Scarborough was great, two biggish bays, North Bay where I stayed with mini golf, Sea Life Adventures, Peasholm Park & a mini railway, & South Bay with the trashy amusement arcades, rides & further around was a Spa Centre with orchestra! Both beaches are good for swimming though too cold for me. Peasholm Park was lovely with tracks to roam & it seemed every time I turned a corner there was another view to photograph, lovely wooden carvings too. In between the two bays is a promontory (I think that's what it would be called, could be wrong!) with Scarborough Castle at the top & the ruins of a Roman Signal Tower by the cliff, photos on fb already.
I did a lot of walking around then on my last evening realised I hadn't set foot on the actual sandy beach. So I clambered down to the sand & walked to the other end of North Bay. Btw, North Bay, South Bay? They're as unimaginative as us Kiwis with the North Island & the South Island, eh.
I've been back in Huntingdon for a few days now, did a day trip to Peterborough for a looksee. Again plenty of walking around fens. Great cathedral there with a v unique painted wooden ceiling.
From Wikipedia:
By 1193 the building was completed to the western end of the Nave, including the central tower and the decorated wooden ceiling of the nave. The ceiling, completed between 1230 and 1250, still survives. It is unique in Britain and one of only four such ceilings in the whole of Europe[6] It has been over-painted twice, once in 1745, then in 1834, but still retains the character and style of the original.
If you want to see it you'll have to google it as I didn't take any photos. The Cathedral only allows photography if you buy a licence for £3! I was too mean to pay it, worth looking up though.
Anyway, I've since been to the movies, so prosaic, eh. City of Bones, the first of the Mortal Instruments series, started yesterday & I couldn't miss that as I am currently reading Book Four of that series. Tomorrow I have booked a ticket to 'The Woman in Black', a play showing in London.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Travelling on
Stratford-upon-Avon was a v short visit, just overnight then the morning. So I hopped on a red bus, did the sightseeing thing, then wandered along the Avon a little, saw more narrow boats, swans, & rowers.
Anyway I moved on to The Lakes District, Cumbria, for a couple of days. It is gorgeous there. I went on two day trips, one to the Beatrix Potter locations, & then on to see some of the lower lakes including a short cruise, & wandered round another stone circle. The second was to some of the higher lakes & passes, even saw the Irish Sea, & explored a Roman ruin while dodging sheep dags.
I've spent some days in Brampton, also in Cumbria, catching up with an old school friend. We went to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo & I loved that. There was a band from New Zealand & a marching girl team, totally stole the show of course. Even included a little gangnam! The whole show was great, well worth the trip. I walked along a section of Hadrians Wall, only finding out at the end that it was a 'moderate' stretch, not the 'easy' I had hoped for. Thanks, Alan!
Now I'm in Glasgow & today I have followed a trail of Charles Rennie Macintosh stuff. (Great word 'stuff') Macintosh was a Scots architect, artist, interior designer, & was married to Margaret MacDonald Macintosh, also an artist, sculptor, textile & interior designer. I started at the Hunterian Museum & viewed Roman artefacts from the Antonine Wall, another Roman wall built in Scotland. Then found out I needed to be at the Hunterian Art Gallery. That was where the Macintosh reconstructed house was. The house was amazing, loved the lounge especially. The Art Gallery is at the University of Glasgow & while I was there Eduroam Wifi kicked in which was a bonus. Next place was the Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery for a Macintosh exhibit, great, with the Glasgow Style Gallery, great, plus I walked through some other exhibits, then on to the Willow Tea Rooms designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh. I stayed there for a late lunch, had a good look around, lovely place & a good meal. The last place I visited was The Lighthouse, home to the Macintosh Centre, a great exhibit & interesting as they had made models of 'unbuilt' Macintosh buildings as well as his built. I enjoyed my day & Macintosh was obviously the highlight. I did do another red bus tour yesterday arvo which gave me a good overview of the central city.
I decided a few days ago that I was all 'historied' out so following the Macintosh trail was a pleasant change & another aim achieved. Even though I missed out five other pertinent buildings! Couldn't get to them all in one day.
Tomorrow the seaside for some beach walks & relaxation.
Anyway I moved on to The Lakes District, Cumbria, for a couple of days. It is gorgeous there. I went on two day trips, one to the Beatrix Potter locations, & then on to see some of the lower lakes including a short cruise, & wandered round another stone circle. The second was to some of the higher lakes & passes, even saw the Irish Sea, & explored a Roman ruin while dodging sheep dags.
I've spent some days in Brampton, also in Cumbria, catching up with an old school friend. We went to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo & I loved that. There was a band from New Zealand & a marching girl team, totally stole the show of course. Even included a little gangnam! The whole show was great, well worth the trip. I walked along a section of Hadrians Wall, only finding out at the end that it was a 'moderate' stretch, not the 'easy' I had hoped for. Thanks, Alan!
Now I'm in Glasgow & today I have followed a trail of Charles Rennie Macintosh stuff. (Great word 'stuff') Macintosh was a Scots architect, artist, interior designer, & was married to Margaret MacDonald Macintosh, also an artist, sculptor, textile & interior designer. I started at the Hunterian Museum & viewed Roman artefacts from the Antonine Wall, another Roman wall built in Scotland. Then found out I needed to be at the Hunterian Art Gallery. That was where the Macintosh reconstructed house was. The house was amazing, loved the lounge especially. The Art Gallery is at the University of Glasgow & while I was there Eduroam Wifi kicked in which was a bonus. Next place was the Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery for a Macintosh exhibit, great, with the Glasgow Style Gallery, great, plus I walked through some other exhibits, then on to the Willow Tea Rooms designed by Charles Rennie Macintosh. I stayed there for a late lunch, had a good look around, lovely place & a good meal. The last place I visited was The Lighthouse, home to the Macintosh Centre, a great exhibit & interesting as they had made models of 'unbuilt' Macintosh buildings as well as his built. I enjoyed my day & Macintosh was obviously the highlight. I did do another red bus tour yesterday arvo which gave me a good overview of the central city.
I decided a few days ago that I was all 'historied' out so following the Macintosh trail was a pleasant change & another aim achieved. Even though I missed out five other pertinent buildings! Couldn't get to them all in one day.
Tomorrow the seaside for some beach walks & relaxation.
Monday, August 5, 2013
12 days on!
Wow! I hadn't realised how time was slipping away. Twelve days since I wrote in here.
I have stayed with Michelle & family at Huntingdon again. A fairly quiet time but then Scott was sent to Cardiff in Wales with his work, apparently an unusual occurrence, & we went along for the ride. So a country I hadn't expected to see, a small amount of sightseeing achieved, then when we went to the beach it poured with rain. But an enjoyable time.
Now I'm travelling again. I'm now in Oxford staying at the YHA for two nights. The only city bus tour here is the hop on, hop off variety which I have done. It only takes an hour, a v small city! Plenty of gargoyles, etc & the University of course with, I think, thirty nine colleges. Today I was going to do a walking tour but it's raining again, so here I am in the Library writing my blog. If it fines up this arvo I'll do some wandering. I'm hoping to visit the Ashmolean Museun tomorrow morning, not open today, then I catch a train to Stratford-upon-Avon.
One funny thing, I always travel with a padlock for those times at a YHA when I need to lock my bag & stuff in a cupboard. So last night I got ready for bed, threw my stuff in the cupboard & locked it. Then realised all my keys & the room key card were inside said cupboard. I had to go down to Reception in my dressing gown & ask for help. They have heavy duty bolt cutters, cut that lock, no problem. I asked if many people did that & was told about once a week, lol.
Tomorrow Stratford-upon-Avon.
I have stayed with Michelle & family at Huntingdon again. A fairly quiet time but then Scott was sent to Cardiff in Wales with his work, apparently an unusual occurrence, & we went along for the ride. So a country I hadn't expected to see, a small amount of sightseeing achieved, then when we went to the beach it poured with rain. But an enjoyable time.
Now I'm travelling again. I'm now in Oxford staying at the YHA for two nights. The only city bus tour here is the hop on, hop off variety which I have done. It only takes an hour, a v small city! Plenty of gargoyles, etc & the University of course with, I think, thirty nine colleges. Today I was going to do a walking tour but it's raining again, so here I am in the Library writing my blog. If it fines up this arvo I'll do some wandering. I'm hoping to visit the Ashmolean Museun tomorrow morning, not open today, then I catch a train to Stratford-upon-Avon.
One funny thing, I always travel with a padlock for those times at a YHA when I need to lock my bag & stuff in a cupboard. So last night I got ready for bed, threw my stuff in the cupboard & locked it. Then realised all my keys & the room key card were inside said cupboard. I had to go down to Reception in my dressing gown & ask for help. They have heavy duty bolt cutters, cut that lock, no problem. I asked if many people did that & was told about once a week, lol.
Tomorrow Stratford-upon-Avon.
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