Geo: 28.8634, -13.8273Farewell to Lanzarote for the third and final (?) time.Our 3 months in Lanzarote has flown by and on Sunday 2nd April we return to the UK to stay with Anna for a couple of days before collecting Astrid from store. Each time we return it is like coming home despite the change of people on the complex. The furnishings in the house are the same, just a tad more rusty than previously, the umbrellas in need of repair or replacement and the complex needs a touch of tlc but having said that it is in one of the best positions in Playa Blanca with views to the Papagayo beaches one way and an easy walk into the small town the other way. Given the increased demand for accommodation here it is also good ... read more

Geo: 42.387, 141.01816 - 25 July 2016 From Tokyo to Kyoto, Himeji, Naoshima in the Inland Sea and Hokkaido.Gilli departed early on the 16th and we left Anna & James in Tokyo to enjoy their last couple of days alone and then set off back to Kyoto. The reason for this is that Kyoto has an annual festival, the Gion Matsuri Festival which lasts the whole of July in Gion but with the highlight, a procession, on the 17th.We doubted whether we could get there in time as initially we were only able to book accommodation in Gion on Airbnb for 4 nights from the 17th but the procession starts at 9am and we would not be able to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto early enough. All the accommodation, understandably, was fully booked for the 16th ... read more

Geo: 50.2662, -3.6542England 23rd March - 28th AprilThis is just a short update for anyone wondering where we are and what we are up to.We returned to the UK at least a month too early - it has been very cold and wet since we arrived! There has been frost on numerous nights and the first couple of weeks were uncomfortable to say the least. I had decided not to blog during the summer but as we are both finding our memories weakening I decided it might be a good idea to make a few notes so we know where we have been. Astrid was in very good condition when we collected her but when we started her up, although the vehicle battery was fine and started first time, the auxiliary or leisure battery did not ... read more

Geo: 23.1168, -82.3886Cuba 30 January to 27 February 2016Apologies for the length of this blog - it was impossible to post anything in Cuba.Before starting I think it might be useful to say a few words about the recent history of Cuba. I remembered the names of these things but had not really understood what they were about as like some of you I was very young when, for example, the Bay of Pigs Fiasco occurred, and many of you were not born. Most of this is from the Lonely Planet so any inaccuracies are theirs! If you are not interested in history skip to the end of the bold text.The Fight for IndependenceCuba suffered many years of attacks by Privateers from European countries and was eventually colonised by the Spanish. They fought for independence from ... read more

Geo: 7.11331, -73.1205Cartagena to Minca 21 December - 8 January 2016The flight from Bogota to Cartagena was very short and much more comfortable than a long bus ride. We enjoyed a relaxing Christmas in Cartagena, founded in 1533 by a Spaniard. It soon became a rich town as it was the main Spanish port on the Caribbean where all the gold stolen from indigenuous communities in South America was stored before being transported back to Spain. Because of this it was a prime target for buccaneers and it was sacked three times in the 16 Century alone. Sir Frances Drake was persuaded not to raise it to the ground again in 1586 by being given a payment of 10 Million Pesos. After this the Spaniards set about protecting the town by surrounding it with fortified walls.Walking ... read more