boats | Hand Luggage.

Sampan rowing at Tam Coc

We’re up early and out in order to take a sampan trip along the meandering canals throughout the three tunnel grottoes that give the area its name -Tam Coc.

We’re all set to enjoy the stunning landscape of mountains, canals, rice paddies and rural villages that makes up the National Natural Reserve zone known as Ha long Bay on the ground.

The mainly female rowers make it look easy with most of them using their feet to propel the oars through the water!

Tam Coc is a watery paradise with looming karst stacks smothered with greenery.

During the trip you pass through Tam Coc – three long, dark tunnel-caves -Hang Ca, Hang Giua and Hang Cuoi.

It barely feels like there’s enough head room to squeeze through so it must be harder still when the water is higher.

But the payoff is emerging back into the bright sunshine to gaze at the stunning scenery again.

The area is getting more and more commercialised however and we’re warned by our guide not to fall for the high pressure sales tactics, especially at the half way point where your rower will try and get you to buy them a drink from waiting sellers, only to sell it straight back to them for half the price!

However, hard sell tactics aside, this really is an incredible place to visit and the landscape is hard to beat.

Of course the hubby wants to give it a go! And our rower is only too happy to take a back seat for a while.

I love this peaceful snap that I managed to get of one of the rowers just paddling lazily as she waits to snap pics of tourists.

Meanwhile everyday life continues along the river banks with people washing, cooking and occasionally waving at the endless procession of boats that float past them.

Boats & beaches

Posted on April 17 by collymarples

Ajaccio is Corsica’s capital and is a port city on the rugged isle’s western coast.

As such it has a bustling little marina and large port complete with a multitude of colourful, bobbing boats.

The Tino Rossi Marina is a pleasant place to stroll around and enjoy the laid back bustle of fishermen carrying on their centuries old traditions.

Naturally the hubby opts to locate the more flashy boats and proceeds to act as if he has the money to own one . . .

Then we’re heading back to the pretty town beach for one of our budget picnics and a splash about!

Supermarket beer and baguettes! That’s how us cheapskates travel 🙂

That’s it for Ajaccio, we’re heading onward in a North Easterly direction as we head to the citadel town of Calvi via the spectacular Calanches de Piana and Gorges de la Spelunca.

Easy riders

Posted on February 9, 2019 by collymarples

Mykonos is only a pip squeak of an island – one of the tiniest Greek islands we’ve visited (certainly in terms of things to see TBH).

But in order to reach some of the more remote, off the beaten track, beaches we opt once again for the king of small road warriors – the quad bike!!!

We’re heading to the South East of the island first. Stopping off first at Kalafati beach (see my previous post) we then head up a dirt track onto a tiny spit of land with a teeny harbour and pretty church.

Below is a remote, traditional little harbour side eatery – Markos Fish Tavern. Close to a tiny, tucked away sun spot – Divounia Beach

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I love the colour combination of navy water, white boats and shades of yellow in the tangled fishing nets.

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Naturally the hubby AKA the Easy Rider enjoys cruising around topless in order to complete the bronzing process.

However, safety conscious (AKA spoilsport) wifey demands full coverage, helmets and annoyingly squeaks if we so much as creep above 20mph!

The ‘smile’ below is partly because the wind has firmly stuck my lips to my teeth and partly through fear… so much for YOLO . .

Boats and sparkling waters

Posted on January 13, 2019 by collymarples

Leaving behind the pretty Agios Ioannis beach behind we’re heading through the tiny settlement to the mini harbour at the far end of the bay.

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After enjoying the obligatory snaps of vivid bougainvillea we come across the small picturesque chapel of Agios Ioannis which sits above a tiny harbour.

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There’s absolutely no one around at all so we have this sparkling scene all to ourselves.

Various boat trips and fishing excursions take to the waters from this tiny harbour.

The pro tanner scampers off to find some super heated rocks to roast himself on while I opt for the cooling breezes that can be found at the boat harbour.

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The colour of the water in Greece is something I never tire of. A constantly shifting, mesmerising, kaleidoscope of greens, blues and golds.

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It’s well worth making the ten minute walk from the beach to enjoy the bobbing boats and peaceful views out to the sea.

Circle Line cruise

Posted on September 18, 2018 by collymarples

We’re taking to the water to see the city of NYC from a new perspective now with a Circle Line Cruise.

Started in 1945 Circle Line is one of the oldest NYC cruise companies and offers lots of different options for seeing the Big Apple from the water.

Departing from Pier 83, close to the Intrepid Aircraft carrier that now serves as a museum, we opted for the Landmarks Cruise.

Two and a half hours of gentle floating between some of the most iconic sights the city has to offer.

From the comfort of the deck you can see it all, from the One World Centre to the Empire State, the Chrysler Building to the Brooklyn Bridge.

And of course, the most iconic green woman ever created – Lady Liberty. I don’t pretend to be cool about it, the hubby remains impassive but he is excited inside – I think!

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Here’s a few phone snaps of the lady herself – not great quality but you get the gist.

Later on in our trip we’ll get to climb up to the pedestal of this world famous landmark for a proper up close look at here.

After bidding goodbye to her for a while the cruise carries on to the three impressive bridges that span the East River – below is just one of them.

We got the cruise as part of the New York City Pass which saved us some money and also time queuing at several attractions.

It’s well worth a look if you know exactly what you want to see and have the luxury of a few days to see them in.

Other passes tend to make you cram everything into one, two or three days but this one allowed you to do them at leisure over nine days.

The Staten Island ferry

Posted on July 3, 2018 by collymarples

Next iconic experience on the New York adventure – the Staten Island ferry!

These super distinctive FREE orange ferries trundle their way from Whitehall in Manhattan to the St George terminal on Staten Island.

The ferry, which runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, carries over 23 million passengers annually on a 5.2-mile journey and has been in operation since 1905.

On a typical weekday, five boats make 118 trips, carrying approximately 70,000 passenger and numbers are swelled by hordes of visitors – all eager to catch a free glimpse of Lady Liberty from the boat.

Each ferry gets its own personal escort out of the harbour by armed coast guards – a little disconcerting! But you also get your first real view of Manhattan from the water.

And . . . . you also get your first glimpse of that most iconic of women – Lady Liberty… albeit a rather small glimpse!!

However you do get a bit closer to the Green Goddess as the boat floats onwards.

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The journey itself takes about 20 minutes from start to finish and is a favourite thing for visitors to do.

The ferry is instantly recognisable as an icon of New York and has featured in numerous films including Working Girl and The Dark Knight.

We disembark on Staten Island and, like most passengers, immediately whizz around to rejoin the queue heading back to Manhattan!

In all fairness, Staten Island probably does have some sights to check out, but with time at a premium, and a long list of sights to tick off, we don’t have time!

So back to Manhattan we head, with yet another stunning view of the Manhattan skyline.

Just time for another snap of the Staten Island ferry sign for the hubby and me!

As we leave Battery Park I am distracted, and a little entranced, by the weirdest merry-go-round I have ever seen – The Seaglass Carousel. Enjoy this surreal snippet!

Loctudy evening

Posted on January 21, 2017 by collymarples

One of my favourite things when on holiday is the proximity to the beach – at any time of day.

Our lovely Bretton gite was no exception as we were 10 minutes walk away from a sweet little stretch of sand.

The man and I enjoyed an evening stroll to the little harbour to watch the sun set on another jam packed day.

I love the golden honey of the evening sun as it coats everything in a cosy, warm glow.

It’s a wonderful end to yet another fantastic Bretton day.

Fishing tackle and floaty boats

Posted on January 15, 2017 by collymarples

Taking a brief break from the usual holiday fare of piles of food and peeling paint . .

Let’s take a look at another of my favourite photographic subjects – fishing tackle!

Yes, that’s right, whether it’s nets and buoys, rusty chains or lobster pots, I love a good furtle around a working harbour!

I particularly enjoyed these neon pink and blue examples. Particularly pretty and girly for fishing tackle!

I also spotted these old paint splattered boards that look rather like works of modern art.

I am not sure if they were just testing boat colour samples on it or merely wiping excess paint off but the end result wouldn’t look out of place in a hyper modern art gallery.

Neither would the decaying but colourful wooden boat that I spotted in the dry dock.

Continuing in Camaret

Posted on December 13, 2016 by collymarples

We continue to cruise the streets of Camaret, keeping eyes peels for little details around each corner.

Including this fantastic mustard coloured door with delightful pastel detailing.

The man helpfully points out where we are as I am more than a little geographically challenged!

Then we head towards the harbour, stopping every five seconds for me to obsess over little paintings and rusty anchors.

I am finally man handled to the harbour (the man loves his floaty boats).

But to my endless delight we are greeted with this majestic spectacle – a ship graveyard *squeal*

So here’s just a selection of peeling, beached, rotting boat hulks for your “enjoyment”

Sweet little Symi

Posted on January 22, 2015 by collymarples

During our brief jaunt to Rhodes town we took a ferry over to the glorious little island of Symi. Here’s the first views of the colourful little houses clinging to the hillside.

As the ferry pulls into Yialos (the main harbour) we get a closer look at the tiers of housing. Mostly in pastel shades but with the odd rebels with bright shades of red and yellow.

Here’s another view of Yialos the main harbour with a few glamorous sail boats.

Beyond the harbour is a distant view of hills while a girly pink scooter contrasts nicely with the yellow fishing nets. Meanwhile this gorgeous colour combo on a local house catches my eyes too

Symi’s recorded history goes back as far as the Trojan Wars (1120 BC)

At its height Symi was a thriving island with a population of more than 22,000. It was renowned for its boat-building, sponge-fishing, wine-making, its wood-carvers and icon-painters.

The tranquail harbour has a plethora of little boats bobbing on the azure waters.

You can still buy traditional sponges from lots of different shops along the harbour front.

So many colourful houses and shops jostle for position and demand photographing!

I love the delicate circular details at the top of lots of the roof lines.

So many permutations of candy colours to enjoy.

Moving up from the harbour we set off to explore Chorio, the village area.

Naturally I find lots of lovely paint based things to point my camera at. Including this amazing blue set of steps.

There’s unusual artwork, colourful shops and icecream around every corner.

Neil gets his fix of the creamy goodness and we actually get someone to take a picture of the two of us for once!

Symi is a compact, colourful and delightful place for a day trip or for a longer, laid back break.

Next up we’re off to visit the pretty little monastry at Panormitis with its ornate floor and decoration.