Tenerife

In November Caroline and I went to Los Gigantes in Tenerife for a 5 day break. We did't really do a lot other than sleep and chill. We had a few evening meals out and spent time by the pool.

View from our 'balcony'

Barraquito - first of many

Our only excursion was a boat trip out to look for whales and dolphins. We did eventually find some pilot whales but they were quite a way out so we only got a little trip along the cliffs.

Insanely extensive supermarket booze section.

Boat trip

We booked to go on a 2hr boat trip on the Wednesday from Padstow. The weather was ok in the morning, though get very nice in the afternoon.

The boat set off from Padstow and spent the next 2 hrs going along the coast looking for puffins, seals, and dolphins amongst others.

I tried to get them to be serious

Looking over to Rock. 

Padstow.

At sea. 

We did see some puffins and seals. I tried to take photos but the puffins were way too fast and the ones of the seals just didn't come out. They would pop up and watch us but by the time I got the camera focused on them, they disappeared. 

Puffin Island (hint: that's where we saw the Puffins)

Gamblers folly.

Tin mines.

Port Issac.

After the boat trip we had lunch in Padstow and headed to Trevose Head. We thought about going for a walk but really couldn't work up the energy. So dad and I put a blanket out and had a nap/read a book. (Mom stayed in the car but did the same.)

Someone had written a message in rocks on the lower level. 

Manhattan evening cruise

A couple of weeks ago, I went to New York for a business meeting. I managed to head out a day early and see some of the city. 

I arrived on the Sunday lunchtime and after a break at my hotel, headed out to get dinner and take an evening harbour cruise. 

It started at the west side and travelled down and round to the mid East before returning via the Statue of Liberty. I also got there early and had paid for a premium seat so got some good view.

Manhattan

I think this is the Brooklyn Bridge

Lady of Liberty

Isle of Cumbrae and Millport

This weekend I went up to Glasgow for the long weekend to visit Caroline. On Friday we headed over to the Isle of Cumbrae. And the weather was amazing! It didn't rain. In Scotland!

The trip took a while but it was worth it. After an ice-cream, we got the ferry to the isle. It was a tinkly little ferry but crazily efficient. They started putting down the car ramp quite a while before we got to the shore. Everyone was looking a little nervous as it started be lowered. But they have it timed to the minute.

On the ferry across (with an ice-cream)

The ferry lands on the north East side of the island. Where there is nothing. So we got the bus to the south and the main (only) town, Millport. It is a beautiful little town which some gorgeous beaches.

Beach.

Enjoying the sun

They were holding a country music festival that weekend (sadly it didn't start until the Friday evening so we missed it) but the whole town got into it with a lot of flags. (Even a Confederate flag - I am guessing they didn't know what it meant.) Embarrassingly it took me a while to figure this out. 

Lots of flags.

We found the cathedral which is the smallest cathedral in the UK. And it was pretty small. It took us a while to find a way in but the walk around was nice.

UK's smallest cathedral.

Not sure what is in here.

Before lunch we wondered along the sea front to visit the crocodile.

Caroline told me to pose - I think she expected serious. 

The crocodile is famous on the island. It's a rock that someone has painted a crocodile face on.

Crocodile

After lunch, we went for a walk to the tea rooms. The path started off as a path. Soon, as with all the walks I seem to go on, it soon become less clear.

Walking.

Less obvious.

Then we ended up going through a field of cows. They watched us suspiciously but thankfully were mostly more interested in the grass. And then the path just become a suggestion down the hill with some lovely muddy patches. Next time I am having no input. I always pick dodgy paths. 

But we did make it to the tea rooms. 

And then we realised the only other way back (other than back up the hill we just slide down) was going to take an hour. But the route was only the coat so very pretty. We stopped part way to investigate some rocks. Why not?

War memorial.

We were very happy to get back to the bus, which broke down on the way to the ferry. We did make it in the end and we're on holiday. We didn't care.

We ended up at thai for dinner and back at Caroline's early, both knackered. I am really not used to walking that far.