Eight travel photos of happiness
A little while ago the lovely Ting from My Travel Monkey tagged me in eight travel photos of happiness. It’s a great meme that gives me the chance to share a small collection of the many happy moments from our adventures.
It was hard work choosing just eight photos that bring me joy every time I look at them, but here’s what I came up with. They’re not the best quality shots, but they mean a lot to me.
Contents - jump to what you'd like to know
West Wittering, West Sussex
This photo was taken just down the coast from where we live in Hampshire. The Witterings are beautiful sandy beaches which are packed full of sun seekers during the summer. We visited West Wittering beach on a dull Saturday in July 2014 so there were few other people. However, the water was warm on our toes and we must have walked a mile or so down the shoreline. In the picture are Tin Box Tot, myself, a friend’s daughter and Tin Box Dog who is just about to chase her ball. It oozes seaside fun.
Ardeche, France
You won’t catch me sharing many photos of me in a bikini after having two kids so there’s no prizes for guessing this picture was taken quite a few years ago. We were on a month-long road trip around Western Europe and had stopped for a few days in Ardeche in France. This snap was taken during a canoe expedition down part of the river. It was great fun, even if Mr TB did despair at my lack of coordination and ability to steer.
Hartland Quay, North Devon
Cafe del Mar, Ibiza
A part from when I was 17 I’ve never had much of an urge to visit Ibiza. However, it came up in a last minute search when we were looking for a cheap getaway after Mr TB had finished a six month deployment with the Royal Navy in 2011. Our main goal was for a quiet villa break – we had no plans to dance the night away but we were tempted into San Antonio on one evening. Our first destination was Cafe del Mar where we had a few gin and tonics and watched the sun set. Both the view and the atmosphere were unlike anything I’ve experienced before. If you are going to do anything when you visit Ibiza, this is a must.
Mansands, South Devon
This picture was taken on our first beach day of this summer. We had been in South Devon for nearly a week but the bad weather had meant we didn’t go to the beach until the end of our visit. We found this quiet cove just down the road from Brixham where we had the sand all to ourselves. We spent all morning making sand castles, exploring caves and building dams in the freshwater stream that ran onto the beach. It may have been our only beach day of the week but it was perfect.
Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich
Flying to Glasgow
This is another moment from this year. Last month in fact. Tin Box Baby and I went to visit a friend in Scotland for a few days and flew from Southampton to Glasgow. It was TBB’s first flight and even though we were going to be in the air for barely an hour I was still worried about how she’d take it. It turns out that my little traveller is just as happy in the air as on the ground. It was a massive relief and I was so proud of her.
The Grand Canyon, Arizona
After getting married in 2008 we set off on a three-part honeymoon. It was a tour arranged through Virgin Holidays stopping in Las Vegas, Cancun and New York. When we booked it we were more interested in the Mexican and Big Apple stages but I was pleasantly surprised by our experience in and around Sin City. Yep, Vegas is plastic fantastic, but what a spectacle. We also got up ridiculously early one morning to do a sunrise helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. I’ll never forget drinking champagne beside the Colorado River and being dazzled by the sheer scale of this natural wonder.
So there is a small selection of my travel photos of happiness. I’d like to tag Five Adventurers, Wyld Family Travel, Around the World with a Highchair and Four Around the World if you’d like to take part.
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Photos are just brilliant aren't they? They can bring back memories and take you right there again! You have been so many places, you are so adventurous I love it! Thanks for sharing in #HappyDaysLinky x
Ha! There were a few moments when I was sure we'd left my stomach behind. I'm not great with heights and our pilot seemed intend on scaring us but I would do it again in a heartbeat 🙂
Thanks Franca. Definitely make sure you do the helicopter tour – it is money well spent. If only I could squeeze into that bikini now 🙂 X
I love little surprises like that – they really make a trip and are the things you remember most in years to come x
Aww, thank you. I hope it was all good 🙂 X
Thank so much for the tag and sorry again that I took so long about it. I had so many pictures that I could have included. I had to be brutal in the end and settle for including the ones that didn't make the cut in my Travel Timehop on Thursdays X
Ha! I took a while about doing mine too. You can't rush a good thing 🙂
Thank you. It was lovely to be able to collate them like this as they really are saved now 🙂
Thank you! They really are x
I know, what a pro. We'll be OK if we ever get lost in a forest 🙂 x
Thank you! West Wittering really is a great beach. I always say dream about owning one of the houses overlooking it 🙂 X
Ah, you're never too old for Cafe deal Mar. It really wasn't what I was expecting. It's such a chilled out experience 🙂
Absolutely! You can't stage a great memory – they creep up on you. I have to agree about Cafe del Mar with a baby. Not really compatible…or is that the partying after sunset? 😉 x
You're welcome. I love doing this kind of meme but have to admit I always take ages about it 🙂
Thanks Morgan. The Grand Canyon was amazing. I'm so glad we got to see it as part of our honeymoon even though I was a bit sceptical to begin with X
Fantastic Mark. Can't wait to see it 🙂
I hope so! 🙂
Thanks Chloe x
Aww, thanks Cathy 🙂
Oh wow what a great mix of pictures and they look like wonderful memories to have. I would love to go to the Grand Canyon however having been in one helicopter I can honestly say I'm not in rush to do it again (wimp!) #KCACOLS
These photos are all beautiful and of course meaningful! I can imagine all the magic moments that you have captured here. It must have been so emotional to go through them and remember each of them again, right? The helicopter one at the Grand Canyon is spectacular!!!! This is a trip that I would love to do some day. My parents have done it and they told me that it is amazing. So it is in my to do list. You are rocking it baby in your bikini LOL They are all lovely memories!! I have been tagged to do this and I have completely forgotten about it!!! It is nice one to do so I will try to make some time to do it!! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS lovely!!! It is so nice to see you back for this week too!! I love lit!! 🙂 xx
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I LOVE all these photos and everything they represent both from your past and present, what wonderful memories. I totally agree with you on Vegas too, we went last year as OH had a work trip there and I was so surprised how much I loved it. And the Canyon is just out of this world. Beautiful photos Xx #HappyDays
Fab photo's lovely! I've heard lots about you from other bloggers but haven't got around to visiting the blog, so I was quite happy to see you link up to #KCACOLS, I will definitely pop back to read about some of your adventures! xx
Such a lovely post Claire and so glad you joined in. It's so tough isn't it? Love the one of South Devon – just captures it all… xx
Such lovely pictures and a lovely post! I love this meme, its such a great idea. I got tagged into it a little while ago (ahem), so reading yours reminded me that I need to do mine 🙂 Emily #KCACOLS
Wonderful memories and lovely photos, the sort of moments that stay with you forever
What a good idea and a great collection of photos. Happy memories. #HappyDays
Lovely set of photos and how wonderful to revisit all those memories. I love the beach at West Wittering – haven't been there for years though! Will have to add Jimmy's Farm to the list of places to visit some time – it sounds like a great day out and I love the den that Mr TB built 🙂
Loved reading this, you have been to some amazing places. I love West Wittering, it is so special there. Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
Wow, brilliant picks (and pics!) Cafe del Mar is one of my favourite places on earth. Sadly I'm not sure I'll be going back anytime soon with a baby, but it never seems to change so hopefully when I next visit it will still be just as great. I love how chilled out it is. Love the photos at the beach too – some of the best memories are made when you least expect them #Thelist
Love that your 8 photo's are all travel related! I still need to do my 8 photo's as I was tagged by Aby to do the same! I just need to move the photo's from my pc to mac. Thanks for sharing and the reminder too! Stopping by from #thelist
A fantastic post! I've been to a few of those places too and loved them, especially the Grand Canyon. You've got some lovely photos. xx
Great Pictures Claire and great memories for you i am just starting my article now cheers thanks for including us
Great pics Claire! Your girls have definitely caught your travel bug:)
Oh these pictures are so beautiful. You've captured such lovely memories. I love looking at things like this, you can really see what someone holds precious and really see someone else's journey. xxx #thelist
Love these – what a great mix, love the travel memories and very cute shots of the new tiny travellers too.