People come from miles around to watch our parade. The parade has everything: horses, burros, sheep, old cars, fire engines, cute kids, and more. Floats and a band wagon, and our governor
Author: HFM
Last day and flight home, 17-18 May
Our last day in London was preoccupied with getting our “fit to fly” Covid test. A friend had given us the information for the “Private Harley Street Clinic,” which has the whole procedure down pat: £39 x 2, half hour wait. We chose to taxi over, rather than depend on mail and at home video,… Continue reading Last day and flight home, 17-18 May
Kensington Gardens, 16 May
Though we’ve made short forays into the gardens, I had long wanted to see the Italian garden and the Albert Memorial, a plan that in the past had been rained out. But today was a pleasant day and a Monday, so no weekend crowds. Italian Garden Along the way Albert Memorial The major continents (Europe,… Continue reading Kensington Gardens, 16 May
Bath to London, 14 May
Escape from Bath Part II We’d reserved a cab for 11 am to get a ride to the nearby train station (walkable without luggage) for a noon train. The guy arrived 5 minutes late, then refused to take us because our luggage wouldn’t fit in his boot; he assured us that another, larger car would… Continue reading Bath to London, 14 May
Bath, 13 May
Escape from Bath, Part I To reduce stress on our day of departure, Saturday the 14th, we had planned to return the car the day before. On the 12th, an email from Hertz Bath arrive, informing us that the drop-off office had closed, and the new one was at “the Old Coal Yard on Station… Continue reading Bath, 13 May
Avebury, 12 May
In which Tony and Molly give us a guided tour of places ancient and modern Avebury is slightly older than Stonehenge (they are relatively close to each other and lots of other prehistoric creations, such as huge mounds and barrows). The size of the stones is impressive, but what really moved me was the vastness… Continue reading Avebury, 12 May
Wells Cathedral and Bath, 11 May
It was pouring rain when we reached Wells, which limited our exploration of the town itself. Technically, Wells (population 12,000) is not a town but a city because it has a cathedral. Fortunately, said cathedral is protected against the elements. Apart from being watertight, Wells Cathedral is a beautiful and complex structure, inside and out.… Continue reading Wells Cathedral and Bath, 11 May
Driving to Bath, 10 May
We drove to Bath by way of Tintagel, which is both a town and a promontory with a 13th-century castle ruin. The ruined castle certainly has archaeological interest, but its main draw is its association with the King Arthur legend. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Tintagel is where Arthur was conceived. To see the ruin… Continue reading Driving to Bath, 10 May
Eden Project 9 May
Tim Smit’s Eden Project, built in a deep china clay pit, is dominated by huge domed enclosures emulating two natural biomes: A rainforest environment (it has the largest indoor rainforest in the world) and the second, a Mediterranean environment. Outside are botanical gardens with native and near native British plants. Exploring the gardens within and… Continue reading Eden Project 9 May
Cornwall tourist spots, 8 May
Richard had warned me about Cornwall being a major tourist destination, but I was not prepared for exactly what that meant. Nor was he entirely, for the crowds have grown much worse than when he vacationed here decades ago. I had really wanted to visit St Ives and see the Barbara Hepworth sculpture garden and… Continue reading Cornwall tourist spots, 8 May