Cyn

Recently my family and I traveled through southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.  Along the way we discovered the Rio Grande Gorge.

To say the gorge is beautiful is an understatement of epic proportions.  It was awe inspiring, and so much more.  In a feeble attempt to capture its impressiveness, I'm including a photo.  The sun wasn't optimal while we were there and perhaps other photos I took later will give the gorge its just due.

Our dear encourager, Emma, from the UK, asked about writers and traveling.  Her questions were as follows:

Have you done much travelling at all, if so where was the

a) best place you've ever been to and why?

b) the worst place and why?

c) the weirdest place and why?

d) did you incorporate any of your experiences with travelling in your books at all?

To answer Emma's question I would have to say that Ireland was one of the most awesome places I've visited.  I loved the countryside, loved the ocean, the green, the castles, the people.  Wasn't too fond of the food, but I suspect if you lived there you'd find a way to adjust!

I've also traveled to several of the former Eastern Bloc countries.  I loved Prague, but I truly thought the area around Warsaw, Poland was stunning.

The weirdest place I've been?  I'd have to say the Dublin, Ireland airport where I "witnessed" an armed robbery.  That might be tied, though, with the taxi I was in when I visited New York City that backed up on the highway to get off on an exit!

The worst place?  I can't say there was really a "worst" place although I have no overwhelming desire to return to Berlin.  It just didn't impress me all that much.

So, do I use the places I visit in my novels?  Absolutely!  Watchtowers Water was set in western Ireland and so was Reynardine.