UK

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland


Best Liverpool hostel or low-cost hotel — Sleep Eat Love 1

Sleep Eat Love hostel-hotel in Liverpool, England UK, provides a choice of dorm or private room — a great-priced place to stay that’s less costly than the other hotels in Liverpool and is well suited to grown-ups. This new-in-2018 Liverpool hotel-hostel has created a sweet spot for travelers (or travellers). It provides a cultured hostel environment and mood with the quality of a hotel and a great social opportunity for those who wish to meet fellow travelers. I absolutely loved my stay here and highly recommend it as the place to stay in Liverpool.

Terrific location. Less than 1/2 mile from The Cavern Club. Only .9 miles from Albert Dock and even less to the Ferry Cross the Mersey. Supermarkets and an entire mall is right nearby, as is the don’t miss Royal Court Theater.
Great staff. Comfortable.


Exploring The Matthew – the ship that sailed to North America

In 1497, approximately 17 men led by Captain John Cabot sailed out of the Bristol Channel, Bristol, England under Henry VII. On June 24, 1497, they arrived in “New Founde Landes.” Today we call that Newfoundland, Canada.

Christopher Columbus, on the other hand never reached North America. Oh, the things you learn while climbing around on a ship as you travel. Especially on the replica of such a historic ship. It’s hard to imagine this tiny ship making such a voyage.


Enjoying simple kindnesses in Thornbury

When he returned with a USB adapter I jumped from my seat. He told me there’s an outlet right beside my table. I was able to get to over 60% by the time I was done eating. I said I’ll bring it back in a moment and he said to keep it!

I will carry this charger with me daily. Around the house. When I go out. I will truly remember this kind man every day that I’m in his country. And long afterward.


UK Cellular (Mobile) service for travel – easy with giffgaff 1

You might travel well without phone service, but having it can greatly expand your experiences.

Are you traveling from the United States or another non-EU country and into the UK? Are planning to stay in the UK or perhaps in the UK plus EU for a few days? If so — yes, even for just a few days — it can easily pay to get yourself a local SIM card and local mobile service. It certainly does if you travel long-term.

But what service and what plan? A contract (aka post-pay) is out. Should you get pre-pay or pay-as-you-go? What happens if you run out of calling minutes, texts, or data?

This is the narration of my own experience getting cellular service (aka mobile service) as I travel in the UK.


Pub food at The Swan in Thornbury Bristol UK 4

Meals at pubs are a part of experiencing England. When you find you’re hungry and there’s a pub around, you’re usually in for a treat, even if you don’t adore the food. My first pub food this trip was in Thornbury, a suburb of Bristol in the south of England, a small town you’re likely not to get to but I’m sharing it with you anyway because it’s worth seeing the menu.

On my first solo visit to the town of Thornbury, I happened upon The Swan for my first pub meal. In this post, I share the pub and its menu as well as my own first meal. (Sorry you can’t taste it online.)


Carry light, give light

I think that we who live in cities, be it on any continent in any city, tend to not realize that there ARE places in the world where there is NO electricity and people do not have light — other than that of the sun. And we who live in cities have so much light in the sky at night that we don’t even realize… how very dark the night really is. Those who live in non-electrified places can wake with the sun and go to sleep with the sun — but there are still issues such as: going to the bathroom before bed or in the middle of the night a mother needing to get up in the night to feed an infant a parent needing to tend to a child a person needing to work until dark and then find his/her way home boats needing to cross a lake or ocean or […]