Travel

Iceland 1980

One of the most extraordinary journeys that I’ve made has to be a crazy ‘safari’ trip across the island of Iceland in a couple of old buses and a kitchen van back in 1980. As the scenery was so unusual, travelling across Iceland was like visiting another planet! There were no roads, the vehicles hadContinue reading “Iceland 1980”

Peru and Bolivia, 1996

My latest travelogue is about a fascinating organized trip that I joined in 1996, which brought a bunch of young and enthusiastic people from Ireland and the UK to Lima in Peru and then down to La Paz in Bolivia, using local transport most of the time. It was probably the most memorable and excitingContinue reading “Peru and Bolivia, 1996”

Czechoslovakia 1991

The first part of my latest travelogue, Czechoslovakia 1991, begins with two chapters devoted to the spectacular and fascinating city of Prague, a city full of fine architecture and cultural treats such as museums, art galleries and classical music concerts. Part two will be devoted to a short trip that I made in Slovakia, nowContinue reading “Czechoslovakia 1991”

Part 2 of ‘The Middle Kingdom’

The first two chapters in Part 2 of ‘The Middle Kingdom’ – my trip through China in 1987 – have now been added to the website. You’ll find these two chapters, about my journey to Lhasa and a short stay in Chengdu, in the Travelogues section. Enjoy!

The islands of Scotland

I am delighted to welcome Lindsay Armstrong to our list of writers. Lindsay’s various jobs have included being an oboist and cor anglais player in the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra here in Ireland, the first general manager of Dublin’s National Concert Hall, and the first director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He was Co-FounderContinue reading “The islands of Scotland”

A Caribbean Cruise Diary

I’m delighted to welcome our second female writer, Anne McLoughlin (the author of the historical novels ‘Lives Apart’ and ‘Lives Without End’), who has very kindly written a delightful travelogue entitled ‘A Caribbean Cruise Diary (2005)’ for us. It is a lively account of a week-long cruise, with a group of friends, around the CaribbeanContinue reading “A Caribbean Cruise Diary”

A new contributor and a new travelogue!

I’m delighted to welcome the first female contributor to this website: a former colleague of mine, Margaret Martin, who has kindly written a short but delightful travelogue about trekking in the Anti-Atlas mountain range, in the south-east of Morocco. Her account is delightful and is illustrated with some fine colour photographs like the one youContinue reading “A new contributor and a new travelogue!”

China: The Middle Kingdom

New on Trips and Travelogues: ‘The Middle Kingdom: Three Journeys to China (1977, 1987 and 1989)’. Travel back in time with me for my first trip to China in 1977, when I went with the first tourist group from Ireland after the country had opened up after the ten-year Cultural Revolution. Let me bring youContinue reading “China: The Middle Kingdom”

Part 3 of ‘In High Places: Tibet’ added

Join me for my crazy overland trip from Beijing to Tibet and ten-day stay in Lhasa back in 1987! Highlights include visits to the famous Potala and Norbulingka palaces on the outskirts of Lhasa, as well as trips to the nearby monasteries of Sera, Drepung, Ganden and Samye.

Hi!

As you’ve probably read on the Home page and in the About section, I’m Charles Gannon, I live in Dublin, Ireland, I’m in my mid sixties and I’m retired. I’ve been fascinated by foreign travel, different cultures and languages ever since I was a boy. When I was very young, before I started school, myContinue reading “Hi!”