Friday, Back to Reality

Finally, real London fog and real London traffic.  I was the only one with a taxi driver.  Everyone else was going on the coach for earlier flights from another airport.  A great trip until we landed and then I saw some real traffic.  Took me two hours to get home from the airport.  The shuttle was late and the traffic atrocious.  Good to be home.  Can’t wait for the next trip.

Force – a narrow crag with a little waterfall

Mere – a lake

Fell – a hill

Beck – a stream

Moor – an open windswept field, sometimes with bog areas

THE END

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME

LET'S HIT THE ROAD

VIRUS - GET OUT!!!

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!

Thursday, York-Coventry-Stratford-upon-Avon

We had a late departure today at 8:30.  We drove to Coventry to see the Cathedral of Reconciliation.  Coventry is an industrial city and was extensively bombed during WWII.  Only the steeple and some walls remained of the cathedral, but the people rebuilt and dedicated their cathedral to reconciliation – forgive and forget. 

Lots of photos better than mine - click HERE.

The new cathedral.

We had a stop at a roadside truck stop sort of place again.  They have a lot of these here.  I got a chicken sandwich and a Victorian sandwich to go as we aren’t having a real lunch stop today.  A Victorian sandwich is a coarse cake, split horizontally, with a cream filling, and a layer of strawberry jam and then cut in wedges.  Really good.

Our next stop was Anne Hathaway’s house (Shakespeare’s wife), a thatched roof cottage with beautiful gardens, both flower and vegetable, though a little past their prime. The original cottage was very tiny, but had been added on and added on – all in one long row.

Again, better photos than mine, click HERE; and you can even click on the heading "inside" to see photos I wasn't allowed.

On to the main part of town where we had time to tour Shakespeare’s birthplace (Stratford on Avon), and walk around the town shopping area which is very touristy.  Shakespeare’s home seemed very large and roomy for the period. Again, better photos than mine HERE, and you can click on the "inside" heading.

I loved all the flowers.

Flowers and statues everywhere.

Of course, you knew there would be a street light.

Our coach picked us up at 3:45 and brought us to the hotel, which was very conveniently located within walking distance of the town.

I dropped my bags and went for a walk to take pictures of the River Avon, the boats, the flowers, and the swans, ducks, and Canada geese.  A little inlet has spots for canal boats to tie up for the night.  People were sitting on their decks eating, talking, and reading. Some of the canal boats looked as if the owners could use them like travel trailers on the water. Judging from the plants, etc., I think they spent a lot of time floating around.

Adjacent is a garden area with a wonderful statue of Shakespeare on a high pedestal surrounded by some of his characters. Unfortunately, the sun was at the wrong angle for taking photos.

If you cross the bridge and walk along the banks of the river, you come to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Click HERE. The best shot I could get.

I loved the birds and the people who were feeding them and themselves with picnics in the big park under the trees.

But watch where you step.

Better photos HERE. And HERE. And HERE.

Farewell Stratford-upon-Avon, farewell Great Britain. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Homeward bound tomorrow.

We had our not-very-exciting farewell dinner at the hotel.  Time to pack. 

         To be continued. . . . .

Wednesday, Edinburgh-York

Another traveling day.  We had lunch at a truck stop kind of place.  I finally had my fish and chips.  The batter on the fish is like a beer batter and really soaks up the grease. In my opinion, the only decent French fries in the UK are at McDonalds.  The lady in the cafeteria asked me if I wanted courgettes or peas.  Fortunately, she pointed to the zucchini so I knew what courgettes were.  It was mixed with tomatoes and red peppers and had a stronger flavor than US zucchini.

Blurry bus photos.

No one could tell me, and I still don't know, the purpose of this basket. It was just standing there by the highway.

Some remains of Hadrian's Wall.

We arrived at York about 1:00, stopped at the hotel for a potty break and then the coach dropped us at a downtown location since the hotel is two miles away from town.  I spent the afternoon just puttering around and taking pictures of a flea market and the Shambles (used to be the street where all the butchers were located).  I found a pound store like our dollar stores and bought six pairs of socks for three for a pound (about $1.50 or 50 cents each).

Fun. Our thistles are weeds.

I love street lights. I should do a book of all the different kinds.

  

I looked at the Minster Cathedral (13^th century) but they wanted a four and one-half pound “donation”.  That’s about $7.  I’ve seen enough cathedrals for a donation of my choice without paying admission for a not-very-exciting one. Knowing what I know now, I wish I'd gone.

I went to the local library and naturally found four used books to buy. One is a really fat hardback called Presidential Wives.  I’ll try to read it on the plane so I don’t have to carry it all the way home. And of course I found a paperback of the same book at the fall library book sale right here at home for $1.

We met the bus at a lovely park near the wall.

You can take a video tour of York HERE. Then you can take a tour with Rick Steves with a side trip to Bath HERE.

Dinner was buffet with a served starter.  My prawn cocktail turned out to be some lettuce with a scoop of bay shrimp and French dressing.  I chose roast beef with baby new potatoes, gravy and a couple of baby corns.  I also had the lemon filling from a slice of cheesecake and left the graham cracker crust.

We were supposed to be downtown instead of at the Holiday Inn so the hotel gave us a complimentary drink (beer, wine, or juice) and some chocolates.  I passed my wine to George and as I was the last one out, I scooped up all the remaining Ferrero Rocher chocolates. 

I was in bed by 9:30 and slept seven hours.