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retiredmartin

On permanent exploration of places, pubs, people and new music.

Tag: travel

BINGLEY, AFTER THE DRUID’S WALK

BINGLEY, AFTER THE DRUID’S WALK

July 12, 2026July 12, 2026 1 Comment

July 2026. Bingley. Day 5 of the Cask Camino, and we’d postponed Bingley’s canalside highlights in favour of a bracing walk to the Druid’s Altar, with the promise of a pint on the way back to the station. Mrs RM will be looking for some middle-class pub recommendations for her own blog, and you won’t… Continue reading BINGLEY, AFTER THE DRUID’S WALK

Beertravelwriting
SCOUSE

SCOUSE

July 7, 2026July 7, 2026 6 Comments

July 2026. Liverpool. Since we got back from all that foreign muck in Armenia you’ve had a string of classic UK pubs. The Harp, the Cock, the Rutland, the New Barrack, the KIT, the Tunbridge Wells Spoons…. And a trip to Liverpool on Thursday to see long-term RM favourite Julia Jacklin preview her upcoming 4th… Continue reading SCOUSE

artfoodhistoryMusictravel
“THE LOWEST PUB IN THE BRITISH ISLES”

“THE LOWEST PUB IN THE BRITISH ISLES”

July 5, 2026July 5, 2026 10 Comments

June 2026. Holme. Cambridgeshire. We popped down early on Tuesday to see Dad on his 91st birthday with card and chocolate. He barely stirred from sleep, at least until the Salvation Army band turned up after lunch to play for him. I couldn’t face staying down in Cambridge, so we came straight back. Finding an… Continue reading “THE LOWEST PUB IN THE BRITISH ISLES”

europefoodphotographytravel
IS THE HARP KEEPING ITS COOL ?

IS THE HARP KEEPING ITS COOL ?

July 1, 2026 7 Comments

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 ?

fictionlifeshort-storytravelwriting
“When’s lunch ?”

“When’s lunch ?”

July 1, 2026 8 Comments

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 ?”

adventurearmeniaasiaeuropetravel
THE DARGETT TAP AND KOND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL

THE DARGETT TAP AND KOND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL

June 29, 2026June 29, 2026 8 Comments

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

armeniaBeereuropefoodtravel
PARK LIFE, YEREVAN

PARK LIFE, YEREVAN

June 28, 2026July 1, 2026 3 Comments

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

armeniaeuropetravelwritingyerevan
THE PROBLEM WITH TOMATO GOSE

THE PROBLEM WITH TOMATO GOSE

June 28, 2026June 28, 2026 14 Comments

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

BeerCraft beerfictionfoodtravel
DON’T DILLY-DALLY IN DILIJAN

DON’T DILLY-DALLY IN DILIJAN

June 27, 2026June 27, 2026 3 Comments

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

adventurearmeniahikingnaturetravel
IN SEARCH OF NOAH, IN SIGHT OF IRAN

IN SEARCH OF NOAH, IN SIGHT OF IRAN

June 27, 2026June 27, 2026 6 Comments

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

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