LETTER OF THE WEEK

May is our wedding anniversary month, and in nearly every one of our 40-plus years together we have celebrated by visiting a world city. The only exceptions were during Covid travel bans. The month is ridiculously unpredictable for weather and we have experienced a searing heatwave in Copenhagen, fierce icy rain in Florence, the freshness of a spring morning in Scandinavia, and comfortable heat in Istanbul. We have explored an almost empty St Mark’s Square in Venice, the Royal Palace in Madrid, isolated castles in Transylvania and peaceful streets in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In one Baltic capital, we were the only passengers on a 52-seater tour coach.

May is a wonderful time to venture far from the madding crowd. Characterful old hotels and quality restaurants are all anxious for custom before the high season begins, making for a very special time. In two weeks, we are off to Valencia – along with the anniversary card that my husband never forgets. Sue Newth-Gibbs, from Essex, wins a £350 holiday voucher courtesy of Naturetrek

TURTLE-Y DESERTED

The Peloponnese in May was delightful: the sun was warm, the sea a rich blue and the countryside slowly coming to life. Mystras, with its Byzantine churches and frescoes, was most memorable, especially with no other visitors to be seen. Wild flowers filled every nook and cranny and covered the hillside and the meadows. In one olive grove, a shepherd tended his small flock, the only sounds being the sheep bells and the gentle buzzing of the bees. Most unexpected, though, was Kyparissia Bay where turtles had come to lay their eggs. Volunteers were measuring the depth of each hole dug by the reptiles and making grids of bamboo to cover and protect the precious brood. I often wonder how many hatched and are still alive today. LJ Barnett, Hampshire

DEARTH IN VENICE

During the peak summer months, Venice is a deeply maddening place; the squares, palaces and churches of “La Serenissima” are, ironically, choked with a seething mass of humanity – often despatched from a seemingly endless procession of huge cruise ships.

In May, a completely different side of Venice presents itself – without the intense heat of summer, perhaps, but warm nonetheless and definitely more pleasant. I go there annually at this time of year and experience an alternative Venice, stripped of the huge crowds so evident in summer. Gone are the queues for the Doges Palace and St Mark’s Square; gone, too, are the selfieseeking hordes around the Bridge of Sighs. In fact, one relishes a rare treat – a chance to meet real Venetians in the cafés and bars, a privilege virtually impossible during the summer months. Steve Green, Cornwall

A VIEW WITH ROOM

It is May and we are heading to Salcombe, Devon, 50-plus years after our honeymoon there. The view from across the estuary, although familiar, never loses its impact. In high summer, birdsong will be replaced by the sounds of children enjoying all that the seaside town has to offer – but for now, all is quiet. There are only a few yachts, in sharp contrast with summer when the waters teem with watercraft of every type. The sea gently laps the sandy shore, inviting us to paddle; the water is too cold for swimming, though the day is warm enough for a picnic.

Leaving this idyllic spot to enjoy a favourite walk along the coast path to Gara Rock, we meet a number of likeminded people. There is plenty of room for all of us. No customary queue awaits the ferry to Salcombe, so our delivery is swift. We will return, preferably in May. Celia Harris, Hampshire