TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe The world’s best known customerdriven traveller advisory site, TripAdvisor, has given Cape Town a new reason to celebrate its tourism status - by naming it the Number One Destination of the Top 25 Destinations in the World in the TripAdvisor 2011, Travelers’ Choice Awards Chosen by a poll of actual travelers and TripAdvisor users, the annual award recognises the people’s choice of destinations from across the planet. After being placed at twenty fifth in 2010, Cape Town has trumped traditional travel cities like Paris, France (placed fourth), London, United Kingdom (eighth) and Rome, Italy (seventh) to take the top spot. Challenger tourism brands were high on Trip Advisor’s Top Destination list, with Sydney, Australia (second), Machu Picchu, Peru (third) and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (fifth) all making it into the top five spots travelers voted for. With over twenty million members and a Facebook following of 96 058, TripAdvisor described Cape Town as glistening at the southern toe of the African continent and I must agree!
Weekend Hotspot
The Cliff Town House is housed in a stylish Georgian Town House with an unbeatable location on 22 St Stephen’s Green. Formerly home to the Order of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick it was taken over by Barry Canny who converted it into Browne’s Townhouse. He later went on to open Peploe’s Bistro nearby, selling Browne’s to the Stein Group The building now owned by Irish millionaire Barry O’Callaghan who has made the decision to twin it with his successful Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Co Waterford after the high profile departure of Richard Corrigan and his Dublin Bentleys concept which disappeared as fast as the Celtic Tiger. In physical terms, little has changed since Corrigan’s tenure with the ten bedrooms kept in the style of the original building which is to be commended however the attic rooms were a huge trek up many flights of stairs and a tad on the shabby side! The accommodation options here seem the poor relation of what is a hugely successful food emporium. One of Dublin’s most talked about and stylish res-
taurants, The Cliff Town House offer outstanding food and drink, all served in a spectacular setting highlighting the original Georgian Townhouse features. The restaurant has been extended to accommodate the lobby lounge and the far end of the dining room is where n Cliff Town the oyster bar is and if House extr t Dublin ance ran tau Res use Ho n that’s all you’re intern Cliff Tow ested in, you can come and sit there, have half a dozen oysters and leave. There are three kinds of oyster on offer: Galway Coast, native Galway and Carlingford Lough oysters. We dined on a Saturday night in early May and the restaurant was buzzing. There’s a €40 for three courses set menu which runs all night, plus a short list of signature dishes by way of alternative and we decided to try both options I chose the ‘signature’ Irish Seafood Cocktail n Oyster Bar at the Cliff Town House Dublin starter which was a fulsome portion of prawns and crab while those in my party raved about the scallops and Glenarm smoked salmon. For mains, I opted for 10oz Herethree. Drew Flood formerly of the K classical music lovers’ Norwegian fordshire Beef fillet seared with dau- Club runs an excellent product and coastal voyage group tour based phine potatoes, spinach with red his Rostrevor Co Down connections on the music of Edvard Grieg is wine jus which was to die for and very much influence the menu. He back and early bookers can avail of the others Skeaghanore Duck and is supported by Letterkenny native a 10% discount. Taking place from Fermanagh lamb all equally mouth- Sean Smith who based on my ex- 14 - 21 October 2011 the package watering! The Cliff Townhouse is perience has to be one of Ireland’s combines the dramatic and beauwithin walking distance of top city most talented chefs. www.thecliff- tiful landscape of the Norwegian landmarks such as Trinity Col- townhouse.com coastline with a series of onboard lege, Dublin Castle and the famous concerts and lectures. There’s even Grafton Street, a paradise for all Weekly Best Buy the possibility of seeing the Northshoppers. Theatres, restaurants Catherine Jeffers from Kilmore ern Lights. The tour costs E1745 and night clubs are also just a few Quay, Co Wexford has set up per person including return flights steps away. close to St. Stephen’s Coastal Walks, offering relaxed to Norway, 5 nights full board voyGreen and O’Connell Street. There seaside walks aimed at those who age in an outside cabin on the Hurtiare many things to see and do in- like to stop and stare and have a gruten ship, all recitals and lectures cluding Guinness Storehouse, Trin- cup of tea. A typical walk starts in on board and 2 nights B&B in 3* ity College, Dublinia, Kilmainham Lemon Grove Coffee shop in Dri- hotels, one pre-voyage in Kirkenes Gaol, Dublin Castle & Temple Bar. nagh for coffee and pastries with a and one post-voyage in Bergen. A We availed of the weekend city bus pick up to Carnsore, followed 10% discount applies for bookings break offer at €320.00 per room for by a 90-minute walk along Cross- made by 15 June. Single supplement two nights B & B, one dinner with finian Point, Carne harbour and E360. www.project-travel.ie glass of wine, based on two peo- beach, on to Ballytrent and along ple sharing. If you fancy taking in the coastal path to St Helen’s Bay Robert Walshe is a freelance a night at the “ Gaiety “ their pre- resort for lunch before a bus back contributor / broadcaster and theatre menu available Monday to to Drinagh. Cost: €30, including guest travel writer for River Saturday is a exceptional value at meals, transport, etc. www.south- Media newspaper titles across €19.95 for two courses or €24.95 for eastcoastalwalks.ie Project Travel’s the island of Ireland
Pet’s Corner...
with Kathleen Murray
with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
Which rules… your heart or your head? In everyday life we have to make decisions. Some are easy but some are very tough. If you feel strongly about something then you have to ask yourself if it is your heart, or your head, that is calling the shots. When there is a decision to be made about the future of an animal, especially a closely bonded pet, then it can be an extremely difficult thing to do. Sometimes our heart felt feelings get in the way of a clear mind decision and this can be very emotional and upsetting for us. When we feel like this we need to ask ourselves if the decision is better for the ani-
Living
mal… or better for us. The needs of the animal should always come first. Humans can be selfish. Even “giving” or “caring” can be selfish. We get attention for it or it makes us feel good to give to someone less fortunate… so are we doing it for the other person or is it to make ourselves feel better? When children ask for a pet, parents start searching for a dog or cat, or whatever, to make the child happy. Is this a head or a heart decision? If the parents say “No” to the pet, is it because they don’t want it themselves, or that they don’t want the child to have it? Get-
ting a pet needs to be a “Head” decision. It needs to be thought through. The pet will need supervision, feeding, cleaning up after, and then it will cost a lot of money on top of that. Letting your heart rule your head here will be a disaster for the pet. The pet has needs and they must be met. If they are not met then it will end up in a neglectful, unruly and possibly very cruel environment for that animal. Nobody wants to think of their home as being that kind of environment. Misplaced ideas of kindness from us are not what animals need. Sometimes a compromise can be made. Parents could get
a dog for the child (Heart decision) but they will know that they themselves (the parents) will be taking the full responsibility for the pet (Head decision). They can’t expect that a child will have the discipline to work with an animal, the know how to train it, the law on animals, or where and how to get a license, buy the food or take it for a walk safely. The child will not be in a position to take it to the vet, or break up a dog fight that may occur. Animal lovers don’t always make good owners. Loving an animal is not enough. There’s a lot more to it than that.
Home and Away Extra Carnival Magic, offers the most “fun and diverse entertainment ever,” says the cruise line. The line says the ship is set to “raise the bar on shipboard entertainment with some of the most spectacular shows ever seen at Sea.” In addition to three stage shows that feature detailed sets and costumes, state-of-the-art video technology and sophisticated special effects, Carnival Magic offers an array of entertainment choices at various venues throughout the ship. These include everything from solo singers and comedians to live bands and engaging audience. The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 –Oct. 16. Following a 16-day transAtlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov.14, 2011, becoming the port’s largest year-round cruise ship.