More trips below! Have at it.

About Outspoken Traveler

Travel should be about embracing every moment — from the magic of the mundane to the awe-inspiring of nature, cities, the beauty that lingers in small places, and even an amazing meal.
My passion is to seek the magic lurking in every moment you travel to a new place; then let good planning and a dose of serendipity shape as many of the travel moments as possible. And finally, share it with you with a tongue-in-cheek honesty, authentic to my faults, stumbles along the way, and joys.
Thank you for particpating!
Alfred O’Neill
(Author pen name: A.E.S. O’Neill)

—OutspokenTraveler

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  • Mulcahy’s: Best Diner in Munster, Ireland? No kidding.

    And the winners of: Irish Restaurant Awards Munster Regional Final 2025. Mulcahy’s of Kenmare, Ireland is a very good restaurant. The BEST pate I have ever had. And it was chicken, which I normally avoid. I favor duck. From plate one I was grabbed. The chicken chasseur was exquisite…delicate pieces in a creamy sauce baked inside a pastry cup. Perusing the menu, it was one of those moments when you look up from your menu at the other table: “What are…

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  • Visiting the Mighty Connemara, Ireland: video that speaks to the awe you will feel.

    There are a thousand reasons why the Connemara National Park and region are so legendary. The haunting views. The boggy-laden ground that goes on forever. The lonely hikes and walks in the shadow ominous, bulging mountains. The contrast of greens, browns and the blue of the sky as it battles for dominance wit the constant shifting clouds. Then the sun breaks through and you catch your breath. Connemara National Park: try and go off-season; the bumper months are best…

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  • Visiting N. Ireland and you missed the Shepherd’s Hut of the Sperrin Mtns?

    Justine says it best: “At the Shepherds Hut, you just feel like you’re part of nature. There’s almost a mystical feeling about it to me. And that’s what’s so hard to convey in social media, is that it’s not just the views. It’s not just the hot tub. There’s an actual mystical beauty to it that you have to experience.” Justine is from the U.S., but married a local Irishman, so she has a true perspective on the beauty.…

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  • The Tuareg: Regal Blue Man tribe of the Sahara

    The blue man, a Tuareg tribesman, was incredibly tall. Because of his draping blue robes, his long legs seemed like he was gliding across the sand. It was a slow walk past mud buildings to a mosque that was a thousand years old. As he spoke of the mosque’s royal history, gently animated, he held himself in a constant pose of majesty as if he were the entire tribe, and all their ancient collective pride resided in him.  The…

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  • Now why would Nat’l Geographic call the Sperrin’s one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on Earth?

    When you see a place so stunning, yet simple in its beauty, you never forget it. So, Instead of me writing about the Sperrin Mountains of Northern Ireland, U.K., let me show you what I saw. National Geographic, as always, was so damned right.

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  • Seeking Balance? Lagom (Balance) of Kenmare creates a new standard for Irish B&B’s.

    Aren’t we all seeking “balance” in a crazy world? Are our vacations a mix of dreams of both relaxation and fun discovery? Lagom in Kenmare, County Kerry, is a great place to find both. Lagom is a special, unique place of food and rest. Stay here. Eat here. Be sure to say hello to Liz and Brendan, the owners and a wonderful team. First, the restaurant then the rooms. When asked about the name, Lagom, Liz said when they…

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  • Donald’s buggy ride & stories make any day perfect at the Gap of Dunloe. (County Kerry)

    A magic buggy ride in the Gap of Dunloe, county Kerry, Ireland. Humor, wild tales, wild wind. Truly by the roadside.

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  • A great chowder and a smile to remember. The Bervie BnB, Achill Island, County Mayo

    The Bervy, BnB.

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  • Five Days on Henrietta Street, London.

    London had changed. As it always does. London has the best and widest variety of boutique hotels. The Henrietta, by the Experimental Group, was a delightful surprise. I took a chance, especially since my significant other had never been to London and a good hotel room is crucial. I had not been since 2019. The toilet was broken upon our arrival, but the staff stepped in, specifically Christina, and proved that good hotels, especially boutiques, are not just about…

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  • The best diner in Ft Lauderdale (and we know diners!)

    Egg ‘n You…been around since 1956 and as diners go, and we have gone to several in Ft Lauderdale, and come from a diner city (Philly) this is a true gem. We have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while it is diner food, it is the highest quality. What does that mean for a diner, which is more a class of restaurants known for fast service, standard meals and homey, casual service and decor. You walk…

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  • Ft. Lauderdale: Grill 66…superlative steak and fish, on the edge of pretentious but just misses it!

    When we visit Florida, we tend to make Ft. Lauderdale our base, we say this for reasons not worth going into other than to explain to readers why restaurants in this city versus others are the focus of reviews. (Though there are an enormous number and range of restaurants). Of the 20 or more restaurants we have eaten at, Grill 66 remains a favorite for several reasons. Eating there last night only reinforced its best qualities. It is expensive…

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  • Business (true) Class: a chef and a bed! What more could you want?

    Austrian Airlines (#austrianairlines)…Business Class was truly classy, with a chef and bed! We rarely can afford Business Class, but we decided for this overnight flight, we’d splurge. But this was like being a fine dining experience that had a bed, and a many wearing a chef uniform and hat (photo below)! The food was amazing, the plates in triangles that all fit together and came in a smooth succession. We started with a tiny plate of nuts and champagne.…

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  • London at Christmas: five nights, four restaurants and High Tea

    The Christmas lights of London were amazing — every major street and many small lanes and mews had different styles. You would turn a corner and be stunned. These were the angels of Regent Street, #regentstreetlondon

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  • Vienna at Christmas time: the marvels of Marts and Mozart

    Summary: 5 nights in Vienna, Austria. A great trip. Easy, full of rich experiences. Holiday cheer and wonder on every corner. The structure of this post will be: Overview (#vienna #viennachristmasmarts #viennaatchristmas) The people Christmas marts Monuments: St Stephens cathedral, Schoenbrunn palace, Albertina museum Food Tips (Especially visiting a city in winter) Overview, the city of Vienna: Vienna has always been high on our list of cities to visit and explore. We always had a troika in mind —…

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  • Mica: delicate, thoughtful, delicious

    Can food be thoughtful? I wondered that because while you know chefs put much thought into their menus, how much of it is based of a mix of intuition, tastes and the atmosphere they are trying to create. Micas tiny menu, smallish space, General air of decorum and thoughtful food all combine to provide a relaxing, incredibly taste rich and fun meal. First, kudos to the wait staff who are attentive, smart and yet not hovering. Next, to the…

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  • Lobster Pot: the sweetest lobster and people (and yes, wear a bib!)

    On an island where nothing is cheap, and meals represent the lionshare of a day’s spending, where and what you eat needs to be heavily researched. On Bermuda, you can overpay easily for a good meal pretending to be great; and likewise, you can pay a fair amount for a great meal in a divey kind of locale. Thus, the Lobster Pot. Certainly not upscale, but also not a dive, but a warm, upbeat, easy-to-eat and smile kind of…

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  • Tavern on the Hill “A gem of an ole pub with great food.”

    This gem is like an ole fashioned British pub with fair-size table seating in the rear. The host is this older gentleman who always has a smile, a warm laugh, a gentle manner and an open seat if he can find one; and not much of a wait if he can’t. Food? Very good pub food. The specials are always good; the ribs fall off the bone; and the fish n chips is one of the best I have…

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  • Kasha-Katuwe, Tent Rocks: THE magical park of New Mexico

    You get to the top, you turn, and turn and turn and you are part of the entire overwhelming immensity of the raw Southwest and the nearer almost silly and fantastical looking towers: you are in awe. Touring in New Mexico, and the Tent Rock park comes up near or at the top of things to do. Truly, it deserves every visit, praise and meditation it inspires. If you visit NM, or even better, Sante Fe, it is an…

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  • BERMUDA: Elbow Beach stunning beaches and so close to the US people forget this incredible gem.

    A Labor Day weekend in Bermuda. Another of those amazing places that one must visit in a lifetime. Yet, while it was once the place for honeymooners from the U.S to go, and was incredibly popular for decades, it has somehow lost its place in the consciousness of travelers. Yet that is an awful mistake and a total miss on the part of those who would appreciate travelling Where it Bermuda? Only 1.5 hours flight from NY or Philly…

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  • Bermuda’s new get-around, the amazing Twizy!

    On Bermuda, tourists cannot rent cars; either motor bikes or cabs. The cabs are ungodly expensive, though the drivers are always fun and incredibly informative. The motor bikes are fun, but not for the faint f heart (and I fell off mine twice). But as of this summer, the island resorts have introduced the electric, tw0-seater Twizy. We loved it. Yes, it defines tiny; yes, the back seat is not really a back seat and the view is blocked,…

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  • Wandering Lancaster, PA: America’s oldest hard pretzel-maker, Sturgis a true, delicious gem

    A sunny fall Saturday and nothing as quaint or rolling-hill-beautiful as Lancaster, PA. We went for the Strasburg Railroad Museum, which is one of the truly great collections of those massive engines and their designer cars. But it was also Thomas the Engine day, and fun as that seems, too many people, strollers and lines. So, we skipped off for a beautiful drive ending up in the little town of Lititz, with several memorable sites, the best of which…

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