Author Archives: BarryH

Banff, Canada: After The Fire

Posted on February 26, 2017 by BarryH

The fire on the night of 28/29 December dramatically changed the focus of the trip. With nothing but what I was wearing when I evacuated the hotel into -25oC, the priorities for the next few days were somewhat heavily circumscribed: … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Landscape, Mountains, Photography, Weather, Winter | Tagged Banff, Banff Avenue, Canada, canadian rockies, hotel fire, ice crytals, Mount Royal Fire, Mount Rundle, Sanson's Peak, shopping, sulphur mountain | Leave a comment

Banff, Canada: ……… and then the hotel burnt down

Posted on January 9, 2017 by BarryH

If I may quote HMQ speaking on British TV in November 1992, for me and for many others I’m sure, 2016 was an Annus Horribilis, a horrible arse of a year. Returning to Banff in early February to continue to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Health and humour, Winter | Tagged Annus Horibilis, Banff, Canada, canadian rockies, Christmas, community spirit, First World Problems, flight delays, Greek Health Service, health, hotel fire, Mount Royal Hotel, New Year, skiing, Symi | 5 Comments

Banff, Canada: A Rocky white Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2016 by BarryH

A change of scene. And what a contrast. After a journey during which British Airways and Air Canada seemed to conspire to cover themselves with ignominy rather than glory we arrived in Banff a day late and minus three of … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Landscape, Mountains, Photography, Weather, Winter | Tagged banff canada, Canada, canadian rockies, Christmas, mountains, New Year, photography, skiing, snow | Leave a comment

Symi: focus ….. and losing it

Posted on November 30, 2016 by BarryH

I don’t consider myself an adrenalin junkie, though I know some who disagree. But one thing which I have learned from ‘adrenalin sports’ (white water kayaking, paragliding, climbing ….) is the importance of maintaining focus. Lose it and there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Tagged adrenalin sports, Agia Paraskevi, ancient olive press, bees, Caetopelma Aegyptiacum, dehydration, eucalyptus trees, Greece, honey, kalderimi, photography, Symi, Symi Spider, trekking | Leave a comment

Seven years. Missed no less

Posted on October 28, 2016 by BarryH

Posted in Grey Britain, Landscape, Mountains, Photography, Pontypool, Reflections, Wales | Tagged brecon beacons national park, remembering | 2 Comments

Nisyros: Rock around the volcano

Posted on October 9, 2016 by BarryH

Signs on roads and footpaths around Nisyros point to ‘The Volcano’ in English and in Greek. Arrive by boat in the harbour and you are offered coach trips to The Volcano. A bit misleading that because by the time you … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Photography | Tagged ancient routeways, caldera, craters, desert, fumaroles, Greece, lava, lava bubble, lava pinnacles, lava sculptures, Nikia, Nisyros, photography, seismic activity, Stephanos, sulphur, Volcano | 1 Comment

Nisyros: All in a day’s trek

Posted on September 3, 2016 by BarryH

I have been back to the UK planning to continue the blog about treks on Symi but mundane stuff got in the way. Now I’m on Nisyros and as always blown away by this place. Been out in the mountains … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Tagged ancient houses, archaeology, bats, caldera, craters, drought, fumaroles, Greece, horseshoe bats, mountains, Nisyros, seismic fissure, snakes, snakeskin, sulphur, Symi, Volcano | 5 Comments

Symi: Rambling around the past

Posted on August 4, 2016 by BarryH

WARNING: make yourself comfortable and a cup of coffee before starting to read this. If there is anyone out there hooked on Barry’s Ramblings and having withdrawal symptoms, apologies! I have had people staying with me most of the time … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, History, Landscape, Mountains, Photography, Wales | Tagged archaeology, architecture, cromlech, dolmen, Greece, Greek archaeology, Neoilithic, Nimborio, St David's, Symi, Toli, Wales | 3 Comments

Symi: Going wild again

Posted on June 25, 2016 by BarryH

Flight back to Rhodes Saturday. Ferry to Symi early Sunday morning. A few hours putting the house back to rights after leaving it packed up in a hurry not knowing when, or if, I would return. Sunday afternoon I took … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Photography | Tagged footpaths, Greece, hiking, Horio, kalderimi, Symi, trails, trekking | 2 Comments

Symi: going wild

Posted on May 29, 2016 by BarryH

I was discharged from hospital on Rhodes on a Wednesday, six days after having been rushed there by a combination of ambulances and fast coastguard cutter. Engine management system rebooted, once again firing on all four cylinders, on the Tuesday … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Health and humour, Hiking, History, Landscape, Mountains, Photography | Tagged Agia Paraskevi, ancient olive press, Greece, Horio, kalderimi, Nimborio Bay, Pedi Bay, Symi, Yialos | Leave a comment