Swimming With Dolphins

I’m still buzzing from the incredible experience of swimming with dolphins at the Dubai Dolphinarium.  The day was set aside since early last month after birthday ‘season’ in our household. Our two boys as well as my birthday, and incidentally father’s day, all fall in the same week! … Read the rest

Welcome To The Big Wide World

Welcome to Dukes Global Adventures.  I have been blogging on a private forum for 10 years now with a view to keeping friends and family up to date on adventures, travels and daily happenings.

When I started my musings were more of a diary than a story.… Read the rest

Fairmont, The Palm

Flow Kitchen at Fairmont, The Palm presents a buffet that is worthy of a few extra courses.  The setting is spacious and nicely appointed and the staff are polite and attentive, as you’d expect from a hotel of this calibre.

It’s date night and we order a couple of drinks.  … Read the rest

Champs Élysées

Laduree

I almost missed a stroll down this famous boulevard Champs Élysées when I was recently in Paris.  It was only a short trip and I had my two boys in tow (3yrs & 6yrs), not exactly how I dreamed of promenading around the city of love.… Read the rest

15th Arrondissement

Max Poilâne patisserie & boulangerie

Our 10am booking for the Eurostar to Paris was a sensible choice.  We are staying with Claire in the 15th Arrondissement and as I rise to my 6:30am alarm and rouse the boys from the cartoon channel, which has likely been on for a while already, I’m resigned to a long day ahead. … Read the rest

Kings Weston

Heading to the start line at Kings Weston Park Run

It’s a beautiful, if a little crisp, Bristol morning.  We’re off to Kings Western for the junior park run.  My friend Alison used to run these in Brisbane when Miranda and Jasper were little, now it’s the children’s turn.… Read the rest

St Peter’s Basilica

St Peter’s Basilica

St Peter’s Basilica transcends sightseeing. It is a place so deeply woven into history, art and faith that it becomes an experience, rather than an attraction. For centuries, pilgrims have travelled from every corner of the world to stand beneath the soaring dome of St Peter’s Basilica, while artists, architects and historians have marvelled at what many consider the greatest church ever built.… Read the rest

Santorini

The blue of the sky and the sea as I emerge from below deck to the dazzling sunshine stuns me momentarily. I blink a few times and Santorini is before me.  Can this really be?

The harbour is almost unnoticeable, hidden in plain sight at the bottom of the cliffs.… Read the rest

Ornos Beach

Blue Water, Ornos Beach

Ornos Beach, Mykonos has the vibe of a small fishing village that has been invaded.  You can tell this was once a sleepy little town but tourism has taken over and today it’s hot and busy.  It’s the closest beach to the town of Mykonos with sun beds and umbrellas for rent on the fine white sand.… Read the rest