Snap Happy
I am by no means a professional photographer but I think I have a good eye for photos, and try to follow the basic rules of photography - rule of thirds, leading lines, and on many occasions I have found myself in a public area perhaps lying on my belly trying to take a close up of something like a bug on a cobbled street! Although it’s amazing how something as simple as changing your viewpoint can dramatically change the mood of your image. Yes, I am that person, I’ll have my travel buddy shining their phone’s flashlight on a daisy while I dangle by my ankles from a cliff with one hand blocking out the sun trying to find the best position to take the shot. Camera Sutra! And I’ve received many the eye roll for it!
So pop the kettle on and take some timeout to join me in some of my travels through pictures. They’re not all perfect shots, but they are some fond memories I would like to share.
In no particular order…
Gran Alacant, Alicante, Spain
There’s nothing quite like having your own private beach at dawn to relax and enjoy the sunrise. Well, it’s not quite a private beach but get there early enough and chances are you’ll have it all to yourself.
There are a number of pretty little beaches on the road from Gran Alacant to Santa Pola, perfect for a picnic or to just relax, read a book, take in the views and the sounds of the sea, and enjoy the peace & quiet. Bliss.
Alicante City Centre, Spain
I travel to Alicante every year, even if it’s just for a short weekend break to enjoy the beaches, the food, and the beautiful weather, so I have passed by this sculpture in the marina many many times. Only last year I decided to stop and take some photos and actually ask Google the name of this sculpture so I wouldn’t look like a complete cultural idiot when I posted the photo on Instagram. Turns out it’s called “The Return of Icarus with his Wing Surf”, and it’s not just a statue of some random naked guy with a surf board. Oops!
Marsaxlokk, Malta
Out of all the hundreds of photos that I took in Malta over the years, this is one of my favourites. It was taken in the small fishing village of Marsaxlokk in the south of the island. If you want to see the old traditional side of Malta, this is one of the places to visit. The Sunday morning market offers everything from fresh seafood and fish to traditional Maltese eats (you’ve got to try the Pastizzi), handmade lace and gifts.
Take a closer look at that sign on the wall - “Too much sex will kill you ok”
Comino, Malta
Comino is a tiny little island in between Malta and Gozo, it’s only around 3.5 km sq and a population of 3, yes 3, that’s not a typo! However on any given day in summer the little island paradise can see up to a couple of hundred visitors who go to swim in The Blue Lagoon, take in the breathtaking views, and chill out on the sun beds. You can take a day trip by boat from Malta or Gozo, there are numerous return trips up until late afternoon but it’s probably best to head out early to claim your spot, those sunbeds fill up fast!
Comino, Malta
That’s me hiding behind a pineapple looking all pink and unfiltered, and a bit tipsy if my memory serves. You see, those ‘Pina Colada in a pineapple’ are rather tasty, and you have to drink them quickly before they go all warm in the sun, then you have to buy another because you’re thirsty (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it..) They do in fact serve an array of beverages and snacks at the little kiosks.
Funny facts about Comino: The island was a popular hideout for pirates and smugglers during the middle ages, and much later in the early 19th century it was used as a place of isolation for plague and cholera victims!
It has such an interesting and colourful history for such a tiny island.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Nothing like cruising down the Mississippi on a Steamboat on a sunny afternoon with a bloody good Bloody Mary in hand… and my goodness is she spicy!!!! Believe me, as I write this, I’m seriously craving what is undoubtedly the best Bloody Mary in the world!
As you’ve probably gathered by now reader, I’m obsessed with New Orleans, and everything about the place, so if you’re looking for recommendations on your trip there, I’m your woman!
You can take a Steamboat Natchez Harbour cruise or an evening Natchez Jazz Dinner cruise, and it’s a perfect way to sit back and relax and soak up all the sights, tastes, and sounds of the Crescent City in proper 19th century style. It truly is a unique experience.
Bourbon Street, New Orleans
Not a very flattering photo, I know… but when you’ve accidentally dyed your tongue and innards blue, it’s a story worth telling! And let this be a lesson to anyone not to order more than one of the very blue ‘Resurrection’ cocktails in Spirits of Bourbon Street, although it is served in a cool skull cup with a flashy light at the bottom so it’s hard to say no! Anyway, I had 3, which resulted in a major sugar overdose that had me twitching for hours, a blue tongue that lasted for 3 days that wouldn’t go away even with multiple teeth and tongue brushings, and worse than all that….. *TMI moment so please don’t read on if you’re squeamy or easily offended by bodily functions* yes worse than that - blue poop. And that’s all I shall say on that matter.
New Orleans, Louisiana
I like my hot sauces, and I love the flavours and heat of traditional NOLA cuisine, and if you’re like me, you’ll be delighted to see quite a few sauce bars dotted around the city, all offering FREE SAMPLES of sauces so you can choose your poison before you purchase. Basically, you can go around like a hot sauce buffet and dip your crackers or chips into the samples for a taste. No problem, I can handle my hot sauces! The first few I tried which had delightfully humorous names like Bayou Butt Burner, and The Beast, among others were fine, hot, but fine, so I got cocky! The next one I just had to try was called ‘One Fuckin Drop at a Time Hot Sauce’, so like the others, I dipped my cracker right into the sauce and shoved the whole damn thing into my gob. It was fine, at first, and then… SWEET MOTHER OF HOLY DIVINE CHRIST! The tears started to roll down my cheeks, my whole life flashed before my eyes, and I had to have a little sit down while my mouth paralysis subsided and my vision returned! Lesson learned - DON’T GET COCKY IN A SAUCE BAR!
Honey Island Swamps, Louisiana
So you might think that a trip to New Orleans is all about Bourbon Street and Jazz music, wrong! Swamps, swamps, and more swamps! No trip is complete without a trip to Honey Island which is about an hour’s drive from the city. Take a tour. I’ve been twice with Cajun Encounter Tours and I highly recommend them. You’ll see alligators, raccoons, snakes, turtles, maybe bald eagles if you’re lucky, and wild boars like in the photo, can you see them? They blend into their surroundings quite well. Oh and we got to feed them hotdogs - not something you get to do everyday!
The Dark Hedges, Antrim, N. Ireland
Hands up if you’re a Game of Thrones fan and recognise these trees! *My hand is slightly raised above my shoulder as I was an extra in GOT season 1 but that’s as much as I watched, so I’ve a bit to catch up on. Anyway, The Dark Hedges in Stranocum doubled as The Road to Kings Landing, and is one of many GOT filming locations dotted around Antrim. We were glamping just up the road at Thornfield Farm so we took a trip at 6am one morning to get some decent photos minus the tourists in the background. It truly is like something out of a fairytale.