"GeoV Homepage" GeoV's Profile

My wife and I travel as often as we reasonably can. On occasions we think that has actually been - dare I say it? - too much. We are not averse to returning to places but, as an example, the recent sequence Malta - Armenia - Northern Ireland does give an idea of how varied our movements are likely to be. We need some time to absorb the feel of a place and don't always allow ourselves that. But we're not going to sit at home and worry about it!

Mostly we travel within Europe. An average trip would involve looking at architecture, sampling the scenery and carrying a pair of binoculars for a little bird-watching. The relative proportions depend on the location but, where possible, we visit local churches - or mosques, or synagogues. The interest in religious architecture is less to do with our devout natures than a practical matter with its roots in Wales. Here in Wales, with the exception of our many castles, the oldest building anywhere is probably a church. So the interest developed from there....

For us, travel leads to books - which lead to further travel. If there is a local book available, we'll probably buy it. The collection, now running into thousands, is expanded when back home through visits to second-hand bookshops and, increasingly, charity shops. Here I should express my gratitude to people who travel, buy books they don't really need and donate them to charity shops. It's a particular pleasure, for instance, if you have travelled to Sigtuna, a delightful small town near Stockholm, and failed to find a suitable book about the place, when one turns up several years later in a charity shop in Llandrindod Wells, central Wales. But, in addition to the historical and topographical, we then buy books by local authors, books about local artists, local cookery books.... It all adds to the enjoyment but sometimes you wonder whether it's a good idea living in a small reference library.

As regards VirtualTourist, my aim - when I'm not being distracted by planning another trip - is not to set any records but to pass on information and pictures about places which may not be quite on the main tourist trail. (If they're way off the trail, I haven't been there!) So it doesn't require any special effort or equipment - no even a pair of hiking boots - to reach the places I mention, although a bit of planning and a car can sometimes be helpful.

Having to alter various references here from "partner" to "wife" has finally prompted me to add a little to this homepage. The honeymoon, incidentally, was based in Blarney, Ireland. I'm afraid neither of us kissed the Blarney Stone to be granted the gift of lifelong eloquence. Indeed, in the absence of a reverse Blarney Stone which my wife felt might shut me up once in a while, we thought it best that no stones whatsoever were kissed.

I should introduce you to my mascot "Nick", pictured above. Nick lives outside St. Nicholas Church, Newbury, Berkshire. I have no connection with the town, except as an occasional stopping point on the way to a London airport, so we don't see much of each other. As you may surmise from the pair of horns, Nick is a small devil but you can also see from the expression on his face that his heart isn't in it. Nick has never harmed anyone, never even scared anyone. He just looks like a scruffy, lost dog so I thought I would adopt him. He helps remind me of the mildly subversive (and irreverent) side of my nature.

More will follow....eventually....