Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure

Going "Beyond The Brochure", The Barefoot Backpacker looks at one concept or destination every episode, taking trips along the road less travelled and talking about issues related to travel, including politics and history, as well as specific topics like Bucket Lists & Hometown Trips.

Armenia: Soviets and Christians 04/07/2024

Georgia - Country of Cheese and Garlic 03/23/2024

Two days in Azerbaijan 03/09/2024

Love and Sex on the Road 02/08/2024

Travel Best Of Lists 01/27/2024

Hanno The Navigator - A Case Study of Instagram v Reality 01/11/2024

Mistletoe and Whine 12/30/2023

Pride and Prejudice and Motorbikes 12/14/2023

Lao Please Don't Rush 11/30/2023

Running While Travelling 11/23/2023

The Merchant Navy 11/03/2023

The Merchant Navy Hello :) Well, this is an unusual episode in several ways, but the main one is the relative lack of personal updates and housekeeping. If you want to know what I’ve been up to this past month, now would be a great time to sign up to my monthly Newsletter, deets below! Now, I’m aware I don’t talk about my background or my family much, save for the occasional regular subtweet to my my mother. But anyway. A couple of years after I was born, my mother re-married. And Gary, the chap she married, had an interesting job – he was a refrigeration engineer in the Merchant Navy. While he’s long since left that role (he had some twenty-five years since doing the same role for a large supermarket chain specialising in frozen foods), this was how I first knew him, and thus may have been a childhood influence on my travels. And it occurred to me, after I’d done a few of my podcasts, that it would make an interesting episode – it’s travel-related, it’s a historic snapshot of a life that’s very different now, and above all, it’s not something I think many of you would necessarily know about. I certainly didn’t know a lot about it growing up, and as you’ll hear, there’s probably some reasons for that. So a couple of years ago I went to visit, took my laptop and microphone, and set about interviewing him all about his life and his adventures. The full 2hr 11min interview is available on my Patreon, along with some images of the ships he served on. Note he has a strong accent and a slightly fluid way of speaking. This did not help the transcription. Topics discussed include: * What is the Merchant Navy and why he joined * Seasickness and bad weather * What problems could occur en route * How big the ships he served on were, and how they were structured * What the working life was life, and who he served with * Food and drink on board * How he'd pass the time on long journeys * Shore leave and visiting off-brochure places * The Merchant Navy now . As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. . I also have a Patreon - . Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/28506416

New Series, New City, New Nel 10/14/2023

Everything Is Going To Be All Right 08/24/2023

Travel Podcasting With ChatGPT 08/10/2023

Chernobyl 07/27/2023

The Cathcart Circle 07/14/2023

The Cathcart Circle Hello! As you know, I'm always touting the idea of Hometown Travel, and exploring places close to home. Remember, people travel across the world to visit other cities but other people travel across the world to visit yours. Everywhere is interesting, And of course many people might not be able to visit places far away, but still want to enjoy the experience of travel and discovering somewhere new. I've been living in Glasgow for two years, and I've walked round a lot of it, using the many railway stations as waypoints, It seems logical therefore to talk about some of the things close to where I currently live, and there's a convenient railway line that loops around my local area to follow. This is the Cathcart Circle, and I figured each of the ten stations on it has enough to fill a podcast. Indeed, a few could probably manage a podcast on their own, but I am not the Roundel Round We Go Podcast and I'd argue there's less call for an entire pod on the Glasgow suburban rail network than the London Underground. But what do I know? Topics covered on this podcast include: * Google Analytics 4 * My future on Twitter * Introduction to the Cathcart Circle * Pollokshields East - theatre, gardens, and Sikhs * Queen's Park - clue's in the name * Crosshill - dead football stadiums * Mount Florida - alive football stadiums * Cathcart - parks, bridges, waterfalls, country houses * Langside - Instagrammable houses and a very short battle * Pollokshaws East - old buildings and benevolent Tories * Shawlands - Pollok Country Park * Maxwell Park - expensive villas and international cricket * Pollokshields West - tenement housing and community spirit * Crossmyloof - a free gift, and a building that moved There are no contributions in this episode, but I am thankful to Scotrail, the organisation that runs the railways in Scotland, for putting all their recorded station announcements into the public domain last year. I may, may, have taken liberties with it. . As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. , and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution. I also have a Patreon - . Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/27460038

All-Inclusive Resorts 06/29/2023

All-Inclusive Resorts Hello! As you know, I am The Barefoot Backpacker. My tendency is to go backpacking around lesser-visited spots around the world, independently, and usually solo, staying in hostels, airBnBs, and Premier Inns. I tend to move around from place to place a lot rather than spending too long in the same destination, and I generally book my onward journeys on-the-fly rather than having things booked in advance. The idea of being in a place for several days and not 'need' to worry about things like food or travel is not one I'm used to. I seek out craft beer bars and street food, and generally steer clear of other Brits travelling abroad for sun, sea, sand, sangria, and sex. And of course my only reference point for all-inclusive holidays has tended to be what I've seen on TV and in the media. In short, I'm the least likely person to end up in an all-inclusive resort on the beaches of Cyprus for four nights. However, life is often about getting out of your comfort zone, And, in a sense, given that this sort of trip isn't really what you'd expect from someone like me, doing it was exactly the point. [Full disclosure - it was a blogger press trip gifted by . Which, given the above, and given how well y'all know me, probably in truth raises more questions than it gives answers.] Topics discussed in this episode are: * Walking in the Glasgow hinterlands * Being tipsy in Manchester * How I ended up going to an all-inclusive resort * The ease of getting to and from the resort * What the different tariffs offer * Food and drink, buffets and specialist restaurants * Our room * All-Inclusive resorts and the local area * An afternoon in the spa, including being steamed to perfection * Having my back waxed * Visiting an all-inclusive resort as an aroace non-binary person * Not being part of a long-term couple at an adults-only resort * Would I go again? , except for a seven-minute conversation with Laura towards the end. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. . . Contributions in this pod come from: Amanda (), Ruth (), Kylie (), and Laura () Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/27317439

Lake Como (in conversation with V) 05/19/2023

Malta 04/28/2023

Street Art 04/04/2023

Backpacking Europe 03/19/2023

If It's Tuesday It Must Be Benidorm 03/05/2023

Sport and Fitness (TS012) 02/23/2023

Sport and Fitness (TS012) Hello :) This is the recording of the twelfth edition of my not-at-all regular Twitter Space sessions; the reason for their irregularity is finding a convenient time to record it. Our topic this time is 'sports and fitness', or at least that was the original concept. It seems to have ended up being a third 'running parkruns barefoot', a third 'I'm no good at sports', and a third 'this is everything I've watched abroad'. We don't seem to have talked about fitness much. Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is then recorded directly from playback on Twitter, through my sound editing software, Audacity. I'm not sure why, but this edition seems to be a little worse quality than normal. This may be the last of our Twitter Spaces recordings actually - we're working on finding an alternative due to Twitter itself being a tad unstable but we haven't come to a conclusion yet. Certainly it's the last one we've done so for the moment my podcasts will go back to being purely fortnightly as opposed to having these extracts in alternate weeks. Topics discussed include: * Editing out hesitations in speech * Does it hurt to run barefoot? * Early experiences in running as a teenager * Introduction to the concept of Parkrun * Parkrun makes me accountable * Running Parkruns barefoot * Why I've never done a Parkrun (or running in general) on my travels * Fitness at high temperatures and altitudes * I'm not very good at sports other than running * Sports I failed to do at school * Watching people running is very boring * Growing up with sports in the background * Events and games I've been to in the UK * Low-key European football matches * Incidences in top-flight Italian football * Other sports I've seen abroad () * * The future of our Twitter Spaces I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, but you can call her V. A PDF transcript of this episode will be available later. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. . - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/25942149

InterRail 2000 02/16/2023

InterRail 2000 Hello! As a traveller, trains are by far my favourite form of transport. I find them comfortable, I like that I can just get up and walk around if I want to, I get a decent amount of legroom, and I can spend my time looking out the window at the passing scenery, which is invariably far more interesting than what the view out of a plane window. It's also the only form of transport I can sleep on in my seat, never mind the trains I've taken in the ex-Soviet states with flat bunk beds. It's probably no suprise to learn then that one of my first travel adventures was very much centred on train travel. Back in 2000, me and my then fiancée Laure (originally a penpal of mine from France) did a trip using an inter-rail ticket around Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This episode takes an overview of this trip, but also contrasting how travel blogging, the way I travel personally, and travel itself, has changed over the decades since. Topics discussed in this episode are: * How I'm still injured from Parkrun * Background to our InterRail trip in the year 2000 * The ongoing issue of booking reservations for Spanish trains * Why is it so difficult to travel to Santiago de Compostela on Easter Sunday? Ah ... * Watching foreign television * Do Your Research Part 2: Revolution * ... I can tell you about the food but not about anything else! * It's not a scam, it just feels like it (twice) * Travels 'Beyond The Brochure' even in 2000 * Western stereotyping * The malefits and malefits of film cameras * Online mapping is a very useful tool * Gosh! A museum! * It's amazing how much we didn't do; a very fast form of slow travel * Dial-up internet and a lack of useful websites As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. , and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution. - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/25939548

Barefoot Life (TS011) 02/09/2023

Barefoot Life (TS011) Hello :) This is the recording of the eleventh edition of my semi-regular Twitter Space sessions. Following on from the previous Space, about Manners & Customs, it made sense to go over a bit of old ground and do a recording specifically on 'barefoot life. Because it's one of those subjects that it's kind of hard to get away from, given, you know, my online brand name, and my apparent hippy vibes. I'm aware that while the recording took place in early Autumn, I'm issuing it as a podcast in mid-Winter which for many of you ... is not barefoot-friendly weather. Still, you can imagine. Like the holiday-based TV programmes I watched as a kid; winter broadcasts for summer planning. I should have added some airy summer music in the background. Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is then recorded directly from playback on Twitter, through my sound editing software, Audacity. I'm fully aware the amount of hestiations, uhms, errs, and ahhs, we do, and the best way of editing them out seems to be not to do them in the first place. Am working on that. But it definitely shows how different I am in a live environment than a pre-recorded, scripted one. Not sure how that works with any potential career in radio I may want. Topics discussed include: * Why I don't like shoes * Places I'm not barefoot - gravel, wild environments, etc * How I judge if a place needs footwear or not * The differences between walking and running, barefoot and shoes * Going barefoot in different weather & climates * Why I don't like mud, have to check Parkrun courses, but do like pavement * The infrequency of blisters and the gradual hardening of my feet * How it's easier to clean feet than shoes * Why I've never noticed ringworm * Twitter's most famous toenails * Foot 'bling' and nail varnish * Crocheted 'barefoot sandals' add +5 to Stealth Checks * People don't notice other people on the street * Hairy toes are icky * How I handle the inevitable online foot fetishists * The difference in cultural attitude between barefoot men and barefoot women * Hiking barefoot, and coping with hills * The problems with barefooting in the Autumn * How to run barefoot * Advice for people who want to try it more often . A PDF transcript of this episode will be available later. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. . . Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/25725789

Detroit 02/02/2023

Manners and Customs (TS010) 01/26/2023

Manners and Customs (TS010) Hello :) This is the recording of the tenth edition of my semi-regular Twitter Space sessions. This was recorded back in August, as you can probably tell from the conversation at the start about the weather. We had a chat, a longer chat than usual, about Manners and Customs at home and across the world, a topic V originally suggested because of my preference for being barefoot much of the time. In general though, you can probably tell that while I like to think I do the right thing most of the time, even I baulk at some of the minutiae of customs and might be seen as a 'bad tourist'. Who knew?! Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is then recorded directly from playback on Twitter, through my sound editing software, Audacity. One of the down sides of Twitter Spaces is that you can't record them on a computer - you can only use the app on the phone. This means I can't use my headphones etc, and you get to hear every time I click the mouse. We're looking into alternative ways of doing these recordings. Topics discussed include: * The customs of being barefoot at home and in public places * Researching local manners and customs before you go * Local customs - seeing what the locals do * The advantages of being obviously a foreigner * Being slightly more conservative than you feel, when in a new place * Dress Codes and gendered clothing * "If you wouldn't do it at home, don't do it abroad" * Being a representative of your country and culture when you're abroad carries responsbilities * If you don't like a culture, don't go * Tipping and Haggling * The culture of hospitality and receiving strangers * Visiting places as a tourist during religious holidays * Cutlery customs, including chopsticks, especially with dyspraxia, and eating with your hands * Toilet customs and when you *should* use your left hand * What happens if you get things wrong? Apologising in a foreign language * Rude gestures and finger counting * Boundaries and taking part in closed cultural or religious practices * Queer presentation and travelling as enby, including locally * Off-limit topics, including religion, politics, and football I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, . A PDF transcript of this episode will be available later. As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. . - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over. Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/25722138

Jury Service 01/21/2023

Hometown Travel (TS009) 12/09/2022

Hometown Travel (TS009) Hello :) This is the recording of the ninth edition of my semi-regular Twitter Space sessions. This was recorded back in July but I've only just got round to issuing it as a podcast episode. We had a long chat about hometown travel: how you can and why you should. And while it helps to have a sizeable hometown, something interesting can be found in even the smallest village. Usual disclaimer, be aware this conversation took place over the phone and is then recorded directly from playback on Twitter, through my sound editing software, Audacity. Which I realised the other day is the digital equivalent of taping a song off the radio; very definitely quite old-school. At least I'm not using a physical tape recorder for this. Topics discussed include: * Why would you travel in your home town? * What do you on holiday? Why not just do that close to home? * Some people go on holiday to the place where you live * Looking at things as if it were the first time * I've always walked down roads just to see where they go * How I use railway stations as waypoints * Things to look out for when you step out your door * Libraries and Tourist Information Offices help for inspiration * Interesting things are often relative and subjective * Sometimes even locals don't know what's in a town * How to plan a trip around your hometown * The practical advantages of being able to use your home as base * Living in a place gives you time to thoroughly explore it * How hometown travel can be a cheap trip * Reasons why Milton Keynes (a large town) is interesting * Reasons why Kirkby-in-Ashfield (a small town) is interesting * How to eat like a local, when most locals eat at home. Or the takeaway * Always look out for local specialities * The Rhubarb Triangle, for all your forced rhubarb needs * What to pack for a trip around your hometown * How not to get lost while wandering your hometown * Concrete cows and traffic cones * Being interviewed by I was interviewed by the lovely Victoria, . As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. and find out about future podcasts and recent blog posts. I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), . Until next time, bye for now. :) /episode/index/show/traveltalesfrombeyondthebrochure/id/25276671

Have A Beer With The Barefoot Backpacker 11/24/2022

Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure

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