We did exactly the same thing. We made the mistake of returning to south Devon one Easter, after enjoying holidays there in previous years (despite once getting caught in an apocalyptic rainstorm on Dartmoor). But that Easter we found Dartmoor to be full! And the beautiful daffodil woods were trampled. I suppose it had become ‘the thing’ to do. It was a bit early for Facebook and Instagram to be the cause. Anyway, we subsequently chose the south Brittany coast and had wonderful holidays with great seafood, deserted beaches and local fêtes. Brittany was perfect in summer, Greece in spring. Blue skies, happy days. But I’m sad to see the Greek islands overwhelmed by visitors these days - building airports was a bad idea. I wouldn’t go back now.
It’s necessary to choose carefully. Two years ago we toured the Peloponnese and last year the north which included a return trip down to the Pelion. Both holidays were in early September and we encountered mostly very light traffic and small numbers of tourists. Nafplio on the first trip was the exception and very busy. In some parts of the Pelopponese we hardly saw any cars. We pulled up regularly to look at birds of prey. We both particularly love the Pelion. It’s got everything an island can offer and more - trees in abundance, beautiful mountain villages and stunning wild beaches if that’s your sort of thing. There are also wonderful mountain villages in the Peloponnese. I wouldn’t dream of revisiting islands like Santorini but I believe there are plenty more minor islands that still manage to stay free of the tourist hordes.
The trouble is that one’s love for an unspoilt area is just opening it up to more tourism. Building airports may be a bad idea for nature lovers, but for local people who want a way to earn money it was possibly a life saver that means they are able to stay on an island rather than move to big city.
I’ve found that you only have to go a couple of km from big tourist centres to get some peace and quiet. Bits of Ibiza are delightful for example.
I’m very much hoping that an after effect of the virus is a greater emphasis on low key and responsible tourism.
How petty can one get?
It would have been so easy. "I’m very sorry. I expressed myself badly and I didn’t mean to upset those good people. What I meant was. . . . "
Everyone would have thought well of him, but pride and arrogance didn’t permit him to admit that Starmer was right and so he missed an opportunity to be seen as a decent human being.
Maybe he just isn’t a decent human being?
I don’t know what the current situation re these charges is… but the idea of charging staff to park at their place of work is just ghastly.
Beggars belief… almost lost for words… (but not quite 
)
What really beggars belief is that Doris seemed to respond at PMQs by suggesting that NHS staff were not being charged for parking 
His big problem on this of course is his party’s paymasters probably own all the land and companies running this racket…
I think all this started because nasty people were using hospital parking when they had no business with the hospitals, but just didn’t want to pay for town centre parking. Charging was seen as a way of keeping them out. But it would have been very easy to exempt staff, patients and visitors.
If any potential employer had told me there was a charge for using the company parking, I would have told them where to go and what to do when they got there.
Why did the unions allow it? It’s criminal exploitation!
We only know the Cyclades. We loved Paros and Naxos, and Sifnos back in 1982 was wonderful. The locals were so friendly and helpful. Your reply got me looking at the map and now I’m marvelling at the geography of Greece. Pelion sounds interesting.
I remember first going to Greece in the early eighties and people who had previously spent months exploring the country were incensed when the Rough Guide to Greece was published. Suddenly all those special places were advertised to all.
I used to try and find a dive centre on a small island off the beaten track, then work out how to get there and find somewhere to stay. Best ever was Antiparos.
“From clap for carers, to clamp for carers the government needs to think again. Keep it free like Wales and most of Scotland.”
Gloucester is very close to the centre of the town and people used to park there, but a little imagination could have been used to avoid staff and patirnts from having to pay.
It was supposed to be a smoke free zone too, but I had to hold my breath and run through a fug of smoke on my cancer follow ups.
I made a programme on the local evening news, which got taken over by a man smoking whilst attached to his drip. I got a place on the working group and they were worse than useless.
I’ve sailed by and flown over this holiday destination… a fascinating history.
I wonder if I can get one of their Passports and will it be recognised by the French Govt 
It is always a surprise to see guys with a drip having a smoke outside the hospital entrance. But even more shocking to see someone with a white coat and stethoscope doing the same. Dr. Phil Hammond said, “People want doctors to make them better, so they can go back to doing what made them ill in the first place!”
It’s many years since doctors in the UK wore white coats.
It’s many years since I’ve been anywhere near a UK hospital. Talking about France, sadly.
Amazing headline in The Guardian today…
Brexit – we’re not ready, trade secretary warns
No surprise to people here, of course - but still, the fact that a letter has been sent from some ministers warning that the brexit plans announced by other ministers are unworkable - days after they all missed the deadline to extend the transition - speaks volumes about UK government dysfunction.
People (i.e Truss in this instance) are getting their excuses in early.
The first of the rats leaving the sinking ship!