Our first full day in Marrakech was spent simply aclimatising to the hustle and bustle, exploring and wandering the myriad of labyrinthian streets that make up the old medina. This blast to the senses is completely overwhelming at first, with stall holders calling out to you, cats streaking between your feet and the ubiquitous motorbikesContinue reading “Marrakech markets”
Tag Archives: history
East Side Gallery
First up some spicy nosh to fuel us for the arty trek ahead. Then, no visit to Berlin is complete without a trip to the colourful East Side Gallery At 1316 metres long, the open-air art gallery on the banks of the Spree in Friedrichshain is the longest continuous section of the Berlin Wall stillContinue reading “East Side Gallery”
St Augustines
Our home for the night is the oldest city in Florida, in fact in the USA – St Augustines. We’re stopping in the delightful Marion Motor Lodge motel just minutes away from the historic heart of the city. St. Augustine was founded in 1565, by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Florida’s first governor. ItContinue reading “St Augustines”
Theologos
The traditional village of Theologos is a beautiful village full of magnificent, but crumbling houses and mansions. Theologos is one of the oldest villages in Thassos and in 1979 it was declared the cultural capital of the island because of its architecture and traditional setting. Because of its heritage status, many people were unable toContinue reading “Theologos”
Walking the walls
We head back into Alcudia old town in the evening to walk the old town walls and gander into people’s back yards. The Alcudia city walls date back to the fourteenth century, following the Spanish conquest of the island of Majorca and in 1974 they were declared an Artistic Historical Site together. Today you canContinue reading “Walking the walls”
Shakespearian Stratford
The final stop off on our Southern explorer is the stunning town of Stratford Upon Avon, best known for being the birthplace of our premier playwright Mr William Shakespeare. Stratford is a market town that is full to bursting with stunning Tudor details, some of which would be recognisable to Will himself. Naturally the town,Continue reading “Shakespearian Stratford”
Bayard’s Cove Fort
While in Dartmouth we explored Bayard’s Cove Fort – a Tudor fort, built between 1522 and 1536 which contained heavy guns to protect the town from attack. The significance of the fort’s strategic position can best be seen from the sea as it controls the narrowest point of the channel at the entrance to DartmouthContinue reading “Bayard’s Cove Fort”
Stonehenge
Another UK based trip back in September 2020 now. 12 days whizzing around the Isle of Wight and the South of England. Starting off with a brief peek at the most mysterious of all the UK’s landmarks – Stonehenge. The prehistoric monument is plonked on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. It’s made up of an outerContinue reading “Stonehenge”
Books, beautiful books.
As we leave Retiro park I stumble upon this bibliophile’s dream! Open air book stalls in weathered little cabins . . . . You can find this cornucopia of the written word on a small pedestrian street known as the Cuesta de Moyano. Running down from El Retiro Park to the Glorieta de Carlos VContinue reading “Books, beautiful books.”
Vinegar Hill
Next on our tour of Brooklyn we’re heading to a curious little neighbourhood that is not exactly on the tourist trail – Vinegar Hill. It’s a tiny neighbourhood in Brooklyn on the East River Waterfront between Dumbo and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The neighbourhood gets its name from the Battle of Vinegar Hill, an engagementContinue reading “Vinegar Hill”