI battlefields with school 23 years ago. Spent a lovely day in Paris just doing what first-time visitors do. Started at the Louvre, which is stunning, then walked down the river before eating a sandwich on the lawn at Champs de Mars, pretty much staring at the Eiffel Tower. Couldn't get over how tall it is.

Next morning, another early morning train trip down to Montpellier for the Catalans v Wigan game. Montpellier is just a town, but surprisingly pictureque in parts, with virtually NO traffic. It seems cars are banned from most of it, but the tram system is fabulous.

Next morning and yet another early train to get to Toulon. The nerd in me was excited to go to Toulon because that's where the early part of Les Miserables is set, but after realising that's just fiction I my excitement switched to the fact we were going on the main part of our holiday - a week long cruise on Royal Carribean's Liberty of the Seas.

There are apartment blocks in Manchester smaller than Liberty of the Seas. Trust me, it's massive. I'd always baulked at the idea of going on a cruise, thinking it was all old people, ballroom dancing, one place to eat, one place to drink, cramped cabin with a small bed etc etc, but Gemma had been on one two years previously and she assured me that it was like a four star hotel on water. It wasn't - it was like a whole town on water. Several restaurants, several bars, two pools, several hot tubs, a nightclub, big screen showing all the Euro2012 games, a "flow rider" machine. Seriously - have a look. It's amazing. Even the room was like a proper hotel room, spacious, with a balcony and everything. Food was amazing.

But even that was only a small part of the experience. We docked in Villafranche for trips to Nice and Monte Carlo, Livorno for Pisa or Florence, Civitivecchia for Rome (which was fabulous), Naples and following day at sea (which was needed!) Barcelona.

Back in Toulon a week later, we got another train back to Nice where we were to fly home from. The Sunday was spend in Monte Carlo, which to me, looks like Benidorm on the front, but after following the race track, we ended up near the old casino and the Hotel de Paris, which is stunning. We revisited Villafranche - probably my new favourite place.

I have to admit something here - I was a probably a bit bigoted towards France and the French, assuming that they were difficult, a bit up themselves, unhelpful and rude. Couldn't have been more wrong. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, was helpful, smiley, understanding, friendly, and the transport system was magnificent and well priced. I loved it, and I really didn't expect to.

So sorry for harping on a bit, but what I really wanted to say was that for those who had never considered going on a cruise, thinking it was old fashioned, I would urge you to reconsider, and look at firms like Royal Carribean, Celebrity, Norwegian etc, and they have really rethought it all, and modernised the whole experience. People of all ages were on ours and it wasn't at all stuffy. I've seen places and met people I never would have ordinarily.

But the real surprise to me, was France. Some of you will say you could have told me all this, but you know me - I have to find these things out for myself.

Yes, it's like Blackpool Tower with knobs on (ie the French).

Seriously though, sounds a good trip. Hope you liked Naples - I loved it.

People have said it to me so often about the French being unhelpful and rude but I have never, ever had that kind of problem with them.

I congratulate you for not sticking with preconceptions, I just wish more would do the same.

The Eiffel Tower is impressively tall.
Very nearly as tall as the tallest in Yorkshire.

Thinking of going away for a week hopefully next month with my tother half. Looking at Majorca or somewhere similar that isn't to long a flight. Anyone any recommendations? Happy to go self catering, just want somewhere suitable for couples, don't really drink so doesn't need to be as lively as Magaluff, but somewhere with decent entertainment would be nice. Thought about all inclusive but not really sure whether I want to shell out about 100 quid for a week to turn up and not be able to eat most stuff, got to be careful with what I eat..

trying to look for a cheap deal. Doesnt need to be the Ritz, just clean and comfortable.

I've come across the odd rude and grumpy Parisian, but probably only as many proportionally as I've come across other rude people in other parts of the World (well, apart from on here). The rest of France seems to usually just say; "Well, that's Parisians for you", in much the same way as Northerners think Southerners are all rude.

Indeed, and as for Fancy London's Shard, schmard.

I'd love to try a cruise, but they're so bloody expensive. One day...

people say that, but they don't factor in that a lot of them are all inclusive (with some exceptions on drinks etc.), the quality of the food etc. is meant to be amazing on many (my parents are hooked a=on cruises), the thing that puts me off is I imagine it to be like a floating Golf Club, full of Daily Mail readers wearing beige and complaining that it's hot/cold/windy/choppy or whatever else.

I will try one at some point, I just think it's a combination between a SAGA bus tour and Captains Dinners at the golf club, I am sure I am wrong, just not taken the plunge as yet.

I think they used to be like that, but not any more.

Dom Rep is hot, as is Egypt. The good thing about Egypt is the lack of humidity, which can be a pain in the Caribbean.

Never been to Cape Verde, but a friend has and commented that its lovely, but windy and as its a 'new' destination the infrastructure is a bit lacking.