Wonders of the World

There are so many wondrous things in our world. I can think of jaw-dropping places: some of my favourites are the Iguazu Falls in South America; the Highlands of Scotland; the Maya pyramids in Yucatan; a nature reserve in tropical Cuba.

There is also wonderful art works that one never tires to look at; books and plays that can be read again and again, like those of Leo Tolstoi and Shakespeare; and there is the natural world. What to choose? I opted to go for living things, as our theme is the Living Planet. And among those my favourites are the colourful butterflies - or flutter-byes - and the small bundles of shiny feathers and vibrating wings that are the hummingbirds.

I grew up in Argentina and at the height of the summer my garden was awash with butterflies and hummingbirds. Sadly there are no hummingbirds in England, and butterfly numbers are decreasing - I plant suitable plants and flowers in my garden, to make it a desirable place.

Both the Iguazu Falls and the nature reserve in Cuba are full of butterflies and hummingbirds - in fact Cuba prides itself of being home to the tiniest hummingbird in the world - the bee hummingbird, so called because of its size - and I saw one when I was there!