Pembroke Shire

The last stop of my UK experience was Fishguard. Fishguard is a small village that it is located at the south-western corner of Wales. It is famous because of its' ferry services to Ireland, its' historic significance and its' beauty.

When me and my cousin first arrived at Fishguard we were very glad to be so close to the sea again. We checked-in in our hotel and we headed straight for the famous coastal path. The coastal path of Fishguard goes up to Newport and even further to Dina's Head, which is the peak of the cliffs along the shores of Pembroke shire.  The path is really nice even in the winter with really wonderful views and you can visit all those little beaches and towns which is something different and truly amazing.

Then we headed to the center of the town in order to find a nice place to dine. Most restaurants and pubs were closed but we entered a traditional tavern that seemed very hospitable. We ordered two fish and chips and when the food came we were delighted. The fish was huge and really tasty and the funny thing was that the next day we had lunch at a local pub and the burgers were huge as well. Therefore at those little towns you can find some really nice big dishes without over paying.

Another thing worth mentioning is the people. We visited pubs, restaurants and a hotel there, and every single person was really kind and willing to help you if you needed anything. You just order a beer at the pub and people start talking to you and you end up talking with them for hours.

Finally let me tell you a short story. Do you remember the stories that you were told at school or by your parents about Stonehenge and the ancient rocks that are located there? The rocks were not actually found there but they were taken from Fishguard to Stonehenge and if you ever visit Fishguard you can actually visit the place were the rocks were found in the first place.

All in all Fishguard was the perfect ending for my travelling in the UK. I am sure that in the summer Fishguard is a lot better than during the winter and full of parties along the coast and that is why it you should definitely visit or you can visit any other town of Pembroke shire because the whole coast is really beautiful.

Swansea

During my UK and Ireland trip I have visited Swansea. Before I started travelling I read an article about the best places to visit in the UK. Swansea was ranked number one. However I have to say it is nowhere close to number one.

During my stay in Swansea I resided in a friend's house in Gowerton, a small town outside of Swansea. The weather was not that good but we had the chance to visit the mumbles and catch a bus ride in order to see the whole sea shore. I have to admit that Swansea has some really beautiful beaches and coves if you compare them with other cities in the UK. However I have not yet visited Cornwall in order to have a complete picture and also if I compare them with those in Pembroke-shire Swansea's will lose.

Moreover I have also visited the city center of Swansea and the Harbor. The city center is nothing special. It looks like a common UK city center which is nothing impressive if you compare it with London, Edinburgh or Dublin. Now when it comes to the harbor. The harbor of Swansea seems like two different ones. The old part and the new one. The harbor is nice but nothing amazing. You can take a walk and take some pictures, then head towards the older part and walk along the coast. After the walk, what we have done was to have a nice lunch at the sky restaurant in front of the harbor. The view was really nice and the food was delicious and the prices were comparatively cheap if you consider that it is a sky restaurant.

Overall, I believe that ranking Swansea as the best city in the UK is an overstatement. However I would recommend visiting Swansea during the summer months but not for many days. Also if you are looking for amazing coastal holidays in Wales I would recommend Pembroke-shire which has a lot more beautiful coastal cities and towns.

Why Do I travel

I asked my self many times the exact same question. Why did I chose to travel? When I try to answer this question the answer goes on and on and on realising that I could write a whole book about it. So in this article I am going to try to explain to you 'why traveling' in just a few words.

First of all for the experience. Traveling gives to a person the opportunity to meet different people, places and countries. Therefore you are able as an individual to gain a better understanding of our world and where you belong in it. Then when you grow up you can tell stories to your children and grandchildren about your experiences.

I also chose to travel because it is fun! In all those places and countries you visit you always come across of something new. Thus this creates a state in your mind in which you are a little child being excited and happy because you saw a colourful toy. Of course you can also refer as fun the actual fun of going out with people that you meet at the hostels or the hotels that you are staying. Believe me, a night out with some complete strangers seems very risky but it is a lot of fun because it is something that you personally do not usually do in your home country.

Finally I travel because I am searching for something. When a person is young he or she always thinks about money, success and that they want to leave from their parents houses. I completely agree with that and I believe that it is everyone's obligation to control their lives. However at which point does a life become a routine, a really boring routine? That point comes when life moves like a bad movie that you just fast forward in search for some fun in it. That is where traveling comes in. While traveling I always feel like my life is moving in a slow motion. The kind of slow motion that a small child feels every day during its' early life stages because every day there is something different and exciting to do.

Overall, many people have different interpretations about traveling and its' values. However one thing is certain. Everyone travels in order to be happy and in order to be able to say when they grow up that they have lived a life. Therefore one question remains. Will you live your life or just let it pass by?

Dublin

My next stop after Edinburgh was Dublin. I arrived at Dublin airport at nine o'clock in the morning, then I hopped on the 747 bus towards the hostel that I was staying in. When I arrived at the hostel I left my bag and I assembled my glidecam and I started sightseeing.

At first Dublin did not seem anything special. I visited the cathedrals, the castle which does not seem like a castle at all because it is in the middle of some appartment buildings and it is located at low ground, the St. Stephen's green park and so on and so forth. Every single one of these places was not something special for me and therefore I started feeling bored.

However after I returned back to the hostel in order to check in I headed out again and surprisingly enough, at night Dublin looks amazing. The river, the lights, the little streets, the buildings and the bridges all looked so different and beautiful. Nevertheless the best part of Dublin for me were the Irish pubs. The atmosphere that Irish pubs have always felt like home and every time I visit one there are so many memories and happy moments that I can recall.

Finally my last visit in Dublin was Howth. Howth is a small village located north of Dublin and it is surrounded by water. I took the bus 31 from Dublin to Howth summit and when I reached the summit I headed straight for the famous cliff path. The view was simply beautiful. The flowers, the red colour combined with the green trees, the dark colour of the rocks and the sea made it one my favourite places ever.

All in all Dublin may have seemed a mediocre destination at the beginning. However always wait before you judge something or someone because sometimes a city or a person needs some time in order to show you its' real character and beauty.

Sleeping At The Airport

Today I had to catch a flight from Edinburgh to Dublin at 8 o'clock in the morning. Therefore I said to my self 'why don't I sleep the whole night at the airport?', and that is exactly what I did.

Last night I left from Edinburgh at approximately nine o'clock in the evening. I arrived at Edinburgh airport around 9:30. I headed straight to the bathroom where I brushed my teeth and then I headed on to finding a nice spot in order for me to get some sleep. Surprisingly I successfully managed to sleep until six o'clock in the morning and then I woke up and made my way to the boarding gate.

The question is 'why did I sleep at the airport?'. There are two parts in this answer. The first one is obvious. It costs less. Instead of paying another 20 pounds in order to stay at a hostel I slept for free at the airport. The second one is the fact that I prefer sleeping at the airport than waking up at five in the morning and walking in the freezing cold in order to catch a bus that would get me to the airport.

Overall some of you may think that this makes no sense. However if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. And of course it is an experience that I will never forget and in fact I will be doing it tomorrow night as well.

Edinburgh: The Final Verdict

Last night I had a very good sleep and I woke up today at eight o'clock in the morning. I got my camera and after a wonderful English breakfast I started walking.

The first stop was Artur's seat. In order to reach Arthur's seat a 20 minute walk from the city center is needed in order to reach the base of the mountain. Then another 30 minutes up to two hours are needed depending on your pace in order to reach the top. It may sound difficult for some but the view from the top is magnificent.

After that I began my decent towards the national monument of Scotland. It is also located on high ground but it is not so difficult to reach as the Artur's seat because it is not located that high. Approximately 30 minutes are needed in order to reach the top from the bottom of Artur's seat. From there you can also witness a very nice 360 degree view of the city.

Moreover I headed towards the village of Dean. It is a small village located right next to Edinburgh. In order to get to Dean you will need about a 30 minutes walk from the national monument of Scotland. The reason I have visited the village was for its' wonderful paths next to a small stream which separates Dean and Edinburgh. The walk is really interesting and relaxing and I really recommend it for couples or families with small children.

Then I walked down towards the harbour. The harbour of Edinburgh is nothing special but there is one attraction worth visiting. The royal yacht Britannia which is used by the royal family and that is why it is a very important sight. However I personally do not enjoy visiting such places and thus I did not visit it. However if you are interested in royal history or yachts in general it a very interesting attraction to visit.

Finally I visited the castle and the Christmas market of Edinburgh. The Christmas market is very lively with many different selections of food and beverages and of course amusement park attractions for both kids and adults. Therefore it is a great place to be during the winter while it is still open. However I did not stay at the Christmas market for a very long time because I wanted to visit the castle. The castle of Edinburgh is located behind the Christmas market on a small hill and therefore it is a great place for photographers and filmmakers. The view is amazing especially during sunset and the castle itself is really beautiful and interesting to visit.

Overall Edinburgh is located very high on my most beautiful cities list. I definitely recommend it for all types of tourists because of its' diversity and at the same time its' unique character.

Edinburgh

After a two month working and living experience in London it was time for me to continue my travelling. Therefore I booked my tickets, packed my bag and took my camera. The first stop is Edinburgh.

To be honest I did not know what to expect from Edinburgh in January. I hoped that I would see some snow but unfortunately the UK disappointed me on this matter. However I was really surprised with the beauty of Edinburgh and its' unique character. The Christmas market, the streets, the architecture and of course the people who seem a lot more relaxed and happy than what I am used to in London.

But there are a lot places that I need to visit in Edinburgh. Thus tomorrow morning I need to wake up early in the morning and start walking because it is my last day in Edinburgh before catching my flight to Dublin.

Therefore stay tuned because there are a lot more to discuss and review. But I have to say, that only a few cities impressed me so much in just a few hours and I cannot wait to see what Edinburgh still has to offer.