Dear Divorce Doctor,

Thank You so much for the valuable sites.
What a gift you've given us.
I'm sure that not only myself, but other
posters will get great enjoyment from them.

One of the places that I'd like to know more
about - because of my ancestry - is Vilnius,
Lithuania, especially the old town.

I am saving up for a trip - sometime in the future.

Pericles,

Ditto with you on Rome.
In fact any place you can see grafitti that's older than our Nation is a humbling experience.

It's also interesting to see how many of those people relaxing and dining al fresco are residents and not tourists. Living "the sweet life" is not just a saying to many.

As for the crossing the roads, wait for a Nun - or bring one along with you.

Foxy the high country of the Sierra's including Yosemite. I've only been there in the fall (best weather for backpacking) and love it. I had the summit of Half Dome to myself for about 1/2 hour some years ago which was an awesome experience and I have amazing memories of a small lake well up in the mountains of Sierra NP after bad weather.

A fresh dusting of snow on the ridges and peaks around me, a very thin layer of ice on parts of the lake, everything I had with me trying out some version of frozen and beauty beyond belief. Earlier that day 'd trudged through a bitterly cold drizzle and some sleet, shivered in my tent for a couple of hours after struggling to set it up whilst numb with cold. Late in the afternoon the rain had cleared to the most amazing views. That night while talking to a fellow camper I'd seen what I think was the Space Station pass overhead in the clearest of sky's.

I did my first fully solo camp out many years before in Yosemite near Wowona beside a stream that turned into a waterfall not far away. There was some snow on the ground. I quiet night in another beautiful location which has stayed in my memory for many years.

R0bert

*The Whitsundays - would not be hard to take.
Whether its - Airlie Beach, or - Hamilton or
Daydream Island - they all have the makings of a
perfect holiday.*

Foxy, the Whitsundays are about more then a few
holiday resorts. There are around 60 islands
there, mostly uninhabited.

The question comes down to what amazes people
natural beauty or human creations.

The Greek islands are great fun for an Ouzo pissup
or a bit of wild sex with the many tourists enjoying
their annonimity from home. But in sheer natural beauty,
they don't come near the Whitsundays.

I've read Desmond Morrises "Human Zoo" so I do understand
why you city rats are happy being part of the ratrace :)

Each to their own I guess.

Dear wobbles,

I love your suggestion of bringing a nun
with you for safety in crossing the streets
of Rome.

Although it could become habit forming! :-)

Dear Robert,

The High Sierra's were one of our favourite
holiday destinations. We lived in California
for nine and a half years - and we made a trip
to Yosemite National Park - at least once a year.
It did wonders for our mental and physical well
being. I can still recall my first visit to the
Yosemite Valley - and seeing Bridalveil Falls
for the first time - and El Capitan - the gigantic
mass of unbroken granite that rises 1,100 metres
above the canyon, and Cloud's Rest, the highest
point in Yosemite Valley, that stands about 3,000
metres above the valley floor.

The sparkling lakes, rushing streams, jagged mountain
peaks, the bears, deer, raccoons, squirrels - sheer
paradise. Truly one of the most beautiful places on
earth.

Dear Yabby,

I am quite familiar with the Whitsundays -
and I should have made it clearer - that it
was their natural beauty that I found appealing.

I should have been more specific about
the Greek Islands as well. We usually when
travelling stay away from the tourist spots -
prefering to discover things for ourselves.
I love the whitewashed walls of the homes that
reflect the dazzling sunlight. And the cloudless
skies - during summer.

cont'd ...

Built into the cliffs overlooking the
Aegean Sea on Santorini, there's a small
hotel that makes the most of the super-dramatic
island setting.

The hotel's design uses local materials and
naturalistic forms to other-worldly effect,
sloping, cavelike walls, large, egg-shaped tables
and chairs, window views that look like a mirage.
There are no right angles here, it seems, just
sunbaked, earthy serenity ...