The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Las Ramblas

TTB was taking a well earned break with his humans in beautiful Barcelona last week and has stuffed his shell with so many fascinating facts that he can't fit them all into just one post.   Welcome to TTB's Barça blogs! ¡Bienvenidos a todos! 

On his first day, he caught the metro (bugs ride free in Spain) and made his way to Las Ramblas to find out what all the fuss is about.   This is what he discovered:

• TTB has always been confused as to why some of his Spanish amigos refer to the area as 'La Rambla' and others as 'Las Ramblas'.   As it turns out, La Rambla is the singular street bearing the name.   Las Ramblas is a succession of 5 streets that connect Placa Cataluyna and Port Vell.    These are:  Rambla de Canaletes; Rambla del Estudis; Rambla de Les flors; Rambla dels Caputxins and Rambla de Santa Monica.   

• Before being transformed into the modern shopping district it now is, Las Ramblas was a sandy area leading to the port.   In fact, that's how it gets its name.  The word 'ramla' is the Arabic for 'sandy riverbed'.  TTB likes it much better now that that there are lots of tapas bars around.    Sandy riverbeds really don't sound like that much fun to him.  

• There are technically six areas to Las Ramblas, but the last part wasn't introduced until 1994 and is therefore not included in the historic boulevard.   Rambla de Mar is the final piece of road that leads to the fabulous port and marina in Barca.     Maybe one day, it'll be considered old enough to join in all the fun.    TTB would like that.   

Do you have any other fascinating facts about Las Ramblas to share with The Travel Bug?

TTB x 

The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Siena

When The Travel Bug was on his Tuscan tour with his humans, he popped over to the beautiful city of Siena to have a look around and see what fascinating facts it had to offer.

This is what he found out:

• The very first bank on the planet, the Monte dei Paschi di Siena, was founded in 1472 in the city. TTB doesn't really like banks that much.  He prefers to keep his Euros in his shell.

• Siena is home to the second tallest tower in the whole of Italy, and one of it's most visited tourist attractions, the Torre del Mangia.  TTB climbed all the way to the top and can confirm that it is, indeed, very high.   Way too high for a little bug.

• Siena is a haven for popular sports, including football and basketball, but is also famous for being the start and end location for the Strade Bianchi, a professional cycling race, covering more than 50k. The race finishes at Piazza del Campo in the old city. TTB can't use a bike as his little legs are too short.   

Do you have any more fascinating facts about Siena to share with The Travel Bug?

TTB x 

The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Buckfast (the town...not the drink)

TTB has been holidaying in the south of England; spending time in and around the beautiful Devonshire coast.  While he was there, he asked his humans if they would take him to Buckfast so he could get drunk check out the Abbey.

While exploring the town, these are some of the fascinating facts he picked up:

• Buckfastleigh is a small market town in Devon in England and is mostly famous for the fortified wine which is produced at the Abbey.     Buckfast is now sold throughout the UK and is particularly popular in The Travel Bug's home nation of Scotland.   Neither TTB or his Scottish humans have any idea why.  

• Buckfastleigh is the longest town name in the United Kingdom to have no repeated letters!   Unfortunately, TTB can't say the same about his new home town of Dyffryn.     He lives in Wales and if you don't live in a town with repeated letters, you're clearly not living your best life.   

• Brook House, to the west of the town, carries with it the legend of the death of the Lord of the Manor of Brook, Richard Cabell.  On the night of Cabell's death, it was reported that large, fire eating dogs were seen galloping across nearby Dartmoor.   This is where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took the inspiration for his famous Sherlock Holmes novel: 'The Hounds of The Baskervilles'.     TTB loves dogs, but he's doesn't want to be visited by any that breathe fire.    

Do you have any fascinating facts about Buckfast to share with The Travel Bug?

TTB x

The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Florence

After a day relaxing in his apartment on the Arno River in Pisa, The Travel Bug awoke the next morning and demanded his humans take him to Florence.    As they're very obedient humans, the packed him in to the car and flitted away to the capital of the region of Tuscany.  

These are the fascinating facts that TTB uncovered while he was crawling/flying throughout the city.

• TTB discovered that the photos that millions of tourists take of the Statue of Michelangelo's David located outside the Palazzo Vecchio isn't actually the real thing.    The replica stands here, whilst the real statue is housed in the slightly safer venue of Galleria dell'Academia.    So, basically, there are two statues of David, but only one can genuinely be called Michelangelo's.        

• According to UNESCO, almost 1/3 of the most important works of art IN THE WORLD are located in Florence.    TTB promises not to touch anything he's not supposed to as he doesn't want to get squished by an angry security guard.  Or his humans before they're dragged off to jail.

• During World War 2, the Germans blew up every bridge in Florence, with the exception of the famous Ponte Vecchio.    It is alleged that Hitler thought it far too beautiful to destroy.     The Travel Bug agrees - but he thinks everything in Florence is beautiful.  

Do you have any fascinating facts about Florence to share with The Travel Bug?

TTB X 

The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Pisa

Mum....why so squint?? 

TTB is on holiday again!   This time, he took his humans to the beautiful Tuscan city of Pisa to eat pizza, work out how that building is squint and, generally, have a good look around.

These are the fascinating facts he uncovered about Pisa:

• TTB thought it would be weird if he DIDN'T mention that the Tower of Pisa, which was built as a bell tower for the Duomo in the Square of Miracles in the city centre.  The Tower was already leaning when it was first presented to the public is 1372.     The building continued to tilt until the 1990's when a major project was undertaken to stop the building crashing down.     Workers moved almost 70 tonnes of earth from beneath the tower, thus reducing the tilt by almost 45cm.     Because of this, TTB has decided it should be named The Slightly Less Leaning Tower of Pisa.   That's bound to become a thing, right?

• Pisa was the city of world renowned scientist, Galileo Galilei   The city's airport bears him name.    Galileo, amongst numerous other incredible achievements, was the man to discover that the surface of the moon was no, as previously suspected, flat; but rather rough.   He also wrote of the rings around Saturn and confirmed that Venus has similar phases to the movement of the Moon.    TTB has absolutely no idea what any of this means, but thinks that Galileo was obviously a very smart human.

• Pisa is home to Europe's first and oldest University Botanic Gardens.  Orto botanic di Pisa was established in 1544!  

TTB x 

The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Torquay

TTB has been on holiday in the south of England; spending time with his humans on the beautiful Devonshire coast.

While being dragged along the beaches in the English Riviera, these are some of the fascinating facts he picked up:

• Torquay is home to one of the planet's best selling authors EVER, in none other than Queen of Crime; Agatha Christie.   TTB likes watching Miss Marple on the TV and having his humans read her stories to him when he's all tucked up in bed at night.   He also had lots of fun on the Agatha Christie Mile while he was in town.

• While staying in Torquay to film sketches for Monty Python, John Cleese found the inspiration behind Fawlty Towers, due to the rather eccentric owner of the hotel he was staying at.   TTB loves watching Fawlty Towers and his favourite character is Manuel, because he's Spanish, just like TTB.    TTB's not from Barcelona, though. 

• In 2010, famously reclusive artist, Banksy, allegedly painted a mural of a young girl drawing a robot on the side of the Grosvenor Hotel on Belgrave Road.   It was vandalised the following year and was then entirely painted over when the hotel was bought by new owners in 2014.  Noooo!    TTB would LOVE to have seen this.  

Do you have any fascinating facts about Torquay to share with The Travel Bug?


TTB x

The Travel Bug's Fascinating Facts About Snowdon

TTB has been living in North Wales for 10 months now and loves having a cottage in the middle of Snowdonia National Park.   This means he has lots of places to roam and he likes gazing out across at Snowdon from the comfort of his sitting room.   

He hasn't attempted to hike Snowdon yet because, well...he would fly if he really wanted to conquer it, wouldn't he?     Apparently, he'll do it when he's good and ready.   Another two or three years, allegedly.

These are The Travel Bug's Fascinating Facts about Snowdon:

• Mount Snowdon is the highest peak in Wales and England.   It is the second highest in the UK, as Ben Nevis in Scotland is the tallest.  TTB likes that Ben Nevis is the highest mountain is the highest as he was 'born' in Scotland.  

• Legendary explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary, used to train on Snowdon before he attempted to climb Mount Everest.   TTB thinks that anyone who tries this has cotton wool for brains.   Why would you put yourself through that when you could be napping?

• The Welsh name for Snowdon is 'yr Wyddfa', which means monument or tomb.   As legend would have it, a troll called Rhita Gawr, lived on Snowdon and would murder climbers and use their beards to make cloaks.    King Arthur eventually put a stop to this gruesome practice when he climbed to the summit and done away with the ogre.   What an uplifting story.

Do you have any facts about Wales' highest peak to share with The Travel Bug?

TTB xx 

The Travel Bug's 3 Fascinating Facts About Paris

ooh la la.... 

The Travel Bug has just returned from a long weekend in Paris and had a lovely time in the City of Lights.   He drank too much champagne and ate too many baguettes, but he enjoyed finding out lots of random facts about Paris.   

These are his favourites:

• Paris has around 470,000 trees and ever single one of them is measured.   Every.  Single.  One. TTB thinks this doesn't sound like his ideal job...even if it is in Paris.

• There are more dogs in Paris than children.  TTB thinks this is the best thing about the city; all those dogs to pet and hardly any noisy kids.  Children try to pull TTB's nose off and he doesn't like that very much.  They seem to think he's some sort of fluffy food product.   

• A Paris apartment was left locked for 70 years but its rent was always paid on time.  When the mysterious renter of the property died and the apartment door was finally unlocked, an art work valued at €2 million was discovered.   TTB always keeps his doors locked in case someone tries to steals any of the pictures he paints for his human's fridge.   

Do you have any more fascinating facts about Paris for The Travel Bug??

TTB xx 

The Travel Bug's Three Fascinating Facts About Swansea

The Travel Bug is enjoying his new life in Wales since he flew down from Scotland.   He's having a lovely time enjoying his favourite hobbies of eating carne, sleeping and exploring.   This week, he's decided to focus his research on Wales' second largest city, Swansea, in the hope that he'll uncover something so fabulous that his humans will take him there on his next trip. 

So many boats, so little time.  

• During the Second World War Blitz, the Luftwaffe unleashed hell on Swansea with the dropping of more than 1,200 bombs and 56,000 IEDs.    They completely destroyed a large portion of the city and killed more than 200 people.    This makes The Travel Bug very sad and he doesn't like fighting.   Except with cats:  he hates cats.    El gate bastardo...

• The oldest ever Welsh person, who lived until he was more than 112 years old, was from Swansea and The Travel Bug thinks this is quite an achievement.    

• Swansea has produced some very intelligent people.    The leader of the Large Hadron Collider, Dr Lyn Evans (who has a CBE, no less), and Sir Clive Grainger, who has a Nobel Prize for Economics.    The Travel Bug likes intelligent people, even though his own brain is made of what looks like cotton wool stuffing.  

Do you have any fascinating facts about Swansea to share with The Travel Bug??

The Travel Bug's Three Fascinating Facts About Ayr, Scotland

wee sleekit, cowrie, timorous beastie... 

In honour of The Travel Bug's home nation and the fact that he's been busy celebrating Burns Day, TTB thought he'd take a wee look at the Scottish town of Ayr and see what he could uncover:

Ayr is located on the gorgeous West coast of Scotland and is the birthplace of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.   Big Rab (as he's known locally) was born in Alloway on January 25th, 1759.    TTB was born on January 26th, but in 2014, which is entirely irrelevant to this post.   He wanted you to know, anyway.

• Ayr is home to the Burns Birthplace Museum, Heritage Park and Monument and Gardens, so it's safe to assume the Scots are extremely proud of their most famous son. 

• Ayr is home to the wonderful Ayr Racecourse, which is location of the Scottish Grand National.  Here, you can only race on Shetland ponies, and only if they're red heads.   Honestly. 

• Just outside of the town, in nearby Maybole, is Electric Brae, where cars drive uphill all by themselves.  I'm not even kidding.   Electric Brae is a gravity hill that appears to pull vehicles up the hill, as if by magic.   Try it out, people!*    

Do you have any fascinating facts about Ayr to share with The Travel Bug??


*Electric Brae is an actual road, so please don't hold up the traffic by reversing down it just so you can try going up again.  Believe me, other road users don't appreciate how much fun it is, especially when they're running late to pick wee Angus up from shinty practice.

ain't that the truth... 

The Travel Bug's Three Fascinating Facts About Cardiff

The Travel Bug's been living in Wales for a good few months now and has loved exploring his own little part of the nation.     Although he has decided that Harlech is the new capital of the nation, he realises that Cardiff is still getting all the glory where that's concerned.    Therefore, he decided to do a  spot of investigating to see what all the fuss is about...

The Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay where Roald Dahl was christened. 

• Some guy called Roald Dahl, who wrote a few books for children, grew up in Cardiff and they even celebrate his birthday every year on September 13th.    TTB celebrates his birthday every year, too, and he can't see what all the fuss is about.   He doesn't read much.   

• Cardiff is the location of the oldest record shop in the whole wide world.    Spillers Records has been in the city since 1894 and TTB wants to go and have a look at their Shakira collection as she's his favourite Spanish language artist.    

• Intrepid British Explorer, Captain Scott, set off from Cardiff on his last expedition to the North Pole.    He was never to return.    If only he'd know that Cardiff has more days of sunlight that the Italian city of Milan, maybe he'd have stayed in Wales.     OK, so maybe not.    

Do you have any fascinating facts about the beautiful city of Cardiff to share with The Travel Bug??


TTB x

The Travel Bug's Guide to Wales' Most Haunted Places

The Travel Bug isn't well known for his bravery, so he wasn't too keen to research the dark underbelly of Wales.   However, after being bribed with the promise of sleeping on his human's bed forever, he decided a few restless nights might just be worth it.    

These are his top picks for the most creepy places in Wales.   Be afraid...be very afraid.  

You can't buy any other type of pumpkin in Wales.  Honestly.   

The Thomas Arms Hotel, Llanelli:

TTB watched a video that was filmed on the CCTV cameras at the Thomas in July 2014, and has point blank refused to EVER go.    

Not only does the Thomas have some recent weird footage, but there are numerous stories of ghosts through the entire town.   TTB wants to know why people still live there and has decided to stay at home in Harlech, where there are no ghosts...that he knows of.  

The Queens Head, Monmouth:

This public house is reputedly haunted by the ghost of an old man who sits by the fire...as old men tend to do.   He does occasionally get up and go for a wander around the premises, though.  As If one ghost wasn't creepy enough, it's good to know that the Welsh paranormal world is all for gender equality, so the Queens Head ALSO has a female spirit in the bar.   

The TTB often finds himself in bars because his humans like wine.   He'll definitely be looking over his little velvet shoulders from now on... 

The A40 near Swansea:

Seriously, this was reported in Wales Online.   The author of a book about Ghost Sex (I'm not even kidding) wrote of a series of incidents where ghosts were seducing people on the A40.    Apparently, the ghost is easily dragged into nearby public conveniences where it will change from the pretty young thing it appeared to be and morph into a haggard old woman.  

To be honest, TTB thinks this is more in line with the story a celebrity would tell to get them out of a, shall we say, potentially embarrassing situation.     He has requested that we do not ever, ever drive on the A40 and just stick to the roads in North Wales.   Or maybe just move back to Scotland.

even the moon is scary in Wales... 

Tivoli Venue, Flintshire:

This old theatre, which is now a music venue and cinema, is said to be haunted by a former projectionist who perished in a 1940's fire at the location.      Some of the current Tivoli staff has reported strange and eerie goings-on during their shifts.  These include having glasses thrown at them (standard saturday night bar behaviour), odd footsteps in rooms where there are no people and images on cameras showing a body hanging from an upstairs room.    

The Travel Bug has decided that even the thought of watching a new Bug's Life movie release wouldn't be enough to make him visit Tivoli.

Denbigh Asylum: If we don't look directly at it, we can go to our happy place and pretend we're somewhere else.

The North Wales Hospital:

This abandoned mental asylum in Denbigh has a long history of odd happenings.   The fact that it's now derelict does nothing to detract from its wonderful creepiness.   TTB was scared just looking at the building in a photo and did NOT want to go along when his Humans popped up for a visit.  

In 2008, the TV programme, 'Most Haunted' visited the site to record footage and the results were very scary.    The locals weren't quite so pleased by the attention.    Maybe they've got something to hide, or maybe they just don't like Yvette Fielding....we'll never know.   

You are NOT allowed to enter the building, as it is in a state of some disrepair, which was absolutely fine with The Travel Bug.   It is absolutely not forbidden because it's totally haunted by the spirits of lobotomised patients.   No, sir.  

A full post on our visit to the Asylum is HERE.  

Skirrid Mountain Inn, Abergavenny:

Billed as one of the most haunted properties in South Wales, the Skirrid Mountain Inn lies a few miles away from the centre of Abergavenny.   Rooms in the old Inn were previously used for a number of executions by hanging, so it's no surprise that visitors have complained of tight feelings around their throats and the sensation of having their breathing restricted by rope.   

Even the proprietor's grand son has had a spooky experience in the Inn.   TTB has made his humans promise that if he ever sees a ghost, we'll move house immediately.   

Have you had any haunted experiences in Wales to scare the bejesus out of The Travel Bug??  

If you're looking for mystery and mayhem this Halloween, these are some events taking place in North Wales.

The Travel Bug's Three Fascinating Facts About New Orleans

While he was roadtrippin’ in Lousiana; eating gumbo and drinking moonshine, The Travel Bug uncovered these fascinating (and creepy!) facts about New Orleans:

Road trip, road trip, road trip!

• New Orleans is where voodoo was introduced to the United States.  The Travel Bug doesn’t like that very much because he doesn’t want to have pins jammed into his lovely squishy back

• New Orleans is considered to be the most haunted city in America.   TTB doesn’t like this either, because he’s scared of his own shadow.

• Tombs in the city are all above ground.  This is due to high water levels.  The Travel Bug will be avoiding all cemeteries for the foreseeable future. 

Do you have any fascinating facts about New Orleans to share with The Travel Bug?? 

The Travel Bug's Three Fascinating Facts About Madrid

After a hard day's fact-finding mission in Madrid, The Travel Bug relaxed with a cold beer in Plaza Mayor and told me all the things he had learned about Spain’s fabulous capital city. 

Quiero cerveza, por favor! 

This is what he found out!

• Madrid is the highest capital city in Europe, sitting approximately 650 metres above sea level

• Madrid has more cloudless days that any other city in Europe.  

• Madrid’s main square, Plaza Mayor, was once used for staging bullfights and inquisitions.   No one expects the Spanish inquisition…

Do you have any fascinating facts about Madrid for The Travel Bug??