Posts from a Flashpacker

After spending 4 beautiful days on the incredible Isle of Arran, we headed to Oban with big plans to take ferries to explore Staffa and Mull. Sadly, our trip to Staffa we were so looking forward to was cancelled due to high winds, so we scrambled for a new plan.

We decided to take a short hop on a small ferry to a teeny tiny island called Kerrera. We knew nothing about it whatsoever and had never even heard of it until that moment…

But…wowwwww!!! it was gorgeous!! We found a beautiful 7 mile hike which meandered around the island. Along the windswept coast, through the old-growth forests, among mounds of moss and lumps of lichen, and a stop for hearty sandwiches at a charming cottage for lunch.

Another day was spent on the Isle of Mull, Insta-famous for its bright, candy-colored buildings lining the sea. We found another spectacular hike which led us to a multitude of waterfalls, some crumbling ruins, and a small lake with hundreds of lily-pads floating peacefully on the surface.

Oban was a hit! It’s the gateway to many of the Hebrides islands and worth a stop on its own.

Off to the Isle of Skye next… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Could it have been more gorgeous?
I think not.

This week, my niece tied the knot in the rolling hills of County Meath, Ireland during a 4-day extravaganza at a gorgeous Georgian estate.

☘️The food.
☘️The weather.
☘️The accommodations.
☘️The setting.
☘️The ceremony.
☘️And of course, the bride and groom…

All were absolutely stunning.

So very happy to spend time with my kids (75% of them - sadly, the youngest couldn’t make it from Australia) and my extended family.

Ellie and Joe - may the road rise up to meet you- and you know the rest. ☘️

It’s so fun to be able to pop over to Rome from Palermo! Just a quick cheap flight, my daughter Cara and I had a few days to explore.

One of the coolest things to visit in Rome is the Cappucin Crypt of "Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini" (Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins) which holds the remains of over 3500 monks.

In 5 distinct chapels, different bones have been arranged in incredibly ornate patterns of flowers using vertebrae, butterflies made from pelvis bones, and an hourglass made from scapula. Using clavicles, femurs and more, the bones make fantastical designs in the walls, ceilings, lights, and niches, as mummified monks relax and lounge about.

Creepy? Yes.
Cool? Yes!
Unique? Definitely!!
Worth seeing? Absolutely!!