iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Who can guess where we're off to today? 😁✈️

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Starting from the beginning (sort of) - our first "proper" stop on our recent road trip was Durham! Somewhere we've passed through on the train countless times, and always said "we really need to stop here some time". Well we finally did, but only along the river - and look at those reflections!! 😍

A river with very still water, with a cathedral standing on the opposite bank, obscured by trees apart from the two towers. The towers (and trees) are reflected perfectly in the water, along with a small red building right on the riverbank. The cathedral is framed by another tree in the foreground.

050

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Hiya! It's been a *very* busy month for us, hence the radio silence! We've been road tripping around the UK to a wedding, packing in as many places, friends & family as possible on the way. Hard to know where to start, so I'm going straight to the furthest south point of the trip - Beachy Head. 🌊❤️🤍

View of the red and white striped Beachy Head lighthouse sitting in the water near some huge white cliffs.

170

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

Bit of ska for your Sunday... in an unexpected form! 💫 This chequered lighthouse is in Port Glasgow - not somewhere most people would think about going. Goes to show anywhere can be full of surprises. Sharing two edits as I really like the black & white, too! #Scotland #VisitScotland #Photography

Looking out to sea with some mountains in the background. A small lighthouse stands painted with black and white squares.

0101

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

A classic Orkney view... and one that I will never tire of, no matter how many times I visit. 📌 Ring of Brodgar #TravelAddicts #Orkney #VisitOrkney #Travel

Three large stones as part of a stone circle, with a couple more in the background continuing the ring. In the foreground is a bunch of heather, some blooming purple. The sky is cloudy but bright with patches of blue.

070

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Ozzy Osbourne coming back after 20 years to do a final farewell show with the band, using it to raise £140m for charity, and then promptly dying... rock n' roll right to the very end. 🖤

0161

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

We've just returned from Orkney, and I truly can't decide whether the highlight was showing Ash's folks our favourite places, seeing puffins reeaalll close on Westray, exploring endless empty beaches on Sanday, or enjoying a walk through Stromness in the sunshine. 🥰 #TravelAddicts #Orkney #Scotland

A white sandy beach with turquoise water and a small wave breaking.

A puffin facing left, with grasses blurred in the foreground.

Looking down a tiled high street with Orkney Island Games bunting above. At the end is a bakery, with a church spire behind.

Waves at the Brough of Birsay churning up turquoise blue between some rocks. On the right hand side is a cliff with a puffin hiding.

181

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

*NEW POST 🚨* Overtourism is a hot topic right now, and this is a post I'm really proud of - talking about how we can tackle some of the issues of overtourism through our behaviour & our choices, as well as how we promote the places we talk about. #TravelAddicts anorcadianabroad.com/2025/06/22/s...

anorcadianabroad.com

Should We Be Promoting Travel & Tourism?

As summer looms, overtourism is hitting headlines once again with protests taking place in particularly affected cities. I’ve been thinking a lot about our impact on the places that we travel…

181

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

A year ago today this gorgeous girlie came home with us. 🥰 Full of mischief, love, and most of all, she's an excellent companion and friend. ❤️ Here's to many more years of adventures with you, Bonnie. 🐶 #dogsofbluesky

Border terrier puppy laying in a crate - the day we brought Bonnie home.

Border terrier laying on the grass with a loch in the background and a mountain behind it.

Border terrier looking out of a small blue boat as we pull away from an island.

Border terrier on a grey ribbed couch, chewing on a soft doughnut toy.

060

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

10 years ago we landed in Australia for what we thought would be just over 6 months. 5 days in, all our plans went awry & 14 months later we finally left! We lived in Brisbane for 6 months, road tripped the east coast, got engaged, and made friends for life. Wouldn't change any of it! #TravelAddicts

Ash & I overlooking Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays. Behind us is a turquoise sea with swirls of sand.

Looking over Bondi Beach, Sydney. A vast beach stretches into the distance, with waves coming in from the right.

A koala in a tree looking straight at the camera.

Ash & I at Wilson Outlook overlooking the Brisbane skyline, with Story Bridge in the foreground.

1100

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Well done Canada! Knew you were one of my favourite countries for a reason. 🍁

190

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Awful news from Vancouver. Thinking of everyone affected and hoping all my friends there are safe. 💔

010

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

I've been so busy this month that I haven't had time to post on here. Neglecting social media a bit at the moment, but it's tough keeping up with it when *gestures at everything going on*... Anyway here are some cherry blossoms from today, as I also haven't had time to check them out in Edinburgh.

Cherry blossom tree in the middle of a patch of grass.

Cherry blossom tree in the middle of a lawn. Behind it to the left is a wooden swing bench.

070

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Today I mostly took photos of ceilings. This is Mount Stuart, one of the most ostentatious displays of wealth I've ever seen, and absolutely captivating. A very underrated gem in Scotland. #TravelAddicts #photography

Looking up at a blue ceiling filled with "stars". Below the ceiling is a square of stained glass windows, and below that marble arches, with pillars between holding marble statues of goddesses.

A green ceiling with white dots, spread across different arches. In the middle is a marble pillar, and the windows to the left are stained glass framed with marble arches. On the right are various portraits under smaller arches.

Looking straight up at a marble ceiling dome. The inner patterns make an 8 pointed star and in the middle of the star is a circle with more patterns. It is all lit up red which makes it looks Satanic which is quite ironic because it's in a chapel! The rest of the ceiling around the dome is white marble.

Looking up at a blue ceiling filled with "stars". Surrounding the ceiling are stained glass windows lit up different colours (purple on the left, blue straight ahead, green on the right) to represent the zodiac.

3413

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

We're over on Bute for the weekend - and we've already checked out the main attraction in Rothesay. 🤣 It's not often I'd recommend toilets, but it's actually worth it! However you do have to check out the men's (just make sure no one's in there 😂) as sadly the women's are boring. Like most toilets!

Victorian toilets with ornate urinals and a mosaic floor and green & yellow tiled walls. In the middle is a separate round urinal.

Victorian toilets from the entrance to the men's. The first room is the sinks, with ornate blue stonework, and the walls are tiled half brown, half yellow, with a stripe of ornate blue tiles between them, and green tiles along the top. There are framed pictures hanging up with some history of the loos. An open doorway leads through to the urinals which you can see.

190

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

In the midst of planning a trip to Switzerland and getting a bit overwhelmed with our route. 😅 Unsurprisingly it's looking like a very expensive trip too! 😬

0100

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

🌷 Spring is in the air for #TopTravelPics #TravelAddicts 💐 Let's see your Spring #Flowers! @sisbehaving.bsky.social @brittoswiss.bsky.social @tony-bookdirect.bsky.social 1. Edinburgh, Scotland 2. Vancouver, Canada 3. Horseshoe Bay, Canada 4. Himeji, Japan

A path leading through a park, lined with cherry blossom trees on both sides and petals along the ground. On the right hand side is a black bench in the foreground.

A bed of tulips and other colourful spring flowers - a row of red/orange along the top, with blues and purples underneath, and some red and yellow flowers on the bottom right.

View of a small harbour with mountains in the background. The foreground is a row of red and dark purple tulips.

A Japanese castle peeking out through the branches of a cherry blossom tree.

2182

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Spent the weekend in a castle! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 It was Bonnie's first birthday and first hotel stay - starting off strong so she'd better not get used to this. 🤣 (Oh and it was Ash's birthday too!)

A castle with two turrets above the entrance and some cars parked in front. In the foreground is grass with a border terrier looking around, stood next to a tree.

0110

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Lovely reflections at the Uath Lochans last weekend. 😍 Stopped here on a whim on our way through the Cairngorms and very glad we did.

A loch lined with trees, and sloping mountains behind, all reflected in the water. The picture is framed with branches.

A loch lined with trees, and two sloping mountains behind, all reflected in the water. In the foreground on the right is a tree, with the branches framing the top of the hills.

060

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Today we headed over to Loch Lomond for a wee walk. I tried to get a nice photo of Bonnie on the bonnie banks but this was the best I could get. 🤣 I did manage to get some photos of the Milarrochy Bay tree though. Could have sat there all afternoon if it hadn't turned baltic! Welcome to Scotland. 😂

A view over a loch, slightly obscured by trees. The banks of the loch can be seen snaking up the right hand side, with mountains in the background. In the foreground is a blurry Border Terrier walking across the picture!

A tree rising out of the water at Loch Lomond. To the left are rays of sunlight coming through the clouds.

At tree rising out of the water by the shore of Loch Lomond. Behind are some hills on the opposite shore.

Looking along a rocky path with gorse growing on the right hand side with some yellow in bloom. On the left is a loch with mountains in the distance.

1160

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

So many of my favourite photos from Paris feature the Sacre Coeur. ❤️ There's just something about it! #Travel #TravelPhotography #TravelAddicts

Sacre Coeur perched on the hill above a carousel in the foreground.

A winding street leading slightly uphill to some houses in the distance. Behind the houses is the dome of the Sacre Coeur rising up behind. On the left in the foreground is a black lamp post, with autumn leaves above.

071

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Today marks TEN YEARS since we flew out to Asia on a one-way ticket. This was the start of a 19 month adventure travelling around the world - we spent 3 months of that backpacking through Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. I have so many great memories from this trip! 😍

Collage of photos around Asia - the top row is boats on a beach in Thailand, meditating with a monk in Cambodia, Koh Nang Yuan in Thailand, me & Ash in front of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. Middle row is snorkelling in Thailand (Koh Tao?), me with an elephant at Elephant Nature Park, two elephant bums also at ENP, bia hoi in Hanoi with friends and the beer seller. Bottom row is us on an island, a horse by Angkor Wat, me & Ash on a boat in Halong Bay, and me & Ash on a beach in Thailand. This is a collage I made just before we left Asia, so didn't include Singapore, but I somehow forgot to include Hong Kong as well!

190

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

This week I'm writing about Madrid, and I was actually pretty surprised by how much I liked it. I arrived feeling a bit jaded; I think I just felt citied out at this point. But luckily there wasn't much I wanted to do, so it was great to wander & relax - which Madrid is perfect for! #TravelAddicts

Atocha train station in Madrid, with a large tropical garden with lots of trees, bushes and plants.

El Retiro park, with the equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII overlooking the boating lake with white pillars behind. On both sides are autumn trees with greens, yellows and browns. There are some blue rowing boats on the water.

A yellow shop front that has an old yellow shop sign saying "Libreria De Los Bibliofilos Espanoles". It's now called Coolligan and there are t shirts displayed in the windows. Between the windows are yellow and brown vertical stripes. A man is walking past and the road is sloped downhill to the right.

A lovely building in Madrid, a light orange or beige colour with a rounded corner and a domed roof on top, with balconies lining each floor along the building.

3170

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

A brisk but lovely walk along St Andrews West Sands beach last weekend. 🐶 Scotland does some great beaches.

A sandy beach stretching out into the distance under a grey sky. A glimpse of the sea to the right.

On a beach streaked with tide lines. Our border terrier is standing, facing away from the camera, looking up at my husband. He's wearing a green hoodie, black jeans and a grey beanie hat.

Our border terrier standing on a beach close to the sea as some waves come in. She's not sure if she wants to go in.

Our border terrier has decided to step into a shallow wave. She's lifting up her front right paw in indignation, as if she's pawing at the water. This is not what she expected.

1170

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

It's just occurred to me that I have now spent, almost exactly, half of my life away from Orkney. That feels very odd to say.

Pink flowers and long green grass blowing in the wind, with a rocky coastline behind, and a hilly island in the distance.

0101

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Ash & I have been together for 15 years today. Here's to many more adventures! ❤️🥰

Peyto Lake, Canada. Ash & I at a viewpoint overlooking a deep blue lake with snowy mountains in the background. I'm wearing a dark green coat and Ash is wearing a black coat and sunglasses.

Argyll, Scotland. A selfie of us both from a viewpoint with hills and trees behind us, with a road running through the glen between the hills.

A kiss on our wedding day. We are on a path in a forested area. I am wearing a flowing white dress and veil, holding blue, green & white flowers. Ash is wearing a grey suit.

Selfie on a safari truck on our honeymoon. We are driving through the Serengeti, along a dirt track with the grassy plains either side of the road.

3100

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

I bought this for my desk at work a couple of months ago... definitely sums up how I've been feeling this week! 😵‍💫 Here's to the weekend. 🥂

180

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

I'm late to the party but finally joining in with this week's #TopTravelPics #traveladdicts The theme is #yellow 💛 @thethoroughtripper.bsky.social @brittoswiss.bsky.social @velvetescape.bsky.social 1 - A Lisbon tram 2 - Kayaking in Canada 3 - A giant banana in Japan 4 - Sunflowers in Scotland

Yellow tram in Lisbon passing a blue tiled building

Kayaking on a lake in BC, Canada. In the background are some hills, and in the foreground is the front-end of a yellow kayak.

A photo of me sitting on a giant banana overlooking Kyoto, Japan

1253

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

*NEW POST!* This was one of my favourite travel adventures last year - visiting a country that doesn't exist! 🤯 Transnistria is like stepping back in time to the Soviet era and it's fascinating. Read about the underground canteen I went to, and of course the ridiculous ride on a rusty ferris wheel!

anorcadianabroad.com

A Bonkers Day Out In Transnistria, The Country That Doesn’t Exist

Have you ever heard of Transnistria? I can’t blame you if you haven’t. It’s a country that doesn’t exist. Transnistria, or Pridnestrovie as it’s called locally (full n…

240

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Finishing my Transnistria post and being reminded of some of the weird and wacky things I saw there. 😂 a) A carpeted car. Literally! b) a coffee machine shaped like a teapot. c) The menu at Back In The USSR. "Fish don't have ears! LOL" 😂 d) Riding the most rusty ferris wheel you've ever seen. 😬

A carpeted car, Tiraspol, Transnistria. The car is covered in a red patterned rug.

Coffee machine and bin, Tiraspol, Transnistria. The bin is shaped like a cauldron and the coffee kiosk is shaped like a tall teapot with gilded gold features such as the spout and handle.

The menu at Back In The USSR, Tiraspol, Transnistria. The top one says "salmon ear and ocetra soup (fish don't really have ears! LOL)"

Ferris wheel in Victory Park, Tiraspol, Transnistria. The cart in front of me is rusty!

150

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Couldn't have had a more perfect birthday! 😍🎈 Started with a hike into a valley (and a death-defying bus ride to get there too, so that ticks the adrenaline box), rewarded with drinks on a terrace in the sun with incredible views, and then this afternoon a change of pace in a fishing village. 🥰

Looking down into the Valley of the Nuns where a small village, Curral das Freiras, sits. Above is a jagged peak of a mountain, bright against a blue sky. In the foreground is some greenery in the sun, contrasted with the village in shadow.

Looking across a valley with a tall cliff to the left (where we just walked down) and smaller peaks in the distance, all covered in forest. Below is a small village.

A path leading towards a fishing village with cliffs in the distance. Houses are covering the hillside before the cliffs start. On the left is a red wall, dark rocks on the sea and then a turquoise sea.

Camara de Lobos, a fishing village with a small cliff along the coast with colourful houses on top reaching up the hillside. To the far left is the start of a beach with some colourful boats. The bottom half of the image is the sea.

8240

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Wowza!!! Madeira pulled out all the stops today. 😍😍 It was a risk booking a tour that included a sunset view, especially when it's me, but it paid off!! #Travel #TravelAddicts

Sao Lourenco, a long peninsula of rolling hills with huge cliffs and sea stacks

Viewpoint at Levada dos Balcoes. Me and my husband are standing with a view behind us of big stacks and mountains covered in forest. In the distance you can see the sea.

Sunset at Pico do Areeiro. On the left, the sun is beaming over several mountains into a valley. On the right is a path leading away towards another mountain.

Sunset at Pico do Areeiro - the sun is setting behind some mountains, but it is out of focus. In focus at the front right of the photo is my teddy bear mascot Gulliver, a beige teddy bear with a white and blue striped t shirt.

5190

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Hello Funchal! 😍 We've had an amazing first day here and can't wait to explore more of Madeira tomorrow! Today has been full of gardens, views and painted doors. And something I'd forgotten exists - sunshine. ☀️ #Travel #TravelAddicts

Japanese garden in the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. In the foreground is a pond with a curved bridge, and behind is a red pagoda, bridge and several stone ornaments.

View over one side of Funchal from the cable car. White houses with orange roofs are spread over the steep hillside. In the background is a glimpse of the sea.

A blue painted door with a mermaid on a swing, her back to us, while fish and a dolphin swim around her. The letterbox is in the swing seat.

Japanese garden in the Monte Palace Tropical Garden. I am standing on some stepping stones in a pond with red railings behind me.

8332

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

What do you think about re-visiting places you don't like? I've been to Milan and Barcelona in the past couple of months in passing. I don't think my opinion of either of them has changed, but I wonder if it's ever worth giving places you didn't love a second chance? #TravelAddicts #Travel

Milan Duomo - an absolutely incredible piece of architecture with a wide front leading up to a triangular roof. There are several spires along the front of the cathedral. There is a hint of sunrise on the right hand side.

Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona from across a pond.

1190

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

*NEW POST!* I only had a couple of days in Romania in the end, so I only visited Bucharest - and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! There was something I couldn't quite put my finger on though, and I've finally articulated my thoughts. 🤔 #TravelAddicts anorcadianabroad.com/2025/01/05/b...

anorcadianabroad.com

Bucharest, Where Eastern & Western European Cultures Meet

It’s hard to know how to describe Bucharest. At least that’s how I felt when I was there. A curious mix of influences between Eastern and Western Europe leaves the capital of Romania no…

1100

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Went to make a cup of tea. Realised I'd already made it. At least this time the tea is still warm. 😆

110

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

I swear it takes longer to edit photos, add titles & alt text, and organise them into a blog post, than it takes to actually write the blog post. 😅 #travelblog

330

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Sure am glad my phone camera chose the opportune moment to have a normal one - Edinburgh Castle lit up with the moon above. One of those moments I so wish I had my camera with me! Oh well, I suppose it's artistic... 🤣

Edinburgh Castle lit up in different colours for the Castle Of Light. The castle is pink and the rock is greyish purple with textured dots. The moon and (I think) Venus are above it to the right. Unfortunately in front of me is a string of lights which have caused streaks all over the photo.

040

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

2025 is off to a great start: watched a bunch of people swimming in the sea in mad costumes, met up with a couple that I met on the train to Moldova, went back to their friend's house for drinks and great chat, and then to top it all off we saw the northern lights!! 😍

090

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

I've already shared my 2024 blog post, but here are my top 5 highlights of 2024 in social media form! Starting with, obviously, Japan. Many of you know we were supposed to go in 2020 and it took us four years to finally get there! And boy, was it worth the wait. 😍 #TravelAddicts

Me under the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan.

Sunset in Gion, Kyoto. Looking down a narrow street towards a large pagoda with an orange sky around it, with traditional Japanese buildings either side. In the top left corner is a cherry blossom tree; on the right, one of the buildings is lined with lanterns.

Me with the Itsukushima shrine behind me in the water on Miyajima Island.

Me standing on a tree trunk with Totoro at the bus stop. This was taken in Donguri Republic at Skytree, Tokyo.

2110

Clazz | An Orcadian Abroad @anorcadianabroad.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Edinburgh's Hogmanay events are cancelled tonight which is such a shame for everyone who's travelled here for it. 🥺 Someone said it's not surprising as it's cancelled most years - people really do just say anything on the internet, don't they!! 🤣 (Apart from Covid, it was last cancelled in 2006!)

110