Three weeks in North America - I flew into Orlando and was whisked off to St Augustine, the oldest city there, for a few days of rest and recuperation.

The morning highlight was breakfast at a beach cafe, sitting on the deck, watching the waves rolling in, pelicans diving for their breakfast and ospreys hovering high above me.

Want to see Tiffany glass galore? St Augustine is the place for it.

Henry Flagler, a 19th-Century entrepreneur, built a hotel and had Tiffany instal the glass - windows, domes and light fittings. The building is now a college.

Mr Flagler, considerate soul, also built a bridge from the mainland to Anastasia Island for the convenience of hotel guests.

I went on an evening sail around the harbour. The skipper's mate was a Southern belle and had the most attractive drawl: "Y'all just sit down now and relax. Oh my, an English accent... I just love that."

Dolphins joined us for part of the evening and, as we sailed back to the mooring, we witnessed a spectacular sunset.

I'm not shy in coming forward when it comes to food but even I was stopped in my tracks by the portions on offer.

Usually a great dessert eater, I gave up on them after a few days.

The packing done, the motel bill paid, my friend Linda (a native of St Augustine) drove me to Jacksonville to catch the train to Charleston, South Carolina.

I encountered incredible efficiency at the Amtrak station. My luggage was checked in and labelled and, when the train pulled in, the conductor showed me to my seat.

And they really do say "All aboard" just before the train pulls out.

-Peter Keeley-Pannet, Bristol Road, Brighton