Europe, UK, France, Basel, Switzerland, Budapest, Vienna, France, again
Dateline: Friday, 5th July 2019, TORONTO
April 23rd - July 4th 2019
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| Some things never change. Hearn Hill, Southern London. We're here for Graham & Hayley's wedding Everything here still looks like it's 2 years since the war was over (take your pick of wars) |
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| Our stunning view of south London from out hotel |
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| It's frightening that this needs to be advertised Stunning amount of knife violence in UK |
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| As ever, I'm out on the road Long boring slog to Westminster London streets are as dull as Toronto's |
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| UK weather was a major validation for me leaving There were many others |
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| Bearing witness Well, what else do old people do? |
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| Father of the groom in his natural pose |
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| It was a really great reception Not overdone, just straight classy |
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| Certainly not this Party time for all Spot any old folks? |
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| And at the stroke of midnight It's bedtime for us old farts Peter did a truly excellent job with his speeches Doubt if I could come close |
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| No, of course not, they are all sitting it out Off, after hotel breakfast to environs Exeter. The train trip was unbelievably dire |
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| Next day and we depart London for gentler environs. Exeter Cathedral |
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| We take the tourist tour, of course |
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| Peter & Lindy have organised a birthday treat |
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| We have a fantastic breakfast, then butcher a lamb Half each. It was a great idea and I loved it |
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| The head butcher was very patient. We took about 2 hours more than he'd planned |
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| Slicing and dicing Everything we cut up went into the display for sale |
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| And on it goes |
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| Plus, we got to chose a chunk to take home. But, it wasn't well cooked Oh well, a great day nonetheless |
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| Lymphstone town hall. quite a community here All PLU's of course. Tea, cake and band |
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| In Exeter, there's an entire exhibition dedicated to Devon food and preparation. Lot's of demo's like this in a tent Hey! This is the most excitement the natives get here! |
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| We head down to the local footpaths at Budleigh for some serious footpath hiking |
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| Refreshments mandatory, pub, optional Here at the Newts patio, note not raining |
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| But welcome all the same |
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| Plymouth (as in Hoe) May 5th |
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| Happy birthday? Not really |
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| I've bussed up to Bristol airport for a car hire, then headed out to dump ourselves on David and Susan again. She is still a great treker so we head off along the coast |
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| David has dumped us on the south coast hiking trail |
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| Somewhere over yonder, is a village Lulworth Cove. Quite a demanding hike actually |
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| I guess this is England idealised. That takes some imagination |
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| On our way heading to the childhood homestead |
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| I don't come to Chaddleworth very often any more, this is about my only reason As ever, I get some plants for the folks grave The tree's I usually hid my trusty trowel in have disappeared |
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| And here it is. 5 Norris Field, Chaddleworth My seat of learning etc If I'd played my cards differently, I could still be living here. As in "living?" |
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| Milton Keynes Turkish restaurant. Pretty good |
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| I've always wanted to check out this place Bletchley Park. Personally, I think it was more hype than substance, but some substance no doubt On our way to see my sorta sister Sue near Lincoln |
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| As designed and instigated by that well know genius and pervert (now national hero), Alan Turing |
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| Alan Turing statue of some sort of meaningful and probably significant materials |
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| York. Recommended for a walk around on a sunny day |
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| We have a B&B in York All the things I don't like about B&B's. Obsequious and false |
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| From there, up to York, via Sue in Sleaford for a quick catch up, then to York |
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| I do a full tour of the old city wall |
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| Oh well, York in the early spring sunshine |
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| Of course, English weather means we hide in a restaurant in York |
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| And of course, a tour through the Minster, just to feel superior about religion |
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| Down to Chester. Wilde olde England as she is |
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| Some ancient garden Lots of cold rain, it gets boring after a time |
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| Chester main street with artist |
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| Etc |
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| Cathedral, probably |
Our exciting trek through some more of UK
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| Oh well |
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| There was a "Choral Concert" in the cathedral that night Without a doubt, one of the worst I've ever been to I felt like I needed to gnaw my arm off to survive |
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He certainly did a number on war and death |
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| Ludlow Castle |
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| And the tour of same |
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| A truly fantastic street musician. A real blues man I think I gave him Stg5. He was that good Busker Extraordinaire – Markus K |
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| I'm just wandering around and decide to check the box office WOW! 2 fantastic seats have been cancelled, or at least available for me to buy, super cheap As You Like It for the LGBTQ+ gender and race bender mob It was excellent |
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| I had booked up with an old university mate of mine to stay with them for a few nights and planned everything like flights, hotels etc around that. He backed off last minute, and left us wondering what to do with our time I'll never speak to him again |
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| We have a key to Newts place in Sigean For a few days, we are carefree It's great to be home again Then the landlord arrived |
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| Chic chick modelling biker gear for non chic biker |
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| Contemplating the void, maybe the voiding |
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| Another of our all time favourite spots overlooking the E'tang with #1 sandwich, and #1 bottle of local red |
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| Off on one of our hikes at Peyriac de Mer |
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| Peter attending to his family |
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| Leucat |
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| More Magic! Our hidden nook, somewhere in the limestone cliffs of the D'Oc |
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| VonaEma (?) getting into the grandma frame of mind |
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| Then it's all over bar the eating, drinking & making merry |
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| Basel, Ben (Ilge's first son - don't ask) and Skyler We actually babysit grandson Hudson. What a novel concept |
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| grandma |
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| Ben's company (Roche) is a big supporter of Basel arts We alway do lots of this stuff here |
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| Three generations |
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| I used to do this Cruel and inhuman punishment on my kids apparently |
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| Climbing up Yonder Hill Danube in rear |
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| From there, WizzAir (awful!) to Budapest It's a lovely place. Highly recommended Note yonder hill and citadel |
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| A pre dining treat on the river. Decent beer too |
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| Some form of socialist realism The Citadel monument |
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| One of my favourite troupes Georgian dancers on at a local festival. We arrive too late |
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| We take the bus over the river to Budapest castle It's free for old farts, just like the museum. As long as you are an EU citizen, which I was pre Brexit |
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| The local Holocaust museum is an education in all the wrong ways A huge amount of displays with "what could we do?" apologists running riot. Hungarians are still pretty close to bigots |
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| ocialis |
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| You don't need to dig too deeply here to sense the ongoing inherent racism. Try reading it |
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| First one of these I've seen I rushed out and got lots of plastic bags for everything we travelled with |
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| First thing after arriving next day in Vienna Laundry. This is a first, an internet laundry, everything is controllable from an app Actually, you only need to hot dry possible bed bug infested gear, so we just stuck everything into the dryers. Maximum heat |
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| Pretty much a pedestrian centre here |
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| Vienna. There's all the usual tourist stuff here, but far too late to get opera tickets. We slum it at a local church recital |
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| Following on, I'm down to the Danube for a beer. Just for the street cred |
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| I came down and there was a choral concert on that night I told the Maitre D that I was coming to head bang But really, this was what I was after |
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| I come up with the idea of having lunch on the river. No problem I find a sailing club, which turned out to be VERY classy, but dire |
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| Certainly not National class Plus, a long way from anywhere |
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| St Stevens Cathedral |
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| This is some kind of famous clock forget now |
And so we are up very early for the bus to the airport
Both heading to LGW, then Ilge home to Toronto, me to Gaillac for Alexander flavoured freeloading (again!)
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| Always great to be back And great to be put up with |
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| I guess this lifestyle is close to a perfect retirement |
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| Aye, there's the rub. Project #1 |
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| Project #2 |
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| Project #3 |
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| Not really, it was a typo, but I think that it was sooooo hot, the display malfunctioned |
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| First things first |
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| I'll get my people onto it But it was really, bloody hot |
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| A wine dispensing machine Just put your customer card in, and sample your sample |
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| Also, real booze on tap |
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| Peter hardly ever gets into his swimming gear, let alone the pool |
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| I take the birthday boy out for lunch as his actual birthday bash has been pre booked by Natalie & Martin |
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| A Brit couple setting up a French restaurant in their house It was ok, better than I could make |
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| Ramon, a local lad turns up to enjoy a malt, or two, or... |
And with that, next day I'm off back to Toronto.
Another fun spring trek is done and dusted
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