Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Welcome to 700 travel blogs, to access a full index on your mobile please scroll to the bottom & choose from 700 locations. Email is [email protected]

Sapporo TV Tower Hokkaido

June 17, 2018 by David Herd

The observation deck is 90 meters high.

Sapporo TV Tower Hokkaido 

Sapporo TV Tower Hokkaido

Sapporo TV Tower Hokkaido Japan offers a great view of the city and surrounding mountains, the observation deck is 90 meters high & certainly worth a visit.

Observation deck.

Sapporo TV Tower HokkaidoNot many people here today.

Sapporo is Japan’s 5th largest city.

Sapporo TV Tower HokkaidoA population of almost 2 million people. 

Sapporo TV Tower Hokkaido

Sapporo TV Tower HokkaidoThe blue sky make such a difference when taking photos.

Leafy boulevard in the city center.

Sapporo TV Tower HokkaidoAlways nice to see some green breaking up the concrete jungle.

My hotel is in the bottom left hand corner.

Sapporo TV Tower Hokkaido APA Hotel Sapporo-Susukino-Ekimae was in a very good location next to the metro station. For a terrific room rate just book through THIS LINK & pay later, free cancellation if your plans change.

One of Sapporo’s modern buildings.

Hokkaido Island SapporoOther than shrines, temples & castles you don’t see many old buildings in Japan, they just knock them down & build a new one.

Photo opportunity 

Hokkaido Island Sapporo JapanA nice park surrounds the TV Tower with lots of colourful flowers.

Time for lunch

Hokkaido Island SapporoAfter leaving the TV tower I headed straight for Doutor, one of my favourite cafe’s for a ham & salad roll with a hot latte. 

Thanks for visiting my Sapporo TV Tower Hokkaido Japan photo blog. Take a look at the Beergarden & other restaurants before you leave.

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Fukuoka Hiroshima Sapporo Sendai

Tokyo Kagoshima Kanazawa Nagoya

Nagasaki Yokohama Kyoto Kamakura

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Secret cities worth visiting

January 29, 2018 by David Herd

Interesting travel suggestions

Secret cities worth visiting

Secret cities worth visitingSecret cities worth visiting, well actually they are not all cities & not all secret, but they are all worth visiting. These are places mostly off the beaten track, places that many people may not have heard of.

Above is The lovely French village of Breil-sur-Roya which is particularly known for trout fishing. The Roya river runs through town and is open to trout anglers from March to September. Located in the mountains near the Italian border just north of the French Riviera.

Breil-sur-Roya

Secret cities worth visiting French and Italian rail lines run through Breil so it is very easy to travel anywhere. There is a great market every Friday at Ventimiglia on the border 30 minutes drive or 20 minutes by train from Breil.

Talking about Italy

Secret cities worth visiting In the Middle Ages and Renaissance era, San Gimignano was a stopping point for Catholic pilgrims on their way to Rome and the Vatican, as it sits on the medieval Via Francigena.  The city’s development was also improved by the trade of agricultural products from the fertile neighbouring hills, in particular saffron, used in both cooking and dyeing cloth and Vernaccia wine, said to inspire popes and poets.

Secret cities worth visiting include San Gimignano

Secret cities worth visiting

San Gimignano is famous for its Medieval village architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls form “an unforgettable skyline”

 Have you ever heard of Florianopolis?

Secret cities worth visitingMost people outside of South America have not heard of this fabulous city which currently has an estimated population of 420,000 people. The Greater Florianopolis Metro area is home to about 1 million people. Florianopolis is a wonderful Brazilian city which should go on the bucket list for anyone intending to visit this wonderful country.

Friendly people who love to party.

Secret cities worth visitingJanuary 11, 2009. Newsweek placed Florianópolis in the “Ten most dynamic cities of the world” list in 2006. Veja magazine, a Brazilian publication, named the city as “the best place to live in Brazil.

 Kagoshima Japan 

290c6fab-610c-4e33-bfce-51e4a16f12cb (1) Active Volcano Kagoshima Japan Sakurajima had been peaceful since 2013 until July 2016, then suddenly plumes of smoke, cracks of lighting and a flow of lava came bellowing out of Japan’s Mount Sakruajima in July 2016. Located in a scenic bay on the southern island of Kyushu, this 1,117 meter high volcano has been a sleeping giant for the past three years prior to this fiery spectacle. The incident took place at 12:02 am on Tuesday at the mountain’s Showa crater, which resulted in a 5,000 meter high column of ash – but officials say no fatalities have been reported. Credit to STACY LIBERATORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM  Read about it here.

Fabulous food

37214528876_fe8ca2eb4c_cOne of the many reasons I visit Japan often is the fabulous food. A village near the railway station is called Kagomma Furusato Yataimura. There are about 25 small restaurants that seat only 8 or 10 people.

 Forster Tuncurry east coast Australia

51d2bd0e-6c11-4969-a12f-3da1f7c61000 A population of over 18,000 people it is a holiday destination for many Sydney people who are only a 4 hour drive away.

A great area for fishing & boating.

Secret cities worth visiting

At the Northern tip of the Great Lakes, these twin towns are where Wallis Lake meets the ocean. The twin townships are surrounded by National Parks and feature majestic headlands and long secluded beaches. Boating, fishing, diving, paddling, cruises, whale watching and coastal walks combine with galleries, unique shopping and award-winning restaurants to create an experience rich coastal destination.

Mae Pim Gulf of Thailand

Secret cities worth visiting  Thailand Beach Resort Mae Pim on the gulf of Thailand is only ninety minutes by car east of Pattaya, and 2 hours south of Bangkok. Beautiful white sand and clean water, and so quiet and peaceful.

Secret cities worth visiting

Secret cities worth visitingLots of great Thai food & seafood in Mae Pim.

Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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  It’s known for the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), a reconstructed medieval arched bridge. The nearby alleys are full of shops and market stalls, and the Old Bridge Museum explores the bridge’s long history. More on THIS LINK.

Cevapcici, the best I have ever had.

IMG_7624

Cevapi, or Cevapcici, are homemade sausages traditional of the Balkans area.

Thanks for checking out my Secret cities worth visiting photo blog, drop me a line if you need any information.

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Seven deadly Songkran days

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 Brazil Hotels 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Check out these great photo blogs.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

June 5, 2017 by David Herd

Sandy beach at Bournemouth.

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort has a sandy beach unlike Brighton beach and many others of the English coast. I was there in 2007 and returned in 09 mainly to visit the Westbeach restaurant again. The Beach is long and clean. There is plenty of space to chill out. Lovely views and lots to do with places to eat on the promenade and pier.

The benefit of sand

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

You certainly can’t do this on a beach with stones instead of sand. 🙂

Looking east

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

 Remember what I said? Bournemouth Beach has sand.

The pier

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

   Bournemouth’s main attraction apart from the beach. 🙂  

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

 Bournemouth Beach has sand which is a huge improvement on many English beaches.  

Westbeach Restaurant

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

 Good English restaurants, many people think they are few and far between, but here is one to consider. The Westbeach restaurant in Bournemouth is certainly worth a visit, great location on the beach, with a good menu offering a nice selection. I first visited Westbeach December 2007 then returned in 2009 so things may have changed by now.

Delicious salmon

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

  Here is an example of the Westbeach food.  

AFC Bournemouth

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

Huge news in 2015 for the local football club who are to be promoted to the premier league. As recently as 2008, Bournemouth sat slumped at the very foot of the four levels of the English league pyramid. Of the 92 teams spanning League Two all the way up to the Premier League, the Cherries, who began the season with minus-17 points as a penalty for entering bankruptcy with £4 million worth of debt, were no. 92. Bournemouth weren’t just on the brink of dropping out of the division structure,  but out of existence altogether. Seven years later, a club that recorded an annual turnover of just £5.1 million for the 2012-13 season will be flooded with about £120 million in additional Premier League revenue.

My local bar in Thailand

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

   My local bar in Thailand is the Cherry Bar so I guess now I’ll have to follow the Cherries. 🙂  

Sadly the bar was sold in 2016 & is now called Billabong 2, life as I knew it will never be the same. 🙂

Another restaurant near the Pier.

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

 The city has a much more relaxed atmosphere than Brighton.

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

Also as a comparison to Brighton sand is so much more inviting than pebbles. 🙂

One final look at the Pier

Bournemouth English Seaside Resort

Thanks for visiting my “Bournemouth English Seaside Resort” post, it is certainly a place to add to your bucket list. Head west from there and visit the delightful village of Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast.

Thanks for visiting my Bournemouth English Seaside Resort photo blog.

For a great hotel room rate in Bournemouth just book through THIS LINK.

           Have a look at some of my London posts.     

   Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets EuropeHungarian Parliament Building (2)The Walkie Talkie (5)   

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South VietnamMain Square (3)Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
Pattaya live webcam
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

 
 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Beckington Trowbridge West England

June 4, 2017 by David Herd

Church of St George, Beckington

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England 2009, how did I find myself there you may well ask. Quite simple really, since 2007 I have been travelling to England to visit my friend Alan who is a guest of Her Majesty. His brother Bill Austin and I have become good friends as well, so I stay with him and his partner Joan Baptiste, and between visiting Alan Bill and I tour around the country.

So to answer the question, Bill lives in Beckington and works for the council in Trowbridge. Beckington village is 5.8 miles from Trowbridge town centre and 10 miles from the historical city of Bath.

Church of St George

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The church is just across the road from Bill and Joan’s home and dates back to the 14th century.

Warminster Road

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The church is on the right just up the road and Bill’s home is on the left.

Bill and Joan’s Beckington home.

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Here is their delightful home, I feel a little sorry for Bill because no sooner has he got the place perfect Joan decides she wants to move elsewhere. 🙂

My friends Joan Baptiste and Bill Austin

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Bill works for the local Trowbridge council.

Woolpack Inn Warminster Road

Beckington Trowbridge South West England

For local news bookmark this link for the Wiltshire times.

Typical Beckington home

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Typical local stone houses.

Trowbridge

Beckington Trowbridge West England

 There is evidence that the land on which Trowbridge is built was being farmed more than 3,000 years ago. In the 10th century written records and architectural ruins begin marking Trowbridge’s existence as a village.

The Trowbridge fair

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The annual fair attracts lots to locals.

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England

A peaceful area around a pond in the park.

Trowbridge Fair

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The locals are patiently waiting for the music to begin.

The rocket man

Beckington Trowbridge West England

A beautiful at the Trowbridge Fair, perhaps I’ll blast off.

Arrested for stealing a spacesuit

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The long arm of the law.

Out on bail

Beckington Trowbridge West England

I know what you are thinking, here are two dinosaurs. 🙂 🙂 🙂

 The White Hart Ford, Chippenham

Beckington Trowbridge West England

One of the great pleasures of touring around the UK is the thousands of wonderful pubs. In the last week or so we have visited many on our road trip that took us through Bath, Plymouth, Penzance, Lands End and St Ives.

Road trip

Beckington Trowbridge West England

This is a wonderful part of England, a very interesting coastline. 

The White Hart

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Many of the pubs are quite ancient.

Location, White Hart to the Woolpack Inn

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Thanks for visiting my Beckington Trowbridge South West England photo blog.

 More posts for you to see

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Discovering South West England

June 3, 2017 by David Herd

Shaftesbury in Dorset

Discovering South West England is a total pleasure.

Discovering South West England

Discovering South West England, I have taken thousands of photos there and this one is my favorite. It is Gold Hill, Shaftesbury which is in Dorset. There is a nice tea room at the top of the hill where you can enjoy scones with jam & cream while enjoying the view. I will try to give you some useful travel tips towards the end of this post.

Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Discovering South West England

 Lyme Regis in Dorset is a special place, the coastline in either direction is magnificent. The cliffs over the  boarder are grey and crumbling, those eastwards, towards Charmouth are also unstable – especially after heavy rain, and those at Black Ven are capped with a layer of Gold. The town is noted for the fossils found in the cliffs and beaches, which are part of the Heritage Coast—known commercially as the Jurassic Coast—a World Heritage Site. For information please click here.

Lyme Regis South west England

Discovering South West England

 A beautiful part of the English coastline.

Weymouth Travelling South West England

Discovering South West England

Weymouth is a seaside town in Dorset,  situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast. The town is 13 kilometres (8 mi) south of Dorchester and 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Isle of Portland. The town’s population is 52,323 (2011). The town is the largest settlement in Dorset following the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole   The history of the borough stretches back to the 12th century; including involvement in the spread of the Black Death, the settlement of the Americas, the development of Georgian architecture, and preparations for World War II. Fishing and trading employ fewer people in the area since their peak in earlier centuries, but tourism has continuously increased its presence in the town since the 18th century and is now the primary industry.

Weymouth is a tourist resort, and its economy depends on its harbor and visitor attractions; the town is a gateway situated halfway along the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on the Dorset and east Devon coast, important for its geology and landforms. Weymouth Harbour is home to cross-channel ferries, pleasure boats and private yachts, and nearby Portland Harbour is home to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, where the sailing events of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games were held.

Discovering South West England to Dorchester 

Discovering South West England

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset. A historic market town, Dorchester lies on the banks of the River Frome, in the Frome Valley, just south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway, that separates the area from Weymouth, 8 miles (13 km) south. Dorchester is noted as being home and inspiration to the author Thomas Hardy, whose novel The Mayor of Casterbridge was based on the town. In the 2001 Census the official population of Dorchester was 16,171, although by 2010 this was estimated to have risen to 18,280.

St Ives in Cornwall

Discovering South West England

St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. Wikipedia

Discovering South West England to St Ives

Discovering South West England

Lots of narrow winding lanes some too narrow for vehicles.

Lands End, Cornwall.

Wandering around South West England

 Here we are at Lands End in Cornwall, England’s most westerly point. Wind levels in winter reach around 20-25 knots, which is windier than most of England. The highest temperature recorded is 28.9 °C, and the lowest temperature recorded is -3.4 °C.

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Most westerly point in England.

Discovering South West England

Such a wild rugged coastline.

The famous Roman Baths in Bath.

Discovering South West England

I’m sure these baths have not changed in centuries.

Beautiful city of Bath

 

Discovering South West England

This is certainly one of my favourite English cities Discovering South West England.

So many pubs & such little time.

Discovering South West England

English pubs have got to be the best in the world, then again I have never been to Ireland. 🙂

Please click on Google + to help my ranking. 

Bradford on Avon

Discovering South West England

We have traveled north now to Bradford on Avon in west Wiltshire, one of my favourite English villages with some excellent pubs & restaurants.

My niece Laura love the scones at The Bridge Tea rooms.

Discovering South West England

Can afternoon tea get any better than this?

Tithe Barn Bradford on Avon

Discovering South West England

A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing tithes—one tenth of a farm’s produce which was given to the Church. Tithe barns were usually associated with the village church or rectory and independent farmers took their tithes there.

Tithe Barn

Discovering South West England

The village priests wouldn’t have to pay tithes—the purpose of the tithe being their support—and some had their own farms anyway, which are now village greens in some villages.

Houseboats on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Discovering South West England

The ducks or drakes deciding whether to go for a swim or a walk. 🙂

Two Dinosaurs at the Trowbridge show in Wiltshire.

Discovering South West England

Oh well, it is better to be a “has been” than a “never was”. 🙂
 
For a great discount on your room rate just book through THIS LINK.
 
 

Super travel tips. Great Britain has an excellent rail service, save up to 80% by booking your ticket before you arrive, just click here. London Underground’s Piccadilly Line provides the most cost-effective rail route between Heathrow Airport and the capital, so look for accommodation around Earl’s Court, Gloucester Rd or Knightsbridge. For more information click here.

Here is an excellent hotel close to Gloucester Rd underground.

For lots of things to do in Bath please click here.

For information on beautiful Bradford on Avon just click here.

Wandering around South West England is certainly one of my favorite parts of this wonderful country.                     

                        Here are some more posts to check out
 

           

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
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bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

November 9, 2016 by David Herd

Lets focus on the view

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

 Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan is 234 meters tall which makes it the tallest seaside tower in Japan.  Fukuoka Tower was finished in 1989, taking a total of 14 months to build at a cost of ¥6,000,000,000, or $58,004,600 USD.

Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk hotel

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

Oceanfront luxury hotel near the heart of Fukuoka overlooking Hakata Bay. For a very good discounted room rate simply book through THIS LINK, book now & pay later.

By Taxi: From Fukuoka Airport, take the Fukuoka City Expressway, getting off at the Momochi Exit. Approximately 20-minute drive from the airport.

By Bus: From Fukuoka Airport, get on the bus to Fukuoka Tower & TNC Hall (139) at Fukuoka-Kuko Kokunaisen bus stop and get off at Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk-mae bus stop. The hotel is a one minute walk from the bus stop. Approximately 40-minute ride from the airport.

By Subway: From Fukuoka Airport, take the Fukuoka City Subway, getting off at Tojin-machi Station. The hotel is a 19-minute walk from the station. Approximately 15-minute subway ride from the airport.

Beautiful sandy beach

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

You win’t see a cleaner beach anywhere. 🙂

Mountains beyond the city

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

There are busses from the centre of the city to Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan.

The sea was calm that day my friends.

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

OK, so perhaps I’m borrowing a phrase from Seinfeld, however I was tremendously impressed by the beautiful view from Fukuoka Tower.

City view from the tower

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

As you can see Fukuoka is a modern city surrounded by mountains.

Waterfront hotel & shops

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

Certainly one of my favourite photos from the tower. 

A closer view

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

 The advantage of a zoom lens.

OK, lets see the tower

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan  

It’s 234 meters tall with a glass elevator that takes you to the top.

The view of the other side

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

It certainly is a magnificent looking building. Fukuoka Tower is the third tallest building in Japan, after Skytree and Tokyo Tower.

A nice sandy beach

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

Have a cocktail by the beach or hire a jet ski.

I’m guessing they are about to take 20 or 30 selfies.

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

It seems everywhere I travel most females are snapping selfies. 🙂

 Popular with couples

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

I am told thousands of couples come here to be photographed.

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

TripAdvisor rate the tower 7 out of 282 things to do in Fukuoka.

Entrance to the elevators.

Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan

Thanks for visiting my Fukuoka Tower Kyushu Japan photo blog. Please put it on your bucket list for things to do in Fukuoka.

Hotel Ascent 

Kabukicho,Ginza,sashimi,sushi,Tokyo,Sushizanmai,Shibuya,Shinjunku,Starbucks,bullet train,bullet ,train,Shinkansen,sake,yakitori,kimono,castle,Asashi,beer,taxi,metro,hotel,restaurants,Japan,Osaka,Kyoto,traveller,reviews,photos,nightlife,clubs,

Hotel Ascent is in a perfect location for exploring the city, & it is adjacent to Tenjin station. For a very good discount just book through THIS LINK.

Map

Kabukicho,Ginza,sashimi,sushi,Tokyo,Sushizanmai,Shibuya,Shinjunku,Starbucks,bullet train,bullet ,train,Shinkansen,sake,yakitori,kimono,castle,Asashi,beer,taxi,metro,hotel,restaurants,Japan,Osaka,Kyoto,traveller,reviews,photos,nightlife,clubs,

 

Fukuoka is very easy to get around on the metro, my hotel was next to Tenjin station in a great loction. For a room at an excellent rate just use THIS LINK to book.

Please check out some of the most popular below, and thank you for visiting.     

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

June 16, 2016 by David Herd

Uttoxeter in Staffordshire

English Channel Ferry Dover Calais

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

Channel Ferry Dover Calais from England to France was our starting point for our road trip to Brugge and Versailles, which finished in Brighton on the south coast of England. I was travelling with two English friends Bill Austin & Dave Catchpole, & the reason our trip started in Uttoxeter was to visit my good friend Alan Austin (Bill’s brother) who was a guest of Her Majesty for a rather major indiscretion involving transportation of a certain white powder from Spain to England.

Overnight at Maidstone

English Channel Ferry Dover Calais

We stayed in the Townhouse Hotel in Maidstone which was excellent and left early for Dover, little did I realise at the time that quite a bit of tension would build up between the 3 of us over the coming days. Bill & I had been on successful road trips in the past which went as smooth as silk, however adding Dave to this trip seemed to effect the dynamics resulting in an unfortunate parting of the ways in Brighton.

First glimpse of the white cliffs

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

We really didn’t explore Dover, instead we went straight to the ferry terminal.

Waiting in the queue

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

There were certainly a lot of vehicles making the crossing.

Lots of trucks carrying freight

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

The trucks go on the ferry first then the private vehicles.

Ferries are quite large.

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

Which is comforting given the weather conditions can be rather rough in the channel.

A little chilly on deck

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

Bill and I looking forward to leaving Dover.

Incoming Dover Calais Ferry

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

They seem to be rather frequent travelling both ways.

Farewell to the white cliffs.

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

I guess any time old guys like me talk about the white cliffs of Dover a particular song comes to mind.

Let’s hear it Vera.

The magnificent white cliffs

English Channel Ferry Dover Calais

The cliffs look quite fantastic, only 22 miles to Calais.

For an excellent hotel room rate in Dover just use THIS LINK.

Dover Calais Ferry, about 2 hours.

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

Where are all the people?

Arriving in Calais

English Channel Ferry Dover Calais

With nobody to meet us but the seagulls, many thanks for visiting my English Channel Ferry Dover Calais photo blog.             

Brexit December 2020

Channel Ferry Dover Calais

More than 6,000 trucks are stuck in Dover due to Brexit negotiations, those French officials don’t care about the drama that’s being caused.

 Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.

       

   Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets EuropeHungarian Parliament Building (2)The Walkie Talkie (5)   

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837IMG_7425Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South VietnamMain Square (3)Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
Pattaya live webcam
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

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The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

September 1, 2015 by David Herd

Japan

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC 

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC New York starting with Japan, I’ll list the 5 countries in alphabetical order rather than by personal preference. The photo above is  Shabusen at the Ginza A terrific restaurant for Kobe beef, go at lunch time for special prices. Check out my first post in this series here.

The train system is fantastic, from Tokyo it’s a 40 minute trip to Yokohama or 3  h0urs by bullet train to beautiful Kyoto.

One square meter of land in the Ginza center is worth more than ten million yen (more than 100,000 US dollars), making it one of the most expensive real estate in Japan. It is where you can find the infamous $10 cups of coffee and where virtually every leading brand name in fashion and cosmetics has a presence. To me Tokyo is all about food, food and more food, interestingly the Michelin guide has Tokyo comfortably ahead of Paris (10 three-starred restaurants), New York (7) and London (2), with a total of 350 establishments making it into the guide this time around.

 Kabukicho                        Harajuku girls                                   Tokyo

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

     Kabukicho is an entertainment and red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Kabukicho is the location of many host and hostess clubs, love hotels, shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, and is often called the “Sleepless Town.”   Make sure you check out my post called “Piss Alley”.

I don’t know any other person who has travelled more than I during the last 20 years. Perhaps I can provide you with a few ideas on where to go for your next holiday.

Thailand

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

  I sold my home in Australia October 20th 2011 and have have been living in Thailand since then. My first trip to this great country was in 1980, however it wasn’t until 1997 when I started visiting 2 or 3 times each year. In the early days Koh Samui was a favourite destination, however in my opinion progress has not improved the island, it was far better before all the modern gold shops etc moved in. These days I prefer Koh Chang near the Cambodian border & of course Bangkok is fantastic with so many great bars, restaurants & shopping malls.

              Chiang Mai                           Pattaya                            Chao Phraya river

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

Chiang Mai tiger warning, the sign could not have been clearer. It was placed a metre from the cage which was at the rear of the zoo away from the other tiger enclosures. It simply said “danger, don’t go past this sign”. Looking back I have done many stupid things in my life and this certainly ranks highly in the “stupidity stakes.”

Naturally I ignored the warning and moved past the sign and put my camera lens through the wire to get a clear shot of the magnificent beast sitting quietly in the pond two meters from my lens. Within one second of taking the photo there seemed to be an explosion in front of me and suddenly I jumped backwards totally soaked with water.

I could barely hear my brother’s raucous laughter from several meters away due to the rapid beating of my heart. The 240 kilo beast had lept from the pond and hit the wire full force with all his four giant paws. My luck held as did the wire, which without exaggeration saved me from being torn to pieces.

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

I e-mailed the tiger zoo and inquired about this particular tiger. They told me his name was Tone, he weighed 240 kilo and was far too dangerous to allow the public to get close, he was just used for breeding.

United Kingdom part of my Travel tips five great countries photo blog.

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

So many places to see & so much history. I travel there most years making London my base, then visit cities & towns all over the country either by train or car. Apart from London some of my favourite places are Brighton, Bath, Glasgow & Bradford on Avon. The photo above is Gold Hill is a steep cobbled street in the town of Shaftesbury in the English county of Dorset.

      London pubs                      Lands End                  Hyde Park

 Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC  

Travel tips. Great Britain has an excellent rail service, save up to 80% by booking your ticket before you arrive, just click here. London Underground’s Piccadilly Line provides the most cost-effective rail route between Heathrow Airport and the capital, so look for accommodation around Earl’s CourtGloucester Rd or Knightsbridge. For more information click here.

United States of America

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

Another huge country offering everything from snow capped mountains to desert, beaches & exciting cities. New York of course is everyone’s favourite however hotel costs are so expensive. I really enjoy Miami with the wonderful Cuban influence, but I must say the last time I was in San Francisco I was quite disappointed by the high numbers of beggars on the city streets.

Miami                                San Francisco                           New York

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

Car hire and internal flights are reasonably inexpensive. In Los Angeles I always stay in Santa Monica where I enjoy the restaurants and Venus beach.

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC Vietnam

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

 Ho Chi Minh City is Honda heaven, it is quite a shock when you see the number of motorbikes on the streets, crossing the road seems like a game of Russian roulette. My main memories of this wonderful country are the beautiful ladies and the terrific food. My first visit was twice in 2003 then 12 years later in January 2015. Halong Bay is a magical experience, make sure you stay overnight on one of the many boats, it’s an experience you will never forget. Vung Tau and Nha Trang are two of my favourites places in this great country.

Hoi An                             Chill Sky Bar                      HCMC 2015

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

Warning, when catching a taxi in Saigon stick with Vinasun or Mai Linh for clean honest low priced taxis. Many other companies are rip off merchants who will try to rob you.

Don’t under any circumstances use the company below.

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC New York

Thanks for visiting my Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC photo blog.

            Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.         

Pattaya Hilton

Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Travel Tokyo Bangkok HCMC           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Travel tips fabulous countries

August 30, 2015 by David Herd

David Herd is the FiveStarVagabond

Travel tips fabulous countries

Travel tips fabulous countries

Travel tips fabulous countries feature some of my favourite places, many people may think I’m a bit of a dinosaur & perhaps I am, however I don’t know any other person who has travelled more than I during the last 30 years. Therefore I hope can provide you with a few ideas on where to go for your next holiday.

I’ll list the 5 countries in alphabetical order rather than by personal preference.

 Australia

Travel tips fabulous countries

The home of my birth and a country that offers a huge diversification of incredible travel destinations. Most people find it difficult to grasp the size of this great country, don’t make the mistake of trying to cover too much in 3 or 4 weeks, better to come back another time.

Sydney is the most spectacular city but don’t forget Perth and Adelaide both wonderful cities also. Then of course there is the Gold Coast in Queensland with it’s wonderful weather and beautiful beaches.

For a good budget hotel in Sydney just book through this link. Broadbeach is the best place to stay on the Gold Coast, here is a very good value apartment block in a perfect location.

Three suggestions

Sydney                           Great Ocean Rd                            Outback

Travel tips fabulous countries

I drove from Adelaide to Melbourne along the Great Ocean  road Australia in October 2014, I had driven this road once before in  1988.

Brazil Travel tips one of the five fabulous countries

Travel tips fabulous countries

Bigger and more diverse than Australia I have enjoyed 8 visits to the wonderful country. Rio de Janeiro is fabulous however there is so much more to see. Apart from Rio my favourite places are Praia de Pipa, Paraty, Iguazu Falls & Florianoplis.

Check out these Brazilian posts

Camboriu                                 Rio’s beaches                         Fortaleza           

Travel tips fabulous countries

Since 2004, the blocos have exploded and now there are now nearly 300 blocos with over 40 new ones appearing for the 2007 Carnaval.  The first blocos started only a little over ten years ago. This is the heart of theStreet Carnival” which includes the greater likelihood of locals playing percussion instruments with their friends at their favorite hangout as well as  the Bandstands and the many Parades of downtown’s Rio Branco Avenue. These events are inclusive and practice for the musicians begins months before the Carnaval and the parades do not end until Sunday of the following weekend.

Croatia is a must for travellers  here are Travel tips fabulous countries

Travel tips fabulous countries

It was March 2005 before I finally made it to this fascinating country, the photo above is the coastal city of Split. I travelled by bus between the major cities to see more of the actual country. I had a terrific 2 bedroom apartment in a great location for only $50 per night, book through this link.

Next door is Bosnia so make sure you also visit the wonderful city of Mostar.

Split                               Dubrovnik                              Zagreb

Travel tips fabulous countries

In Zagreb I stayed at the excellent hotel Dubrovnik overlooking the Main Square you see above, it was a perfect location with good wifi. Marc van Bloemen owner of Karmen apartments in Dubrovnik was the perfect host, he  a friendly Englishman who will point you in the right direction for restaurants, tours & places of interests, he also has a great knowledge of Dubrovniks history.

United Kingdom

Travel tips fabulous countries

So many places to see & so much history. I travel there most years making London my base, then visit cities & towns all over the country either by train or car. Apart from London some of my favourite places are Brighton, Bath, Glasgow & Bradford on Avon. The photo above is Gold Hill is a steep cobbled street in the town of Shaftesbury in the English county of Dorset.

London pubs                          Lands End                            Hyde Park

Travel tips fabulous countries

Travel tips. Great Britain has an excellent rail service, save up to 80% by booking your ticket before you arrive, just click here. London Underground’s Piccadilly Line provides the most cost-effective rail route between Heathrow Airport and the capital, so look for accommodation around Earl’s CourtGloucester Rd or Knightsbridge. For more information click here.

France

Travel tips fabulous countries

 Where do you start Paris or Monte Carlo, the choices are endless in this wonderful country. One of my favourite holidays was based in Breil Sur Roya a small village in the mountains near the Italian border just north of Menton. From here I was able to explore many medieval French & Italian villages as well as the fabulous French Riviera. The Roya river runs through town and is open to trout anglers from March to September. Part of the trout run is reserved for fly-fishing. Trout anglers share the river with white water rafters, another popular local sport.

Saorge                                  St Tropez                              Versailles

Travel tips fabulous countries

Chateau de Versailles Paris is a  fabulous destination which made my bucket list as soon as I saw the Woody Allen movie “Midnight in Paris”. When the Château was built, Versailles was a country village; today, however, it is a wealthy suburb of Paris, some 20 kilometres southwest of the French capital.

Italy

Travel tips fabulous countries

My favourite European Country by a long shot. The food, the wine, the crazy drivers who park anywhere, there is so much to see & do it’s hard to know where to start. Rome, Florence, Venice there are so many great cities, however if I had to pick two favourites they would be Sam Gimignano and the Cinque Terre.

Florence                              Lake Como                              Portofino

Travel tips fabulous countries

Travel tip, take a wonderful one hour walk from Santa Margherita. The homes are truly magnificent,  prepare yourself for a great experience when you arrive at the beautiful waterfront village of Portofino. The buildings, the boats, the restaurants, it’s all there. Just make sure you have your credit card and a wallet full of Euros. For the budget minded like myself it makes more sense to stay at Santa Margherita and visit Portofino on foot or by ferry. The Lido Palace is on the beach if you want to go upmarket, my hotel was one block back and reasonable priced, with free car parkingThe Mediterraneo.

Thanks for visiting my Travel tips fabulous countries photo blog.

  Please check out these fabulous posts  
Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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Sospel village near Monte Carlo

August 17, 2015 by David Herd

North of Monte Carlo

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

Sospel village near Monte Carlo is a small town situated about 15km inland from the coastal resort of Menton & close to the French border with Italy. We were based in Breil Sur Roya just a short drive through the mountains.

Briel Sur Roya to Sospel & Monte Carlo

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

A short drive to the coast.

Medieval town

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

This small medieval town feels almost Italian in character, maybe because it was part of Italy until 1860.


 

Relaxing in the town square

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

   Sospel became prosperous in the 13th century when an important salt trading route between Nice and Turin passed through the town and those using the route paid tolls to use the bridge across the Bévéra river.  

Houses along the riverbanks

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

    The streets of the old town contain numerous attractive medieval houses, many with decorative painted facades.  

Toll Bridge

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

The tower in the centre of the fortified bridge was originally the toll gate for the mules using the trade route. A bridge has stood here since at least the 13th century, although it is likely the original version was built of wood. In 1522 the wooden bridge was replaced by a stone version, much as we see it today.

Viaduct beside the village

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

You can spend many days exploring the beautiful part of France.

Coffee with Deborah

Sospel village near Monte Carlo

  Thanks for sharing my Sospel village near Monte Carlo photo blog, lots more links below.                  

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