Not long back from a leisurely seven day cruise around the Cote D’Azur (and beyond) visiting a number of places we hadn’t been to before. That was the plan anyway, and although it still turned out that way, a few stops didn’t end up being the ones on the original itinerary. From the airport to the ship in Barcelona and straight off again to squeeze in a visit to Antoni Gaudi’s Palau Guell, the first commission he received from his main client Eusebi Guell and built between 1886 and 1890. Worth the effort.
Travel
Cuba!
Just back from a two week trip to Cuba with friends. If ever a country betrayed the contradictions inherent in a changing political and economic landscape, then Cuba probably takes first prize. Which made the trip extremely interesting and enjoyable, if a little on the warm side. In our opinion, you couldn’t go all the way to Cuba and fry on a beach for the duration (although many do, apparently) so we managed five nights in Havana, two in colonial Trinidad and then spent a week in Varadero recovering!
Guernsey 2013
Just back from an excellent week in Guernsey. Our third visit in four years, so in danger of becoming a ritual! The self deprecating cheap shot would imply it’s something to do with our age but the island has more to offer than a friendly environment for those of a certain vintage.
Birthday Bash!
Last minute(ish) long weekend away in Ely at the Poets House Hotel. Very pleasant hotel with its butler service USP (which, perversely, we didn’t use). Excellent restaurant, which we sampled both evenings, and which looked to be popular with both hotel guests and locals alike. Just enough in Ely to keep you busy for two full days.
Sunderland and the rest!
Not long back from a visit to Sunderland to see son and daughter-in-law, punctuated either side of the weekend with a stay in Yorkshire on the way up and Rutland on the way back down. Lovely trip, very well looked after and we got lucky with the weather as well.
Comfy Cotswolds
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.
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..