ExperiencedTraveller.com

Welcome to The Seasoned Explorer, the digital travel diary of writer and photographer Valery Collins. Here, she shares her adventures from over two decades of exploring the globe, both as a tour leader and on her own. Join us each week as we uncover new destinations through features, hotel reviews, and guided city strolls.

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Articles

Gibraltar International Literary Festival: A Unique Experience

Jan 14, 2024 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

The Gibraltar International Literary Festival or GIBUNCO is so much more than the books it promotes. Every year, in November, Gibraltar celebrates its International Literary Festival. It features a wide variety of new books, the authors and those they have written about. A unique characteristic of this event is that the participants generally stay for the duration of the festival. The Eliott Hotel in the centre of town is a favourite with everyone, participants and attendees.
Dual Vision Ski Goggles by Panda Optics

Jan 2, 2024 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

Dual Vision ski goggles by Panda Optics deliver exactly what it says on the box. And two of the things it promised for the Dual Vision – in my case, one pink and one yellow, was better all-around vision and clearer vision in lowlight conditions. I have always been reluctant to ski in low light especially when it is snowing. But, as a ski instructor once said to me, it is the best time to ski as the slopes are empty and a fresh layer of snow is delightful to ski through.
A Festive Gift - One Year Subscription to GPSmyCity

Dec 11, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

As the festive season approaches I have a very special present for world-wide travellers – a free premium membership of the GPSmyCity app valid for one year. For twelve months you can enjoy discovering over 1500 guided travel articles on the GPSmyCity website and the GPSmyCity app and downloading an unlimited number of GPS Guided Travel Articles.
Blenheim Palace Lights up for Christmas

Dec 4, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

Blenheim Palace is one of the most famous stately homes in England. Close to the Cotswold village of Woodstock in Oxfordshire the palace and surrounding grounds celebrate the festive season in grand style. The Palace itself becomes a floodlight canvas of images associated with the festive season. It is with a sense of anticipation and excitement I walk through the grounds to the palace itself. I step through the main entrance and into Christmas in the East Courtyard.
The No1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 - A Holiday Extra

Nov 29, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

After the hassle of getting to the airport checking luggage in and then going through security what better way to relax before your flight than heading for an airport lounge? No 1 Lounge in Heathrow’s Terminal 3 an excellent retreat from the chaos that surrounds it. This spacious lounge offers comfortable seating for the holidaymaker, work stations plus private meeting areas for the workers and a television lounge for entertainment.
Go Back to the Middle Ages on a Walk around Cēsis in Latvia

Nov 13, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

Step inside a medieval castle and explore by lamplight before strolling along ancient cobbled streets. A medieval castle was central to the development of the town of Cēsis in Vidzeme, a region of Latvia. Vital to its defence in the past this castle is now a focal point of the town that grew up around it. This pretty town has two distinct areas, the castle complex and the old town that surrounds its majestic church of St John.
Valmiera, Vidzeme, Latvia, River Gauja, Hanseatic League, Lake Dzirnavu, Elephant Street, Jānis Daliņš Stadium, Livonian Castle, Valmiera Museum of Regional History and Art,

Nov 4, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

This town is bursting with history, culture and beautiful places – a surprise around every corner. Valmiera is not a large town, but it is the largest settlement in Vidzeme, a region of Latvia. The town is divided in two by the River Gauja. This river has served the town as both a defence and a trading route. Its port was so important during the Medieval period it became a member of the Hanseatic League.
Explore the Manorial Heritage of Alūksne in Latvia

Oct 30, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

Alūksne in Latvia, has inherited some beautiful buildings and stunning parkland from its manorial Barons. Amid the forests of Vidzeme, a region of Latvia, the fascinating town of Alūksne stretches along the shores of one of the largest lakes in the country, Lake Alūksne. This lovely town features historic buildings linked to the ancient Livonian Order and, more recently, the Baltic German aristocratic von Vietinghoff family.
A Journey of Discovery through Gulbene in Latvia

Oct 21, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

Stay in a Manor House, wander through the Castle Park that surrounds it and take a ride on a narrow gauge railway. All these delights awaited me on a visit to Gulbene in the Latvian region of Vidzeme. This region is considered to be the cultural heart of Latvia. Its name translates as Middle Earth which conjures up visions of fairy tale castles surrounded by enchanted forests.
Horsens, Cultural Capital of the Kystlandet Region in Denmark

Oct 1, 2023 | experiencedtraveller.com | Valery Collins

Horsens has emerged as a bright and colourful centre of excellence for art and culture after throwing off its cloak of industrialisation. Central to this transition is the Horsens’ pedestrianised main street, Søndergade. Pods of tables and chairs are scattered outside alluring cafés and bars. The majestic buildings of hotels and apartments blocks mingles with historic buildings occupied by independent shops.