The Irish Mail on Sunday

A fleapit hotel with knife fights on tap

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CONTINUING our series featuring the holiday memories of famous people, this week television presenter SIAN LLOYD, 60, recalls her lifetime of adventures…

First holiday I can remember

My most memorable childhood holiday was camping in the Dordogne with my family when I was about nine because it was when I first fell in love with simple, rustic food. I remember liking tomatoes for the first time, the crustiness of the bread, the thick, creamy butter, all the different cheeses and varieties of charcuteri­e.

First time abroad

It was probably when I was a baby, but the first time I went abroad without my parents was a secondarys­chool skiing trip to Switzerlan­d. None of us had ever skied before but with just half an hour’s instructio­n we were whizzing down the Jungfrau in a blizzard. Health and safety wasn’t an issue then.

My honeymoon

My ex-husband and I were rather greedy and had several. Jordan was fantastic, in an amazing hotel with lots of swimming and lazing by the pool and a visit to Petra. Our adventurou­s honeymoon was to Patagonia. The scenery was awesome.

Best holiday

I’ve got a thing about trains and taking the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide was wonderful. I was in Platinum Class and had a suite with a butler.

Worst trip

About 25 years ago I went to Spain with my then boyfriend who was very laid-back. One night we rolled up to a village near Barcelona at 10pm and found a fleapit. Greasy pillows, dirty sheets and people outside spitting at each other and pulling out knives.

Dream destinatio­n

I long to return to Cloudy Bay winery in Marlboroug­h, New Zealand. I cycled up to the cellar door on a bike tour years ago.

 ??  ?? CLOSE ENCOUNTER: Sian and a Kangaroo in Oz and, left, Petra, which Sian visited on honeymoon
CLOSE ENCOUNTER: Sian and a Kangaroo in Oz and, left, Petra, which Sian visited on honeymoon
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