Halls in Blighty

december 2019 - januari 2020

Een 26-daags avontuur van Sarukoru Meer informatie

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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 1 jan 2020
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Hoogte: 105 m
- Italië Toscana Firenze Piazza Calda Piazzale Michelangelo 43.762794, 11.26500443°45’46” N 11°15’54” E
Dag 12
New Year’s Day
1 januari 2020, Italië ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
It turned out that not everyone had an early night last night. I went out at around 7:00 am - the streets were deserted but strewn with empty bottles and other NYE detritis.

Florence wasn't messy for long though, By the time I headed back for coffee and breakfast, the street sweepers were out and the story book beauty was restored.

Most of Florence was closed for New Years Day. It was strange walking over the Ponte Vecchio with all the jewellery stalls closed and locked.

The Leonardo da Vinci museum was open so we spent an hour or so there. We went across the river and walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo to look out over the old city.

Came back along the Ponte Grazie where George throws Lucy’s photographs into the Arno (because they were covered in blood).

We visited Santa Croce then had dinner at Osteria del Gatto e la Volpe.

Today was a great gelato day. I have discovered an unbeatable combination - hazlenut (or could be nocciola or baci) with cherry (whole soft stewed cherries in a sort of fior di latte).Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 2 jan 2020
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Hoogte: 59 m
- Italië Toscana Firenze San Lorenzo District Galleria dell'Accademia 43.776718, 11.25916243°46’36” N 11°15’33” E
Dag 13
David and Duomo
2 januari 2020, Italië ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Today we set out super early for the Accademia. Determined not to repeat the mistakes of the Sistine Chapel, we had tickets for 8:15 am and were at the meeting point 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

It was fabulous - there were very few people at that time and we had prime position and plenty of time to gaze upon the man himself, David ! The block of marble used for David had been tried and rejected by a few different sculptors as too hard to work with before Michelangelo had a go. Incredible that something so beautiful was created. This time I was really struck by the determination, but trepidation in his eyes.

We also spent some time with the Medici instruments and the rest of the gallery before joining the long line to go into the Cathedral. Unfortunately tickets to climb the Duomo were sold out for several days, so we had to content ourselves with the view from the inside. Which is beautiful enough !

After that, it was farewell Florence and back on the train to Rome. I made the booking a little late to all sit together, so Ivy and I sat in one carriage, Russell at the back of the next, while Henry found himself in a foursome with some grandparents and their grandson. Happily, we all made it off at the right stop.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 3 jan 2020 00:00
- 🌙 3 °C
- Hoogte: 39 m
- Italië Lazio Roma Capitale Colonna Spanish Steps 41.906013, 12.48283441°54’22” N 12°28’58” E
Dag 14
Farewell Keats, arrividerci Roma
3 januari 2020, Italië ⋅ 🌙 3 °C
For our last night in Italy we stayed in the fancy Hotel Meditterraneo recommended by Tegan's brother - right next to the station.

While the sun was setting we took a walk to the Spanish Steps. I was keen to re-visit the Keats House, where I started by Roman trip with Soph almost exactly 23 years ago. Unfortunately it was closed for renovations, but you could go in to the gift shop and watch a documentary about Keats. It was a quiet little oasis right next to the crowds and selfie stick sellers next door at the Piazza Spagna.

In 1821 Severn wrote in his diary: “28 Jan 3 o’clock in the morning - drawn to keep me awake - a deadly sweat was on him all night”. Before he died, Keats asked to be lifted out of his bed to look out his window one last time.

We had our last dinner at the rooftop restaurant at Hotel Mediterraneo. We were all looking forward to getting back to our London family.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 4 jan 2020
- ⛅ 7 °C
- Hoogte: 9 m
- Engeland Richmond upon Thames Barnes 51.475248, -0.24061451°28’31” N 0°14’26” W
Dag 15
The Last Skywalker
4 januari 2020, Engeland ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
A longstanding itch for Henry was scratched today when we went to Barnes to see "The Last Skywalker", The London Coles' local cinema is fantastic. It started as a dance hall, then was a cinema, and from the 60s onwards it was a recording studio and before the movie there was footage of all the famous bands that recorded there - Rolling Stones, Beatles, Led Zepellin, Queen, Pink Floyd...

During the night however we received some worrying news from home. Our Mum had had a fall at the beach and had been taken to hospital. After a flurry of phone calls it was still a little unclear what had happened. We were so thankful to Soph and Ross who pulled themselves off their flight to Malaysia to return to Wollongong and take care of Mum.

I was glad to be with George - it is hard to be far from home when bad news comes in.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 5 jan 2020
- ☁️ 7 °C
- Hoogte: 26 m
- Engeland City of London Farringdon Without 51.51567, -0.1070251°30’56” N 0°6’25” W
Dag 16
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
5 januari 2020, Engeland ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
When morning came, the news from Wollongong started to trickle in - Mum seemed better, although a bit battered about. George and I both got to speak to her and felt re-assured. We knew she was in good hands with the doctors and of course Soph and Ross.

Our other incredibly exciting Christmas gift was tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. We saw the first half as a matinee, then had dinner and back in for the second half. It is difficult to describe how amazing this show is. Also, you are not supposed to spoil the secrets and surprises. It was the best experience - lots of magic and effects, but also funny and a great story. the 5 hours went by in no time.

While we were in town Percy had his party with nursery and family friends, complete with a triumph of a Spiderman Cake.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 6 jan 2020
- ⛅ 6 °C
- Hoogte: 7 m
- Engeland Richmond upon Thames East Sheen 51.464706, -0.27206251°27’53” N 0°16’19” W
Dag 17
Happy Birthday Percy !
6 januari 2020, Engeland ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
Percy was four today !

We all went into town to a favourite of George and Tegan's - Dishoom, which "pays homage to the Irani cafe's and all the food of Bombay". We started with mango lassis and breakfast and then moved into the lunch menu. Everything was delicious.

George and Tegan took us to their old stomping grounds in Bloomsbury and we went to the children's playground at Coram Fields to burn off some energy.

We finished up at the British Museum. There was a divergence of interest level (and tiredness level) in our group, and so we broke into three different parties for the journey home.

We were all ready for tea and cake when we got there.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 7 jan 2020
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Hoogte: 42 m
- Engeland Norwich 52.628715, 1.29206552°37’43” N 1°17’31” E
Dag 18
Norwich
7 januari 2020, Engeland ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Today work and school started for the London Coles. Molly arrived to take the boys to school and I took myself off on the train to Norwich to spend the day with an old and very dear friend Elizabeth.

Meanwhile Russell, Henry and Ivy tagged along on the school run and went into town to the Tate Modern. Apparently they were plotting a day trip to Paris - but sadly didn't take their passports.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 8 jan 2020
- ☁️ 9 °C
- Hoogte: 103 m
- Engeland Three Rivers Abbots Langley 51.693253, -0.42025251°41’36” N 0°25’13” W
Dag 19
Harry Potter world !
8 januari 2020, Engeland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
We took the train out to Watford Junction and then out to the Harry Potter studios at Leavesden.

There was everything here a Harry Potter fan could want - and also enough to entertain someone more like me.

Henry and Ivy blew the last of their holiday money in the gift shop (Ivy - a t-shirt and lots of lollies, Henry - the wand of Yaxley, an obscure character who exists in mostly deleted scenes from the movies).Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 9 jan 2020
- ⛅ 11 °C
- Hoogte: 16 m
- Engeland Tower Hamlets Whitechapel Tower of London 51.50808, -0.0760151°30’29” N 0°4’34” W
Dag 20
Tower of London and our last night
9 januari 2020, Engeland ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
We weren't quite finished with London yet, and today we went on a tour of the Tower of London. We were shown around by one of the old Yeoman with an impressive uniform and a wry sense of humour.

It was a smashing day - cold, but bright and sunny. Perfect weather for some iconic London shots.

Back at Connaught, I took a last trip to Waitrose for supplies for a farewell meal - negronis, steaks and spuds.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Halls in Blighty
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- 10 jan 2020
- ☀️ 5 °C
- Hoogte: 21 m
- Engeland Hillingdon Heathrow London Heathrow Terminal 2 51.469702, -0.44943151°28’11” N 0°26’58” W
Dag 21
Goodbye London
10 januari 2020, Engeland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C
A sad day as we got ready to leave London and our family.

We did some last minute shopping in Richmond then met George and Percy for a pub lunch.

Then it was home to pack and to enjoy some last cuddles with cousins before heading off to Heathrow.Meer informatie
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