TRAVEL THE WORLD - LINDOS, RHODOS, GREECE

The views looking down from the acropolis at Lindos on Rhodes are truly breath-taking. The photos do not exaggerate the beauty or the intensity of the blue colour of the Aegean.

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 - OIA, SANTORINI, GREECE

One day, on our Greek vacation in 1998, we visited Oia, a town on the island of Santorini. The photo is not exaggerated. The sea really is a deep intense blue and the buildings a brilliant sun-drenched white. In the photo you can see how Oia is perched above the Caldera.

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.

TRAVEL THE WORLD - PAROS, GREECE

The sea was wild this day in 1998 at Naoussa on Paros. We had looked forward to swimming so were disappointed in the weather on this trip. Still, it was fun to walk by the sea and hear the crashing waves. We had a day on the island of Antiparos. The sea was relatively calm in the morning, but on the return trip late in the afternoon, there was a very strong wind. We were frightened for our lives, certain that the small ferry would capsize as we entered the harbour at Paros Town. The danger was brought home to us later when we heard about the accident that occurred at the same location in 2000 when 82 people were drowned when the ferry ran onto the rocks.