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
Tag: History GB22
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
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
Helston Furry Dance,7 May
The ease with which we found parking close to the town center told us the main event was over. Down the main street all the shops were garlanded with leaves and flowers looking a bit tired now in the afternoon sun. But hundreds of people milled about, including some of the dancers and children in… Continue reading Helston Furry Dance,7 May
Hereford, 5 May, continued
After visiting the cathedral and its treasures, we wandered over to the Black and White House, through the last of the fair rides and booths. The Black and White House Built in 1621 as a residence and shop, the house narrowly escaped the destruction in the early 1800s and was left standing alone. Afterward, it… Continue reading Hereford, 5 May, continued
Hereford Cathedral, 5 May
The principal building of Hereford Cathedral dates from the 11th century, but there is evidence of church buildings from the seventh century. A beautiful building, it is still a cultural and spiritual center for the region. Besides its manuscript treasures, the Cathedral also houses relics of two saints: St. Ethelbert and St. Thomas Cantilupe. The… Continue reading Hereford Cathedral, 5 May
Hereford: Mappa Mundi
You would not use the Mappa Mundi to create a travel plan. Even in the Middle Ages, long before the plotting of latitude and longitude, there were navigational charts and land maps with some degree of accuracy.The Mappa Mundi, instead, represents an idea of the world and what it contains. Accordingly, the map portrays not… Continue reading Hereford: Mappa Mundi
Mar sin leibh an-dràsta
We said “farewell for now” to the Highlands, heading down to Carlisle, with a stop at Rosslyn Chapel. Rosslyn Chapel An architectural curiosity, Rosslyn Chapel achieved notoriety with the Da Vinci Code and multiplied its tourist trade five-fold. The money has been very welcome, as the chapel was falling apart at the time. The purported… Continue reading Mar sin leibh an-dràsta
Culloden, 1 May
We took it easy in Inverness. Getting caught up with a week’s worth of laundry, which had to be dried on racks (not that this was strange: at home we use a line and racks), takes time. And it was good to have a break from restaurants, even though that meant some cooking. No proper… Continue reading Culloden, 1 May
Edinburgh, 27 April
In which we visit the castle and the National Gallery Edinburgh Castle A statue honoring Field Marshall Douglas Haig stands outside National War Museum of Scotland. He was nicknamed “Butcher Haig” not because of enemy casualties, but for the two million British casualties suffered under his command. The National War Museum of Scotland has fascinating… Continue reading Edinburgh, 27 April