Peaceful Sligo, Ireland is a great place to treat yourself to a relaxing getaway. Here are some ideas of what to do on your vacation.
Sligo, Ireland is a tranquil town in the beautifully scenic Northwest Ireland and Lakelands area. It began as a small coastal village, and in recent times it has developed a great deal of excellent shopping, entertainment and restaurants. For a weekend getaway, it is the perfect mix of beautiful natural surroundings, welcoming small town atmosphere, and quality attractions.
Sligo is set within the stunning vistas of the Ox Mountains to the south, the Dartry Mountains to the north, and Sligo Bay to the west. It can also be a great base for nature lovers to explore the west and northwest Atlantic coast of Ireland.
If you are thinking of escaping to this beautiful part of Ireland for a break, here are some ideas of what to enjoy during your stay:
- Explore some ancient ruins. Sligo has been a significant settlement since the Early Neolithic period, which means that there are numerous ancient sites to discover. Head to nearby Carrowmore, only 8km away, to see some impressive megalithic tombs which were part of sacred prehistoric rituals.
- View the Sligo Abbey. This religious place of worship was built in 1253, and destroyed by a fire in 1414. It was rebuilt again, but burned once more in 1642. Now only the choir, the carved altar, and the cloisters remain. This is a very interesting local historical attraction.
- Pay your respects at the Famine Memorial. These sculptures were designed as a tribute to those who died during the Irish Potato Famine from 1845-1849. During that time, over 30,000 people emigrated through Sligo.
- Watch a Sligo Rovers football game. This team, founded in 1928, play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. If you are visiting between March and November you can watch a match, which is always a fun experience and a chance to soak up the local atmosphere.
- Get pampered at Solas Spa. You can make the most of your relaxing Sligo getaway by booking a treatment at this elegant Spa and Wellness Centre at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa. They have many different beauty treatments, massages, and other indulgent experiences.
- Learn to kite surf! Ready for some excitement? While you are in Sligo you can learn the exciting sport of kite surfing at the only kite surfing school in the North West.
- Enjoy a refreshing pint at an Irish pub. Jump right in to the friendly atmosphere at your local Sligo pub and soon you will be sitting around a table, sharing stories with the locals. Try Fiddler’s Creek which is very lively on the weekends and features live bands and a DJ. Another great place is McLynn’s, which is a quintessential Irish bar with music, an old-style setting, and seriously delicious pints of Guinness.
One of the most luxurious options for accommodation in Sligo is the Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, located in the countryside of Rosses Point. This tranquil haven is surrounded by the same gorgeous scenery that was a muse for the poet W.B. Yeats and is sure to inspire you as well.
Enjoy your getaway in beautiful Sligo, Ireland!
A deeply historical and yet excitingly modern city, Cairo is a gateway into all of the fascinating wonders of ancient and contemporary Egypt, easily accessible via flights to Egypt, including direct routes to Cairo. This popular tourist destination is a generally safe city with a low crime rate, but there are a few things that travellers should know before they visit in order to stay safe:
- There are not a lot of violent crimes in Cairo, but watch out for purse-snatchers in crowded touristic areas.
- People might approach you on the street and invite you to come shopping with them in places that you don’t know. They are trying to con you, so beware.
- If you are a woman travelling alone you can expect to receive a bit of attention and catcalling from the local males. It usually doesn’t go any further than this, but make sure that you are not wearing overly provocative clothing or walking around along late at night.
- If you are lost in Cairo, look for a police officer or a security officer who will be able to help you find your way.
- Crossing streets can be extremely dangerous in Cairo, as there are very few traffic lights and the ones that do exist are ignored anyway. You might see a police officer attempting to control traffic at a key intersection during busy hours. The safest way to cross a busy and chaotic street is to watch a local Egyptian who seems to know what they are doing and stay next to them as they dodge through traffic.
- Taxi drivers in Cairo can drive very dangerously, speeding and weaving through traffic. Don’t be afraid to tell the driver to slow down and stop if you feel unsafe.
- As in most destinations in Egypt, beware of what you eat to avoid suffering from an upset stomach. Raw vegetables, creamy salad dressings and minced meat are very likely to cause food poisoning. When eating from a buffet, avoid the foods which have been sitting out at room temperature such as cold salads and puddings. When you are eating fruit, choose ones with a thick skin that you can peel.
- If you become sick from eating the food in Cairo, you can purchase medication from the local pharmacy. However, if you experience vomiting and diarrhoea for an extended period of time you should visit a doctor because you will become at risk of severe dehydration in the high heat.
- It is a good idea to stick to drinking bottled water while you are in Cairo, and avoid taking ice in your drinks.
- The sun in Egypt can be very strong and harsh, so make sure that you wear sunscreen at all times to avoid your trip being ruined by painful sunburn.
Remember these trips and you will have a safe and enjoyable holiday to fascinating Cairo!
An article in the Guardian reports on the first cast of Les Miserables seeking legal advice after they discovered a contract limiting royalty payments from the original cast album to 25 years.
The actors claim to have been unaware of a clause in their recording contract stating that they were only eligible for royalty payments for 25 years. The production celebrated its quarter-century last year with a series of special events including a one-off concert at the O2.
Equity is seeking legal advice on behalf of its members, but First Night Records, the company behind the recording, insists that it is simply abiding by the terms of the contract, which the performers’ union had agreed.
Some of the original actors, including Peter Polycarpou, frances Ruffelle and Michael Ball have spoken out about their displeasure on Twitter and in the papers.
John Craig, managing director of the record company, said, “The beef that the players have should be with Equity and not with us…Their union signed a silly contract.”
“I feel quite bitter that Equity sign a contract and then moan like crazy when we stand behind the terms of it,” he continued.
But Equity’s assistant general secretary Martin Brown argued that changes to the length of copyright mean that the contract, which was based on a template agreed in the 1960s, is now too outdated to stand. “First Night Records are trying to use that nearly 50-year-old contract to terminate payments at 25 years, even though the legal copyright is now much longer.”
Les Miserables is the world’s longest running musical, premiering in 1985 and has been seen in 41 countries by over 55 million people.
