Vacation Dreams

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  • London Meeting, Saturday, November 6, 2021

    Speaking this month we have:

    1st Helen Crisp – Madrid – Midnight City

    Helen Crisp relates the story of a city and its people through the centuries, with a nod to well-known attractions and sights, as well as hidden gems.

    Madrid is Spain’s art capital, with its ‘Golden Triangle’ of museums and myriad art galleries, Madrid is also a city of dazzling nightlife, with a profusion of cafés and bars.

    Spain’s top city for tourism, Madrid attracts more than six million visitors a year. This is the story of a vibrant, energetic city, one that remains an enigma to many outsiders.


    2nd Neil FoulksRoad Trip New Zealand

    “If you’ve got money, your health and time, then do it. New Zealand is the best place in the world.”

    That was the advice given to Neil by that famous overlanding Yorkshireman Ian Coates. Full of enthusiasm he quit his job and set off just 3 weeks after The Overland Event 2017. Neil then spent 6,000 kilometres travelling around both of New Zealand’s islands.

    Find out more at http://naffphotographer.com/


    For forthcoming meetings we have

    • a donation £3 for members to cover our costs. Members will be emailed a ticket code link allowing access to this option or you can access it from the members area.
    • a donation of £6 for non-members, non-members may join the club for £12 per year and get this and future meetings at members rate for £12, members can also watch the 3 previous online talks, members also receive Globe our members magazine and our annual members calendar, why not join and enter your pictures.
    • a catch up to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders.
    • We have had confirmation that the Church of Scotland hall is open and we will be running this meeting as an in person at the hall plus we will be streaming it on zoom and will be following the same procedures as the west end theatres.

    For in person Tickets at the hall:

    For members online tickets:

    Date & Time:

    Saturday, November 6, 2021

    Doors open at 13:00 GMT in London, a condition of entry is proof of vaccination, a COVID lateral flow test within 48 hours or a positive PCR within 90 days, the easiest way of showing this is with the NHS Covid Pass which lets you show your COVID-19 status in a secure way. We will be carrying out temperature checks and asking visitors to confirm they do not have any symptoms on arrival. We would ask that anyone with symptoms or who needs to isolate participates via zoom.

    Last month meeting was very successful, the hall is well ventilated and we had no cases following the meeting.

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 GMT (London time see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

  • London Meeting, Saturday, October 2, 2021

    For the second month we will be running a hybrid meeting welcoming visitors to the hall in London and on Zoom simultaneously.

    Speaking this month we have:

    1st Jacqui Trotter -Headed Home Part 2: Kyrgyzstan & China

    Jacqui Trotter talks about her journey overland back home from London to Australia via Kyrgyzstan & China

    2nd Two mini-talks from Annc Freeborn and Eric Hayman

    Eric continues his talk that was interrupted last month.

    Date & Time:

    Saturday, October 2nd, 2021

    Doors open at 13:00 BST in London, a condition of entry is proof of vaccination, a COVID lateral flow test within 48 hours or a positive PCR within 90 days, the easiest way of showing this is with the NHS Covid Pass which lets you show your COVID-19 status in a secure way. We will be carrying out temperature checks and asking visitors to confirm they do not have any symptoms on arrival. We would ask that anyone with symptoms or who needs to isolate participates via zoom.

    Last month meeting was very successful, the hall is well ventilated and we had no cases following the meeting.

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 BST (London time see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

    For forthcoming meetings we have

    • a donation £3 for members to cover our costs. Members will be emailed a ticket code link allowing access to this option or you can access it from the members area.
    • a donation of £6 for non-members, non-members may join the club for £12 per year and get this and future meetings at members rate for £12, members can also watch the 3 previous online talks, members also receive Globe our members magazine and our annual members calendar, why not join and enter your pictures.
    • a catch up to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders.
    • We have had confirmation that the Church of Scotland hall is open and we will be running this meeting as an in person at the hall plus we will be streaming it on zoom and will be following the same procedures as the west end theatres.

    For in person Tickets at the hall:

    For online tickets:

  • London Meeting, Saturday, September 4, 2021

    Speaking this month we have:

    • Jan Parsons – From the North Cape to the Mediterranean

    Following the cancellation of my travel plans for 2020 and unable to travel because of Covid I embarked on a winter project looking back at countries I’d visited but not yet covered by previous travel talks.  What emerged was a photographic and cultural journey through Western Europe.

    We begin in the stunning coastal landscapes of Northern Norway, then explore a little of the remote outposts as we sail southwards, following the coast to Bergen before crossing into mainland Europe and venturing briefly into central Germany and Belgium.

    Having traversed the Alps it’s time to acclimatise to warmer temperatures and a dramatic change in our surroundings as we explore the ancient pilgrimage routes via several of the Caminos in the Iberian Peninsula. The journey concludes with an interesting link!


    • 2nd Two mini-talks.
      • Svatka Hermanek
      • Eric Hayman

    Date & Time:

    Saturday, September 4th, 2021

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 BST (London time see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

    You only need one ticket per screen, not one for each person watching or attending.

    For forthcoming meetings we have

    • a suggested donation £3 for members to cover our costs. Members will be emailed a ticket code link allowing access to this option or you can access it from the members area.
    • a donation of £5-6 for non-members, non-members may join the club for £12 per year and get this and future meetings at members rate for £12, members can also watch the 3 previous online talks, members also receive Globe our members magazine and our annual members calendar, why not join and enter your pictures.
    • a catch up to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders.
    • We have had confirmation that the Church of Scotland hall is open and we will be running this meeting as an in person at the hall plus we will be streaming it on zoom and will be following the same procedures as the west end theatres. See the separate Eventbrite page for in person tickets

  • Saturday, June 12, 2021  (members)

    This month we have: (get tickets)

    Speaking this month at 2pm we have:

    1st EmmaLucy Cole – Two years with the Tarrabin Bedouin in Sinai


    2nd Madison Plantier – The Karst Kingdom: On the Landscapes of Southwestern China

    See the meeting page for details.

    Date & Time:

    Saturday, June 12, 2021

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 GMT (London time), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

    You only need one ticket per screen, not one for each person watching or attending.

    For forthcoming meetings we have

    • a suggested donation £3 for members to cover our costs. Members will be emailed a ticket code link allowing access to this option or you can access it from the members area.
    • We also have a limited number free tickets for members who have been financially affected by Covid-19
    • a donation of £5-6 for non-members, non-members may join the club for £12 per year and get this and future meetings at members rate for £12, members can also watch the 3 previous online talks, members also receive Globe our members magazine and our annual members calendar, why not join and enter your pictures.
    • a catch up to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders. (Members can also watch the previous online talks)

  • Globetrotters Calendar 2022 Competition- Now Open for Entries!

    OPEN for entries!

    You are invited to submit your best travel images for consideration to be included in the next Club calendar.

    Not to be scuppered by a global pandemic, the search for images for next year’s Club Calendar will go ahead…

    All members are invited to submit their best travel pictures for possible inclusion in the 2022 Globetrotters Club Calendar.

    Hopefully, current travel restrictions will lift sufficiently for us to seek out new destinations and photograph them afresh before the closing date of 31st August 2022. But also…

    As always, there is no limit on the age of the photograph (as many images remain ‘timeless’) so why not trawl through your archive of images of memorable travels gone by and submit a favourite picture to inspire others for when we can travel freely again?

    Or maybe you’ve been making pictures where you live or happened to be grounded during lockdown and have seen what is familiar to you in a different light? Remember, one person’s home is another’s travel destination – can you give it a ‘sense of place’?

    If you haven’t entered before, why not give it a go this year? If you have submitted pictures in previous years but been unsuccessful so far, do try again – you may have got closer to the shortlist than you think!


    The rules are pretty much the same as in previous years – send up to three images that show the beauty of a destination and evoke a feeling of wanderlust, inspiring others to travel.

    Entries will be judged anonymously by a panel of judges from the committee – only the editor will know the identity of the photographer until the final images have been chosen. Pictures will only be used for the calendar and in Globetrotters Club publications (Globe magazine, the e-newsletter, the website/social media) to promote the calendar and the Club.

    There will shortly be a link on the website to check these rules again and from which to enter directly but alternatively you can email your entries to calendar@globetrotters.co.uk as attachments. Please include your membership number and a short caption that includes where and when the photo was taken.

    Please send your pictures as high resolution jpeg files suitable for printing as an A5 image. This is approximately 210mm x 150mm (a 7:5 aspect ratio) and images should be at least 2500 pixels on the longest side.

    For uniformity in the design of the calendar, please choose images of an appropriate format – landscape only, portrait will not be considered. Colour only, no B&W please. Square format, 3:2, 4:3 and others may be submitted but they will be judged by the composition you present and their suitability for the calendar once cropped.

    The images are printed ‘full bleed’ (to the edges of the paper with no border) so please ensure that any detail included in your composition doesn’t fall towards the edges of your picture – if in doubt, send a slightly wider crop.

    The closing date for entries is 31st August 2021, so please make sure that your membership is valid on this day and is kept current until judging has been completed. (You can join/renew easily on the Globetrotters website). All current members will receive a copy of the calendar as part of their membership when it is printed (hopefully in time for the Club meetings before Christmas). Any member whose picture gets used will receive a second copy and additional copies will be available to buy at meetings or by post via the website.

    Some tips for getting your image in the calendar… Think about the composition and focal point of the photograph as well as colour and texture. Make sure it’s sharp, straight and appropriately cropped if necessary.

    You can submit up to three entries but only one per member may appear in the final publication, though all could be shortlisted for the final stages of judging – perhaps consider a range of subjects…

    Although we’re looking for a picture that shows the beauty and appeal of a destination from your point of view, the image should also resonate with a larger audience. And remember – it’s for a calendar – could you look at it and enjoy it each day for a month?!

    Best of luck!

    Rules, terms and conditions

    1. The closing date for entries is 31st August 2021,  at 23:59 BST.
    2. Entrants must be current club members.
    3. Members may send a maximum of three images per entry.
    4. Please ensure that your membership is valid when making your submissions and on the closing date is 31st August 2021,  as it will need to be verified.
    5. Please also ensure that your membership remains paid up until at least December 2021 as calendars will be sent out direct from the printers using a list of current members.
    6. Pictures that were entered in previous years but were not chosen may be resubmitted but we would prefer to see something new!
    7. Photos must be of sufficient technical quality to print at the required size.
    8. There is no limit on when the pictures were taken, the photos do not need to be recent.
    9. Photos will only be used by the Globetrotters Club for the purposes of the calendar, website, social media, Globe and the eNewsletter.
    10. The Club reserves the right to reproduce pictures submitted for the calendar either in print or online. However, the Club will not sell any pictures on to a third party.
    11. Pictures submitted remain the copyright of the photographer.
    12. All images will be credited wherever possible. Pictures may be edited to suit design requirements, though we will endeavour to retain the photographer’s original composition as much as possible.
    13. Joint members – resident at the same address – may enter individually. (If you do not both have membership cards please contact the membership secretary.)
    14. All submissions must be the member’s own work. Please make sure that you’re the image owner and have full rights on the picture.
    15. By entering, members will be deemed to have accepted and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  • Saturday, May 8, 2021  (members)

    This month we have: (get tickets)

    Speaking this month at 2pm we have:

    1st Andrew P Sykes – a cycling adventures from Europe’s geographical south to its northernmost point.


    2nd Molly Wilderspin-Jones and Simon Brown – Journeys with a Green Heart

    See the meeting page for details.

    Date & Time:

    Saturday, May 8th, 2021

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 BST (London time see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

    You only need one ticket per screen, not one for each person watching or attending.

    For forthcoming meetings we have

    • a suggested donation £3 for members to cover our costs. Members will be emailed a ticket code link allowing access to this option or you can access it from the members area.
    • We also have a limited number free tickets for members who have been financially affected by Covid-19
    • a donation of £5-6 for non-members, non-members may join the club for £12 per year and get this and future meetings at members rate for £12, members can also watch all the previous online talks, members also receive Globe our members magazine and our annual members calendar, why not join and enter your pictures.
    • a catch up to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders. (Members can also watch the previous online talks)

  • Saturday, April 10, 2021  (members)

    Speaking this month we had:

    1st Paulo Seth – Cycling the pilgrim routes.


    2nd Alexandra Bradford – Travels in Central Asia.

  • Saturday, March 6, 2021  (members)

    This month we have:

    Speaking this month we had:

    1st Matt Nixon – Type 2, Take 2: The Mongol100

    2nd Simon Finnamore – Panamá – 12 Days of  Christmas 2019 /2020

    See the meeting page for details.

    Date & Time:

    Saturday, March 6, 2021

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 GMT (London time), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

  • Saturday, February 6, 2021  (members)

    Speaking this month we have:

    1st: Simon Banks – What’s the plural of paradise? Malawi, UK & Aotearoa.

    2nd: Mark Hadley – Morocco: fast and slow

    See the meeting page for details.

    Date & Time:

    Saturday, February 6, 2021

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 GMT (London time), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

  • London Meeting, Saturday, July 3, 2021

    Speaking this month we have:

    1st Kamila Raihane – The Gambia- A taste of kindness, history and nature

    Kamila Raihane is an amateur traveller. I have a great passion to backpacking, new experience and people.

    Kamila ‘s 16-days trip to The Gambia in February 2019 was a fantastic experience in the “real Africa”. With no plans, Kamila booked a ticket and flew to the smallest country of the African mainland to meet the people, the nature and experience the life there.

    2nd Rosemary J Brown – THE REFUGEE SAGA: My journey beyond the headlines

    Rosemary’s travels led her from the tiny Aegean island of Samos where some 8,000 asylum seekers await their fate in one of Greece’s most appalling camps, over to the mainland – Athens and Thessaloniki – where they are striving to rebuild their lives.

    She followed the refugee trail across to Ireland where local volunteers welcome asylum seekers and refugees to their communities. One of them is famed travel author Dervla Murphy who Rosemary visited at her home in Lismore.


    Date & Time:

    Saturday, July 3rd, 2021

    The zoom meeting opens at 13:30 with the talks starting 14:00 BST (London time see Event Time Announcer for local times), please arrive early so we can deal with any issues with joining.

    You only need one ticket per screen, not one for each person watching or attending.

    For forthcoming meetings we have

    • a suggested donation £3 for members to cover our costs. Members will be emailed a ticket code link allowing access to this option or you can access it from the members area.
    • We also have a limited number free tickets for members who have been financially affected by Covid-19
    • a donation of £5-6 for non-members, non-members may join the club for £12 per year and get this and future meetings at members rate for £12, members can also watch the 3 previous online talks, members also receive Globe our members magazine and our annual members calendar, why not join and enter your pictures.
    • a catch up to watch later will be available to members and non-member ticket holders. (Members can also watch all the previous online talks)