TRAVEL THE WORLD - ALANYA, TURKEY

This photo captures perfectly the atmosphere we experienced on our visit to the south coast of Turkey in 2006. Instead of the brilliant summer sun you expect in the Mediterranean, dark clouds and heavy, heavy rain seemed an almost daily occurrence. My very favourite place to swim is at Cleopatra Beach in Alanya. There was only one opportunity to swim in our three days there, and even then, we had to run to escape a cloud burst. We had a drink in the outdoor bar of our hotel and hoped the rain would stop, but it didn't. It wasn't all bad, though. To be in the Mediterranean in stormy weather was new and different. The threatening clouds and violent rain created a feeling of adventure, particularly when having to go somewhere by boat.

TRAVEL THE WORLD - WHITBY, ENGLAND

In 1994 we visited Whitby on the coast of Yorkshire. It is a charming old sea port. As it is built on a hill, there are many interesting view points and just walking through the town is very enjoyable even in the rain as it was when these photos were taken.

TRAVEL THE WORLD, HONFLEUR, FRANCE

In 1999, we enjoyed Honfleur immensely. It is an old sea port situated on the estuary of the Seine. We loved to walk and take in the atmosphere of the town. It was from here that Jacques Cartier sailed for Quebec in 1534. Honfleur will always remain in our memory as the place where we had one of the best lunches ever. It was a huge round tray full of wonderful seafood. Yummy!

TRAVEL THE WORLD - CHANIA, CRETE, GREECE

In 2004, we spent two weeks on Crete and loved it. These are photos of the harbour at Chania which is quite typical of the sea fronts in old Mediterranean towns and cities. You can see why walking beside the sea is so picturesque and interesting. And always there is the brilliant blue of the water and the intense blue of the sky! This can especially be seen if you right click on the image and open it in a new window so you can see the enlargement.

TRAVEL THE WORLD - WHITBY, ENGLAND, U.K.

To me Whitby in North Yorkshire will always be the town of the 200 steps. I first visited there in 1974 with my four-year-old son. We had a fun time climbing and trying to count all the stairs which took us from sea level up to the ruined abbey. The next day, we walked in the fog among the grave stones and ruins, listening to the eerie sound of the fog horns. Whitby had changed in the twenty years since my first visit. There were now crowds of tourists and the usual novelty shops that tourists frequent. It was easy to get away from this area, though, and to enjoy the charm of the town.

TRAVEL THE WORLD - STAITHES, NORTH YORKSHIRE, U.K.

Staithes, formerly a busy fishing port, lies within the North York Moors National Park. A very attractive town, it is now a major tourist destination. Because the geology of the area is of the Jurassic period, it is commonly called the Dinosaur Coast and attracts both professional and amateur geologists as visitors. We had good weather on the day we spent there om 1994. A chat with a few of the locals over a beer in the main pub near the port was very enjoyable.