Throwback to my trip to Malaga.... I spent a day in Malaga last year while visiting Costa del Sol and forgot to post some photographs. I loved the new port area with its trendy shops, restaurants and cafes. We spent a few hours just strolling around and taking in all the sunshine. Look at those blue skies. This was October last year. My Dad wanted to go on holidays after being diagnosed with cancer. He had such a positive outlook on life and enjoyed the simple things in life. While I enjoy the simple things I'd love to be so positive. We booked this last minute trip to Spain for him. We all thoroughly enjoyed the few days together and he was in great form. He then had a major operation at the end of the year and was recovering very well but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. This trip to Spain was our last holiday together. From now on, he will be with us in spirit. So these photos and that last trip to Spain together will always hold a special place in my heart.

I haven't visited very much of Spain, having concentrated my holidays in France, Italy and along the Adriatic coast over the past few weeks. Two years ago I visited Barcelona and loved it. I hadn't gone abroad this year and was in need of some heat and sunshine so booked a last minute trip to the Costa del Sol. I was pleasantly surprised with this part of Spain. Transport was so easy and inexpensive. We spent a day exploring the beautiful city of Malaga and Muelle Uno with splendid views of the port. The sun shone every day and the heat did me the world of good. I love the heat so this holiday suited me with temperatures ranging from 23-26 degrees compared to 11 degrees here at home in Ireland. We also visited Gibraltar for a day and spent the rest of the time relaxing and exploring the coastline between Benalmadena to Torremolinos. In total we spent 5 nights away and it was just perfect!

This year myself and my husband didn't go away for any weekend breaks, we saved our money and set off on our holidays in September visiting three countries and the island of Mallorca. Below are some photographs of our holidays... we really enjoyed it and have some memories which will last a lifetime....

From top left: Rome (Italy), Naples (Italy), Marseille (France), Naples, Cinque Terre (Italy), Cinque Terre, Palma de Mallorca, Rome and Barcelona (Spain)...

Greetings everyone. I've been absent from blogging in a while as I have been away on holidays. We booked our holidays back in January and didn't go until mid September so it was a long wait but well worth it. We visited three counties and one island on our holidays this year. So first up, here are my photographs from Palma De Mallorca, hope you enjoy them...

So with our poor weather in Ireland this Summer, I am so glad I still have my holidays to look forward to later in the Autumn. This year I'm off to Spain, France, Italy and the island of Mallorca. I really can't wait to get some sunshine and explore lots of new locations. We are going on a cruise again with Royal Caribbean on the Allure of the Seas which is a much larger ship than the one we went on last year. We will be visiting Barcelona, Marseille, Palma and three locations in Italy. We hope to visit Cinque Terre for a day also. If anyone has taken this cruise or has any tips on the best places to visit, do let me know....