Her Grand Tour

07/01/2026

Hello old friends. You found me here on Facebook and my blog years ago, and I have never forgotten that.

After a long and slightly chaotic intermission, my writing has found a new home on Substack. You'll find the same brain and voice as before with fewer restraints and a lot more room to wander into whatever has caught my attention that week.

I am publishing weekly on Italy, Ireland, and the UK, with a mix of travel that actually works in the real world, recipes you will realistically cook, and history deep dives that focus on the odd, the messy, and the bits that make good stories. It's opinionated, practical, occasionally unhinged, and very much in the spirit of the old blog, just sharper and more self assured.

Thank you for reading my work back then and for being part of that early chapter. This new one exists because people like you were there in the first place, and there is a lot more coming!

If you liked the blog, I think you will like where this has landed. Come find me on Substack whenever you feel like it. No pressure, no spam, just good writing and a little mischief.

My personal Substack. Click to read Her Grand Tour, by Courtney, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

20/02/2025

Hello Facebook friends! It's been a while! What began here as a humble travel blog has now blossomed into my very own travel business, Your Grand Tour, specialising in curated private travel and immersive small group tours across Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. https://www.yourgrandtour.travel

You can find out more about my curated private itineraries here:
https://www.yourgrandtour.travel/private-travel
and you can learn about my just-launched luxury small group trip to Venice, Italy here: https://www.yourgrandtour.travel/settimanaveneziana

I'd love to continue our fun on Facebook - please follow me over on Your Grand Tour to follow my adventures and hear about my services!

Experience Venice like never before on Settimana Veneziana, a week-long journey crafted for those who crave history and authenticity with a touch of luxury. With exclusive access to iconic sites and hidden corners, expert guides to illuminate the city’s past, and personal attention from travel cur...

22/11/2020

Love this! I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Yiorgos and his family when I was in Rethymno in July and hung out with them all morning. Easily the best baklava I've had in my life - and directly opposite the incredible Veneto Hotel & Restaurant Rethymno Crete.

03/05/2020

New post! Missing so much lately, so I finally got around to writing about the incredible wine bar I discovered there, Enoteca EVOÈ. Cannot wait to visit again someday soon! 😍🍷😍

Some insight into Sicily's rich wine history, and why you should drink it all at this gorgeous haven of Sicilian vino.

10/04/2020

If you're looking for books to read during , one of my favourite novels set in (by the fantastic Gregory Dowling) is currently available as a free eBook through the link below. I guarantee you'll be purchasing the sequel the second you finish it!

Read "Ascension The Times History Book of the Month" by Gregory Dowling available from Rakuten Kobo. Wonderful . . . I loved being transported to my favourite time in my favourite city' - ANDREA DI ROBILANT' A special thr...

09/04/2020

Going through old-ish travel notes on my phone, and just found this gem from my first day in Athens.
Pulling these notes, thoughts, and photos together so I can *finally* get some new blog posts up this week!

"Greece, day one:
UV index 10, which means you shouldn’t be outside unless you’re fully Mediterranean.
It’s so hot I bought an actual toga and I'm wearing it in public because it’s light and airy and the Greeks invented philosophy and politics so who am I to doubt their choice in apparel?
Is there an hour in this country where people stop drinking ouzo... because I want to only be out at that hour and no other hours.
The weirdest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth is halva, but I’d do it again.
Nobody prepared me for how many cats there are here.
Beginning to believe I could very happily survive on yoghurt, honey, and pistachios.
If there were an iced coffee olympics, the Greeks would win gold every time."

06/03/2020

One of my favourite shops in Venice, Plum Plum Creations, is offering an online discount over the next month! If you're unable to visit Italy right now or (like me) feel horrible about what virus related panic is doing to the Italian economy and amazing small businesses, why not treat yourself to something beautiful?

Oh well, you have to start somewhere... and then, if you don't come to Venice, Venice will come to you! :)

From today and until April 6th, for purchases of minimum 25 euro of PRINTS AND REPRODUCTIONS, you can take advantage of a 25% discount by entering the coupon code PLUM25 at checkout.

Have you always thought that one of my prints would look really good hanging in the living room or in the kitchen? Well, then this is really an opportunity not to be missed!

Prints page: https://www.plumplumcreations.com/product-category/printmaking/ for the prints
Reproduction page: https://www.plumplumcreations.com/product-category/reproductions/

-------------------

Oh beh, da qualche parte bisogna pur cominciare... e allora, se voi non venite a Venezia, Venezia viene da voi! :)

Da oggi e fino al 6 Aprile, per acquisti di minimo 25 euro di STAMPE E RIPRODUZIONI, potete usufruire di uno sconto del 25% inserendo al checkout il codice coupon PLUM25.

Avete sempre pensato che una delle mie stampe starebbe proprio bene in salotto o in cucina? Bene, allora questa è davverou un'occasione da non perdere!

Pagina delle stampe: https://www.plumplumcreations.com/it/categoria-prodotto/incisioni/
Pagina delle Riproduzioni: https://www.plumplumcreations.com/it/categoria-prodotto/riproduzioni/

17/11/2019

There are many ways you can help and the Venetians right now. This is the fund I have chosen to donate to, as I know Sebastian and Valeria from Venezia Autentica - Discover and Support the Authentic Venice will ensure the money is distributed wisely, fairly, and effectively.

Valeria and Sebastian at Venezia Autentica Help locals affected by the Venice flooding Help Venetians recover from the 2nd worst acqua alta "high tide" in

22/06/2019

Yet another reason why love locks are truly fu***ng stupid. Spend your money on a romantic dinner or drink, not on buying an overpriced lock and leaving it somewhere you'll never visit again. 🙄

17/06/2019

This. ❤️

Ireland is currently in the grips of a housing crisis, with homelessness topping a record 10,000 people, according to housing charities.

14/06/2019

Girl in Florence serving you the reality of Italy in the summer.

My lifesavers have been mosquito repellant in at least ten different forms + ALL of the granitas + avoid anything on the 'top ten must see' lists like the plague.

Lately my inbox has been inundated with people asking for advice on traveling to Italy...