• 1 Planet 1 Bag
  • 1 Planet 1 Bag

Europe 2019-2020

Planes, trains and automobiles around Europe, Winter 2019-2020 Les mer
  • Edinburgh part 2

    30. desember 2019, Skottland ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    Did the hop on hop off buss today. Took the complete circle then round again to the Palace of Holyrood. It was a great tour and wonderful to see the actual place where The Queen stays when she is “in town”. Not only does she and the Royal Family stay in the castle, it has a very old Abbey connected. A place where Robert the Bruce held court in something like 1580. I recommend the audio tour. No photos inside.Les mer

  • Hogmanay - Edinburgh

    30. desember 2019, Skottland ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F

    Get a torch. Lite it, walk through town. Like a parade except I was in the parade. People watched from windows and from the ground and we marched pass with flaming torches. It was great fun. When we got to Holyrood Park there was a winding path. From above the path would look like an image of two people shaking hands. At least that’s what they said. I will search for the image. Lots of walking and now I smell like ash and a weird Yankee Candle store.Les mer

  • Stonehaven, Scotland

    31. desember 2019, Skottland ⋅ ⛅ 36 °F

    Stonehaven, Scotland is a fishing village on the east coast north of St. Andrews. It has a festival where the town folk create metal baskets (think crab pots) and fill them with flammable material. They lite them on fire and walk through town. Swinging them over their heads. At the end of High Street, they toss the flaming baskets into the sea at the stroke of midnight. I watched them toss. Then the fireworks went off from the hill below Dunnottar Castle.
    It was 30 degrees.
    I stood outside for 3 hours to get a good position.
    My camera died.

    Happy New Year!!
    Les mer

  • Dunfermline

    1. januar 2020, Skottland ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F

    Started in Stonehaven drove south and took the Angus Coastal Route that went along and through some interesting areas. Ending in Dumfermline for the night.

    Stoped in St. Andrews long enough to take a photo of the famous course.Les mer

  • Coals to Newcastle

    2. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    Mom used to say “it’s like taking coals to Newcastle.” So I stopped to see where the coal came from. Woodhorn coal mine museum in Ashington is one of the few mines that has any buildings remaining. Museum and displays were nice and they had a special event called First Stepping. On the first day of the new year friends come to your house and bring friendship and good wishes when they are the first people to come through the door.

    The museum also had a display of the miners art from the 30’s made famous in a play called The Pitman Painter’s. Written by the same author who wrote Billy Elliott.
    Les mer

  • Carlisle, UK

    3. januar 2020, England ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    Train from Morpeth west to Carlisle. This area is generally the northern border of Britain and Scotland. The Romans built a wall across this part of the country to keep the Barbarians (The Scots) from moving south. The wall is called Hadrians wall. Parts of it still exist. This photo though is Carlisle Cathedral. A beautiful example of construction that has stood 800+ years. Hadrians Wall and history tomorrow.Les mer

  • Carlisle Castle

    4. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    The border between England and Scotland. The castle changed hands a couple of times during the Jacobite Uprising. Interesting castle and with the weather it was pretty cold. But I now have a better understanding of some English history which is always a benefit of travel.

    Joined the English Heritage to get the book and free access to other places.
    Les mer

  • Manchester - Family History Day 1

    5. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Today was dedicated to finding family headstones. With good planning it turned out to be easier than anticipated. Dottie and Adel have good memories of locations and combined with maps and the internet the headstones were easily located. At Southern Cemetery area U-2141 Isabella Occelston is my g-g-grandmother. John Weedall and Isabella Weedall are my g-grandparents.
    At Saint Winfreds church are the markers for Grandpa George and Grandma Clare (Clara). These are the people that I knew as a child.

    Also made another new friend Jennie Roberts. She is a member of the church and grew up in Manchester on Crown Street. Her family owned Massey Chip Shop. Visited with her and had a cup of tea. She had extra memories of the area and the town. Another wonderful connection to Manchester.

    Monday I’m heading to the Manchester library to hunt old maps and photos of the places the family lived.

    Finished the evening with Sunday Roast.
    Les mer

  • Chester- Canals

    7. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    Stephen and Amanda said they would be game to take a narrow boat along the canals of England with me. These locks are one of the man-powered devices that would be a requirement of the trip. Something that will take a little planning to get done, but definitely doable.Les mer

  • Chester-Friends Romans and Countrymen?

    7. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    The Romans were busy throughout Britain building walls and forts. Of course all that building required that the men keep clean. These are the remnants of Roman baths complete with heated floors and water. The romans also brought with them construction with mortar and rock. The English quickly utilized the building technique and stone construction took off.Les mer

  • Chester Family

    7. januar 2020, England ⋅ 🌬 55 °F

    One of the reasons to come this way was to reconnect with family. Colin was my moms cousin. I remember Adel and I playing at he and his wife Gail’s house about 1975 (yikes that was a long time ago). Had a wonderful very long lunch with Colin, Gail and a very tolerant Marc who listened on about family he never met.

    Cheers to Family. Who are stuck with me no matter the challenges.
    Les mer

  • Telford- Blists Victorian Village

    8. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Most of the buildings here were moved to this created town from other areas. Taken apart brick-by-brick and put back together, the buildings were interpreted by period costumed workers who were incredibly knowledgeable. It was so quiet that they seemed genuinely happy to chat.

    The brick and clay works was really interesting.
    Les mer

  • Ironbridge

    8. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    Home of the first iron bridge. Cast off site and brought down in sections and connected. It spans the Severn River a major route from the coal and clay mines to ports in Gloucester.

  • Port Isaac

    10. januar 2020, England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    Sitting at home watching episodes of Doc Martin made me want to come and see the seaside village where it was filmed. 4 airplanes, 6 countries and a 4 hour car ride later and I am living it. Looks like the tv show but in winter all the quirky characters went inside to keep warm. Still, I love it and I’m so happy to be here.Les mer

  • Trenear-Far South Cornwall

    10. januar 2020, England ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    Came down this way to visit the Poldark mine and take the tour. We got all the way down and Sadly it was closed. Instead we had lunch at a really great “hidden away” restaurant. On the way back we had a bit of a driving adventure.

    The Slice of Cornwall restaurant had a little honesty shop full of second hand bric-a-brac.

    This is the furthest south of the trip.
    Les mer

  • Stonehenge

    11. januar 2020, England ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    I’ve heard and seen so much about this place that I had to see it for myself. It was NOT how I imagined it to be.
    Not as tall
    No people in brown robes walking around chanting
    Close to a highway
    Not as “spiritual” as I expected

    Still glad I saw it.
    Les mer

  • Hampton Court

    12. januar 2020, England ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    Came here as a kid and recall having a great run through the maze. The castle presentations have changed a lot since then, but the maze was still fun. I made it all the way in and back out without help from the spotter man.

    The kitchens were open. There were costumed interpreters cooking a real roast on an open fire. As Henry VIII loved sugar, there was also a costumed confectioner making edible confetti.
    Les mer

  • London -No Fog

    13. januar 2020, England ⋅ 🌧 48 °F

    Hop on hop off bus today with a boat trip on the Thames. London is an interesting city with tons to explore. The sites are spread out just far enough to spread out the visitors. Big Ben is under construction and covered up but the rest of the sites were open. More theater here than in San Francisco. I might have to take in a show before I leave.

    Lite rain after 3:30 which gave the town a nice look.
    Les mer

  • Oxford

    14. januar 2020, England ⋅ 🌧 46 °F

    Oxford University is a collection of colleges. I’m not sure how many there are but I saw at least 12. My favorite is Somerville. Many women I respect attended including former PM Margaret Thatcher. By Oxford standards it is the most liberal. For example educational robes are not required during formal halls, very recently the college went co-Ed and men are now allowed entrance and most uniquely, everyone can walk on the grass.

    All of the bikes in the two photos are in the same parking area, it took two photos to capture the entire lot.
    Les mer