Sophie’s World

Inspired by a cold, dark wintry Oslo, here’s where I’d rather be right now:

1.  Svalbard - even colder and darker, Spitsbergen is magical during the polar night.
2. Oz – anywhere in Oz would be super, smack right in the middle of summer. Take me there! Tasmania! Never been to Tas. Would love to go to Tas.
3. Devonport, New Zealand – right now, I’d love to walk along Narrow Neck beach gazing at the sail boats passing by Rangitoto and all the other islands in the beautiful Hauraki Gulf. (Well, it’s midnight right now – but let’s say a lazy stroll along the beach tomorrow afternoon).
4. Singapore – I wouldn’t mind having a coffee by the book store on the corner of Orchard and Scott – watching hectic Singapore hurry by, while I had all the time in the world.
5. Buenos Aires – one of my favourite cities in the world. I’d land early, then head directly to the centre to watch the city wake up, either from a café serving medialunas - or stroll along the avenues. A nice 25 degrees C is forecasted for tomorrow morning.
6. Paris – winter or not – Paris is always wonderful. Right now, Paris is slightly cloudy with a bit of wind and 9 degrees C, just warm enough for an ice cream from the Berthillon shop on Ile St Louis. Saturday will be quite a bit colder - I’d slouch about in the dusty, delightful Shakespeare & Co.
7. I could be on top of Table Mountain as well right now – looking out on Cape Town, one of the most stunningly located cities in the world, or
8. get sunburnt in Windhoek. Haven’t been to Namibia for 15 years – it’s bound to have changed heaps. But I’d probably still get a sun burn.

Where would you rather be?

Norfolk Island, that little paradise in the Pacific, was brought to my attention again a few days ago, when a New Zealander pleaded guilty to the murder of a young Sydney-woman on the island nearly five years ago. A dramatic event for the little island, as there hadn’t been a reported murder for 148 years.

In sharp contrast to this, is the island’s more remote past. The island was first settled as a home for one of Britain’s most brutal penal colonies. Later, the Bounty-folks moved in when Pitcairn proved too small. All in all, a surprisingly exciting little place.

The kids and I visited a few years ago - and we all adored it. We almost wished we had lived there for our 6-month Pacific jaunt. Although, 6 months on a small island… well, it would require some sort of project, I think. Like writing a book.

Norfolk Island is certainly high on my list of places to come back to. In fact, I’ll get my notes together and write a travel story about the island very soon.

If only it weren’t so far away……

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