Thursday 27 September 2012

Garden, September

When we got home from France, I picked 4kg of tomatoes and we've had another 6kg since with more to come if the weather improves. 
I tried some Italian varieties this year including some very weird ones!

I can't match the Brighton ones.  My best is 2.39m - not bad considering that I'd not pampered them or staked them.


France (2)

Cahors

British tourist in the covered market, Cahors
While I was underground, Richard went to Loubressac, another village doomed by its reputation

Loubressac


We stopped for lunch at a post restaurant near here

Not a posh restaurant, but we had one of the best meals of the holiday here in Sarlat.  Better than the pasta, carrots and turnips at the hotel... (don't ask!)

They torture teddies in Sarlat!

Filling station, Rocamadour

Gifts for sale in Rocamadour - bottle clocks!

Friday 21 September 2012

France, September 2012

Rocamadour: the view from our hotel window
Rocamadour is built on the side of a gorge.  At the top is the chateau, not open to the public.  Below that is the complex of chapels which were part of the pilgrim route to Santiago Compostella, and below that, the old town which now consists mostly of shops, cafes and hotels.  A sort of Disneyland for adults!

Rocamadour high street, after the day-trippers had departed, with the C13th city gate at the end
The sword in the stone, supposed to be that of Roland, embedded in the rock above the chapel
Rocamadour viewed from the top of the gorge.  Our hotel was the large building  in the centre of the lower level.
Outside the Church of Our Lady of Rocamadour.  The ruins are what's left of the pilgrim lodgings and hospital
Not sure if this was genuine old, or a reproduction
The Arch Deacon's vegetable garden in the cathedral close, Cahors
The oldest building in Cahors.  Carbon dating of the oak beams indicates that the trees were felled in the winter of 1274-75

C13th wall painting inside the tower of the cathedral at Cahors

St Cirque Lapopie, voted by French tv viewers as the prettiest in France, much to the dismay of the inhabitants!

The entrance to the underground cave complex at Padirac.  Entry is via 3 lifts going down over 100meters.  They bring you out at an underground river where you take a tour of the caverns by boat and on foot.  Sorry I can't show you any photos - photography was forbidden - but there's good coverage on the Web.  I went down in the lifts but came back up via the stairs shown in the picture.  Richard went elsewhere....
Add caption




Seen from the coach window.  Makes a change from garden gnomes!
Sarlat

Medieval tombs in the cathedral close at Sarlat.

Chapel of St Benedict, Sarlat
C15th hexagonal staircase added to a C13th house


Boat trip on the Dordogne at La Roque-Gageac.  We went on a similar flat-bottomed boat, called a 'gabare'

Remains of the monastery at La Roque-Gageac.  The ruins were accessible until 2010 when a rockfall blocked the route.  Several inhabited houses were demolished which wasn't surprising considering how close to the cliff they are!  More photos, taken by Richard, to follow.

Late addition.
We had a very early start from St Pancras so had a night at the Pulman Hotel on Euston Road. Our room was on the 12th floor from where there was this view of the British Library and St Pancras.







Thursday 5 July 2012

London, 5 July 2012

Visit to Leighton House in Kensington, the home and studio of the Victorian artist Frederick Leighton.  No photography allowed in the house but it's well worth a visit by anyone interested in the Aesthetic Movement;
the Arab Hall is amazing! 

View of the back of the house showing the big window of the studio which stretches the full width of the house

We followed Leighton House by a quick visit to the Natural History Museum - a bit of a culture shock!

Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops

Saturday 16 June 2012

Norwich, June 2012

Posh suite in the St Giles House Hotel

Behind the bathroom door is a wetroom!

Retreated from storm-battered Sheringham for cake in Hazel's Cafe 

A sunny day in mid-June for a steam train ride from Sheringham to Holt

Sandringham House Museum - Prince Charles' 2-stroke motor capable of 40 mph!

Royal trophies at Sandringham

City Hall, Norwich

Henry Moore sculpture outside the Sainsbury Centre, UEA

Another train, diesel this time, from Dereham to Wymondham

Steam again - narrow gauge line from Aylesham to Wroxham

A snug fit, even for us!

Saturday 7 April 2012

Brighton, March 2012

Guided tour of Brighton Pavilion. I don't think the sinister chap on the left is paying attention!

An anxious moment waiting for lunch

Brighton Toy Museum.  We had one of those!

but not one of these!

Margaret and Jackie had a ride on the Brighton Wheel, newly arrived from Paris.  The men chickened out.





It lived up to the slogan on the pod - a great experience, especially as the weather, and hence the view, was so good.