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Our European Adventure 2018
  • DeanandLindasTravels
  • DeanandLindasTravels

Our European Adventure 2018

A 6 month trip on a shoestring Read more
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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    1

    Le Mont-Saint-Michel

    June 17, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    The highlight, of course, is the Abbey at the top of the mountain. It is amazing to look at the sheer size of it and to think of how they built it. They hauled the rock from the archipelago quarries by barge at high tide. They winched the stones up the mountain using 6 men walking on a “gerbil wheel”, then cut the stones precisely and laid them on a pointed mountain. First they had to make a base around the point, and build it up from there. It was built in the 11th-13th centuries, and then in the 14th century it was fortified for the 100 years war. Because it resisted all English assaults, it is France’s symbol of National identity.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    College students singing a capella1

    The Abbey

    June 17, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Mont-Saint-Michel was converted into a prison during the Revolution, so many artifacts have been lost. But it is still magnificent. We heard a group of seven college students singing acapella in one of the chapels off the sanctuary. They faced the concave surface of the chapel and their voices resonated throughout the cathedral. It was beautiful, and so refreshing to see young people with a spiritual connection, since we don’t see a lot of that in Europe. A lot of people were listening and making videos.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    1

    Le Mont-Saint-Michel tour

    June 17, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Our admission included a tour, which gave lots of information and showed us things we might not have found on our own. With all the tour groups, it was hard to hear her at times, but we still learned a lot. She said they get a lot of Japanese tour groups, and we certainly saw that. We are thankful that this monument was not damaged in the war, and that the French government is preserving it.

    We also saw a performance of medieval music and dance in a courtyard.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Wedding Room

    Calais: Waiting for the Ferry

    June 19, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    We spent two nights in Calais before taking the ferry to England. We found out that buying our ferry tickets a day in advance saved us 52 Euros! We walked around the town and enjoyed seeing the Town Hall, done in Flemish Renaissance architecture. Much of the interior is stucco, but looks like other materials, such as stone or wood.

    Shown are the beautiful stained glass window depicting the return of Calais from England to France, the upstairs hallway, the city council chamber, and the wedding chamber.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Dean, strolling with Churchill and de Gaulle
    1Three GracesInteresting design for a flower gardenWatch Tower

    Calais Sights

    June 19, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Here are several sights in Calais. Included is also an old Watch Tower that has been through an earthquake and two world war worth of bombings. It is still standing due to all the repairs.

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    1

    Ferry Crossing: Calais to Dover

    June 20, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    The ferry had lots of trucks and a few cars on it at 9:40 a.m. We expected more travelers. We had the lounge and restaurant mostly to ourselves. Arrived in Great Britain in rain and fog, and drove (on the left side, we have to keep reminding ourselves) to Cambourne, near Cambridge. We had dinner with the couple in Swavesey, where will be housesitting starting tomorrow.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    Housesitting in Swavesey

    June 21, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    We are companions to Charlie the cat, and Buzz the Degu for the next 10 days. It’s great to be setting up temporary housekeeping. I made soup which really tasted good after so many days of eating sandwiches or prepared foods from the grocery stores. We don’t eat out very much—too expensive when we are traveling this long.

    We are both getting over a cold, so it's great to just relax and watch a movie!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Market HillGreat St. Mary's Church

    Cambridge

    June 24, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Cambridge is home to the 4th oldest university in the world, and includes 31 colleges. It is a very walkable town, and most of the colleges are right in the center. We took a Hop-On-Hop-Off tour to get an overview, and then walked around to see more buildings up close. Here are some views of the city from the top of Great St. Mary's Church tower, including a street market, and a photo of the tower itself.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    King's College Chapel
    Part of King's College campusQueen's CollegePunting at Mathematical Bridge

    Colleges of Cambridge University

    June 24, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Here is King's College, where we went to an Evensong to hear the choir. It is composed of boys from about age 8 through college age, and they sing beautifully!

    Queen's College is next--and the Mathematical Bridge that connects the college's two banks. The boats going along the river are called punts. Punting is a favorite pastime in Cambridge.

    And some more colleges in the next photos.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    RAF Bar with Graffiti Ceiling
    Crick and Watson's table

    Eagle Pub, Cambridge

    June 24, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    The Eagle Pub has an interesting history. The back bar is where British and US Air Force chaps hung out and wrote graffiti on the ceiling using candles, lighters, and lipstick. It felt like we were in their presence.

    This is also where Crick and Watson lunched, worked out the structure of DNA, and announced it to the patrons.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    St Ives: Market Town

    June 25, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    St Ives is a cute little river town that used to have a sheep market on the main street square. Now it is used for a street market selling food, crafts, household items, etc. The architecture has a Dutch influence. We ate a typical British lunch in the local church on the square. Fish pie is very filling, and nothing to write home about, but it is an active church and we wanted to support them.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Pub in the Village
    Orchard Tea GardenPoet Rupert Brooke and the Vicarage where he had a room.Grantchester Meadows, subject of a song by Pink Floyd

    Grantchester village

    June 27, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    One day we drove to Grantchester, a village on the river Cam, just south of Cambridge. It is a place where students and others often go to walk in the meadows along the river, picnic, and swim. The Orchard Tea Garden is a beautiful spot, and there are charming pubs too. A lot of poets, writers, and other artistic types hung out there.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Wall of the MissingChapel Ceiling Mosaic

    Cambridge American Cemetery

    June 28, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    This is the only US Cemetery in England. Most of those memorialized here died in the Battle of the Atlantic or in the air bombardments of NW Europe. The visitor center has a lot of photos and personal stories. Lt. Joseph Kennedy Jr. and co-pilot were killed in one of the bombing missions, in which they were to set the autopilot to make the plane crash into the target, then parachute out before the crash. The bombs detonated prematurely, well before the planned bailout. They are among those named on the Wall of the Missing.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Mavis and I walk by this view a lot
    Across the valley from usDunkirk Mill, converted into condosMinchinhampton Commons, at the top of the hillsMavis is always happy to see us!

    Housesitting in Nailsworth

    July 1, 2018 in England ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    We are in the Cotswolds now, taking care of a dog named Mavis. She is a very sweet 12 year old lurcher. We walked around the town this afternoon--there isn't much here but it is a nice little village surrounded by hills. The main industry used to be woolen mills.

    Here are some views from around our neighborhood!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    Tetbury: a Market Town

    July 4, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Tetbury is one of many small, beautiful villages in the Cotswolds. It has an old Market Hall, dating from 1655 that was open. We bought a meat pie (meatloaf wrapped in flaky pastry) for lunch, and some strawberry jam to take home.

    Chipping Steps goes up the hill to the market area (chipping means market), and passes by some charming 17th-18th Century homes. Almost all the buildings in the Cotswolds are made of limestone--so pretty!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Christ ChurchSt. Mary's ChurchGothic interiorThe pews are enclosed narrow benches.

    Tetbury Churches

    July 4, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    We stopped at the Christ Church because they were having a public coffee time, and met the pastor and several other friendly people. Then we went to the Gothic Revival church, St Mary's.

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    Chavenage, of Poldark fame

    July 5, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    We haven't gotten into the TV series, Poldark, but know a lot of people are watching it regularly. This is the home used as the setting, and because of that, people like to tour it. There was quite a crowd on the day we went--it is only available on Thursday and Sunday afternoons. We enjoyed the tour especially because the house is being lived in.

    The first part of the house was built in medieval times. Then in the 1500s, it was gutted, reconstructed in Elizabethan style, and added onto in front and back of the original part. The additions are done so well that the house looks like it is all from the same period. This makes it very desirable for filming.

    The back of the house looks onto an unspoiled area of the country, where you don't see any evidence of modern life--so it is used to film battles, etc.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Oliver Cromwell slept here
    Silk tapestry covers the wallsGentleman's Smoking Room, designed to show wealth

    Chavenage Tour

    July 5, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    On our tour we saw the bed that Oliver Cromwell slept in, when he made a visit to the owners. During England's civil war (1642-46) between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, Cromwell was trying to get support to have King Charles I killed.

    The Cromwell bedroom is used in filming Poldark. It has wool tapestries on the walls, and they were made to fit the room.

    The next bedroom has silk tapestries on its walls. It contains several military weapons and a helmet, which is surprisingly heavy! Above the fireplace is a hat cover, used to keep the hat from getting dusty when out riding. When two men on horseback met on the road, they would quickly put on their hats, and the one with the smaller hat had to give way to the other, out of respect. Wish we had some way of giving or receiving right of way on some of these narrow roads!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The area of the library used as a breakfast room in Poldark

    Chavenage Tour continues

    July 5, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Here are some more rooms we saw:
    -The former Ladies' room, turned into a billiard room, because the owner needed a place to put his Snooker table
    -The Library, which is used as a Breakfast Room during Poldark filming
    -Portraits of former owners
    -The Ballroom, now a Tea Room for tour participants.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    Chavenage: Chapel and Farm

    July 5, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    The original family were strong Catholics, had a priest living with them, and hid him during the time of Catholic persecution in the country.

    This the chapel; it is often rented for weddings.

    And here are some scenes of the working farm.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    View from the gardenRepresentation of Wade's quarters during WWIThe Auction Ad that captured Wade's imagination, and the way he framed it with pages of the magazineWade created many quirky displays of objects

    Snowshill Manor

    July 6, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Charles Wade, a talented and artistic architect, was serving in WWI, but the regimented life didn't suit him. He spent time perusing Country Life magazines and decorating his living space. He saw an ad of a manor for sale, decided to look for it if he survived, and bought it shortly after the war.

    Wade spent his life collecting things that he thought were skillfully made, attractive, and fun. Then he created displays of all his objects, and had friends over to see them, hear the stories, and do theater together using costumes and props he'd collected. Sounds like a fun guy!    Read more

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