TRAVEL
Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network & Travel Editor for River Newspapers Ireland & Lifestyle Northern Ireland Online - www.robertwalshe.com
Home & Away with Robert Walshe The only newcomer in Fáilte Ireland’s chart of the most popular attractions in Ireland in 2012 is Tayto Park (9th overall). with 391,000 visitors. The overall top ten: 1 Guinness Storehouse 1,087,209, 2 Dublin Zoo 1,029,417, 3 Cliffs of Moher 873,988, 4 National Aquatic Centre 813,406, 5 National Gallery 660,486, 6 Book of Kells 561,259, 7 Botanic Gardens 544,685, 8 National Museum Kildare St 409,275, 9 Tayto Park Ashbourne 391,000, 10 St Patrick’s Cathedral 385,000
Holiday Hotspot – Adelaide , Australia
Adelaide is a gracious city, sophisticated, yet vibrant, it exudes an aura that is difficult to match. The city is set amongst the slopes of the Mount Lofty Ranges and along the winding River Torrens. The Adelaide Hills surround the city, putting it near many opportunities for recreation and exploration. As the capital of South Australia, Adelaide is also home to several state attractions including the Art Galley, Museum and Library. Adelaide is considered the “festival capital of Australia.” More festivals and major events are
hosted here than any other city in Australia, making it a culturally diverse and exciting visitor location. North Terrace is quite possibly one of the most beautiful boulevards in the state of South Australia. It stretches one mile and encompasses historic buildings, attractions and other notable sights. The pathways are lit with antique-style gas lamps, which were donated in 1988 to commemorate the country’s bicentenary. Several of the buildings situated along North Terrace date back more than 160 years. Holy Trinity Anglican Church was built in 1838, shortly after European settlers arrived. Government House, one of the oldest buildings in Adelaide, serves as the residence for the Governor of South Australia. The Adelaide Hills area, part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, has plenty to offer visitors. The Hills are a wonderful day trip from Adelaide. Although the area is not easily accessed via public transit, many organised tours are available from the city. It is a good idea to obtain a rental car in order to see everything the Adelaide Hills have to offer. Historic townships,
natural areas of bushland, bushwalking trails, gardens, vineyards and wildlife parks are key elements of the area. The Mount Lofty Summit has been dubbed the “Window to South Australia.” From the top of the summit, it is possible to see Hahndorf, Glenelg and other towns in the Adelaide Hills. Hahndorf is the region’s main township and most popular tourist destination. This town was settled in 1839 by immigrants from East Germany and Prussia, and is the oldest German settlement in Australia. Hahndorf is the ideal base for exploring the Adelaide Hills and it also offers galleries, craft shops, cafés and bakeries featuring authentic German pastries & beers. Bums On Seats Tours offer a day bus trip around Adelaide and also to Barossa Valley. Your host Paul has over 19 years experience in travel and tourism here and will be your guide along with Graeme to fantastic sights. The tour visits the regions wineries as well as stops at some of the local attractions such as the World’s biggest rocking horse in Gumaracha, celebrity chef Maggie Beers emporium and Men-
Living
glers Hill, which provides a scenic view across Barossa Valley. The majority of the wine yield is shiraz, with other varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, riesling and semillon also produced. Picking out wineries to visit is a personal choice and I particun Emirates B777 larly enjoyed -300 Award wi Jacobs Creek. nning service to Australia. The real excitement on a trip like this is getting into those places that you’ve never heard of: the contemporary furnishings. daily departure from Dublin small producers where the The hotel also features the to Dubai daily at lunchtime winemaker & owner is the signature Redsalt Restaurant with onward connections to same person. www.bumson- and Bar, which has a focus five cities in Australia – Sydseats.com.au. The Crowne on South Australian food ney, Perth, Melbourne, BrisPlaza Adelaide is one of the and wine in an alfresco set- bane and Adelaide. Current cities finest hotels offering ting. www.crowneplazaad- Adelaide prices ex Dublin the best views in town. The elaide.com.au Earlier this are economy Class: €1127.41 property is centrally located year Emirates and Qantas & bbusiness Class:€3421.21. in the heart of the CBD and formed a global partnership, The airline’s chauffeur-drive just meters from the city’s working together to oper- service is available to both tourist attractions - the shop- ate 14 flights daily between First and Business Class pasping precinct of Rundle Mall, Dubai, Australia and beyond sengers across the island of the restaurants and cafes - along with extensive Aus- Ireland. All Emirates’ cusof the east end of Adelaide. tralian domestic flights, fre- tomers can enjoy in-flight North Terrace, the Botanic quent flyer advantages and telephones, SMS and email Gardens, the Clipsal 500 race shared lounge access. Emir- and children’s activity packs. track and the Adelaide Zoo. ates customers are now able Highly trained cabin crews Crowne Plaza Adelaide offers to choose from 32 Australian from across the globe, in308 rooms and suites, with destinations to which Qantas cluding Irish & UK nationals many featuring balconies operates including Canberra, are on hand to serve gourand overlooking leafy Hind- Port Lincoln, Cairns and Ho- met chef prepared meals. marsh Square, the Adelaide bart, opening up Australia www.emirates.com and for Hills and the city. All rooms to passengers from all over all travel information to Adinclude LCD televisions, the ever expanding Emirates elaide & Barossa Valley visit WIFI, walk-in showers and network. Emirates operates a www.southaustralia.com
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Northern Ireland’s specialist tour operator Travel Solutions is offering a four-night coach break to beautiful Blarney, Co. Cork, on September 4 from just £278pps. This popular tour, departing from various Northern Ireland pick-up points, explores the thriving, social and cultural city of Cork and includes a visit to the quaint seaport town of Cobh, famously the Titanic’s last port of call, as well as an afternoon in the picturesque Kinsale which is often referred to as the gourmet
Pet’s Corner...
with Kathleen Murray
Animal Hygiene “Hygiene” and “Animals” are two words that many people will not put together. That’s sad because animals are hygienic in their own way. When it comes to dogs and cats there are many people that will not let them inside the house because they think that animals are dirty. These animals are made up of flesh and blood and hair, just like us. They eat, sleep and play in different areas just like us… so then why are they considered so dirty? People that raise animals and children in the house together often think that the kids are dirtier than the animals. When children go out
to play they often come in mucky and smelly. They are cleaned up or dried off and then life goes on. Nobody dies of a disease. If an animal gets mucky or dirty when playing outside, or during a walk, then owners take them in and clean them or dry them off. Children (and some grown ups) pick their nose, eat their “noots” and poke their behind, then they open a loaf and make a sandwich for themselves. People are not as clean as they make out and they don’t tell you about it, but we seldom get diseases from being in other people’s houses or from contact with unhygienic people.
A lot of the “dirt” that we encounter is normal and important dirt. It is part of who we are and it helps to boost our immune system. There is a reasonable level though, as with all things. When children go outside to play with a dog the mother often makes them wash their hands when they come in. This is a good and healthy practice especially before eating. Unfortunately for the very hygienic mum the kids don’t always do this and often come back in and touch everything around the house in the course of their normal day. Mum is also touching these things but she is not getting a disease. Dog hair is often shouted about. We lose hair ourselves. You only have to look at hairbrushes to see this. They have to be cleaned otherwise they’d be clogged up. This hair goes on everything from cush-
ions and pillows to carpets and our clothes. Nobody shouts about that. Dog hair is not dirty. It’s just hair like ours. If it’s brushed it will stay clean and although it may need a wash occasionally it is not hard to maintain. The people that have problems here are people with carpets or mats that don’t go in the washing machine. A quick hoover over a hard floor gets rid of any hair. It’s not a big deal. A dog should be brushed out well a few times a week to keep the hair in good shape. We have to do ours every day… much more hassle. If a dog is maintained properly there should be no hygiene problems to worry about. Animals are good for our health so don’t be afraid of them. If they were so bad then farmers, vets, animals trainers, groomers etc would all be dead long ago.
capital of Ireland. The scenic breaks also includes luxury coach travel, four-nights’ accommodation at the Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel, full Irish breakfast and evening meals, a tour of Cork’s Jameson Experience and visits to the beautiful coastal towns and villages of the local area. Luxury coach pick-up points are available in Coleraine, Ballymoney, Cloughmills, Ballymena, Dunsilly, Belfast, Sprucefield, Newry, Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin. www.travel-solutions.co.uk