DESTINATIONS Archives | PACK THE SUITCASES

42 first impressions and weird things about America

9th June 2018 26 Comments

Weird things about America you might find on your first visit | PACK THE SUITCASES

Before I start this huge post about all the interesting, surprising and weird things about America that I found on our first ever trip there recently, I just want to do a bit of a disclaimer. Here it is:

DISCLAIMER!!!

1. These things are based on my first ever trip to the USA. We went to San Francisco and Boston, with a few day trips to their nearby towns. So this first impression is gathered from visiting just two cities out of a whopping massive country that’s completely different from one area to the next. I’m very much aware that no one, two, three or even 10 cities can be representative of an entire country, especially one that ginormous. However, ‘Amusing first impressions and funny/weird things I found when visiting San Francisco and Boston and some of their nearby towns’ doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. And who doesn’t love sweeping generalisations about everything from toilet water quantities to the pronunciation of ‘herbs’?!
2. Also, I absolutely loved both places we went and had a right hoot there. So this is a highly positive/light hearted post for the most part. There are of course, some negative aspects to the US – like anywhere.

Disclaimer over, here are 42 (I tried to stop at 40, soz) weird things about America, or rather things that I found amusing/odd and general first impressions on my first ever trip to the USA…

DESTINATIONS

A day trip to Porto da Cruz, Madeira

22nd May 2018 2 Comments

My absolute favourite day trip from Funchal is to get the bus to the little seaside village of Porto Da Cruz, Madeira. We only discovered it on our second trip to the island, but I quickly fell in love with it and often picture myself sat there with a beer watching the waves crashing when I’m stuck in work.

So I thought I’d put together this very short guide on visiting Porto da Cruz (Port of the Cross) for anyone thinking of exploring the area…

DESTINATIONS

Circus Lane, Edinburgh: a quick guide for visiting this pretty spot

22nd April 2018 10 Comments

Circus Lane, Edinburgh: the best photo spot | PACK THE SUITCASES

Circus Lane, Edinburgh is my new favourite spot in the city for a quiet walk and some lovely photographs.

This is one thing I really love about Edinburgh and one of the many reasons I keep going back over the years: no matter how many times I’ve been, there’s always another little hidden gem to discover. Brilliant stuff.

So I thought I’d whack out this short post about Circus Lane, Edinburgh with a bit of useful information if you’re planning a visit to it while you’re in Edinburgh…

DESTINATIONS

A day trip to the Valley of the Nuns (Curral das Freiras), Madeira

14th April 2018 1 Comment

Getting the bus up to the Valley of the Nuns, Madeira (or Curral das Freiras in Portuguese) was one of the first short day trips we did from Funchal, back on our first ever visit to Madeira. Since then, we’ve been back to the valley several times and always enjoyed it. There’s not much there, but the views are spectacular.

So I thought I’d put together this little guide on visiting Curral das Freiras in case anyone else is thinking of exploring the area…

DESTINATIONS

40 things to do in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal

30th March 2018 16 Comments

Things to do in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal | PACK THE SUITCASES

Here are 40 of my favourite things to do in Funchal, Madeira. I’ve been there enough times now that I feel I can give plenty of tips on how best to spend your time in this beautiful island city.

I’ve tried to avoid anything too obvious like the Monte toboggans and I’ve only focused on the city of Funchal itself and day trips you can easily do from it without a car rather than looking at the entire island of Madeira… Otherwise, this will turn into 40 million things to do and no one will have the patience to read it. I’ll be impressed if anyone actually reads all 40 things to be honest…

Anyway, read on if you want some tips from a self-confessed Funchal addict. Enjoy.

DESTINATIONS

10 things to do in Stockport: a town of vegan eats and vintage treats

19th March 2018 21 Comments

Things to do in Stockport UK | PACK THE SUITCASES

I thought I’d put together this little list of some of my favourite things to do in Stockport, one of the 2 nearest large towns to where I currently live (the other is Macclesfield, which I also recommend). Stockport is often overshadowed by the city of Manchester being so close to it, but it actually has some brilliant places to eat and drink as well as some lovely vintage shops worth seeking out. Unfortunately, it also has a fairly run down shopping area, a generic retail park and a brand new chain restaurant/cinema complex, so this can give a negative first impression. I wasn’t taken with it at all when we first visited. It wasn’t until we ventured to one of the food events on that I found all the little hidden gems round the old town and lovely market area and started to see a different side to Stockport.

So here are a few things to do in Stockport that I take friends to when they come for a visit or that I recommend to people who are in the area…