Posts in category California & USA


The Carmel Mission Basilica, founded in 1770
California & USACarmel

The story of Father Junípero Serra and the Carmel Mission

I have strolled through the beautiful Carmel Mission many times but when I visited it recently I felt as if I’d stepped through a portal and arrived in Europe. Maybe the sense of familiarity and the past was so profound …

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Lourmarin, Luberon, Provence, Vaucluse, France
CarmelLourmarin

Carmel, California and Lourmarin, Provence, the places I call home

‘Home is where the heart is’, or so the expression goes. My heart is somewhat fragmented, with those I love and the places I own spread across two continents. When I’m in one place, I think of the other. I’m …

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Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA
Elsewhere in USA

Crater Lake ~ the stunning finale to our American Road Trip

By day 19 of our American Road trip we’d visited seven states, marveled at the beauty of Deer Valley, and the breathtaking wonders of The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Montana, Glacier, (well almost!), The Columbia River Gorge and the Willamette Valley. …

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Elsewhere in USA

Whitefish, Montana, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon ~ Days 16-19 American Road Trip

Day 15: Melrose to Whitefish, Montana We were clearly not destined to return to the sun-drenched days we’d enjoyed when we’d first arrived at The Big Hole River. Being with our good friends we still had a great time and …

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Butte Mining Area in winter, Butte Montana, USA
Elsewhere in USA

Day 9 -14 of our American Road Trip ~ Montana’s fly fishing & mining legacy

Fly fishing in Montana Montana is renowned for its beautiful fly fishing rivers. Enthusiasts come from all over the country to float the rivers and fish. For me, the idea of wading into cold water, albeit with waterproofs on, to …

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The colors by the Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, USA
Elsewhere in USA

Day 8 of our American Road Trip ~ Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin & driving to Montana

Our final morning at Yellowstone was possibly the most incredible. The clear blue skies probably helping to make our final Yellowstone stop, the Midway Geyser Basin, look even more spectacular. The basin was only a five minute drive from where …

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Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone
Elsewhere in USA

Day 7 of our American Road Trip ~ Old Faithful & other Yellowstone wonders

We spent our first night inYellowstone  at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge a 5 minute walk from Yellowstone’s most famous icon, ‘Old Faithful’. It’s more expensive to stay inside the park but it was great to be so close to …

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Elsewhere in USA

Day 6 of our American Road Trip ~ Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of those places that people visit and enthuse over, urging you to go there too. I’m not sure what we were expecting. I knew Yellowstone was famous for its thermal area and was obviously excited …

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Elsewhere in USA

American Road Trip ~The Tetons, Wyoming, Idaho & Montana

Day 5 of our American Road Trip On Day 5 we spent the morning still bedazzled by the Tetons exploring further into Grand Teton National Park The snow capped peaks of the Teton range dominated the skyline. Their reflection in …

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Elsewhere in USA

Our American Road Trip ~ Hiking in Grand Teton National Park

Day 4 Hiking in the Grand Teton National Park The Grand Tetons looked even more stunning on day four of our American road trip. Capped in white, they lay strung before us, the cornflower blue skies creating the perfect back …

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