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Ireland |
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My first visit to Bristol Airport's (or should I say Bristol International Airport) new terminal building. Very nice, very uncrowded, but then at 8am on Sunday I suppose it would be. Also my first ever internal flight in the U.K. Everything is so expensive in the U.K., but I've been collecting Airmiles for years, so I actually cashed some in - so all I've paid for the flight was the tax of £24.50.
The weather was dull, chilly and windy - we're approaching the middle of July - who can blame me for wanting to escape this cold miserable country for a nice beach in South East Asia?
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The picture is of Vicky, Lisa, Jen (my room-mates) and myself on a boat in Kinsale Harbour - yes, we are wrapped up in blankets in the middle of July! We took a bus from Cork to Kinsale, and followed a walking trail, acquired a stray dog, then went on a sailing around the harbour.
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| Kinsale |
Cobh (pronounced 'Cove') was a picturesque village, with a dramatic history. The Heritage Centre had graphic reconstructions of the conditions for the Irish emigrants, who's departure point was Cobh. It was also the final departure point for the Titanic.
It was a bit strange waking up later than usual in the mornings, but then something struck me! It no longer matters - the routine I've been in for so many years of 'early to bed - early to rise', which had mainly been determined by the need to avoid the worst of the rush-hour traffic and find a parking space, doesn't exist any more. Have I really existed for the last 15 years having my life revolving around the traffic problems?
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Scotland |
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A
few days before leaving for Africa, I had a few days in Edinburgh.
I flew from Bristol Airport again, courtesy of Airmiles.
One evening, I did a walking tour of the city’s
underground vaults and alleyways with stories of horrific murders, and ghosts
which literally scare people to death. The really scary thing is,
that you could actually believe that these things happened. |
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| Although I had been to Edinburgh before, I’d never actually walked up
the Royal Mile, or visited Edinburgh Castle, but this time, took the time to
explore the city properly. |
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England |
Land of The Prince Bishops: County Durham is unique, as for many centuries it was a virtually independent state ruled not by the king, but by powerful 'Prince Bishops', who were more or less the 'Kings of County Durham'.
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County Durham |
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| Bowes Castle | Rob, Lucy & Jon, Tan Hill, New Years Eve |
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| Barnard Castle | The Secret Garden, Bowes | Durham |
County Durham has been my kid brother Rob’s home for the last 4 years. I adore the North, but it’s often just too cold. I’ve spent many hours chilling out in and around Bowes castle, but, sadly, during my last 2 visits, much of it has been sealed off due to the foot and mouth crisis. The same goes with the footpaths and riverbanks in the area.
Bowes has a brand new ‘Secret Garden’, in the grounds of it’s primary school. It’s quite pretty, and an alternative place to chill out.
On my most recent visit during July 2001, Rob and I took a drive up to Durham – a beautiful city, especially when the sun’s shining! I got to re-visit Barnard Castle in the town of the same name. It was a wonderful sunny afternoon, and I took my time listening to the commentary, then sat in the grounds and sent some e-mails!
Tan Hill - New Years Eve...Rob and Lucy had decided, "If there's snow, we go toboganning - if there's no snow, we drive to Tan Hill and walk the 9 miles back again". When we left Rob's home at 2pm for Tan Hill, there was no snow. By the time we got there, the snow was too heavy to bring the car back again - so guess what... we walked!
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Bristol and Somerset |
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Somerset |
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| S.S. Great Britain, Bristol |
S.S. Great Britain & 'Matthew' |
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| Green Beach Drinking Fountain |
Clevedon Pier | Clevedon's Famous Yew Tree |
Having spent so much time exploring other parts of the world, decided that I really should show an interest in my own ‘back yard’.
My friend Ian visited from Hampshire, and we went on board the SS Great Britain. Somebody’s cell-phone rang whilst on the ship, and our guide put things into perspective: That call could have been from the USA – it was instant communication. Back in the SS Great Britain’s days, the vessel was the fastest way of communication between Bristol and New York and took between 2 and 3 weeks.
The 'Matthew' is usually docked alongside the SS Great Britain, and I'd watched the replica ship being built before it re-traced it's journey across the Atlantic to Newfoundland in 1997 (500 years after the original sailing), so it was good to finally be able to step aboard. I'm very happy that I've never had to travel in those conditions!!
I've always taken Clevedon (my home town) for granted, but thought that I should take more notice of it's features. The things on traffic islands and roadsides aren't just decorations - they're Victorian Drinking Fountains... And the 'houses' that you're allocated to when you go to school (Tennyson, Hallam etc) aren't just names, they're real poets who had links with, and were inspired by the town in their writing.
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