Dawn Smallwood

spidermiss

Dawn Smallwood

My name is Dawn and I live Leeds, in the UK. I love travel and travel loves me!

A lot has happened since I last blogged! I graduated, did my EFL teacher training, got a new place and now in the process of changing my career. This meant I hardly travelled abroad though I made a trip to Rome in November 2016 which was amazing!

I currently don't have any travel plans abroad though I plan to see more of my country from time to time. I hope someday I can travel as much as I used to....as always living in hope!

If you would like to follow my travels, please either recommend me or subscribe below!!!





Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Wrexham » Chirk January 5th 2018

This is my first posting since 2013! I've been off work for nearly three weeks in December/January and did a fair bit of travelling in the UK. This trip was a return to Wrexham and the Llangollen Canal but this time I went with Mum and it was winter time! I don't mind travelling in winter as it's generally quieter and not as crowded especially with popular tourist centres like Llangollen. I have a passion for walking on canals and my friend and I were in the area in the summer and we walked from Chirk to Llangollen via the infamous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. I always wanted to return to check out the Chirk aqueduct, which goes over the River Ceiriog and the river marks the border for England and Wales. Both Pontcysyllte and Chirk Aqueducts are ... read more
Chirk Tunnel, Llangollen Canal
Inside Chirk Tunnel
Chirk Tunnel, Llangollen Canal

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Northumberland April 3rd 2013

I know it has been a while since I last blogged on this site. I have been so busy with my final university modules and achieving my degree. I did not travel abroad in 2012 as I wanted to concentrate on my studies and also see more of the UK. Besides my favourite musical was on the road so I visited different parts of the country to see it! There are some ideas for returning to South America long term and will plan to properly beginning of next year. I will keep posted to what is happening about those plans. Anyway I want to share a fantastic trip my family and I did at the end of March. We spent a few days exploring the North East of England visiting three counties, Durham, Tyne and Wear ... read more
The Ankers House
Concangis, a Roman Fort
An 19th Century Chapel

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London December 3rd 2011

Continued from Part 1 October 2011 The reason why I was in London that month was to see the 25th Anniversary Celebration of The Phantom of the Opera at The Royal Albert Hall. It was certainly one of my theatrical highlights of my life and was very glad to see it in person! It was great meeting up with friends again and meeting legendary performers who played in the successful musical. I tour the Royal Albert Hall during July soon as I had just booked the tickets for event. On the tour were were taken to the Grand Tier Boxes where we could see out to the stage, the Royal Retiring Room, the Elgar Room (former Central School of Speech and Drama). It was a very interesting tour with an interesting stars filled history and not ... read more
An Exhibition
Museum of London
London Coliseum

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London August 29th 2011

I am sorry for the lack of entries between my last blog (May 2011) and this one. I am so busy these days and I do not have the time to blog as much as I used to. Since my Adriatic cruise adventures in May I made a number trips down to London. Being a big musical theatre fan, a lot of things were happing in the musical theatre world and this required me to make a number of trips down there. As well as seeing shows and meeting up with like minded friends, I took an opportunity to take in some sights, some I have been to before and others I have not visited yet, in both central London and its western boroughs. June 2011 I was down for the West End Live for that ... read more
Inside Courthard Gallery
London Eye
Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

Europe » Greece » Ionian Islands » Corfu May 13th 2011

A summary of my debut cruise. Sorry this is short and sweet but on this occasion I do not have as much time as I would like to have for blogging. We meant to have done the cruise last year but thanks to Iceland's volcanic ash it never happened! See . The refund we got back from the travel company enabled us to book another cruise with another company. We chose the 'Adriatic Explorer' and we began the maiden voyage one Friday evening from Corfu Town. There is so much to see and do on deck and also on the shore. My highlight was going on shore and exploring the places we had stopped at. My family and I enjoyed dining at the Ship's Compass Restaurant on most evenings. I thoroughly enjoyed using the ship's facilities ... read more
Montenegro Coast
At sea!
Kotor Bay

Europe » United Kingdom » England » West Yorkshire » Leeds February 20th 2011

It has been three weeks since I have returned home from Argentina. I have more or less go into a routine with work, university etc and I still have the feel good factor from the trip. I am still reliving the happy memories! I took nearly 1500 photos which took me a long time to reorganise them and also have put paper memorablia into scrapbooks. I think I will do a quick summary of my highlights in Argentina: My highlights were visiting Ushuaia and Trevelin for the first time. Being in Ushuaia was significant as I was at 'El Fin Del Mundo' and this is probably the nearest I will ever get to Antarctica! Despite the extortionate prices, Ushuaia was in a beautiful setting with the mountains in the background and by the Beagle Channel. I ... read more
Ushuaia
Ruta 40
Buenos Aires

South America » Argentina » Buenos Aires » Buenos Aires February 19th 2011

Following a pretty comfortable 22 hours bus journey from Bariloche, I arrived at Buenos Aires's Retiro Bus Terminal for the final night of my trip. I was very impressed with the cama facilities on the bus and how well Via Bariloche fed us! I even slept for six hours during the night, which is very unusual for me whenever I travelled overnight on any mode of transport! However, I still prefer to fly as I get to places a lot quicker. On this occasion, I had to travel by bus because I was not prepared to pay the Aerolineas Argentinas's extortionate one way air fare from Bariloche! They know how to overcharge foreigners on their flights even if the price I was quoted was considered a 'cheaper deal' from my travel agents! I took an expensive ... read more
On The Bus to BA!
My Maradona "Themed" Room
Richmond Confiteria


I spent another three nights in Bariloche. I did not get up to too much and I reckon this was down to travel fatigue creeping in and I had another bout of diarrhoea. Usually, I like to go off and explore but I was not concerned about doing this at all. I simply wanted to hang out at the hostel and chill. I do not know how travellers who can travel for months and months non-stop and can able to pick up more energy to continue travelling? I would love to know. I think three weeks of travel suffices me nowadays. I did the usual errands in town and revisited my favourite chocolate shop and cafe, Abuela Goya, during my time there. I met up with Lily who was sharing my dorm. She is from the ... read more
Lago Perito Moreno
Llao Llao Hotel Beach
Puerto Panuelo

South America » Argentina » Chubut » Esquel February 13th 2011

I had a very early start for my 7.00 am bus to Esquel. I am not so much of an early morning person especially on my travels! After a four and half hour bus journey from Bariloche, I arrived in Esquel and then half an hour later, I got a local bus to Trevelin. The scenery around Trevelin is beautiful and Parque Nacional Los Alcerces is nearby. On a future trip to Argentina, I would like to check out the National Park but, on this occasion, time did not permit and the purpose of visiting Trevelin was to experience the Welsh culture! I spent two nights in a wonderful hostel, Casa Verde, which is perched yet on another hill! It is not far from the main square. My room was lovely with its ensuite bathroom, a ... read more
A Welsh Flag
Welcome to Trevelin!
On Our Way to Trevelin


Bariloche is an ideal place to recover and to relax after the very long journey up the Ruta 40. I did not get up to too much as I wanted to take it nice and easy during my stay. I stayed in a lovely Hostel, Hostel Inn Bariloche. It is a new hostel that opened last November and it is good value for money because it included dinner as well as breakfast which helps the budget immensely! At first, I was not sure but this was down to tiredness and disorientated on my arrival. The hostel, however, grew on me and I actually extended my stay. Initially, I was going to spend a couple of days in El Bolsen but decided to stay on in Bariloche instead. So glad I did because the hostel has a ... read more
 Views from Punta Princess Peak
Breakfast by the Lake!
Lago Nahuel Huapi




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