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United Kingdom |
Eat and sleep
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Personal notes
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Other opinions
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My first flight was in 1971, from Brussels to London, costing me a fortune (for a student) equivalent to 1.70 Euros. The free week was all dedicated to London. In the next visit, again centered in London, we went also to the Cotswolds, Oxford and Stratford. The third took us to Scotland, Newcastle and Sunderland, and it was all. I know that there's much of England to see, but... my wife is a sun seeker (well... and dancer, and that allowed us in Blackpool). |
London
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Of course, London is the top destination in the United Kingdom, deserving an exclusive page. Just follow the link |
Blackpool
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Dancing was the reason that took me to Blackpool, but with time to walk along the city and... to feel it. It was cold, not matching our image of a beach, but I know that our Portuguese weather is a privilege. Lots of notes, will mean a long work that will be my Blackpool page. It's already possible to have a look. |
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In our way to Oxford we crossed an area particularly beautiful - several small villages, with limestone houses, in an old fashioned but good looking style, all clean and plenty of flowers, made us regret the short time available. The ambiance described by Enid Blyton in the books that all the kids read was so real, that we expected to be taken to a farm to eat bacon and eggs. We weren't. Next time I will plan an overnight stop. With bacon and eggs next morning! |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
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I had a visit to Sunderland University, that allowed a night in Newcastle. We had a few hours to walk around, not much, but I got the idea that the city is far from being a remarkable destination in the touristy scope. Wrong idea? I don't think so... |
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We only made a quick visit to Oxford, in a day trip coming from London. We were impressed by the classical buildings of the university, but had no idea of the real city. To visit again. |
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The Town
We had a quick look of the city, with most of our short time dedicated to the university. That gave us the idea that the city lives to and around the university. Wrong idea? Maybe, but only a less pressed visit will allow to check. |
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The University
Everywhere, in each street, in each room or yard is possible "to breath" the dense and conservative character of the old England. It's a heavy sensation, thinking about the role played in the world by the thousands of students "built" in this colleges. Website: http://www.ox.ac.uk |
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The Library - the most beautiful
Oxford has several libraries, but Bodleian library, for its history and architecture, is the most remarkable (and visited!). Since the 16Th century it is open to the students , inheriting a collection coming from the 13Th century, and rescued from dispersion by Sir Thomas Bodley, whose name was given to the library built from the day after his death. Address: Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG Website: http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/bodley |
Scotland
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Fernanda loves heat, what drives our trips mainly south. I've been in UK only three times, and only two of them out of London, visiting Edinburgh and the Scottish borders, in one of them, and Blackpool in the other. It was nice, because Scotland is interesting, and makes us appreciate more the sun and light of Portugal. |
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The day trip that we made from London, included Oxford, the Cotswolds and the visit of Stratford-upon-Avon, important to the British culture, just a curiosity for a foreigner. However, it was nice, revealing the countryside look of England. |
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Shakespeare's house
A crowd filling a house with not much to see, only mattering for being Shakespeare's birthplace, forced a quick visit. The peasant look of the city is very welcoming, and, in Spring, with flowers blooming everywhere, it is a nice escape from the skyscrapers and haze of London. Address: Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QW Website: http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/ |
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Anne Hathaway's cottage
It was interesting, the visit to this cottage, less than 2 Km out of Stratford-upon-Avon. It's a nice rural area, but we had not enough time to appreciate it.The problems of packed trips... Address: Cottage Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9HH Website: http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/ |
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I only saw Sunderland while passing to a meeting in the university. The university (and its museum) is nice but I saw nothing else to make me regret not having time to stop. Of course, a very limited view... |
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In the old days, Gibraltar was a disputed place ruled by England against the nationalist feelings of Spain. For the Portuguese it was mainly a tax-free port, with an unbelievable border. Lots of tales were known about its strong military use and its secrets. Now, with the entrance in European Union of both countries tensions and border are gone, and taxes are under EU pressure. Only the rock remains, with its caves, and apes, and... histories. |
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And there is Africa Now that the military restrictions were reduced, a couple of hours will be enough to go up to the top, visit the caves, enjoy the wide sights over the straight and Moroccan coast, and descend, meeting the apes. Breathtaking! Website: http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/history |
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Water collect I think that Gibraltar has no water spring, and, being surrounded by Spain (sometimes not so friendly), they had to use other resources to obtain such a vital element. In the slopes facing the sea, largely paved sections seem to be a solution to collect the rain into cisterns. What else could that be? |
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Delicate extinction The only monkeys remaining free in Europe live in Gibraltar. If you use the cable car, you don't need to look for them, because they will approach naturally in both stations. Though living in the wild, the permanent contact with people, and the habits of being fed by them, make this area a kind of a zoo without fences, for a species that is fattening and mutating until... Yes, the usual! |