Ekaterinburg's VirtualTourist Home Page

After my adventures in Turkey, Portugal and London (and February trips to Faro and Barcelona ) no more travelling abroad for me until September. For the next two months, I'll be sharing the highs and lows of Summer in Ireland. In Cork mainly but also on the west coast and where ever the spirit leads me.

Something new will be added every week, so for little glimpses of life in Ireland, please feel free to look in. The virtual Guinness is always on tap

Right now in Cork we're loving the Midsummer Festival of the Senses. This year the senses are purring contentedly as constant sunshine and balmy evenings help to make this the most enjoyable and well attended summer-fest for years.

Last night in the Spiegel Tent, Spanish band Almasala gave a sometimes lively, sometimes sultry and soulful performance. Their show is called Barcelona Nights and the exotic setting and latino music made for the ultimate summer night vibe. Smoky lighting made it hard to get a good photo but on my Cork page I've uploaded a pretty good video clip.

The Spiegel Tent is one of the highlights of the festival and this year it kicked off with a performance from local band Fred which, even by their standads, was a night to remember.

VIDEO CLIPS OF ALMASALA AND FRED ON MY CORK PAGE

Though lots of same -old, same- old in the Turkish resorts there was much that was fresh and different in the towns and countryside. We spent a week in the small resort of Bitez which was pretty and rural and very pleasant indeed. Dolmus trips took us to the market in nearby Bodrum and we made a few sorties into the countryside, plus a full day out to Ephesus. These small incursions into the interior were more than enough to whet our appetite for this very striking country where archeological remains are spattered round the landscape almost as profusely as vegetation and little touches of the exotic are never too far away.

Getting back to Turkey, this time to Istanbul, Cappadocia and the east is very high on my list of travel priorities right now. But if this doesn't work out, a cheapo package to the Marmaris/Dalyan area would be quite acceptable too. Wherever you end up in Turkey, there are interesting things to see and do, friendly people and really diverse landscapes. Just try not to end up in Kusadassi !

Euromeet in Cascais rolled round on May 26th bringing the opportunity for a return visit to Portugal. Faro in February had made a huge impression but Lisbon was a whole other experience. I spent two days here before going out to Cascais and for me they were the highlight of Euromeet 2009. On Wednesday morning the Pied Piper,aka Gabriel ( Solodancer), led his willing followers for that day,(myself, Lorraine ( lorraineniece ) and Michael ( Globetrott) ) on a down-up, up-down, occasionally circular, odyssey round Lisbon. And yes, it was definitely an odyssey, not a tour or a walk. Seeing a city through the eys of someone passionately in love with it is a rare and precious experience and one that leaves a lasting impression.

Tumbling down from the Bairro Alto, lazing along Rossio and Rua Augusta, then soaring upwards to Alfama in the yellow hurtle of the 28 tram, Lisbon unfolded before us like a quilt that had just been shaken vigorously. In lieu of a siesta, we spent the hottest hours cloistered in deep shade at the monastery of Sao Vicente, a cornucopia of treasures, crammed with Azulejos, precious sacred objects and views over The Tagus. Emerging around 4.30, the labyrinthine streets and alleys of The Alfama were slipping langurously into relaxed, late afternoon-early evening mode. A perfect time for setting off to explore, ending up back where you'd started and starting all over again. Plenty of time to wander aimlessly, stop in this shop for some fruit, in that one for cool drinks or pastries and finally a long, chatty dinner. It's frequently pointed out that it's easy to romanticise The Alfama but in my opinion it's impossible NOT to romanticise it. The crumbling walls, peeling paint and shabby tiles, speak directly to your soul. Not to mention the Pablo Neruda poem, scribbled on the side of a house, the young men playing cards, old women sitting passively on their steps, babble from upstairs windows and plaintive songs from the cages of little feathered captives.

Coming back downtown might have been an anticlimax, had we not had the tram to ourselves and the childish thrill of leaning out the windows fanned by a cool evening breeze. We celeberated by going to Estrella at the end of the line, all the time seeing and experiencing more of the sights, sounds and smells of Lisbon. A last, long walk up nightime Rua Augusta to Placa de Restauradores, perpendicular chug on the Funicular Gloria and at last, home to Pensao Londres and the Jacarand -filled Rua da Antonio. A day possibly made in heaven but facilitated by someone very much alive. Thank you Gabriel !

Art, artists, galleries and associated activities play quite a large and important part in my life. This addiction started eight years ago when I did my first European Art History Diploma at University College Cork. Study finished after two years but the passion remained and travel especially, has become frequently focussed around galleries and public art spaces in the various cities and countries I visit.

Last September I started on the Art History trail again, this time a degree course by the long and pleasurable route of module by module. Another qualification is not the objective here but hours of pleasure spent with like-minded people in an atmosphere I find both stimulating and nurturing. Two weeks ago, we did a gallery trip to London, taking in all the permanent collections as well as the huge Baroque exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The main galleries in London are situated in one or two clusters and tips and a column about them will be appearing on VT soon.

But they are definitely my favourite fruit to photograph, along with Pomegranates, cherries and plums. It would probably be healthier to eat fruit rather than photograph it but I never can resist. Especially this perfectly beautiful Uglyfruit from the market at Faro.

2008's most memorable trip for me was definitely the VT Worldmeet to Jerusalem, the Judean Desert, Dead Sea, Masada and Arad. It was a lifetime's dream come true, especially the Saturday jeep trek through the desert.

This trip took place in a large truck with a roof and bars to hold on to while we were flung from side to side climbing over hills and dunes. I had the bruises to show for weeks afterwards but wore them like badges of honour

The other highlight of last year's travels was finally visiting Switzerland, staying the night in Interlaken and catching the cable car up to the unspoiled mountain village of Gimmelwald. This happened as a side trip on my way home from Euromeet 2008 at Karlsruhe. VT has certainly been a huge catalyst for me in terms of travel. The opportunity to meet up with people you know, right round the world is one of the major perks of being a member of this site.

Heres' to VT meets one and all and especially looking forward to 2010, a marathon meet taking place in Krakow, plus onward trips to Lviv in The Ukraine and Sibiu in Romania. Also included is a Pre-meet in Vienna and Bratislava, so a truly superb lineup giving the opportunity to visit old favourites like Vienna and Krakow plus the challenge and excitiement of visiting Ukraine and Romania for the first time.