Postcards Home
Running around Europe when time permits and where the fancy takes us, looking for interesting places, great walks and places to swim and snorkel. Useful ideas and tips.
The Mediterranean World and The Canary Islands are our number one destinations and they are readily accessible from most UK airports. There are more than a lifetimes worth of places to visit and things to see on the doorstop of the UK, so we keep it local and relatively low cost allowing as much time as possible in the sun and on the move. For us, the Canary Islands are a winter destination, ideal to visit in January and February to escape winter in the UK. The Mediterranean world, Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta, France are for the warmer months of the year not least of because of my love of the sea.
Our activities take us away from the all inclusive, mass tourist areas as much as we possibly can. In the Canary Islands for example, we perhaps will fly into Tenerife, get a bus to Los Cristianos, and grab a boat to La Gomera, stay for a week then move on to La Palma. Then another ferry to one of our favourite places, Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. It’s the kind of thing we used to do in our twenties with back packs on, with no plan and nowhere to stay! We still use the backpacks, but we plan better and with Booking.com we have always easily booked a place to stay, and have to say they are much nicer than some of the hovels we stayed in in our twenties.
Ended up absolutely freezing having swam with a large cuttle fish in one of the bays here in Playa Blanca. Fabulous. But my hands went white.
It was a bus from Los Llanos to Los Canarios today to climb up a hill at the end. Too cloudy up top though so we walked back, 25km; my feet hurt!
Ran a couple of miles up a dirt track and swam back today, snorkelling and swimming here is excellent, clean, clear, met a friendly octopus.
liking it in Puerto de la Cruz. It is not like the beach resorts of the south, it is much more interesting, but not at warm!
Back in Peurto Pollenca. I feel like I have come home when I get here, love this place. Now, swim first or food?
Absolutely no one around snorkelling in a bay near Gaios. Then a bearded fells turns up in a kayak, looks like he'd been on it for years.
Tram ride today from Alicante on the L3 to El Campello. Nice resort with some good snorkelling.
Found a nice little spot for snorkelling, where if you stop for a few minutes the fish eat the dead skin off your feet. Bloody sand flies!
Longish hot walk along the Boquer valley today. The ridge to the left is amazing. Greeted by old goats at the end and into the water to cool off.
"Mugged" by a taxi from the airport and taken to a wonderful apartment on this beautiful island.
Not a bad place for a spot of swimming and snorkelling, had a great time, big fish and these large clam shell things! Great fun.
Went whale watching today. Loved the first hour. Felt sea sick, still feel like I'm going up and down with the boat on dry land.
Sea is quite calm here today but the water is still too murky to see anything much snorkelling.
Bus to Alcudia, 20 minute walk to bays to the the North. Good snorkelling. Walked back to Puerto Pollenca. Cold Lager required.
We got a bit bored so wandered over the hill to Cala San Vincente for a swim instead. It is wonderful. Deep clear blue water.
Man flu, I have man flu, all this way to snorkel here and I feel shit. Still I went in with my wetsuit on. diving was painful!
Snorkelled at tsougria island. Saw tuna fish attacking a bait ball, first time I have ever seen anything like this.
Back in our old apartment from last year, much better than the hole we just stayed in near Las Canteras beach.
First time in years I grew a backbone and hired a car to drive round in La Palma. Great choice. Taxis are too bloody expensive here.
We took a vastly overpriced boat to Formentor beach today, I'm still shaking at having to part with so much for so little. Still the snorkelling is good. Got the bus back!
We did it again got the timing all wrong and ended up walking there and back to Cala San Vincente. Still we had a good swim.
Decided to swim to Perissa from Kamari, realised the currents were strong a bit over half way and retreated. Boss not happy.
nice place this - but never get an apartment here in mid summer without AC. Too bloody hot!
Here again in Santa Cruz waiting for a ferry. Nice place to spend a few days. Good food and a great beach.
Long walk around Cap de l'Horta, dodging the bronzed nudists, found some shade and went for a swim.
Visited more pharmacies than restaurants, searching for Spanish treatments for man flu. Gripe del hombre (it does not translate)
Found a nice little spot to snorkel, about 1km to the east of Orzola ina little bay, bery interesting rock formations above and below water.
In the water today in Pula first thing I see a beautiful blue and yellow jelly fish called it Bob.
Adorably cute little fishing village on the north coast of Lanzarote. No boozy Brits here, Orzola was as a pleasant surprise.
Needed a swim today, so hopped on a bus to Teresitas. Beautiful spot. Not much to see underwater but good swimming. Now for a lager.
Staying in Los Llanos De Aaridane again. This is I think our favourite town in the Canary Islands. So laid back.
Calm as it gets here in the Boquer today, perfect for a dip. Few jellies around and lots of fish, water is crystal clear. German lady got a leg sting, big screams.
Got a cheap old camera stuffed it in a plastic camera pouch and went swimming took some OK pictures.
Booking for 4 days here in January was a mistake. Weather very bad and stuck in a César Manrique style, uncomfortable accommodation. We are leaving early, sod the money.
In Portinatx this week it is great, accommodation is full of Brits drinking as much of their all inclusive beer as possible, Hate it.
Some serious jelly fish here today, big sting on the arm, warned some posh chaps, they ignored me :) silly buggers. Still this a great place to snorkel.
OK mad as hatters, we walked to Cagliari Bay and around the coast on the return so I could get a swim. Water so hot in one bay.
Some great snorkelling here, but the best spots take a bit of finding. Swimming ia great all over, with lots of sandy beaches and quite shallow for in most places.
Staying in a semi hippy, semi middle aged German resort, love it, no chip shops. Scenery stunning, cliffs all around.
Got the number 3 bus whilst the rest of the gang went shopping, I went swimming. It's 40 degrees, Swimming! This is a fabulous spot to Snorkel. Had to wander round an army check point to get to the best spot.
Didn't do the caldera walk last year, came back to do it this year. Well worth it. Earned a beer!
In Palma, the capital of Majorca a vibrant interesting and beautiful city with ports, beaches and great shopping apparently, but I want to go swimming.
In Gaios and it is pissing it down, been sunny most of the time. Good excuse to sit in a bar all day!
Always a good spot to visit, an interesting old walled town, with good shops and restaurants. Having said that we just had a butty.
Colonia Sant Jordi! This place feels more Spanish than most resorts in Majorca, NO CHIP shops. Great beaches, very relaxed.
Trudged up a stream over an assault course to get to a waterfall. Lots of hippies selling craft stuff on the way. Good lifestyle.
Hired bikes to cycle to a bronze age ruin. Both bikes got punctures, walked back miles in the mid day sun, Crap bikes!
Stuck in this place for a few days waiting for a ferry to somewhere nicer. Swimming is OK, the town need work.