Why did we decide to escape the warmer weather?

After a very hectic first 3 months to the year, we decided to head to the UK for a week over Easter. We left Rome in sunny 25˚C weather and two hours later arrived to an overcast 8˚C maximum. To be expected at that time of the year, but a shock to the system non-the-less and just when my bones were beginning to welcome spring in Italy!! The reason for not seriously considering living in this part of the world was certainly reinforced. However, we were with good friends and family and that made up for the wind, rain and cold ... out with the warm coats again!

The first few days were spent in Robin Hood territory - spring is a beautiful time of the year and 2012 was no exception. So, off to Newark, Nottingham and Sherwood Forest it was .....

After a few days in the Nottingham area, we ventured to Southend-on-Sea to visit family. It is needless to say that the weather had not improved but we were beginning to acclimatize. Although we were in the area for 2 nights only, we did manage to get out a little.

We then drove across country again to near the central Welsh border - Snailsbeach! I had never heard of the place before but it existed, it was pretty and full of good people. It even had a pub with a warm wood fire ...... what more could man want!

 All in all, a cool and wet holiday but we still managed to get around, have lots of fun and relax!

Isola de Ventotene

Not far off the coast, and just south of Rome, is a small island called Ventotene. Although many people know of the island, it is usually the larger neighbour called Ponza that is visited - it is larger and there is more to do. The easiest way to get to Ventotene is to take a train or car to Formia and then a ferry that takes 30 - 60 minutes (in summer there are a good number of ferries each day).

Although a small island, Ventotene has a fair amount to offer: a great little harbour, boating, scuba diving (including a number of schools), a good restaurant, plenty of accommodation and a nice protected beach. A very nice place for a few days. However, the main attraction for me is that it has to be one of the best birding destinations in Italy during the spring migration period - April / early May is the peak. It is early landfall for many of the migratory birds coming back from Africa to summer in Europe. As the island is small, the density of birds can get awesome. Many of the birds are exhausted and hungry, which means that they are often not as skittish of humans as they are normally. One may not get the diversity of species as in other parts of the world, but the share numbers and proximity is special.

The other advantage of this is that photographing the birds is relatively easier and it is not uncommon to come back from a weekend with a good number of above average images of birds. The island itself also makes for good photography. Some examples from previous years ....

 

I have not been there for four years but I am going back in a few hours ..... watch this space!!