What decade did you grow up in?

Below is an article I recently wrote for Helium.com. What decade did you grow up in? Do you get nostalgic when you hear certain tunes on the radio? Does a certain smell trigger a childhood memory?

I'd love to hear your own experiences........

Singing the theme to Rainbow Brite whilst cycling down the road on my BMX bike, side ponytail swinging in the breeze, and knowing that when I got home I’d be having something cool to eat for dinner, courtesy of the new, brown, room-sized microwave my Father had just spent a months wages on.

The Eighties even now conjure up images of large shoulder pads, big hair, wacky TV shows and the best music I’ve ever heard. Sound familiar, well of course it does. The eighties were so damn popular that we are now seeing all of these things again, big hair is back with a vengeance and shoulder pads have been making regular appearances on the catwalk. My little sister who is 15 years my junior has hair Joan Collins would have been proud of, but something’s different. Where’s the carefree air of the eighties gone?

If like me, you share a deep love of all things eighties, then you’ll understand that unless you were there you’ll never experience anything like it again. It’s all about nostalgia.

Did you dance to wham and eat pop-tarts? I sure did and my little sister does the same now. The difference is though, that now we’re all pretty aware of the fact that none of us are ever going to marry George Michael (No matter how pretty we are) and we’re also painfully aware that the pop-tarts you buy now have none of those lovely additives they did in the eighties.

We used to play ‘computer games’ on our spectrum computer and later on a commodore 64, both of which were loaded on a cassette tape and took at least half and hour to get going. The high pitched loading sound that came from the tape deck still echoes in my brain all these years later. How things have changed. Nintendo wii, playstation, nintendo ds & xBoxes would have all have seemed like space-age nonsense.

Mobile phones were something we did aspire to though. If you had a mobile phone, then you were ‘someone’. You had money and the size of your phone told everybody exactly that. You carried it around in it’s own bag, that now a modern day laptop would fit in. I can only imagine the muscles that were built lifting those huge monstrosities to your ear.

Growing up in the eighties for me was a fun time with friends. Playing out on the street until after the sun went down, with no worries. Front doors open and virtually no traffic on the roads. Long hot summers, ice-pops with so many e numbers that you had a permanently discoloured tongue. Madonna at her best and no sign of Simon Cowell on the box. Grandparents who we thought would be around forever and people in their 30’s who seemed positively ancient.

Was it the eighties though, or was it just growing up?

Spains top 10 places

So it's that time of the year again, the kids are finishing up school for the summer, the temperatures are rising (well everywhere except for here in Ireland) and the sun is shining. It's time to book a holiday, and lets face it you can't beat Spain for the stereotypical sun holiday. There is however, so much more to this fabulous country. 
Here's a piece I wrote a few months ago which may give you a different prospective on the plains :)

Viva Espana!

Is there anywhere quite like the Spanish coastline for a vacation? Well, yes there is, mainland Spain has so much to offer, there's not always a need to stay on the coast, surrounded by hoards of sweaty tourists. Enjoy Spain the way the Spanish do and take a trip inland or move a few steps away from the usual tourist trails to enjoy some of the most beautiful sights in Europe and taste food straight from the traditional Spanish Kitchen.

Galicia: One of the most beautiful regions of Spain is huddled away in the north-western corner of the Country near Portugal. A magical region of rivers and mountains, and mainly untouched by the hands of tourism. Try a fish empanada while you're here, a fish pie to knock your socks off.

Rioja: Recognise the name? Spains premier wine making region and famous the world round. Take in the wonderful and unexpectedly lush scenery, visit a vineyard or two and soak up the atmosphere.

Barcelona: Too great not to mention. Whilst yes, it is a huge tourist destination, there is so much here to see. A city with a heart is the best way to describe it. The food, drink, people, sites, architecture & history all come together to make a delightfully vibrant city. Once you have visited this fabulous City you will go back time and time again.

Castilla y Leon: In Northern Spain, which is one the main cities of the Asturias region. Nestled between mountainous terrain and the Bay of Biscay. This part of the Country is a welcoming change to the high rise apartments and hotel-ridden streets that can be found in the southern and eastern coastal areas. If you love outdoor activities then you will be at home here. Experience the great outdoors with some fishing, canoeing or simply try your hand at getting to the peak of one of those awe-inspiring Mountains.

The Region of Navarre: While I know it's frowned upon by most, bull running and bull fighting still take part in this region of Spain. The annual Bull Run festival in Pamplona is definitely the highlight of the year here, and not to be missed. The atmosphere will wash through you so spectacularly you'll wonder why you didn't visit sooner. Pamplona is a wonderful city with a huge historical story to tell, if you get here, remember to visit the Citadel & Cathedral.

Andalucia: And so we mention another coastal region, quite a special one really. The region of Andalucia. Whilst sandy beaches are of course on the cards, there is also much more to see in this beautiful part of the Country. The region is home to numerous resorts, Malaga, Almeria  & Sierra de grazalema, the latter being the wettest part of the Country as its name would suggest.

My last suggestion is this. What? You're asking yourself, this is only seven places not ten! Well let me explain. This final destination is a region of Spain comprised of five different provinces. Inland, and situated on the Iberian Peninsula, Castille La Mancha is a must see. Put it on your bucket list if you have one.

Comprised of Toledo, the capital of the province, Cuenca where the famous “hanging houses” can be seen, Ciudad Real – The Royal City and thought of as “The traditional capital”, Albacete – The plain, and Guadalajara which translates to valley of the stones.

If you get to visit only one of these places in your lifetime, then count yourself lucky. Spain is one of those Countries that seem to have a bit of everything to offer, a wonderful history, and architecture that will blow you away. As I said before, put one of these destinations on your bucket list and you'll have memories to treasure forever.