In any normal year, this would have been the time that we would have just got back from a trip out of the country. But 2020 has been anything but a normal year and, although I didn't anticipate that the COVID-19 virus would still be around at the end of August, it is. And here we are. So, although I had not planned on doing another Armchair Travel post, I feel that, with most of staying put, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to do another one. I hope that these small glimpses of these places that I have been to will inspire you to travel to some of them as soon as it is safe to do so.
July 2016
Dunster, England
I don't think it can get more English than Dunster. This small, colourful village has it all: a castle with a fascinating history, pretty pastel-coloured houses, lovely arts and crafts shops, gorgeous scenery and country walks, and an old church and churchyard. I absolutely loved it. Dunster is also in close proximity to Exmoor National Park so, if you're looking for nature trails, this is the right place.
June 2003
Pompei, Italy
We visited Pompei many years ago, on our honeymoon. I am sure that there were more romantic places that are within an easy day trip from Rome that we could have visited. But both my husband and I have a deep interest in Rome and its empire. Moreover, I had been fascinated with Pompei ever since I learned about Vesuvius' eruption and the subsequent destruction of this thriving town, together with near-by Herculaneum. Pompei is very well preserved and it really felt like a throwback in time to be walking along it's cobbled streets and being able to see the intricate details with which houses, such as the one above, were decorated. One word of advice though - do not visit in summer. It was so stiflingly hot that I thought I would end up as a permanent exhibit together with its ancient inhabitants.
July 2012
Plymouth, England
Plymouth is a fascinating city in the south-west of England with a remarkable history which I won't go into here. As many of my American readers probably already know, the Pilgrim Fathers set off from Plymouth to the new world in 1620 and you can visit the exact spot where this took place, now called the Mayflower Steps. Plymouth is also a place with which my dad has a close connection as he studied at the naval college there for a number of years. Apart from the Pilgrim Fathers, Plymouth is famous for its gin, the Royal Citadel (a 17th century fort), and the Barbican - its historic quarter. The best views of the city and of the surrounding Atlantic are from the Hoe. The Plymouth Eye and Smeaton's Tower are both located on the Hoe and they will provide even more spectacular views of this interesting city.
July 2019
Hannibal, MO, USA
While the photo I am sharing today is from 2019, in reality we visit Hannibal nearly every time we are in the US, as it is only around 60 miles away from where my husband grew up. Hannibal is, of course, Mark Twain country and several places in and around Hannibal featured in his books. It was also the home of the 'Unsinkable Molly Brown' who survived the sinking of the Titanic. Hannibal has a number of interesting art galleries and shops, together with one of my favourite coffee shops: Java Jive.
August 2018
Inverness, Scotland
Inverness is considered to be the capital of the Highlands. It is a small city located on the banks of the river Ness and it is close to major attractions like Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield. Inverness is the gateway to the Highlands and the city offers some dramatic views than can be seen from certain vantage points, such as Inverness Castle. If you're ever this far north, touring a whiskey distillery would not be a bad idea and is a pleasant way to pass an afternoon. Needless to stay, it is a perfect base from which visitors can explore the beautiful Highlands.
I'll stop here for today as I will soon run out of places to share and, with the way things are going, I may need to do a couple more of these posts. I hope you enjoy reading about them and that, one day, you will also be able to visit some of these beautiful places.
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