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
Tag: Medieval 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
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
Day tour of Mull and Iona
Ferries run several times daily back and forth from the islands and Oban. Buses of tourists cross Mull, traveling from one port to the next. Both conveyances also carry older schoolchildren to Oban and back once a week, because of a lack of secondary schools on Mull and Iona. Indeed, everything and everyone on the… Continue reading Day tour of Mull and Iona
Edinburgh, 25-26 April
A short train ride from Berwick-upon-Tweed, we arrived in Edinburgh and caught a taxi to our apartment-hotel, near the castle. After getting settled, we wandered up the hill to Lawnmarket, where we had decent beer and indifferent savoury pies at Deacon Brodie’s Tavern. William Brodie (1741-88) was a respected tradesman by day and a criminal… Continue reading Edinburgh, 25-26 April
London, 21 April, National Gallery
St Martin-in-the-FieldsTook a taxi (Black Cab, of course) to the National Gallery with a chatty driver, who had severe opinions about the pedestrianization of many London areas, because construction creates traffic jams. There really is no need for private cars in densely populated cities when you have good public transport and taxis. We got out… Continue reading London, 21 April, National Gallery
London 20 April
Our first full day in London, we explored the neighborhood around St Pancras and King’s Cross stations. We stayed at a nearby hotel, The Megaro, because we would be taking the train north in a few days. St Pancras Old Church Some shrine has been here for centuries, perhaps as early as the 4th c,… Continue reading London 20 April