NinaRira's VirtualTourist Home Page

Born in Denmark, I have spent most of my life hopping from one country to the next and have spent happy years living in England, France, Isreal and Greece and now live by the sea in south west Ireland where life is remote, wild and beautiful. My passions are art and photography and the inspiration here is endless. I also live for beachlife and it doesn't get much better than running with the dog along the Atlantic coast in the morning. I try to travel as much as my purse will allow me and it doesn't matter if the location is 5 miles away or 5000 - it's all an experience. Best of all are the people I meet along the way and I think it has to be the best part of travelling to discover how much alike we all are, despite boarders and boundries. I'm so glad to be a real tourist as well as a virtual one!

I'm not always that good at upadating my VT pages (probably because I'm on the beach all the time..!) but I am trying to get better. This time round I got stuck into it again because I was laid up in bed with the flu for a week and suddenly rediscovered the joys of going over my travels again on this website. The thought of sunny climates and far off places kept me sane while I was surrounded by tissues and hot water bottles! Although I have travelled a lot, I mostly recommend places that have a personal appeal to me, such as vegetarian and organic restaurants, outdoor activities and also gorgeous hotels for the perfect weekend break. Even though I have spent countless years with a rucksack on my back, I do luuuurve to be pampered these days, so I will show you my favourite places to go and maybe some of you will also get to experience them one day. I hope so!

I can't get enough of the outdoors and all the creatures that live there. Some think it weird, but I will happily sit with my camera for hours, freezing my butt off, waiting for a particular bird to appear. Or I might stand in the cold at 2 in the morning just to see an elusive moth. My partner in crime for most of my adventures is Ben the dog and if anyone loves the beach and water as much as me, it's him. He's a pure water-baby and I have big plans to get him a customised surfboard. That or a doggy snorkel. Do they make these I wonder...? My main outdoor ambition for next year is to get good at sea-Kayaking and then I want to buy one with room for Ben. So keep your eyes open and a hot whiskey ready - we might just be sailing past a beach near you in the future!