June 2026. London. A day at the in-laws, bearing up in the Tunbridge Wells heat better than me, and then the 17:10 into Charing Cross for a gig. The rail advice was not to travel unless absolutely necessary. I asked ChatGPT for guidance. Well, there you go. It was like a fridge on the Southeastern… Continue reading IS THE HARP KEEPING ITS COOL ?
Tag: travel
“When’s lunch ?”
June 2026. Armenia. Our week in Armenia comes to an end with a late flight home to Luton, and who doesn’t dream of arriving home at Luton Airport at 2am in the morning ? But first, Mrs RM has got a “short” tour planned before a dash to the airport. Quite a lot packed into… Continue reading “When’s lunch ?”
THE DARGETT TAP AND KOND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL
June 2026. Yereven. This is Mrs RM’s tick list for essential sites in the Armenian capital, denoted by camels. Reader, I saw zero camels in Armenia. These mini-posts are mainly to jog Mrs RM’s memory of an epic Yerevan mop-up day last Sunday, though if I do get some Armenian views I’ll be delighted, as… Continue reading THE DARGETT TAP AND KOND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL
PARK LIFE, YEREVAN
June 2026. Yerevan. Armenia. Breakfast at our “Boutique” hotel was certainly colourful; it was the only free breakfast we managed that week, with no food till 9am and those early tour starts. Tucked just outside the ring road, next to international embassies and the Soviet chess club (look closely), it wasn’t bargain (£60 a night),… Continue reading PARK LIFE, YEREVAN
THE PROBLEM WITH TOMATO GOSE
June 2026. Yerevan. Armenia. Just the hour late, our tour bus returned to its slot opposite the Yerevan Opera House just past 7, and we turned down tickets for Sleeping Beauty just to bring you reports on the craft bar scene. We’ve found clusters of “authentic” craft beer bars all over eastern Europe and into… Continue reading THE PROBLEM WITH TOMATO GOSE
DON’T DILLY-DALLY IN DILIJAN
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
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
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