June 2026. Armenia. Back in bed from the Southern Armenia 16 hour slog, a 6am alarm on Saturday morning for another early start tour was as welcome as a Maidenhead micro closure. But this northern exploration, centred on the lakes and forests, was an essential part of understanding a country that had seemed a little… Continue reading DON’T DILLY-DALLY IN DILIJAN
Tag: travel
IN SEARCH OF NOAH, IN SIGHT OF IRAN
June 2026. Armenia. I’ll be honest, by the 5th day of our Armenia trip last week I was knackered. Or specifically, my legs were. Sunday afternoon – 4 hours drive down to Waterbeach then Luton Airport. Monday – 5 hours in window seat on Wizz plane to Yerevan Tuesday – 3+ hours on packed train… Continue reading IN SEARCH OF NOAH, IN SIGHT OF IRAN
AN EPIC TREK TO THE UNOFFICIAL GYUMRI BREWERY TAP
June 2026. Gyumri. Armenia. Too hot to blog last night, a week ago in northern Armenia it was too hot to go trudging round back streets and scrubland in 33 degrees, but I always accept a challenge from my mate ChatGPT. “Given your track record, I wouldn’t be surprised if by Thursday you’re telling me… Continue reading AN EPIC TREK TO THE UNOFFICIAL GYUMRI BREWERY TAP
MRS RM CALLS FOR THE YANDEX
June 2026. Gyumri. Armenia. As so often, the demographic chart for Gyumri tells you quite a lot. A five-fold increase in 60 years, followed by a halving of the population after natural disaster and the demise of the Soviet empire in short order. One full day and night in Armenia’s second city is probably enough… Continue reading MRS RM CALLS FOR THE YANDEX
DESCRIBING ARMENIA IN ONE WORD
I’m disappointed that I’m missing the 2026 UK heatwave; don’t get many of those, do you ? Meanwhile in Yerevan; Oh. On our tours this week all that visitors from the Netherlands, Sweden and Kaliningrad wanted to talk about was the World Cup the weather, yet another thing the UK cultural export. Can we blame… Continue reading DESCRIBING ARMENIA IN ONE WORD
MIDNIGHT IN ARMENIA
June 2026. Armenia. There’s no stopping Mrs RM. No sooner did Wizz Air start twice-weekly flights from Luton to Armenia than she’s booked bargain seats and got a full itinerary for the trip, 16 hour bus tours and all. The theme for Yerevan will be ticking camels. I haven’t seen a camel yet. Or a… Continue reading MIDNIGHT IN ARMENIA
NEW AND SHINY IN SHEFFIELD – ABBEYDALE AND LOXLEY
June 2026. Sheffield. Having just got back from Sudbury (the drives are now more physically than mentally wearing, which I think is a good thing), I had an actual day in Sheffield. Obviously, I’m not staying at home, that risks gardening or something worse, but a proper walk to Abbeydale Road and beyond. Why DO… Continue reading NEW AND SHINY IN SHEFFIELD – ABBEYDALE AND LOXLEY
LYTHAM LACINGS
June 2026. Lytham (not St Annes). An afternoon in Lytham (not St Annes, for a change) to meet up with Blackpool Jane on her blogging return and swap World Cup stickers with Lee. You remember Lytham ? The one with the windmill and the 1940s obssession ? “Leafy Lytham” they call it, which seems to… Continue reading LYTHAM LACINGS
PROUD PRESTON, PROBLEM PARKING
June 2026. Preston. At last ! We’re leaving Yorkshire ! I’d forgotten what it was like to be able to wake up on a Saturday morning with freedom to go anywhere I want as long as I’m home by tea so Mrs RM can check her blog clicks. Mrs RM had bought some walking shoes… Continue reading PROUD PRESTON, PROBLEM PARKING
LITTLE MESTERS
June 2026. Sheffield. From the Park Hill flats we followed the path of the tram toward town, with the UK’s scruffiest tourist sign at the Park Square roundabout. Much of central Sheffield has been modernised beyond recognition in recent years; heck, we’ve even got a Pret a Manger* ! There’s a big building site where… Continue reading LITTLE MESTERS
retiredmartin 