So my practice for the week has been (only my second week so not a lot of time to actually form a firm schedule) Mon. Wed and Thurs out and about on the bus some where—this was made easier by the lovely weather that didn’t interfere with my wanderings…however this week has proved at best dreary and chilly or at worst rainy, wetty and windy (yes Susi I know wetty is not a word–poetic license and all that). 

 If you’ll remember Mon. was not only confusing, but wetty and cold.  No don’t get me wrong, in comparison to the rest of the country which has included flooded road (even in London) and more we’ve been doing well, with for the most part only light rain separated with long periods of dreariness..I’d rather be damp than drowned.  But the dampness has been long term and Tues. which I had no going out plans for proved damp enough that my over jacket remained positively drippy for hours….so the computer and I came down to the bar–this is a grand place there are two bars, one a large modern (for Cornwall) bar that has but one room with many tables and the other which looks like a proper pub and meanders onto other rooms with tables a long “setting” bar and pool tables as well as tellies (both have these) to watch the soccer matches and the like.  You check in and out at the bar, order your food at the bar…(they switch back and forth I think Chris just likes to confuse people) and the breakfast which is included in your room rate is served on the bar of yeah the newer bar…..The perfect place for me right?

Anyway back to Monday—I’d blame old age on my mind wandering but trust me, it’s a character trait—anyway Tues was windy, cold and continued wetty and we with a coat that was taking forever to  dry in the damp…so I settled down the modern pub—with electrical plugs and my converter—you do not have to worry about putting our plugs in theirs w/o the converter….there is no way….trust me on this–anyway Tues is usually a down day soooo it worked perfectly….though I usual go on a walk about the village missed that entirely.

So we’ll go back to 5/30 and our private tour….

We stopped at one more Cotswold town:

there are so many places in Britain to enjoy–so much beauty in such a little country.

So much history–people ask me why I keep coming back and I tell them because I haven’t seen it all…I probably won’t ever see it all–I certainly know that I never tire of England, Scotland, Cornwall and Wales.

In one of the places our guide got some change and went out—the lady told us he was Scottish, I said no Welsh—I’ve been about in the UK a few times and the accents are seriously different—-she said he was just telling us that.  When I told him he was a bit confused and said honest I can prove it—I assured him that I believed him…didn’t sound a bit Scottish to me.

When you get away from the bigger cities you still find the individual shops that sell only meat—some here in Cornwall have just fish shops–or fresh fruits and vegetables…the Groceries here still do not include any medical items–you have to go to the Chemist for those.

The color of the buildings are due to the stone which is quarried in this area (or at least was am not sure they still are making stone houses)…other towns may have a darker or lighter stone depending where they got the stone from….some one who knows the area well should be able to tell what town he’s (or she–wouldn’t want to be accused of not using all the sexual possibilities) in by the stone color.

The old and newer settle in nicely here.

Then there’s the church:

Susi and Dan give you an idea of how big it is.

But this entrance is what really impressed me….there is legends that sayes it inspired Tolkien in his lands of hobbits, wizards and rings.

another view incase you missed the first one—after this church entrance I never want another question on why I come here so often.

and then the village again:

Instead of Stone Henge–I’ve been there 3-4 times–the last we made a pre-opening appointment and was able to walk among and touch the stones  our guide found an alternative…

Not so famous, but ancient and impressive none the less.

and you could get up close and personal with the site and w/o a special appointment.

Dan inspecting the site

Then back to London

A good bye to Dan…and the end of the BEST DAY EVER for our wonderful vacation.

So ends Susi’s last full day in London—but we’re already planning a return engagement….

PS DAN YOU ARE THE MAN…..THANKS SO MUCH AND I BELIEVE YOU’RE WELSH—HONEST!!!!!

Decided to take the bus to Camelford on Monday, but mostly I couldn’t find the return bus stop, it rained sturdily and nothing much was open.

I found a town that had some interesting scenes, and buildings, but not a lot of stores or restaurants open and operating.

The ancient town of Camelford only a few miles from the surfing beaches of North Cornwall and the natural beauty and ancient sites of Bodmin Moor. The town, historically a vital crossing point on the River Camel, was formally an important market town and due to its position on the main route into Cornwall and with the patronage of local MPs flourished which is reflected in some of the fine old buildings that line the main street.

There were some attractive buildings.

. The town is often reputed to be the location for heroic King Arthur’s Court of Camelot although the name Camelford is more likely a corruption from old Cornish. However, legend has it that King Arthur met his death at the hands of his nephew Mordred in a battle fought at the nearby village of Slaughterbridge where today you can find ‘Arthur’s Tomb’ marked by inscribed stone that dates back 1,500 years.

It wasn’t a great day—just wet and worrisome and I had issues with the return bus depot which nobody was ever able to tell me the whereabouts of—next time I will ask the bus driver when I arrive on the incoming….so I w/n be lost later on

Historical record tells us that the ancient town of Camelford was on an old medieval trading route. It became an important commercial centre when a royal charter was granted in 1259 by Richard, Earl of Cornwall.

I took this one for my roomie.

I liked the City Hall Weather Vane

The symbol of the camel, as seen on the Town Hall weather vane, has often been used in connection with the town, but the name has nothing whatsoever to do with camels.

and the City Hall building was the site of scaffold that’s got traffic down to one lane through a lot of downtown.

One of the most prominent buildings in Camelford is the Town Hall, with its weather-vane in the shape of a golden camel. Built in 1806 by the Duke of Bedford, it was originally a market house, on the ground floor. A double flight of granite steps from Chapel Street leads to a separate entrance to the upper chamber. In 1906, this was still used for the Petty Sessions, County Court and the Education Committee. The building is now the town library.

I love wandering down odd alleys and closes.

Camelford is an ancient town straddling the A39, which runs between Bude and Wadebridge. As implied by the name, the town is situated on the River Camel.

This was a large Inn but wasn’t sure it was open.

River Camel. This name was believed to have been a contraction of Camalanford, from cam, meaning crooked, alan, meaning beautiful, and ford.

There wasn’t a lot to do here, but I did get some interesting pictures.

In 1552 Edward VI gave Camelford the right to send two members to Parliament. This right continued until 1832, when the Reform Bill abolished the rotten boroughs, including Camelford.

and did I mention it was raining?

As a result of its convenient position, the town’s hosteleries and businesses thrived. In addition, the patronage of its MPs brought money into the town, as can be seen by looking at some of the local architecture.

some of the areas off the main were the best.

During the Napoleonic Wars many French prisoners of war were believed to have been locked up here.

I continued my climb up from the river

There has been a bridge here since before 1521, when there are records of it being repaired. Recently, the river bed underneath the bridge has been deepened, to accommodate floodwater after heavy rain.

 

I saw these faces on a bus trip to Wadebridge—I have no idea if they have any significance—but…

It is a quarter of a century since massive quantities of aluminium sulphate, a chemical used to keep drinking water clear, were accidentally dumped into the public supply at Camelford’s Lowermoor treatment works.  It was the worst case of mass poisoning in British history. .    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608449/Village-damned-Mysterious-suicides-Agonising-illness-And-25-years-UKs-worst-case-mass-poisoning-evidence-dirty-water-KILLED-people.html

Another cute place in the local landscape.

Camelford is one of the easiest places to get a taste of Bodmin Moor. If you follow Roughtor Road through the hamlet of Tregoodwell to the end of the road you will find a small Forestry Commission parking area. From there a well-trodden trail leads straight up the hillside to the top of Rough Tor, where you can see some of the surreal rock formations that make the moor strangely compelling.

A few more scenes from the village:

Now about getting home

I never did find the spot to catch the bus back to the Inn…..I was sent to one spot which was like too far to walk an another by the church above that was clearly marked, but found that it isn’t used on School days…I ask about but…..finally I stopped at a Reality Office an a lovely lady said she was going that way in an hour and would be more than happy to take me back to Tintagel.  So an hour later we were wandering down a lane like this—wait it was this….

I TOOK HER CARD so I could thank her, but I lost her card somewhere between Camelford and here—but it was that kind of day–SO I CAN’T THANK HER PERSONALLY—if she reads this I want her to know that I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR HER KINDNESS AND my ride home, her friendliness (which I have found is a trait of Cornwall) was wonderful and it was so great getting to know her on the way back.

and then back home to The CORNISHMAN INN http://www.cornishmaninn.com/

This is the room next to mine

I forgot the fireworks on Sat (11th) evening—they had planned on doing it for the Queen’s BD but weather was a pain so they weren’t according to the locals set them off….then all of a sudden I heard them and could see then from my hotel window…happy Birthday YRH Elizabeth II…..many more for you I hope.

6/12:  was a stay here day since there are seriously less bus traffic on the day….again hung for the town and the weather while not horrible wasn’t the worst possible…

So let’s go to 5/30 and our favorite tour:

We should have known that this wasn’t going to be a normal day when while out and about to walk to our tour depart position we met up with a completely livered set up—Susi kept saying the wheels of all the suitcases sounded like horses hooves on the sidewalk—today she was right—but no suitcase in sight.

Got breakfast at food court high above Victoria Railway station….these birds followed us everywhere there is no escaping the pink things.

all type of odd and unusual in London.

Into the center where all the giant tours line up with their long buses and even longer line of people waiting to go on, we were early so our bus wasn’t there yet so we just hung out.

Then our guide came looking for me and explained to us that we were the only ones who had signed up for the tour….so we assumed that it was cancelled but he said no Rabbie’s promise is to give the tour if it’s just one person signed up…..so we were off on an adjusted tour with our very charming Welsh guide.

Driving thru to Runnymede:

Runnymede, is the historical site of the sealing of the Magna Carta–the document that laid the foundation for modern democracy–by King John n 1215.

and then on to Windsor

past some lovely, if a bit unsunny scenery

Where the bus was put in the car park and we walked out to join the town (Winsor, the royal town situated on the banks of the Thames.

The town is the site of Windsor Castle, used as a weekend residence by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,

This castle was at the time it was built by William the Conqueror, a days journey from the Tower of London  (in 1070–the original was built of wood and later improved upon and added to by Henry I, II and III)

Susi and our guide

The present castle level was reached about the reign of Edward III.

King George V (1917) chose Windsor for his family surname

Extensive restoration was done during the reigns of George IV, William V and Victoria.

Winsor today is the world’s largest occupied castle in the world and the oldest continuous inhabited royal palace.

The lines were so long about Winsor that we opted just to wander about town and have lunch and skip the castle this time.

Discovering the city with our own private guide.

A café with a castle view.

We did make it in time for the CHANGING OF THE GUARDS

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In St. George’s Chapel began by Edward IV (1477), completed by Henry VII.  It is a fine example of Perpendicular architecture.

Henry VIII and Charles II are buried at the chapel here—Henry with his third wife and mother of his son Edward IV Jane Seymour all three in a vault under the choir…In fact Edward IV is here as well.

After lunch we were on the road again.

Burford is situated in north Oxfordshire, twenty miles west of  Oxford, and is considered the southern gateway to the Cotswolds

lovely shops

The beautiful town of Burford on the river Windrush was the site of a fortified ford in Anglo-Saxon times. The town grew to be an important crossroads and very wealthy wool town and is today very popular with visitors.

 Beautiful streets

The broad main street slopes gently down to the river and is lined with dignified old houses and ancient cottages and many shops all of which appear little changed since Tudor times as witnessed by the precarious angles the buildings have come to rest at.

Even the cars were cool

A few more views of the town

Hidden English History: It was May 1649, the end of the English Civil War. A mass of troops were being disbanded in Salisbury without pay and with little prospect of getting what they had been fighting for. Eight hundred troops sacked their officers, elected new ones and marched north, over several days, to Burford, with Cromwell on their heels. Despite his promise of peaceful negotiations the following day, Cromwell charged into the town at midnight with 2,000 horsemen.

340 of the Levellers were rounded up and imprisoned in Burford church, where carvings from the incarcerated soldiers can still be seen to this day. Next morning three of the leading Leveller soldiers were summarily executed against the church wall, where you can still see the bullet holes.

The following night Cromwell was treated to a slap-up banquet and awarded an honorary degree at Magdalen College Oxford. The last thing Cromwell wanted was democracy

Mandatory Doggie picture

The Cotswolds is one of the most ‘quintessentially English’ and unspoiled regions of England where you cannot help but fall in love with the uniqueness of it.

The unique region officially covers an area of 790 square miles in the upper part of the southwest region of England and is the country’s largest officially designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty‘

There are wonderful little side streets to explore, old pubs, tea and antique shops aplenty. The 15th century parish church of St. John Baptist is magnificent and is another sign of bye gone riches based on wool.

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist

The interesting church dates largely from the 15th century. The church has a Norman tower capped by a slender 15th century spire. Lengthy restoration of the church took place in the 1870’s bringing criticism from William Morris. The vicar at the time responded –

” the church Sir is mine, and if I choose to I shall stand on my head in it’.

This inspired William Morris to establish ths Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

The church was chosen as one of the top 20 by Simon Jenkins in his England’s Thousand Best Churches.

I’ll continue our Cotswold tours including another town in the same area and a Stone Circle you’ve probably never seen before on the 6/14.

But 6/12 with a damp dark day I hung close to my little village…worked on my book, talked with my Inn buds and just generally took it easy, something I seldom do at home.

 

for some reason this was set to publish but the computer failed to o so at the set time—-so this is very early in our vacation but you might enjoy it.

We can either start this up as wandering views or as a picture I took because I wanted to —what ever it’s a pretty scene

and then we reached one of those must see paces:

A very old church in a very old city:  ST. MARY’S

Mentioned in one of the original Robin Hood tales

The church is elevated above the general area and though not large is very impressive.

On High Pavement (the street name and not a description of the setting) it was constructed in the late 14th  and was completed early 15th–it is the 3rd church constructed on the spot

as we grew nearer we could view more of the lovely detail.

The present church has Perpendicular architecture–massive tower, huge windows and alabaster monuments.

We by-passed the entrance for a walk about the church yard

The Reformation (meaning Puritans and Parliament) in the 16th and 17th century stripped the church of its Medieval splendor but it remained important to the city.

The church yard and its great view of the city was like an old park complete with graves…we wandered about and view the city about it as well.

Of note in the church yard is the grave of George Africanus, a West African former slave who became a successful entrepreneur in the city in the late 18th and early 19th century.

Other outdoor shots

And then we went inside

This is the largest remaining medieval building in the city of Nottingham.

and this is what we found:

The Unicorn & the Lion

Have been here (in various positions) since the early 18th century, probably during the period that Princess Anne (later Queen) lodged here during the revolution (1688) which removed her father James II from the throne.  During her reign they became the symbols of the ancient kingdoms of England (lion) and Scotland (Unicorn)

Then we took up our walk about again and came across an entirely different church:

The current building was opened in 1876, built to a design of the architect Stuart Colman, of Bristol.

The current building was opened in 1876, built to a design of the architect Stuart Colman, of Bristol.

It was used as a place of worship for Unitarian Presbyterians in Nottingham until 1982.

It was then converted into the Nottingham Lace Museum, but this venture proved financially unviable.

The building was then converted to its current use, as a Pitcher and Piano public house

Then what’s England without an afternoon tea of two

more random walking memories;

So ends our first day in Nottingham…..

The day started dreary in Cornwall and most of the time I just hung about the pub doing blogs, working on book and reading the historical and the hunkable (Outlander).

but no let’s go to 5/29 and our tour of derelict London. http://www.derelictlondon.com/authors-guided-tours-of-london.html

We met our guide author Paul Talling at  a tube station loverlooked by a certainly derlict building:

http://www.derelictlondon.com/derelict-london—the-book.html

“Author, Paul Talling, prowled the metropolis for five years photographing the wretched,
the ramshackle, the tumbledown and the downright sinister.

“When you’re done with the London Eye and Buckingham Palace, turn to Paul Talling’s detail-packed blog on obscure pockets of the British capital. He’ll take you on a fascinating journey of derelict pubs, World War II bunkers, abandoned buildings, and more

Tickets for these walks usually sell out months in advance.

Walks are limited to 20 people so as to keep it more personal and  are ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE ONLY. You cannot pay on the day.

even more of those little independent gardens that seem to be popping up all about London.

These walking tours go ahead regardless of the weather – rain or shine, heatwave or Arctic conditions!

In our wanderings:

A boat turned café

a beautiful blue

Once elegant views

Pubs that have past

and other institutes that have not

and along with the old, the new growing up within or near the places that were.

This graffiti is used in the advert for the tour

Silly but fun

amazingly wonderful graffiti about

little known penchant for

and more

a very interesting place for an old fashioned diner

More figures hanging about

Near the dock lands

London is a very diverse city

the old and new so close together

after 4 hrs of walking we wait for the train (haven’t ridden on this one before…will take us to where we can get back on the subway)

Past the Tower of London  be careful not to loose your head.

and walls built by long gone Romans

Built by the Conqueror to subdue Londoners, it has seen the death of many, including 3 queens..,,,it holds the bodies of many and guards the essential ravens.

All Hallows by the Tower is the oldest church in the City of London and was founded by the Abbey of Barking in 675AD, 300 years before the Tower of London. An arch from the Saxon church can still be seen today. In the crypt beneath is a second century Roman pavement, discovered in 1926, evidence of city life on this site for nearly two thousand years.

Located next to the Tower of London, the church has cared for numerous beheaded bodies brought for temporary burial following their executions on Tower Hill, including those of Thomas More, Bishop John Fisher and Archbishop Laud.

In 1666 the Great Fire of London started in Pudding Lane, a few hundred yards from the church. All Hallows survived through the efforts of Admiral Penn (William Penn’s father) who, along with his friend Samuel Pepys, watched London burn from the tower of the church. William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, was baptised in the church and educated in the old schoolroom.

John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the USA, was married in All Hallows in 1797 and the Marriage Register entry is on display in the Undercroft Museum.

The church suffered extensive bomb damage during World War II and only the tower and the walls remained. The church was rebuilt after the war and was rededicated in 1957. The vicar at the time was the Rev’d “Tubby” Clayton, founder of the Toc H movement whose lamp of maintenance still shines in the Lady Chapel.

http://www.allhallowsbythetower.org.uk/history/

Statue believed to be of the Roman Emperor Trajan, AD 98 – 117.
‘Imperator Caesar Nerva Trajanus Augustus’

and with a wave to Traj…we were into the underground and home again…..with only one more day of the UK for Susi.

back to 6/11 with me resting my knee on a damp, and somewhat rainy day in cornwall.

Making new friends and the like

and enjoying the little village

and it’s quaintness

not to mention hanging with the locals

More tomorrow.

bye

little known penchant for walking around derelict buildings with a camera has been branded urban exploration (aka urbex). little known penchant for walking around derelict buildings with a camera has been branded urban exploration (aka urbex).

SO HERE WE ARE ANOTHER DAY OUT IN CORNWALL

6/10 AND off to the bridge over the Camel—I’ll explain that in a bit as you probably didn’t know there were a lot of camels in Cornwall.

Off by bus (the main picture is the main street in Tintagel)

this bus trip as you will notice took us in land–not along the ocean

This by the way are the cottages owned by the lady I met at the laundry mat.  To learn more try www.beaver-cottages.co.uk

and then there was Wadebridge

Wadebridge, one of North Cornwall’s main market towns and gateway to the Camel Trail, now the third largest attraction in the whole of Cornwall.

I spent most of the day wandering about this busy town

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the town of Wadebridge, was in 1313 when a market and two fairs were granted to Wade, within the manor of Pawton.

Even the theaters are old–this movie palace has been around for 85 years.

At this time (1313) the town was in two parishes, Egloshayle and St Breock, either side of the river Camel. Travellers gave thanks at both sides after a safe crossing. From this time the town became known as Wadebridge.

As is norm for me I wandered about on the High Street and down the alleys and byways….seeking the good picture and the lovely view

The Wadebridge and Bodmin Railway Line was opened in 1834 and was one of the first built in the world, it carried the first steam trains in Cornwall and was the first in West Britain to carry passengers.

And while a lot of the shops were closed for the Show:  Royal Cornwall….there were still wonderful views and interesting walks.

       On the 13th April 1840 an excursion was run from Wadebridge to see the public execution of the Lightfoot brothers at Bodmin Goal.

On the other hand I am so glad this place was closed as I loved everything in the window–dangerous to your pocketbook

Apparently 1100 people packed 3 trains , the public execution of the Lightfoot brothers at Bodmin Gaol (they had been convicted of the murder of Mr. Neville Norway)

There is no end to the odd and unusual in Cornwall

The railway has been closed since 1967, but the track is used for the Camel Trail, popular with walkers and cyclists – the town in summer now looks as if cyclists are taking it over.

It was our first dreary day and while the temperature wasn’t bad….the threat of rain was constantly with us.

The Library now is sited on the old railway goods yard. And the old booking office and waiting room have beDowr Kammel in Cornish, meaning crooked riveren turned into the Betjeman Centre (Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman had a lifelong love of Cornwall and wrote many poems about the area ), where Betjeman memorabilia are on display.

Now let me explain about that River’s name: Dowr Kammel in Cornish, meaning crooked river ….and the Cornish Word got rewritten into a word that is totally wrong for it’s area and makes people ask why is it named after a camel?

Mom–dad and if you look carefully the babies too

The town lies on the edge of Bodmin Moor and is about six miles inland from the rugged North Cornwall coast,

A boot scraper—just one of those little items that turn up in England from days gone by….

North Cornwall history, and that Camelford was the Camelot, of legend. The truth will never be known, although there was a warrior king who died in a bloody battle at Slaughter Bridge, just outside Camelford. This real king’s name was never known, so could it have been Arthur?

and did I mention how much the English and Cornish love their dogs?

Just outside the town is the permanent site for the Royal Cornwall Show, held in June each year.

and then there are the thing I have not a clue about.

Back on the bus and heading home in the rain:

And back to the village again:

where it was sunny again…..

hope you liked my little trip—-see you again soon.

Accommodation in St. Ives

 

Ok I’m back again and this time we’re just doing two days in Cornwall…we’ll get back to London (for a Derlict Tour) on the marrow.

Lots of celebrations for HRM’s 90th birthday—I believe (but don’t quote me) that this is the official celebration—she’s already had the actual day celebration—I think she’s a fantastic lady…but the lime green may have been a bit over the top.

6/8

Walking thru the village to the bus stop

View from the bus

View from the bus stop:  BUDE

Bude is a small seaside resort town in north Cornwall

But like everywhere in Cornwall and Britain it has more than its fair share.

While it’s considered small it’s really quite large compared to my home base of Tintagel.

Love the shops—there was a sign on the tiger that says I don’t bite but I do fall over, and asking the visitor to take care with him.

and the items inside we enchanting

and just the kind of place that really makes me happy.

Why can’t our Post Offices look like this?

In Cornwall the country side is never too far away.

at the mouth of the River Neet (also known locally as the River Strat). It was formerly sometimes known as Bude Haven

Its earlier importance was as a harbour, and then a source of sea sand useful for improving the moorland soil.

The Victorians favoured it as a watering place,

A common sight in Cornwall (and Wales) at low tide–bunches of boats on dry harbor bottom—with low tide they’ll be afloat again.

In the Middle Ages the only dwelling here was Efford Manor, the seat of the Arundells of Trerice, which had a chapel of St Leonard. Another chapel existed at Chapel Rock which was dedicated to Holy Trinity and St Michael

It’s also known for its surfing

Until the start of the 20th century, the neighbouring town of Stratton was dominant, and a local saying is “Stratton was a market town when Bude was just a furzy down”, meaning Stratton was long established when Bude was just gorse-covered downland.

Tourism is the main industry in the Bude area whilst some fishing is carried on. There are also golf links in the town.

 

Waiting for the bus

and back on the bus again

and back home to Tintagel

6/9:

My day this day was spent exploring my temporary home village

One of the staff brought me this old picture of a right proper Cornish lady from the wall of the long rambling pub here at the Cornishman Inn—the lovely lady who told me about this explained that at this time the pictured lady held the keys to Tintagel Castle and when unlocked the gate every morning and locked it back at night….

Tintagel is full of all manner of interesting people.

in all manner of garbs.

and much celebrating their most famous citizen

and something the natives love almost as much as dogs–flowers…

and don’t forget Cornwall from the Pixies to Merlin has a lot of magic.

and as I’m known to wander off the beaten path…I also managed to find some places that reflected some of the age of the town….

I love the lines of the old stone buldings…so unlike anything we have at home.

The view from the car park just across from my hotel.

A mortar-less stone wall common in Cornwall

Some of the other residents of Tintagel

something for everyone at the Cornishman Inn

though the uses are new the buildings are not.

There’s a pottery

not to mention the unclassified

colorful gardens with food and drink too

and all manner of photo ops.

Not to mention those must have items for the folks back home.

and did I mention the cows?

and a few odd bits

That add to the ambiance for me.

So for today I’ll say goodbye and I’ll be back with a bit of a different view of London and Harbridge in Cornwall

AS I was getting ready for my day out and about in Cornwall I heard the most amazing thing—sheep…now if you’ve been to the English country side you’re going to say the woman is coor bonkers as there are sheep everywhere and if you have spent anytime in Tintagel you will testify that the place is surrounded by the fuzzy beasties…..and hearing a baaa on the breeze is nothing unusual…but this wasn’t sheep in the near pastures, this was sheep parading down the streets….they finally got them to a car park just past the hotel and on the other side and as they wandered down that way I lost sight….I love Cornwall.

But we wander back a bit to 5/27 London and our day there:

As usual we started our day on Belgrave Rd.

Then the Underground and this a few of what you see when you exit.  Yes we’re doing a bit more of the recognized area today.

The buildings around Parliament are wonderful:

Our First stop  St Margaret’s—

This church sets next to Westminster Abbey and has been Parliament’s Church since the More conservative Puritans preferred it’s less ornate trappings to the lush ones of Westminster.  The church was originally built to supply an area for visitors to the abbey to worship—some say because the Monks wish to be free to worship with out the less pious visitors (who knows?)

Oh and was note Winston Churchill was married here by the way.

I went back here to see a window which while it was originally part of Henry (who would become the VIII eventually)’s marriage to Katherine of Argon, was found to contain a window to Arthur (no not the King, but Henry’s older brother who died before he became King).  The Spanish princess had came with a grand diary and Henry VII was reluctant to give it up….so it was established that though married Catherine and the sickly Arthur never consummated their marriage—this was later used by Henry to start his seriel marriage saga but that’s a whole other blog…maybe more……and Henry and Katherine were married and the rest is history….but no photos in the church so will use one from online

                        The entire window

Then we were off to the Jewel Tower

Now this is my 4th trip to London and I have been around the area of Westminister, but only recently in my studies did I discover this tower which is a small part (there is a larger part which is part of the Parliament buildings) of the original Westminster tower that is all that remains of the original royal palace that burned down in 1834.

The Jewel Tower was built in 1365 to house Edward III’s treasures and was known as the “King’s Privy Wardrobe.” (It’s the building in the foreground on your right)

The tower features a 14th century ribbed vault (building to the left)

The grounds are small but impressive

Exhibitions covered all three floors of the tower…

The exhibitions highlight the Jewel Tower’s history and changing role over the centuries.

We were going to Westminster Abbey but the lines were horrible so on to lunch:

After a bit of hunting we found a square behind the Abbey—which is mostly filled by a Boy’s Public (read private in US) School….but as the picture above denotes still some lovely views of the abbey.

and this one as well.

and then we finally found it:  The restaurant is set within a 14th c store house that is part of  Westminster Abbey serving food in a location steeped in old-world atmosphere.

We had a classic British lunch

We just don’t have store houses like this in the US.

Even the bathroom was amazing

A walk by Bodecia’s statue

The Celtic Chief’s wife who avenged her husband’s death and her daughters’ rape by raising the tribes and destroying a whole Roman Legion, she burned London (then Roman  Londinium) and finally committed suicide before the Romans finally were able to defeat her….My kind of woman

The Banqueting Hall use to be part of Whitehall, which burned in 1698 the hall however survived.

It was the first building in London in the classical Palladium style.  Built by Inigio Jones and completed in 1622 it is all that is left of Whitehall and has ceiling paintings by Ruben (1630).  Charles I was executed here—going out of one of the windows onto the scaffold set up outside.  Charles wore extra clothes as it was cold outside and he did not want to appear that he was shivering in fear as he presented himself for his death…he was the only English King to ever be executed (By Cromwell and his Parlament) by the British government.

Then walking back to the subway

A momument to THE WOMEN OF WORLD WAR 2

First Dinner at the Globe’s Restaurant….with the nicest hostess I’ve ever met–great food and a view of London to die for.

Then the gift shop

Ah….Hamlet knew him well

and finally the play

The Taming of the Shrew, written by some guy named Will

Then home thru the bright lights of London (by cab of course)

ok HERE ARE those sheep on 6/9

and after all that excitement was off on the bus to Bude—don’t try to say the word….I’m still getting it so wrong I have to spell it to the locals so they know what I’m walking about:

Tomorrow I will complete 6/9 and 6/10 in Tintagel as I have so much for the two days it will be too much right now and I have to get back to my adventure beside they want my table at the pub…and I have to finish my apple and passion fruit cider…..Brilliant

 

A day of research and gadding about town

  But let’s look at 5/26 in London—-We started out by a tube ride to Bermondsey Station where we were to meet a London Walking Tour:  UNDISCOVERED LONDON:  SAME CITY DIFFERENT LONDON.

 

And then along with our guide we viewed Southwark–a section of London that was once Warehouse along the docks and are now apartments. 

 

We saw the older buildings that still survive and much more:

 

 

After almost 2 hours of touring we were on our own again—we stopped at a pub for a drink and lunch.

 

 

Then back on the tube to Embarkment and onto Northumberland

 

 

Destination:  Sherlock Holmes Pub

 

 

The Pub is a shrine to the detective

 

 

It walls covered in memorabilla

 

 an upstairs room next to the restaurant is a recreation of Holmes study with a model of the main setting room

 

 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used to drink here

 

 

and the pub features in Hound of the Baskervilles chapter 4  under it’s old name Northumerland Hotel.

 

 

After looking around a bit we were back on the tube to Baker Street, where else.

 

 

to see this small museum that was lovingly created by the Sherloc Holmes international society and dedicated to Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth.

 

 

This faithful recreation of the detective’s home with his personal possessions and memorabilia from his most important cases, including his trademark deerstalker, pipe, violin, chemistry equipment, notebook, Persian slippers and disquises. 

 

 

Visitors can set in Holmes armchair by the fireside for a photo.

 

   

A policeman in period costume is posted outside the front door.

 

 We had a great time exploring the place and visiting the gift shop.

 

Just beyond Baker Street is Maryborne Rd.  This area was once a medieval vllage of St. Mary by the Bourne (River Tyburn) a few blocks to the left is Maryborne High St.  Madame Trussards is in this area as is the Royal Academy of Music and Regent Park.

 

Home by cab

Italian for Dinner

and then home next door

 

and 6/7 in Cornwall?

Trying out the Telephoto lens

and worked on some research

determined locations and the like

on my book….so Susi can stop reminding me

meeting new friends

and just wandering about

Tintagel

and always the evidence of the English love of dogs.

hanging at my hotel…2 bars, a beer garden…hurray

Another evening of drinks and watching pool

not snooker

6/6:  So today I start my sojourns on what the guide books called local transportation and recommended you rent a car or something instead….

But Let’s return to London for the 25th of May first

The morning found us at Waverly Station in Edinburgh and back on the train for our return to London

And then we’re there:  London

and another taxi ride

Even saw the Queen’s Car—no queen, but—notice no license plates…interesting….

Checked in and back on the streets

Dinner at a very traditional pub

And an early evening after a long train ride…..

Now back to my bus adventures 6/5

on to Boscastle only a few miles away but about 15 min on the bus.

Welcome to Boscastle–the bus stop is actually on the bridge:

The River Valecy runs down the middle of the main street to the fishing harbor which is sheltered by the high slate cliffs.

Just in case you’re not impressed by the river check this out…it caused terrible flooding and destruction a few years ago…so don’t be deceived.

Checking out the shops

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The main village occupies a steep site on the side of a small valley which runs down to join the larger Valency Valley on the north coast.

The harbor nestles back from the sea within a rocky cleft.

The old watermill houses craft workshops and several tourist orientated venues.

Lunch at the CobWeb Pub, the ancient building has been many things over the years.  It got its name from the massive layer of cobwebs that the landlord use to allow to accumulate so that the spiders would control the fly population.  Modern health inspectors thought have discouraged this and the practice has been discouraged….lovely Ploughman’s lunch and some lovely local brew.

This town was once a coal and other supplies port

It is a pleasant town with stone houses and various shaped cottages some with wavy roofs and crooked chimneys stacks whre bounry walls are often built of diagonally set slate.  The way is steep but the view worth it.

in the 14th century the village was granted a right to hold a fair at the castle.

and then there’s the Museum of Witchcraft and Black Magic–it’s one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

Then winding down for the bus ride back

Then the bus trip home:

Cause for 29 days the Cornishman Inn is my home

and then the walk home from the bus station

an back home at the Inn