Enjoy the Isle of Thanet in East Kent

 

Margate Beach ©Solange Hando

An island only by name on the northern tip of east Kent, Thanet has lovely coves and wide sandy beaches, most popular Margate for its easy access from London, motorway/and dual carriageway or direct rail line. The main beach has all you would expect for family entertainment with nearby funfair, arcades and affordable eating venues.

Walpole Living Museum in Margate ©Solange Hando

But if you like more than the beach, a must-see for art lovers is the Turner Contemporary named after the artist who painted the sunset on this spot, free entrance. Also worth considering is the Walpole Living Museum for an amazing picture of bygone days, character accommodation and cream tea, Sunday roast and lunch available to anyone. 

                                                 Broadstairs on Thanet ©Solange Hando

Facing east just around the corner, Broadstairs is a lovely resort, with a crescent beach nestling below the cliffs. It is more exclusive than Margate, usually quieter, almost village-like with lanes winding down to the beach. It's best to park some distance away from the shore, especially during festival week.

                                                           Broadstairs Dickens Festival ©Solange Hando

The Dickens Festival is usually held in June when locals dress in traditional costumes for the Grand Parade, the country fair and beach parties, including paddling and swimming in appropriate gear.

Dickens first came to Broadstairs at the age of 25 then returned on several occasions, finding inspiration for David Copperfield.

                                                                     Ramsgate Harbour ©Solange Hando

Just south of Broadstairs and within walking distance, you reach Ramsgate with a glistening harbour right in the town centre, a long sandy beach where the future Queen Victoria came to play as a child and a scenic walk along the clifftop with superb views across the Channel and the French coast by clear weather.

 Ramsgate Viking Ship ©Solange Hando

This may be your highlight on the Viking Trail as you reach Pegwell Bay on the edge of Ramsgate.  It is a replica of course  but it sailed all the way from Denmark in 1949, using traditional instruments, to commemorate the 1500th anniversary of the Viking invasion.

Sunset on the North Kent Coast near Margate ©Solange Hando

Devon Cruising on the Dart

Dartmouth ©Solange Hando

      Dartmouth is the start of the upriver cruise to Totnes, a lovely place with a gleaming marina, half-timbered buildings and steep flower-draped lanes with spectacular views from the hill top.

    If you are staying in the 'English Riviera', consider the 'round robin' tour which takes you on a steam train from Paignton with spectacular views along the Devon coast, down to Kingston on the left bank of the Dart then across to Dartmouth on a three minute ferry ride.

Dart Cruise, Ready to Go ©Solange Hando

Departure times will depend on the tide but if you come on the round robin, this will be sorted out, giving you plenty of time to look around Dartmouth and enjoy a spot of lunch before boarding.

If you do this on your own, you will have a choice of boats, including a paddle steamer on specific dates. But don't leave it to chance, book early, especially in the summer season.

Dart Estuary ©Solange Hando

    If the tide is right, the cruise will briefly take you downstream, past the medieval castles which once guarded the river mouth on either side.

    Then turn around and enjoy superb views of Dartmouth from the water, town clinging to the hills, yachts, the impressive Royal Britannia Naval College and you might just spot the steam train puffing away through the trees.

On the River Dart ©Solange Hando

    Now all is quiet, first along forested banks, all different trees and maybe a mighty oak here and there, once so common they gave the river its Celtic name.

    It's a lovely time to relax, just the odd boat now and then, a lonely cottage on the river bank and a hamlet or two, loved by visitors but still genuine and traditional.

Canadian Geese on the River Dart ©Solange Hando

    This is your chance to see the wild life, flocks of Canadian geese in season, an osprey, a rare dipper, a colourful kingfisher and lots of egrets and black-headed gulls.The river is also rich in fish, especially salmon and trout.

    Then before you leave the wooded area, look out for the elegant Georgian house peeping through he trees om the hill top. This was the holiday home of Agatha Christie and the place which inspired some of her murder stories. 

Devon Hills along the Dart ©Solange Hando

    After a while, the views open up as rolling hills rise above the river, dotted with ancient stones and cattle grazing on lush grass. 

    You may see a few canoeists and not far from Totnes, look out for the vineyards of Sharpam Estate which offer award-winning wines and also make their own cheese.

Totnes ©Solange Hando

Ninety minutes or so after leaving Datmouth, you reach the end of the cruise in Totnes as you approach the old bridge, the last one before the river heads downstream through deep water and steep valleys.

Totnes is an attractive place to look around with its bohemian lanes full of artists, historic church,  Devon cream teas and panoramic views from the hill top castle.

Totnes on the River Dart ©Solange Hando

    

    

 

Ethiopia Top Attraction Lalibela

Lalibela ©Solange Hando

Lalibela? But where is the town?.. in the middle of nowhere, a fairly long drive from the namesake airport, up steep winding hills through rugged scenery with a few clusters of trees hiding the all important water. 

But eventually you reach a bustling settlement, houses climbing up the slopes with spectacular views all round.

St George's Carved out of the Rock ©Solange Hando

Top attraction and listed by UNESCO are the rock-hewn churches, 13 of them dating back to medieval times. The first one was designed by King Lalibela,  carved from the rock underground to protect it from natural disasters and possible invasions.

Traditional Interior, Orthodox Church Lalibela ©Solange Hando

Lalibela was designed as a new Jerusalem, a haven for pilgrims who still come from far and wide to do their devotions. Beautifully decorated with paintings and drapes, each church is different, accessed via steep steps, underground passages and tunnels.

Priests are around all day and as elsewhere in this highly religious country, you can expect the Orthodox call to prayer at first light every day.

View from my Hotel in Lalibela ©Solange Hando

But there's more to Lalibela than churches. Once you're up there, expect spectacular views all round and always changing, from the deserted side just beyond town to tiny road and lane meandering up from the airport towards panoramic hotels draped in greenery and tropical flowers.

Coffee Time? ©Solange Hando

For neighbours, family and friends, traders or visitors, coffee is an essential part of life, prepared according to rituals in a special ceremony which can take 30 minutes or more.

This is the delicious coffee arabica, first grown in Ethiopia, and they say any problem can be solved over a cup of coffee.

Traditional Huts ©Solange Hando

Wander around and you find a few traditional huts, restored for show, an amazing hilltop restaurant managed by a Scottish lady and a week-end market downtown where you can bargain for anything, including goats.

Sunset from Panoramic Hotel ©Solange Hando

Ethiopia Maribela Boutique Hotel in Lalibela

Stunning Views from Maribela Hotel ©Solange Hando

Located on a ridge in the Ethiopian highlands, this panoramic hotel is delightful, rustic, elegant, easily accessed from the airport and a short drive from the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.

The view above is from the outdoor section of the bar-restaurant framed by flowers and plants. Service is friendly, food delicious, continental or Ethiopian, my top favourite the avocado salad.

Coffee Time? ©Solange Hando

Like to try Ethiopian coffee? 

This is available all day, free of charge and freshly prepared in a traditional coffee ceremony, reflecting the heart and soul of this ancient country.

Likewise the local honey wine is ready to welcome you whenever you step in.

Bed for one? Wow... ©Solange Hando

Maribela has just 17 rooms on 4 floors -no lift but worth it for the views- ranging from single and double to King, Deluxe and Style Suite, some with double poster beds and traditional furniture.

All are spacious, quiet with picture windows and balcony complete with a day bed so you can relax and enjoy the scenery any time.

Corridor outside my Room ©Solange Hando

Arts and crafts depicting local life are attractive, especially the lampshades, by your bed or your door, and the angel face on your ceiling which turns into the main light.

Sculpted wood and orange shades add warmth to Maribella's unique authentic decor.

Cosy Corner ©Solange Hando

Small but cosy, grounds have quiet corners where you can meet  friends, share a drink and chat in the shade or in the sun.

Lush vegetation is all around, trees, flowers and plants and you are sure to see the bird life undisturbed by the guests.  

Maribela is a green hotel, staffed by locals and to encourage reforestation, some of the profits in the past 3 years have been donated to plant 2000 trees and drought-resistant flowering plants.

Sunset from my Balcony ©Solange Hando

Ethiopia Lake Tana and the Blue Nile

Lake Tana ©Solange Hando

About 500 km north of the capital, Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake, almost the size of an inland sea but freshwater all the way and only 14 metres deep on average.

Best place to stay is the lovely resort of Bahir Bar, all tropical flowers and trees, set on a peninsula in the south-east corner of the lake.

Ready to explore? ©Solange Hando

 Rivers and streams, at least two dozens of them, flow into the lake but there is only one outlet and that is the source of the Blue Nile in the south east where this boat is heading.

Beyond the lake, the river flows south then west through dramatic gorges then up north to Sudan where it joins the White Nile, providing 80% of the combined water.

Hippos enjoying the Blue Nile ©Solange Hando

Lake Tana is rich in wild life, many species of fish, some endemic, birds -especially white pelicans-  and small pods of hippos who enjoy the shallows close to the source but sometimes venture a little further.

Emerald water near the source ©Solange Hando

This local man is collecting papyrus from the shore which he will sell in the local market. Papyrus is burnt as incense to please the gods.

Islands on the lake have Orthodox chapels and monasteries and are highly respected pilgrimage sites for locals.

Approaching the Blue Nile Falls ©Solange Hando

Beyond the lake a country drive takes you from Tana to the Falls, an amazing chance to see genuine villages and rural life unchanged, it seems, by centuries.

It's a rough road much of the way then a walk across open land before bouncing on a long suspension bridge for a close look of the Falls.

Blue Nile Falls in Ethiopia ©Solange Hando

Here they are in the dry season, not at their most spectacular, but good enough for me, dropping 45 metres from the top, with scenic trails meandering up the nearby slopes.

In the wet season, the 160 metre wide river is channelled through a thunderous gorge just 20 metres across.

 Sunrise on Lake Tana ©Solange Hando

Travels on my Birthday

Taiwan ©Solange Hando

Which birthday? Well, let us say somewhere on the wiser side of middle-age.

Lovely celebration with the Tsou tribe up in the hills... See the tiny peach in my right hand? Straight from the garden and a special present from the family.

Rio de Janeiro ©Solange Hando

Well, I could show you the clocktower near the beach confirming the date but this is a much more exciting picture.

Loved this view from Corcovado and in the afternoon, went up the Sugar loaf  (front right) up two cable cars. Fabulous.

Namibia ©Solange Hando

I loved Namibia and I still dream about this beautiful cheetah out in the wild, just posing for my birthday, it seemed, in the heat of the day.

Did you know Namibia was the first country in the world to include conservation in its Constitution?

Wildlife always has the right of way and it certainly works, can't beat it.

Peru ©Solange Hando

Hold on, don't let me drift!

This is me on Lake Titicaca with the Uros Indians who build their homes on reed islands. Up there, on the roof of the world, this was indeed an amazing day.

Madagascar ©Solange Hando

My birthday wish? There it was, a real lemur in the wild, hard work for me clambering through the forest but so easy for them swinging from branch to branch...

Watched many different species in different areas, guides knew exactly where to go.

Reunion Island ©Solange Hando

Something I'd never done before, flying on a microflight over a volcanic island...on the other side of the world.

Scenery wise, never seen any island as dramatic as this one, canyons, craters and peaks everywhere and, would you believe it, this is a French department...

Costa Rica ©Solange Hando

Celebrating with Local Farmer

Remembering lots of  happy times

and planning many more
Blogged on my birhday
at home
Lockdown 2020

Rainbows Bright and Beautiful

The Iguazu Falls ©Solange Hando

My favourite rainbow on my favourite Falls, Iguazu stretching in the rainforest across Argentina and Brazil. There are up to 275 falls, most of them in Argentina but best seen from across the border.

The Zambezi River in Zambia ©Solange Hando

Rainbow over the Zambezi river just above the Victoria Falls, discovered by David Livingstone who named them after his Queen. The Falls continue across the border in Zimbabwe.

Rainbow in Paro ©Solange Hando

This is in Bhutan, 'land of gross national happiness' and my top destination. This is where you land (not the capital) and the monastery by the river is one of the most sacred in the kingdom.

Lake Nahuel Huapi in the Andean 'Lake District' ©Solange Hando

This lake is in Bariloche, a pretty Alpine resort in Argentina (more lakes in Chile) with superb scenery in a National Park and activities, trekking, climbing or skiing.

Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan ©Solange Hando

Now what is this?

For me this is a Rainbow

Built by man

The Light at the End of the Road

 Hoping we can all get together again very soon

Take care and keep safe