Just back from a very pleasant week in the Cotswolds, preceded by a weekend in Bath with friends. The weather wasn’t always kind but it improved as the week went on. It was, however, very difficult to believe that it was the end of June on a couple of days when the temperature was more typically representative of a typical cold British autumnal day.
Travel
Spain Sojourn
Other than Barcelona, we have spent little or no time visiting the Spanish cities that are renowned for their history, architecture and culture which is, I’m sure you’ll agree, a remarkable oversight. Very pleased therefore to report on a pleasant week in a couple of lovely Spanish cities coupled with a pleasant trip down the Guadalquivir River. Fascinating to watch a relatively large ship navigate its way down quite a narrow river and its accompanying locks…..
Down The Mississippi (Big Wheel Keep On Turnin’)
We have a Frommer’s Guide to New Orleans dated 1996, which indicates just how long ago we first showed an interest in visiting the city. So when we spotted a trip down the Mississippi that finished in the ‘Big Easy’, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Especially as it took place on a beautiful paddle steamer river boat and visited a number of other southern state towns and cities, famous for both their civil war heritage and blues, soul, country and jazz music pedigrees. What’s not to like. We could never be accused of being tardy, it only took us 17 years to get round to it. And yes, we did still use the Frommer’s Guide.
Here are a few highlights….and in the spirit of the Simpsons’ “comic man” – longest post ever!…..
London and Heritage in a package
Having sadly had to recently wrestle with personal bereavement and subsequent funeral arrangements et al, a two night break to London was a chance to relax a little and recharge the batteries. Coming after Mum’s sad death (October 4th 2012), it was a welcome distraction…
More Heritage
On a roll with this heritage stuff. Watch it die down as the cooler weather hits and the fair weather photographer goes into hibernation. I also suspect it will be at least another year before any photographs find their way on to the site. Sounds pessimistic but I know this man’s track record!
English Heritage – The ‘Next Three’
As part of a trip back up to Sheffield took the opportunity to visit a couple of EH properties and then added a third, more local attraction at the end of last week. All EH, but with very different stories and restoration histories.
Lille for Three
A Eurostar to Lille in one hour twenty and into the Crowne Plaza a few minutes later for a three day stay. All fairly painless and the hotel location turned out to be a master stroke. Right next to the Euro station and ten minutes walk into the old town..
English Heritage – the ‘First Three’
In Colchester to book some theatre tickets so took the opportunity to visit our first three English Heritage sites since joining (other than Dover Castle, which we tagged on to the last holiday). Went to St. Botolph’s Priory and St. John’s Abbey Gate in Colchester and the Mistley Towers in, unsurprisingly, Mistley. Unfortunately, these are all free – gutted. Planning project to put one photo …
Burghley House
Afternoon visit to Burghley House on the way back from Sheffield last weekend. After a recent visit to Holkham Hall in Norfolk managed to get in on a ‘two for one’ (the Yorkshire stereotype rears its head again). Whatever your views on the historical wealth of the privileged few, it was still fascinating to see the interior of a still lived in house. Furniture and …
Viking Expedition
Stretching credulity a little with the title as we actually toured in more than a degree of comfort, but tenuously justifiable as we visited a number of places that the Vikings had at some time traded with, invaded, pillaged, or simply popped round to for a cup of tea……..
Guernsey and York
A short break in Guernsey, enjoyed it as much if not more than the first time, despite the slightly inclement weather. And then a long weekend in York, accompanied by dawn to dusk sunshine…
Northumberland Break
Excellent few days in Northumberland and North Yorkshire. Good to revisit Corbridge, Hexham etc. after many, many years away. Also got to the very picturesque village of Blanchland, which I never managed to visit when living in Sunderland all those years ago. Lovely Abbey, and the famous Lord Crewe Arms, visited by W. H. Auden Philip Larkin, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears amongst others. It …