Sue Swan

swanningaround

Sue Swan



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Former TravelPod Member: swanning_around


Joined: April 5th, 2010

From: lives in United Kingdom
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Europe » Norway » Western Norway May 31st 2023

Cruise Barcelona to Amsterdam via the North Cape of Norway, May 4-28 THERE IS A PROBLEM, PHOTOS WILL NOT UPLOAD TO THE BLOG SITE SO I AM POSTING THIS BEFORE I LEAVE FOR PNG TOMORROW AND WILL TRY AND ADD THE PHOTOS AS SOON AS I CAN. I HAD THIS PROBLEM ONCE BEFORE AND THE NEXT DAY IT WORKED AS NORMAL. IT ACCEPTED 5 FOR SOME REASONđŸ€·đŸ»â€â™€ïžđŸ€ŠđŸ»â€â™€ïž This trip was a last minute decision when it became clear that the house hunt in Worcester was not going to happen as planned. So I jumped aboard a Holland America ship, the Nieuw Statendam, a pinnacle class ship which is HALs largest and newest class. I didn’t think I would blog as I wasn’t expecting the destinations to be too exciting but hopefully the trip would give me ... read more
A Sami herder in traditional clothes
Our beer at Honnigsvag, the top of Norway as glass shows
The mysterious dancer above the waterfall

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Devon March 29th 2023

CLOVELLY, HARTLAND & LUNDY I had a lovely few days in Eastbourne and managed to celebrate my birthday actually on the day, the first time since we started travelling. It is always good to meet up with friends. Then I moved to Camberley, again to celebrate birthdays and eat and drink. I kept telling myself I could cut back on both once I reached Lundy. The day I was due to leave we woke up to see the garden and cars covered in snow. A beautiful winter picture but not ideal to travel in especially over Salisbury Plain. I turned over and went back to sleep. Barry & Carolyn had kindly suggested I stay longer until the weather improved. I needed no encouragement once I saw the snow! But the next day was fine as the ... read more
Steep climb
Cosy Red Lion pub
Clovelly beach

Antarctica » Antarctica February 23rd 2023

Antarctic Cruise aboard Oosterdam 2 - 24 February 2023 Once aboard the Oosterdam, I switched into ‘Travel Lite’ mode so there is not a huge amount to blog about. Life aboard the ship is so easy, as long as the presence of other people doesn’t disturb you. Unexpectedly I was upgraded at the last minute from an Ocean view cabin on deck 1 to a Verandah cabin on deck 5. It is very comfortable. We had a day in port in Buenos Aires before setting sail so I took an excursion organised by Holland America to a gaucho estancia. It was a lovely day despite not seeing any cattle. We were welcomed with wine and freshly made empanadas, one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted. They were wonderful. We could eat as many ... read more
Carriage at gaucho estancia
Workers bar at Estancia San Lorenzo museum
Intertwined movement of horses in complicated figure of eight


Puerto IguazĂș I want to start with an apology to those of you who messaged me via the blog site. For some reason the messages didn’t trigger alerts to me so I didn’t know they were there and only found them by accident yesterday. Thank you for your messages, I love receiving them and will reply to you all shortly. This is a short blog to record the stay at Tupa Lodge I am still in PI, as after trying again there was still no suitable accommodation in San Ignacio. I did not want to go further to other towns as it would have meant a six or seven hour journey each way, but I was getting bored with the Hotel Tourbillon where I was staying. It was fine for visits to the falls which are ... read more
One side of my balcony
The other side
Breakfast bar, look at the goodies

South America » Argentina » Buenos Aires January 23rd 2023

IguazĂș January 2023 I didn’t blog before Christmas on my last adventure. I had no excuse, just too lazy, although an excuse did present itself when I caught Covid. However if I am totally honest everything went too smoothly and there wasn’t a lot to blog about! This time I plan to add to the blog every few days so it doesn’t become a chore, and as I am travelling alone to begin with there might be more to report. After a lovely Christmas with the girls and partners in Worcester then a week cat-sitting with Jet in Swaffham Bulbeck I took an early BA flight from Heathrow to Madrid. The plane only had 60 passenger so it was a calm and comfortable flight with a row to myself and no-one in front or behind. It ... read more
Jacaranda, love the feet!
Silver Teal
Southern Screamer

Africa » Madagascar » Nosy Be October 30th 2022

*** Only one snake in this blog, the last photo after Exora hotel. **** I promised video clips but travelblog seems to have removed that option from its menu. Sorry about that, will have to think of another option. If anyone knows how I could do it, please let me know. After the evening at African House it was an early start but this time only as far as the 4x4 vehicles for the journey east along the RN2. It was an all day drive, stopping for lunch en route, so we sat back to enjoy the view. Tana is huge so it takes a long time to get clear of the city. We had driven for an hour or so when a message came through from one of the other drivers that his vehicle was ... read more
But he’s not exactly smiling about it!
Typical scene in east
Radiated Tortoises used to be common

Africa » Madagascar » Nosy Be October 26th 2022

*********Anyone not keen on snakes, please note that the last 4 photos have snakes in them so stop when you get to the dinner at African House After a night in Tana we had to be up at 3am to be at the airport by 4 to check in for a 6am flight. I woke up at 2.50am, thinking firstly, I don’t want to get up, secondly, why do I feel strange? A minute later I knew why as I raced to the bathroom with a very severe bout of vomiting. Eventually, after cleaning up and showering, I put my towel back on the rail, which promptly fell off the wall! Clearly, it was not going to be a good day. I made it downstairs with packed bag, but of course could not eat or drink. ... read more
Huge articulated lorry overturned on road
Shaman of village near Black Lemur Camp
Pounding rice.

Africa » Madagascar » Nosy Be October 22nd 2022

(I have now finished the group tour but had no time to write a blog & no signal to send it anyway so I am trying to bring them up to date in the next few days, so apologies if they come thick & fast! On the other hand, they may not go at all, so fingers crossed) Daniel, the wildlife expert ( mainly herpetology, the little things), and Harry, (Hery), the Malagasy tour guide/director met me at the airport. The group met up on the evening of the October 1, and set off early on the 2nd. We soon realised ‘early’ was our new normal! We rarely started later than 6am and sometimes earlier. It was a motley crew, sharing only one thing in common, we are all retired and of a certain age. There ... read more
Pirogue rowers start young!
Party by the shore?
Not sure where she is going, but can you see the yellow ‘mask’

Africa » Madagascar » Toliara » Tolear September 30th 2022

. MADAGASCAR Ethiopian Airlines delivered me safely to Antananarivo ( not surprisingly known as Tana for short), the capital of Madagascar after a 7 1/2 flight London to Addis Ababa, and 4 hour flight from Addis to Tana. The whole journey was very smooth and well organised and on exiting I soon saw my guide with my name on a card. Rainbow Tours arranged the trip, using an agent company called Za, here on the ground. So far everything has worked like clockwork and I have been passed like a precious parcel from one person to another and tracked all the way as I move on. After arriving from London I slept a night in Tana and was whisked away early in the morning for a flight to Tulear ( or Toliara, more about names shortly), ... read more
One type of spiny bush
Ifaty beach
Madagascar bee eater

Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Barcelona July 29th 2022

CRUISING I started writing this blog a few days ago by talking about destinations but half way through I decided to change the format. The reason being, I have been seeing so many wonderful historic sites that even I am beginning to feel jaded and think, oh, yet another cathedral/castle/ancient ruin etc. I have enjoyed them all but there is a limit to how much you can take in day after day! A sea day came as a welcome break. If that is the effect on me I think it could be much worse for readers. Plus I thought some people might like more information about the cruise experience, particularly for a lone traveller so I will start there and then go through the destinations and if boredom sets in you can stop reading. Jim & ... read more
The Sea Walk, disconcerting just to see sea below your feet
Ship’s atrium 3 decks high
The Egg Drop competition- good to see the hard hat!




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