When Kevin first visited St Petersburg in 1993, St. Petersburg was caught between the ruins of the Soviet system and the chaos of a new capitalism. Perestroika had opened the door to freedom—but also to lawlessness and gunfire after dark was not unusual. For a visitor, the city felt raw and unpredictable—magnificent by day, dangerous by night—a place where beauty and decay walked arm in arm through the snow. And it is here that Kevin went to visit his friend from Yevgenny Neff, a principal with the legendary Maryinski Ballet. “It was dangerous and intoxicating both at the same time. A unique opportunity to see history in the making and reacquaint with friends from the ballet.”

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Kevin looks back at a time when we could all visit this incredible city - one of the true gems of world travel - without the shadow of war making journeys there impossible. And Kevin hopes to see that time come back soon. And when peace does return, people can again enjoy the wonder of the ballet, the White Nights, the music, the palaces and the museums. “I visited St Petersburg several times in the 1990’s and 2000’s.” says Kevin, “and took groups of ballet fans from Ireland and the UK. It is a place that is filled with every form of art and culture. A true top wonder.” 

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“Sharm El Sheikh is famous for one thing above all else: diving. At Ras Mohammed National Park, Kevin, his son Ciaran and friends John and Len found ‘The Abyss’ — a sheer wall that drops hundreds of meters straight down into blue nothingness. It was breathtaking — beautiful and something more . . . 

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Sharm El Sheikh is one of those places that stays with you. I remember looking up at the desert sky, a million stars overhead, and then sitting with the Bedouin, seeing a way of life that feels timeless. By day, it was dune buggies across the sand, diving into the depths of the Red Sea, and snorkeling straight from a beautiful hotel beach. The evenings? Markets buzzing with life, nightlife that kept Ciarán and his friends laughing till late, and the kind of energy that makes you feel wide awake no matter your age. That’s Sharm El Sheikh — an incredible mix of desert, sea, and pure adventure.

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Kevin spends three dizzy days enjoying the unique buzz of a Spanish end-of-season festival. As he says, “there is nothing quite like it in the world.” Join him as he celebrates life abroad!

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Some hotels actually do feel like home, and Kevin found the MiM Hotel in Sitges just such a place. What is it about some hotels that really do understand what a hotel guest really needs 

MIM Hotel Sitges Av. Sofía, 12, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 934 92 22 44 | +34 938 11 35 00 Email: [email protected] www.mimhotels.com Eco-friendly boutique hotel owned by Lionel Messi, steps from the beach, with a rooftop bar and spa overlooking the Mediterranean.

The Salil Hotel Riverside, Bangkok 2052/7-9 Charoenkrung 72/1 Alley, Wat Phrayakrai, Bang Kholaem, Bangkok 10120, Thailand Phone: +66 (0) 2 844 8787 | +66 63 883 0551 | +66 65 936 4900 Email: [email protected] www.thesalilriverside.com Stylish riverside retreat with infinity pool and chic Thai design, combining riverside calm with easy access to Bangkok’s vibrant energy.

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Kevin decided to treat his son, Ciaran, and take him to see Arsenal play in the Final at the Stade de France in Paris. There was just one problem - they went without tickets! Join them on an adventure to find tickets in time to see the biggest match in the world!

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Kevin takes you by the hand and guides you around Paris, giving you a place to shop, eat, drink, sightsee and stay all in one day!

Stay: Hotel Molière (boutique) 21 Rue Molière, 75001 Paris Phone: +33 1 42 96 22 01 www.hotel-moliere.fr

Eat: Le Grand Véfour (classic Parisian restaurant) 17 Rue de Beaujolais, 75001 Paris Phone: +33 1 42 96 56 27 www.grand-vefour.com

Shop: Carrousel du Louvre (underground shopping mall) 99 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris Phone: +33 1 43 16 47 47 Carrousel du Louvre

Drink: Club RaYé (cocktail & piano/jazz bar) 26 Rue Dussoubs, 75002 Paris Phone: +33 1 40 13 72 87

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If you talk to the younger generation (anyone under 30 years of age) and mention The Troubles, they usually shrug their shoulders and look at you funny! But it was certainly no joke being in Ireland during that bloody, fractious period, as Kevin relates 

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Join Kevin as he takes you on a tour of this historic city. He’ll show you where to eat, drink, sightsee, shop and stay all in a day! (links to each below)

Eat: The Muddlers Club – 1 Warehouse Lane, Belfast BT1 2DX. Tasting menu £80–120 👉 https://www.themuddlersclubbelfast.com

Drink: Kelly’s Cellars – 30 Bank Street, Belfast BT1 1HL. Pint £5–10 👉 https://www.kellyscellars.com

Do: Titanic Belfast – 1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Rd, Belfast. Entry £20–25 👉 https://www.titanicbelfast.com

Shop: St George’s Market – 12–20 East Bridge St, Belfast BT1 3NQ. Local goods £3–15 👉 https://visitbelfast.com/partners/st-georges-market/

Stay: Europa Hotel Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AP, Northern Ireland Once known as the most bombed hotel in Europe during the Troubles, today it stands as a symbol of Belfast’s resilience and renewal.

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