Skyline over The Olgas. |
Australia
- was a ‘big three’ holiday for me, Sydney Opera House, the Reef
and the Rock, in that order. I travelled on a 18-30 coach tour and met
some fun people from all over the world. Life doesn't get much better than
sitting outside between the Opera House & the harbour bridge on a clear
day, climbing Ayers Rock to watch sunrise, (beware the flies at the
Red Centre, when you have eaten ‘a fly sandwich’ you can say you've
lived a little)! Stepping off the plane at Alice Springs and wondering
“who turned on the hot air dryer”, and the ever changing scenery as we
'moved up country'. Left - the Olgas, to me a spiritual place.
Thought for the day - Oz isn't a country, it's a playground!
|
| America –
stood out for me as it was the first time I had returned since childhood,
curious to see ‘the old neighbourhood’ and meet family still living there,
I was treated wonderfully in Philly and 'Senile City', N.J. (ask Frank,
he'll explain)! It was the simple things like sitting outside on the porch
eating, drinking, talking, laughing that come to mind, as always time ran
out too quickly.
I loved Cape Cod, the misty mornings, light at dusk, the feel of the town, waking up during Springtime, and the Ptownfolk. Back to New York, a eye-opener! I briefly stayed in Seattle, during the 'grunge years', visited a club in my tourist maple leaf T-shirt, not recommended believe me! Nice fish market if you like that kind of thing. |
Seattle. |
Banff National Park |
Canada – I
was amazed the 'polished glass' effect of Niagara Falls. Further on, the
vastness of the forests and numerous lakes of all sizes, the Rockies, (I
suffered serious' camera fatigue') the turquoise waters, mist shrouded
mornings Banff N.P., (great walking country) the lightning storms and the
wildlife (I’ll talk more of the night life another time)!
Another coach tour, east to west and it got better all the way. Again, wonderful travelling companions on tour, at Vancouver, Stanley Park was a ‘magnet’ during the days, the Irish bar at nights. Another place where songs were sung and friends were made. |
| Scotland - and the area known as the Highlands (especially the Isle of Skye). For me, a magical driving holiday (if you are lucky enough not to be the driver)! As mentioned Skye has to be seen to be believed. I can state with confidence that the MacLeod family, Old Schoolhouse, Sconser, Skye, served us the biggest, best and most varied of breakfasts, fed us Shetland hen eggs (green), let us bottle feed their lambs and offer us hospitality far beyond what one could hope to expect from strangers. The walking and climbing is spectacular, although, the midges could be a wee bit kinder to the tourists! | 
Loch Lomond. |
