NESSA CHILDERS, Labour MEP for Ireland East, describes her holidays
What's your earliest holiday memory?An episode aged four when we rented a cottage in Brittas Bay. The kitchen was a garage conversion, and there was a donkey we used to ride. But the donkey managed to get into the kitchen; I remember my mother walked in to see donkey droppings on the floor. She remained very calm!
What was your worst holiday?On my honeymoon to a Greek island. We were given a description of the holiday which was inaccurate. It was in the middle of a building site. It was before these things became legally impossible to do. Not only that, but I lost my wedding ring while snorkelling. I was also bitten by mosquitoes; I am like a gourmet dinner for them. It was so bad that we used the whole limit on our credit card and flew from Athens to Vienna. It was 1986, and people didn't do things like that, but we decided life was too short. The second 10 days were the best. We are psychoanalysts, and Vienna is where Freud was born. In Vienna we also discovered insect repellent!
What was your best holiday?Turkey last August was magnificent. I'd never been before. We went from Istanbul to Çanakkale and overlooked the Dardanelles, where the battle of Troy was set. The climate was wonderful: warm enough to eat outside but with a breeze to keep you from baking alive. We found the people very friendly and the place very affordable.
If budget or work were not a restriction, what would be your dream holiday?I would go back to the Far East. I went to Thailand, where my brother lived, when I was 17. It was quite unusual to do in those days, especially as the Vietnam War was still on and there were planes flying overhead. I'd also like to take more European citybreaks and [as I work in Brussels] explore the rest of Belgium.
If you had your pick, who would you bring on holiday with you?Travelling is a risky affair with anyone you don't know – so my partner, as we enjoy travelling together.
What's your favourite place in Ireland?The Carlton Hotel in Bunclody, where I've stayed six or seven times. I like to climb Mount Leinster; it offers beautiful views over the plains of Carlow, and the wind turbines have a religious feel about them. I also like to walk the Barrow Way.
Your recommended holiday reading?I always read thrillers, and nothing taxing on the brain, on holidays. I will read a book on politics if it's really interesting, like Showtimeby Pat Leahy.
Where will you go to next?I'd like to go somewhere in eastern Europe on a short break, like Budapest. I'm going to Berlin just before Christmas; one of my sons speaks German and is a very good traveller.
** Nessa Childers is Labour MEP for Ireland East
** In conversation with Genevieve Carbery