Where Are We Today?

All Things Must End

2010-06-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we leave this side of the Atlantic for Canada. We have had a marvellous time in all respects. It seems such a short time ago that we pulled out of High River and headed for Edmonton. We are planning to do it again, from Calgary this time. We will pick up our poor old car from Janelle's parents' kind care and drive to the coast to see Sheelagh' s parents.

We will be very sad to leave Dorian behind. He is very happy here in the company of many good friends, and that makes it a bit better. We have had sunshine here making Scotland a beautiful place. Several of Dorian's friends have kindly entertained us with picnics and lunches and drives round the countryside. A picnic on the shores Loch Lomond was fun followed by a drive up the Rest And Be Thankful road.

Anyway, we are coming home and will be back in High River on August 1st. We will have no computer after today and so this is it. We have enjoyed keeping a record of our adventures and we hope that you have liked the pictures and reading what we've been up to, or rather that to which we have been up. Bye bye. The Rolling Stones.

2010-06-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

The last day in Ireland was spent close to our place. We visited an historic cottage that showed how an average family would have lived in the 1700's. It was a long low thatched building that had been a rectory and the home of a farming family. Sheelagh read that when the National Trust took the cottage they discovered that the thatch had never been removed when it was redone and there were six feet of thatch on the roof. Roughly equivalent to the weight of three double decker buses. From there we moved on to Downhill House, the remains of a stately home built by Earl Bishop Fredrick Hervey. This large estate was perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. The Earl had a domed library which was removed from the house where he could read in peace I guess. The windows were tall and gave fabulous views up and down the coast and out to sea. The house itself is being worked on by archaeologists restoring the yards and servants quarters.

Next we moved on to the quaint tiny restaurant down on the harbour at Ballintoy. Real Irish food and wonderful desserts. Lumpy bumpy in chocolate, strawberry, toffee or Irish cream were wonderful. After we waddled away from there Dorian wanted to go home and Shush and I wandered around a few Presbyterian grave yards looking for my ancestors, but no luck.

On Saturday we were up and away by 8:30 and the trip back to Dorian's was as smooth and uneventful as the way over. We had a great time in Northern Ireland and would go back happily. The coast and countryside are the draw. The villages are fairly bland and the cities are cities. The homes have been mostly rebuilt and although beautifully neat, are not as interesting as, say, the Cotswolds.

We are now thinking of the return to Canada. We get to meet, or remeet, some of Dorian's friends. The packing has started and on Wednesday we are off to the airport. How time flies when you are having fun.

Belfast City

2010-06-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday we ate our breckie and went to Belfast. This is a 1 hour drive south and we cruised on into the parkade as the low fuel light appeared on the dash. There are very few gas stations along the M roads here.

When we arrived here last Saturday, I think I was in the mood to make Belfast my, "Gleaming City On A Hill". The sun was shining and everything looked clean and active, full of happy smiling people. Well, it is a fine city, but it is just a city. It's being torn up throughout the midtown core. There are grubby areas as well as the, "Gleaming" sections. Because we had parked, we stayed in the down town. We had hoped for one of the detailed walking tours, but they didn't go on Wednesdays, so we took the tour of the grand city hall.

The city hall is an impressive marble pile in the heart of Belfast. The foyer is high and a nice mixture of white marble and strong colours. in the council chambers we sat in the councilors seats. Dorian took pleasure in sitting as a Sinn Fein member. There is only one fewer SF members than Unionist. Here are some pictures.

After we finished the tour we took Shush's advice and searched out The Crown Bar. This is a listed pub in the heart of the city. Our pictures don't do it justice. The exterior is intricately carved wood, and inside all of the tables are inside little booths with doors and a brass button to ring to call for service. The bar runs the length of the room and is all done in very colourful tile.

After lunch Dorian set off to see the Cathedral and Sheelagh and I tried unsuccessfully to find some galleries. We met up at the tourist place to join our guide for a tour of Historic Belfast which we had discovered. We visited several churches where meetings were held to establish the heart of British rule in Ireland, and the site of meetings to try to dislodge British rule in Belfast. It examined the Nationalist Unionist question quite fairly I thought.

After our second tour we visited the Linen Hall Library for a brief sit down time and then we trundled off back to the car and made for home. Found gas at last when we strayed off the Motorway and ended up in a small town. If you come here, you will find that many places don't take credit cards, so do be careful.

Bogside Report

2010-06-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday we had what was for me one of those confusing situations in life. I grew up hearing my Mom talk occasionally about the Catholic/Protestant troubles in Northern Ireland. I heard her take on it which was seen as a teenager in the 1920's, which was to some extent filtered through the eyes of her parents. They were land owning Protestants who were removed from the large cities and the living conditions of the Irish Catholic families. On Tuesday we heard the Irish Catholic side of the story, this time filtered through the ideology of the groups who favoured the formation of one Irish nation and the removal of the British rule in Northern Ireland. Neither story was, I suspect, the true story.

I couldn't begin to relate what we heard, but if you are interested you might google, "Bloody Sunday", or , "The Northern Ireland Unionist Movement". You would need both and I think a great deal more to get at any truth there is about. Anyway, we all came away very quiet and, as I said, somewhat confused as to what we thought.

Derry, or Londonderry, is comprised of a walled city and the surrounding residential area known as the bogside. The walled area was set up, in the 16th century, by the English as defense against the Spanish. It was a planned community housing the British troops and civilians. The Irish were not allowed in. The Ulster plantation took place in 1610 and brought Scots over to inhabit the area. This is how my Mother's ancestors came to Ireland. The Irish lived in a dried up river bed area outside the walls that became know as the Bogside.

Londonderry, as the Unionists call it, or Derry as the Nationalist call it, is interesting, if not charming. We walked the walls and took the ,"Bloody Sunday" tour and as I said got a taste of the conflict that has raged here for many years. It is calmer now but by no means is it settled. There are posters everywhere demanding the removal of the British. The picture upper right shows one of the many murals done by the Bogside Artists. Just to the right here is the bogside as it is now. I guess my final thought is that there is enough blame for all to have a share.

Where The Wild Iris Grows

2010-06-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

With another pleasant day yesterday, we decided to return and have a proper look at the Giant's Causeway. The drive there is quite short, so we were quickly parked and starting the 20 minute walk from the car park down and around the headland to the causeway. The sea is very clear and blue and the rocks are dark gray with red flashes. Wild yellow irises grow in the rocks adding more colour. As you approach the causeway, the strange hexagonal formation becomes plain and extends out into the sea toward Scotland. If you go to Scotland the same formation is also seen there. When I get home I plan to find the story of the story of the Giant who legend says created the causeway and read it to Ngila and Beatrix and let then have the shells we found there.

We completed the circular walk up the steps to our car and continued along the coast to the east. As you go you pass through small villages with crofts clinging to the cliffs. Most are painted white, with the occasional rebel. Dorian had chosen the Rope Bridge as one destination so we stopped there next. I hate heights, so this was a challenge for me. There is another km walk here from the parking area to the bridge. This is very good exercise, this tourist thing. I could feel myself tense as we approached the steps leading down to the swaying rope structure. Only 8 people at a time are allowed on. My thought was, "Of course, that's because it might break, and send one tumbling down onto those sharp rocks down there." With considerable shortness of breath on my part, apparently none on anyone elses, we made it over to the island. It seems that the island was used in the salmon fishery in years past. The fish came over from Newfoundland and spawned in the area. The return was not as bad.
Several more lovely spots along the coast completed our day, and and we made it home in the light. Dotted through what I have just described were a very good lunch, a really good ice cream cone and afternoon coffee. Not bad, this tourist thing.

A Brush With The Past

2010-06-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

One of the last adventures that we had planned for our year is happening now. When we returned to Glasgow, Dorian was able to take a week off and we booked ourselves into a self-catering flat in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland.

On a sunny Saturday morning we caught a bus out of Glasgow to Stranraer on the west coast of Scotland, passing by the tiny Ailsa Craig where the best curling stones in the world come from, and then on the Stena Lines Ferry to Belfast. Sheelagh and I had always wanted to go across the Mull of Kintyre, but that ferry doesn't run anymore. We all enjoyed the ride across as it was smooth and Dorian could sit and watch some of the World Cup matches as we went. The crossing was about 2 hours. Belfast looks to be a clean busy city and we will be spending a day there before we go back.

We picked up a rental car and set off north for Ballymoney. The country is a beautiful green farming area that looks just as you would expect Ireland to look. We passed small, by Alberta standards, fields, and very neat homes along the way. It took about an hour to find our place and get a few groceries.

On Sunday we went to the tiny village of Stranocum where my Mom was born. I had discovered that she lived in house #14 in 1911. It was gone. That was a disappointment. We did find the church where she and her family attended and people there showed us where my Grandfather had his flax mill and where he lived at the end of his life. I saw an uncle's grave. To worship where my Mom worshipped as a little girl, with my son on Fathers' Day was a special treat.

Later we explored along the Causeway Coastal Road visiting Port Stewart, Port Rush and Dunluce Castle ruins before stopping at the Giant's Causeway. The MacDonald family stopped living at Dunluce after a storm caused a wall of the great kitchen hall to crash into the sea, sending several servants to their death. Subsequent homes have burnt to the ground as a result of a Servant's Curse (so they say). A great day.

A House For Art Lovers

2010-06-17T01:39:00.000-07:00

A German magazine, specializing in Architecture, held a contest in or about 19oo. Designers were asked to create a house for lovers of art. Charles Rennie MacIntosh, a son of Glasgow, submitted a design he had done in collaboration with his new wife. MacIntosh was disqualified because he had failed to submit all required drawings. Later, in the 1980's, when a fan saw the plans, he decided that they were too good not to build. With the help of his step daughter, he found a site and built the House for Art Lovers in Bellahouston Park.
The house was never a home, but was used as a centre for art study and a meeting facility. It is open to the public and Shush and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. It is set beside a wonderful brick walled garden which the city crew maintain as a sanctuary with benches. The house itself is the art. Working from the MacIntosh drawings, and using a degree of artistic licence to fill in details that were not obvious, the team of craftspeople and artists have brought the drawings to life.

The house has a semibasement where a kitchen would have been and now houses the cafe and gift shop. The first floor has an entry foyer which is small and dark on purpose to increase the impact of the large bright greeting hall with ceilings rising two stories. Off this hall is a dining room and the music room. This room is the star of the show with one wall of glass leading out to a terrace. It is done in cream and pale greens and pinks. A large cream coloured piano dominates one end of the room and a fireplace at the other. An oval ladies room was nextdoor and then a gentlemen's room across the hall.

The top floor is reached by a wonderful staircase with a curved window looking over the gardens. A suspended open passage looks down on the greeting hall. It is decorated with the unique lighting fixtures and stained glass that mark a MacIntosh designed house.
We enjoyed our visit and found that, as always, we came away wishing we had the money to go home and do things like that with our house.

Glasgow part two.

2010-06-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

When we came to Glasgow for Christmas we about froze to death and we thought that we should give the city a second chance. It is much better now.

Dorian has to work this week so Shush and I are exploring by ourselves. We got a 7 day bus pass and went looking for any National Trust places that were in the city. The one for yesterday was called The Tenement House. This is a 4 room home that belonged to a Miss Toward from 1911 to 1964. She was a typist for a shipping company and her Mom was a seamstress. They were solid middle class folk. When Miss Toward became ill in 1964, she went to hospital and never returned to the flat. Her lawyer paid the rent for 10 years, 31 pounds a year, and when she left this mortal coil the lady who got the place saw what a snapshot in time it was and sold it to the national trust.

After some more strolling through the neighbourhood, we came home and made a supper for Dorian.

Here are a few shots of the city and the Botanical Gardens.

Don't Come 'til The Pizza's Ready

2010-06-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

It retrospect, we have been in Croatia at the best possible time. The temperatures have been really pleasant, but growing steadily warmer. Today it drove us inside at 8:10 am and then to the swimming hole for the rest of the morning and at 1:30 we had to have lunch and start siesta for the rest of the day. It is now 7 pm and still very warm. The ocean is very nice with just perfect temperatures. A fellow today said that in summer it gets to 25 degrees and feels like a cooking pot.

We think that we would come to Cavtat again and perhaps rent a boat to tour the islands a bit. We have learned a few things about renting accomadation and eating patterns. For example, everywhere has pizza on their menu, but many won't actually have it until June 15th, or "the season", seems to start. Overall, the food here is outstanding, and very reasonable.

Tomorrow at 9:30 we get a cab to the airport and fly off to Dorian. This is exciting for us. We will have to share Dorian with the World Cup though. Talk to you again from Glasgow.

Back On Our Own Again

2010-06-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

Today our buddies the Grahams are heading off at least toward home. They are flying away to London in the late afternoon and we will miss them. Every trip like this is a growing experience for all concerned. You live close to another couple for a month and you become a better person I think.

You leave with a new set of common understandings that, woven together with those that already exist, create the basis of a stronger friendship. So, they plan to be home by Saturday night, and we stay here in Cavtat for a couple of days before joining our son Dorian in Glasgow. We've had fun, and that was the aim. Bon Voyage Jim and Kathy, it's been a slice.

I Hate All Of You !!!

2010-06-10T00:17:00.000-07:00

I was driven to it. Well, actually I walked, but really, 14 sardines!

Let me begin at the beginning. On Tuesday morning we huffed all of our stuff to the ferry and moved to Cavtat. This is a much smalled village south of Dubrovnik which is clearly visible from here on the hill where we are living. It consists of a vibrant jetty where many international yachts tie up. The most spectacular one, Klosters, was out of Gibralter. You can google it as I didn't take a picture of this 154 foot beauty.
There are several restaurants and a few shops, but it is quieter and much cheaper to be here than in Dubrovnik. We have discovered a great swimming area where we go for the day. Yesterday I went to the restaurant by the beach and asked if they could do fish and chips like the English do. They assured me that they would grill me some sardines and put them with chips and it would be great. Well, I thought back to the sardines that we had in Portugal, about 10 inch fish very good. So lunch came around and we all ordered and everyone got really good stuff, and I got 14!!! little sardines with tons of bones piled on top of my chips. They got really nice porkchops and chicken and sausages, and I had all these little fish. Can you blame me for crying out in my grief that I was upset?
In their defence, Sheelagh gave me one of her porkchops, Kathy one of her chicken breasts, or chicken chests as they call them here and Jimmy one of his sausages. I ate the sausage first because I detected a little reluctance on Jimmy's part.
Seriously, we have had a great time here. The Grahams head out tomorrow a bit later in the afternoon and we stay until Sunday.
Note to Andrew, "Cool boat eh?"

The Streets of Dubrovniik

2010-06-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

As we said in the last post, Dubrovnik is set in a valley in the south of Croatia. It is on the Adriatic Sea which is crystal clear, and at this time of year is just at that point when, as you enter the water it is cool enough to make you take a breath, but is very pleasant when you get in. Although the locals say that they had rain recently, we have had nothing but clear skies and upper 20's.

Sheelagh and I have decided to spend the mornings looking around, swimming late morning, having lunch at a restaurant and staying in to read in the afternoon when it is really hot. Even taking care, Sheelagh has quite a burn on her shoulders and mine are tender.

The attractions here are tons of souvenir shops, several museums, at least one concert each day in a church usually, the wall walk from 10 am till 7 pm and the streets which are very beautiful.

In the early 90's what was Yugoslavia broke apart and ethnic lines appeared and war broke out. Croatia was attacked by the Serbs and Montenagrans. Dubrovnic, being rather cut off from the rest of the country, was a prime target. As we said it is a valley and the attackers just sat up on the ridges above and lobbed shells on the city. I have a little map and it shows where the shells hit. It was riddled. The city, however was saved and using the rubble from the buildings, has been reconstructed to what we see today.

We had 3 great days here. Yesterday we boarded a boat in the old harbour and travelled about 45 minutes south to Cavtat, (pronounced Savtat). But we will remember Dubrovnik for its beauty, and its steps.

If you find spelling mistakes in these it's because my computer thinks I'm writing in Croatian and every word is incorrect. Surely that can't be possnible do you thirk?

Dubrovnik

2010-06-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

As we said in the last blog, we are now in Dubrovnik. The digs are in a great location, right in the city walls. To reach it we have to climb. Everywhere you must climb in this city. A main street runs the length of the old city and the buildings rise at about 45 degrees on both sides. A series of walls run around the old city and divide it from new Dubrovnik. We have spent our time inside the walls.

The ferry down from split was beautiful. I have poor internet so I'm going to try to put on some pictures of the trip and the old city.

Tomorrow, if I have internet, we will show some of the wonderful street scenes here. We are off to Cavtat in the morning.

It was worth the 5 am start.

2010-06-06T00:33:00.000-07:00

The stars were still in the sky when Mr Dupchec(or something like that) came and picked us up from our beautiful flat in Slatine. We somehow got all the troops moving and we arrived at the ferry in lots of time for the 6:30 start. This was quite a big boat and we were able to find a comfortable place to rest up a bit and by afternoon we went out on the deck and watched the many islands drift by and see the interesting ports of call that we visited on the way. The trip was about 8 hours and very pleasant.

The fellow who rented us our place here picked us up and drove us over to just outside the Old Town gates. We had to carry our stuff through the pedestrianised streets and up a lot of steps to our flat inside the ancient city walls.
Before we left Slatine, we took the bus north to a city called Seibenik about an hour to the north. It is a Croatian city because it wasn't built by the Romans or Venicians, they didn't settle in this little area. It was built on the side of a hill and there were alot of steps! It is also the home of St James cathedral, one of the great cathedrals of Europe.

The day before that, the day we had originally set aside for going to Sibenik, was a holiday here, Corpus Christi Day and the buses didn't run when we expected. Instead we walked to Slatine and unexpectedly came just as the church service ended and the procession began through the village. The singing was beautiful. We continued walking up over the spine of the island to the other side where a tiny church had been built in 1472 where the wives of the fishermen went to pray for their husband's safe return. It clings to the cliffs and is a lovely spot to sit and gaze.

Split

2010-06-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

The city of Split is across the water from us and so on Tuesday we took a bus around the bay and spent the day with Diocletian. Who's Diocletian you ask. Well he was a Roman emperor who in 295 BC chose Split as his retirement place. There he built a palace and spent the last years of his life with a troop of Pretorian Guards keeping him safe. We toured his palace which was a very large city block in size and now houses over 5000 people. It was very interesting and an energetic young tour guide took us around. We then took the ferry back to Slatine and a bus home. The Grahams stayed longer and got stuck between ferry and bus and gave us a scare. On the upside, I thought that I had inherited an Apple computer.

Trogir, Croatia

2010-06-01T10:13:00.001-07:00

Croatia. How to describe it. So beautiful, slightly rough around the edges as far as the buildings are concerned. Trogir is an UNESCO world heritage site dating from 6 or 7 hundred AD. It is on a teeny, tiny island and the city completely covers the island.We live in an apartment about 15 minutes bus ride from the city centre on another island called Ciovo. We have the most wonderful view across the Adriatic Sea to the modern part of Split. Trogir is a lacework of tiny streets in which you get immediately lost. The buildings are mostly from the time when Trogir was part of the vast Venetian empire. Internet is not easy to come by here so we will blog when we can. Excellent food is very easy to come by. Sheelagh had the best grilled calamari and George's mixed meat platter will keep him happy for a few days. The people are so friendly. While waiting at the bus stop, Sheelagh had quite the conversation with an elderly lady, all in Croatian. She really thought she was understanding everything until the bus didn't turn up at 5:00!

Here today, gone tomorrow

2010-05-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Over a year ago when we booked ourselves into two little villages in the Cotswolds, it must be said, it was not without some trepidation. Would we regret this move? Would we get tired of these little villages? After all, it was two months. I can now state with confidence, it was a great move. Perhaps it's just our laid back nature, but we have loved it. Tomorrow we leave and it is with much sadness that we have been saying, "This is our last this. This is our last that." People have been so friendly, and there is a great deal to do. We have been watching posters go up of events in June that we would have attended. Oh well, you can't do everything.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Gatwick Airport to catch a flight to Split in Croatia. As Kathy says, this is just the next adventure. Sheelagh breaks a trip into steps and this one has three. One, drive to Gatwick, two, fly to Split, three, taxi to our digs in Ciovo. This is an island and the village is called Slatine. We have no idea what the Internet situation will be so we can't say when the next blog will go out.

I will put a couple of pictures that we have taken in the last two days. The night shot was taken as Shush and I walked home from the village monthly film night in Blockley hall.

Morgan

2010-05-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

The people that I'm travelling with are always poking around in guide books and such, they find things. One recent find for Kathy was the Morgan Auto Plant in Great Malvern, not far from here. I've always avoided plant tours which, I imagined, involved looking at huge machines and things with which I can not connect at any level. But these nifty little cars, not bad.
We left Kathy, oddly, since she found the place, who had no interest in Great M and got to the plant with plenty of time to spare.The archivist for the plant greeted us and, along with about 15 others, we heard how, in 1909, a village pastor by the name of Morgan, who had a mechanical bent designed a 3 wheel vehicle to get him around the hills in the area.

These proved so successful that he received orders from other people and decided to get a shop and produce them. They had an ash wood frame with sheet steel panels and a 2 stroke motorcycle engine. The orders continued and he prospered.

When the driving public became familiar with 4 wheel vehicles the Morgan company smoothly changed to the now familiar sporty version that everybody about my age covets.

They still use the ash frame, but over the years have used modern innovations as they became available. One person is responsible for the complete construction of the wooden frame stage. A set of ancient jigs are used to shape the wheel wells that you can see. We watched craftsmen planing and shaping the various components on old benches.
Galvanized steel frames are used on the newer models that have been and are still added to the line. But individuals still have responsibility for each frame. When the frames have been completed, they are picked up and moved to the shop next door and there the aluminum panels are attached to them. Again one person is responsible for the car. At this stage the wheels and suspension systems and steeling and engines are added so from here on the car is driven from shop to shop.

Here is one of the newer models being made, but with these they seem to come and go depending on their popularity. These vehicles have a BMW v8 and are very fast 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds or something like that. These cost 127 000. pounds. The interiors are beautiful things with handmade leather seats and hand polished wood trim. The dash is polished aluminum. There is no plastic used.
The traditional models remain the most popular. The entry level is going to cost you 29 000. It has a 4 cylinder engine, and a Ford V8 with a few more options will run you up to 40 000 pounds. 65% of sales are to foreigners, mostly central Europe. The USA only allows the newer models with the steel frames in and Canada is worse they said. As you can see above, 6 of 10 have left hand steering.

They are all hand sprayed. The leather and flooring is cut and sewed on benches right in the shop. If you pay enough you can get any colour that you want. He said that an Italian customer had ordered his with yellow paint, orange leather interior and blue carpets. The Brits in the tour group were heard to mumble, "Just like an Italian. Harrumph."

We had a fun time seeing this very human operation. No robots, no assembly lines. The 100 or so craftsmen felt that the cars were their projects, not 500 number 38 bolts on 500 Ford Tauruses. They hoped to make 800 cars this year.

I sat in one of the expensive ones, but with the difficulty I had getting in and out, I may have missed my Morgan time of life. But you know, the salesman said that it would get easier, and if we sell our car and if we took out a little line of credit, and if Sheelagh gets a little part time job, and if.......

"Here's to you Mutti"

2010-05-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

Sheelagh's Mom enjoys a book of daily devotions written by a fellow from Buckland. Yesterday we all went over to Broadway, your classic Cotswold village. After parking the car we found the Cotswold Way walking trail leading out of town and set off for the 1 1/2 miles to visit this village we had never seen. It was an ideal walking day and high spirits prevailed all the way there and back. There were no suggestions that, "Perhaps there might be a bus!" We passed through a delightful copse on the brow of a hill before seeing Buckland spread out before us.

It is a tiny place with a church and not much else for amenities. As we entered the village a gentleman working in his garden informed us that he had sold his cottage to LaGard Smith, the author of the book, MEETING GOD IN QUIET PLACES. We found Hill View Cottage where he lives and it was charming. The man who keeps it tidy told us that Mr. Smith, an American, teaches at a university in America during the winter and comes back for the summer. His book is a best seller in the states.

The church is an interesting place with an historic cloth called a cope which was made from religious vestments taken by Henry VIII's crowd during the dissolution. It is now used as a pall and hung over caskets. There is a shepherds' seat along the side of the church where the shepherds could come in with their dogs to hear the service.
We had a good look around and then walked back to Broadway. After a fine lunch at the pub, where we raised a glass to Sheelagh's Mum for her suggestion, we wandered the village looking at the lovely houses and other buildings. Many are from the 1600's and just so beautiful. You can recognize the magic perfection of proportion and window layout and building material that make these buildings so right.

We did a driving tour of a few other villages including Stanton where Sheelagh and I stayed a night as we walked the Cotswold Way 25 years ago. We stopped for an amazing and shockingly inexpensive cream tea. As we were chatting to two ladies in the tea shop in the middle of nowhere, we asked where they were staying only to be told they were in a small place called Blockley. After never having heard of this place, now everyone is staying here.

Before I go I would like to mention friends. Since we have been here, we've had a chance to see and spend some time with Malcolm and Delyth in Stroud. The day before yesterday we spent our last time with them for a while. We had a lovely day just hanging out as our kids would say. We so much appreciate their friendship and will look forward to our next visit with them either in Canada or here.

Chipping Campden to Canada

2010-05-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

We walked over to Chipping Campden the other day and although we have been there before we took a different path into town and came by the ruins of the big manor house. Poor old Sir Baptist Hicks. He had done very well in the wool trade and built himself the most modern house going. During the civil war in the 1640's, he was a staunch Royalist allowing the King's troops to be billeted in his house. When things went badly for the Royalists and they were forced to retreat, they burnt his house to the ground rather than let it fall into enemy hands. There's gratitude for you!

We discovered a lovely, little memorial garden to the memory of Ernest "Chinese" Wilson. He was a botanist sent by his company to collect seeds and plants from China in the early 1900's. He had quite the adventures and introduced many plants to Britain and North America. The Handkerchief tree was blooming as was the Wilson's magnolia. He and his wife were killed in a car accident in 1930 and buried in Montreal.

We were carrying the house key and when the Grahams went home before us, we stayed around to hear a concert in the church. We planned to take the next bus home, no problem. Thing is, the next bus wasn't running so we grabbed a passing cab and got ourselves ripped off for 13 pounds ($20.00) for a 2 1/2 mile ride. Talk about a pair of suckers!

Longborough village opened their gardens today in aid of the church roof fund. The gardens are so inspiring and both couples came away excited about garden plans for their yards in High River. It's never going to happen but it's fun while it lasts! Our little Rosemary Cottage is putting on a display as well.

Here are a few pictures from the things we've done. We've found our dream cars.

Oxford just as good second time around

2010-05-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was another great day in Oxford. This time we were able to see inside some of the Colleges that were closed for exams on our last visit. There is so much history, so many stories and so much beauty.Each College is built around several grassed quads. The students aren't allowed to walk on the grass; only the Fellows or professors can. At Queens College, the Queen is also allowed to walk on the grass. We went to sung Evensong at Magdalen College chapel. Kathy said she would go to evensong every day if she lived here. It was very peaceful and calming listening to the choir, all male, ranging in age from about 8 to 28.
For you Harry Potter fans, you will recognise the New College dining hall. For you Inspector Morse fans, Exeter College quad is where he had his fatal heart attack.

Honeysuckle Weeks where are you?

2010-05-19T22:33:00.000-07:00

We've having a great time with the Grahams, as we knew from past experience we would. I enjoy the Cotswolds, I also enjoy watching other Canadians take pleasure from this painfully quaint area. Kathy, who is much like me in her enthusiastic responses and raging optimism, is fun to watch as we pass the beautiful olde worlde sandstone cottages and "Big" houses.

We have rented a car for this two weeks and are getting about a bit. Yesterday we visited Great Malvern, which isn't in the Cotswolds, to attend an Agatha Christie play called, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION. It was supposed to star a favorite of ours, Honeysuckle Weeks, but Miss Weeks had pulled out at the last minute. Kathy and I hate her now. Jim and Sheelagh were mildly disappointed. The play was well done, but had some structural flaws that made one cringe in places.

Great Malvern is a pretty town on the side of the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire. It has a 900 year old Benedictine priory with the largest selection of medieval tiles in the world.The misericords, mercy seats, are also some of the best in the world. The monks weren't allowed to sit during services so some bright spark devised these" leaning against seats". In 1541, the local people bought the priory for 20 pounds to save it from destruction by Cromwell's troops. We had a really good lunch before the play and then headed home after. Jim and I are sharing the stresses of driving in unfamiliar territory.

In An English Country Garden

2010-05-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

As I sit in an English country garden I will share with you some pictures from Blockley's annual Open Garden Day. About ten of the local garden enthusiasts share their gardens with the public to raise money for Lady Northwick's Society who own two flats in Blockley for the aged and indigent. We shall sign up forthwith.The owner of the Manor House just above invited us back this afternoon to tour the inside of their beautiful house. The oldest part of the Manor was owned by the Bishops of Worcester. When Henry VIII got cranky with Rome, the Bishop lost this place. At one point after that, Elizabeth I had the lease and she rented it to a Jew from Portugal. Shakespeare is said to have modelled the character Shylock, from his play, The Merchant of Venice, on this man. We had the grand tour from cellars to attics. The restoration of the house has been their retirement project and they have done a wonderful job. It was a highlight to see it.

Sezincote House

2010-05-16T02:58:00.000-07:00

From the comfort of our new living room in Rosemary's Cottage in Blockley, I send this to you using our own wireless Internet connection. Yeahhhhh! Yes, we made the move yesterday with the kind help of our good friends in Stroud. Malcolm came over and helped us move what seemed to us a mountain of stuff. We are now here and the Grahams have safely arrived through the cloud of volcanic ash.
On Friday we took the rather short walk from our place in Moreton to Sezincote House. In the early 1800's a retired military officer named Cockerell, who had spent his career in India, wanted to have a country home that he could use to escape London. He found this parcel of land with sweeping views of the Cotswolds and built his home with the help of a Mr. Daniell and his brother, Samuel Pepys Cockerell. He wanted to reflect his Indian experience with architectural similarities to the Taj Mahal and other Indian landmarks. This he did but only on the outside. Inside it is pure Regency.

As you approach the house along the mile long drive, you pass through wood and paddock where a wonderful herd of red cows. I don't know what kind they are. You see a Taj like dome through the trees and then the minarets on the roof. The house has a wonderful orangery on one side and servants' quarters on the other.

As we waited for our 3:30 time slot, we had a great cream tea in the orangery. The gardens are large and beautifully kept by only 3 gardeners. Gravel pathways lead you by flower beds and water features overseen by colourful trees and two bronze elephants put in place by the family to mark the millennium.
The house itself is off limits for photos. The rooms are light and beautifully decorated with antiques. The walls and ceilings are light coloured and use mirrors to give a feeling of space. The main staircase, the first made with decorative cast iron, sweeps up from both sides and turns back on itself to the opposite wall forming a passageway under it. There are lots of windows giving wonderful views of the countryside and the gardens.
The family still live there with small children and open the house for only part of the year.

Chastleton House

2010-05-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday we grabbed the chance of a quite pleasant day to walk over to Chastleton House. This is the closest of the National Trust sites. It took us about 2 hours to walk over through some very pretty farms, past some quizzical cows, sheep and horses.
We sat and ate a picnic lunch in the Chastleton Church yard. There are no services of any sort, not even a tea room at this house. Sheelagh is thinking of sending an irate letter as a new member of the organization. She likes her tea rooms.

We were given a 1:15 entry time to this one of my favorite places yet. William Jones, a wealthy wool merchant, started to build his dream house on the site of a medieval house which had a very well located piece of land. From 1606 to 1612 he built this lovely house which looks over the rolling Cotswold countryside.

His family has never made a great deal of money since he passed on. The family cared for the house with limited resources for 400 years. Because they were not rich, the furnishings and decorations have stayed very much the same. In 1991 the last members of the family finally handed the house over to the National Trust. The NT have not changed anything but have repaired the leaky roof and that sort of thing.

The house has a basement and 4 floors. The rooms were created with care and creativity. The ceilings were very ornate and the walls were hung with large tapestries. The floors are covered with oak boards up to 15 inches wide. The wall paper is very busy and the beds have matching canapes. The kitchen, which was used up until 1955, was a large fireplace and a refectory table. The ceiling is black from smoke. There is a large set of dark pewter plates and cooling utensils.
The gardens are lovely with topiary and lawns and flower beds. There are many flowering trees.
We really liked this house in spite of the state of the place. There were about 4 rooms that I thought would make a perfect office for me. The top floor ran the width of the house with a curved ceiling. It was used for an exercise room for the family.
After we got home we were tired out. It was a fine day.

To All You Mums

2010-05-09T05:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers' Day to all you mums out there in blogland. It's not mothers' day in the UK: they celebrate Mothering Sunday sometime in March; but our calender has served to remind us. This day is associated with flowers and so you'll see some of the floral arrangements we've enjoyed in different churches.
The village churches have provided us with alot of browsing time. Besides the flowers, there are usually interesting plaques. One William Keyte left money in his will to buy 7 good, hearty milk cows to provide the poor of his village with milk. That was back in the 1600's and the trust is still going strong only now the milk is sold to a dairy and the money distributed to the poor. In Northleach church the other day, one of the "big three wool churches" along with Cirencester and Chipping Campden, we were reading about the people commemorated by the brasses and one man left money so that 4 pence could be given to every inmate released from Gloucester jail, 4 pence being a days wages back then.
Then there was the blind clock tower of St. Eadburgha. It has no face or hands but rings the hours. The clock has to be wound every day - 100 pulls of the rope - and the villagers have been doing this for centuries, not the same ones. Our local church, St David's has an epitaph to a man who tried to cut a corn off his foot, the knife slipped, cut off his toe and he died.
We have yet to find a Church of England church locked but all the non conformists ones are locked tighter than a drum. Wonder why.

The More Things Change.......

2010-05-07T00:59:00.000-07:00

We took the train to Worcester yesterday to see the Royal Worcester Porcelain Factory. It's gone. Then we thought that we could see where Worcestershire sauce was made. It's gone. The city has had its heart sold. The historic Worcester Porcelain factory has been sold to a competitor who has closed it down, so those of you that have any Royal Worcester, hang on to it. It will finance your great grand children's retirement! The sauce plant has been bought by a foreign company and it has been closed. The city has a general feeling of sadness and hopelessness. There are job finding offices everywhere and lines of people filling in forms or just loitering, I suppose in hope of finding something. Many of the businesses are closed.

Having said all that we had a great day. The cathedral is wonderful. We complain that Canadians don't appreciate their historic culture. Things get demolished without thought (in our opinion). Well, as the French say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same" (only in French). The first monastery was built in the 600's. But then Oswald came along and torn it down without a backward glance in 983. Wulfstan, in 1084, thought the former building not grand enough. In 1317, Wulfstan's monastery was so not in style. Cromwell took exception to all the "popish" stain glass and things had to be rebuilt in 1660. The Victorians got their hands on the place in 1854. Fortunately, Wulfstan's crypt is still there and is now the best preserved example in the country. Doing excavation work in the 1980's they found the grave of a pilgrim, his boots pretty much in tact. As Janelle says, expensive shoes are always worth the money. The thing I most liked in the whole building were three small carvings from 1317 showing the angel Gabriel talking to Mary; Mary and Elizabeth meeting; and the Nativity scene. Most people then were illiterate but the birth of Christ was before their eyes each Sunday.

Down the street, before Columbus bumped into North America, Mr. Green was putting up his new house, The Greyfriars, in 1487. Although the same age as Snowshill Manor, this was a city house and more prosperous. The ceilings were higher. The rooms lighter.

It was election day and all the pundits were predicting a hung Parliament, a minority gov't, in our terms. The polling station was the very grand Queen Anne guildhall. We liked some of the signs in the local shops.

Snags and potholes.

2010-05-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Ah technology, I'm sitting in The Bell pub in Morton in Marsh on Tuesday night, Karaoke Night!! Help!!!. I'm here here because our Internet has pulled up stakes and left town on the last horse. I am now forced to resort to The Bell. I just want to keep in touch so I'll put a few pics on and let you know that we're alive. Then, I'm out of here.

Here we have an ancient dovecote. The people depended on these especially during the war when there was rationing.

These two pics are from an 12th century Abby that is preserved by the heritage group that we joined. It was very peaceful to have our lunch here.

We have seen that almost every one of the Cotswold villages has one of these. They are memorials to the local lads lost in the wars.

I give up. I just listened to a VERY bad rendition of Sweet Caroline and they are now screaming Sparkling Rosie. We went to a Cirencester, a town dating from the Roman times. We'll get the pics on and share them with you tomorrow, not Karaoke night.

Morse's Town

2010-05-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

As long time fans of Inspector Morse, we were pleased to take a day trip to Oxford. On Tuesday we took our rental car and drove down the A44 to the first Park & Ride on the edge of the city. It is strongly recommended by all concerned, as well as those who have driven in, to take the P&R rather than venture in and try to find a parking spot. It worked very well for us.

We were dropped off very close to the theatre which we would attend in the evening. We went in to pick up the tickets we had booked online. The Randolph Hotel, the bar of which is a favorite of Morse in the novels, was just on the corned by the theatre so we whipped in to book a table for their pretheatre menu. (I'm sure Morse would hate that last sentence) They even let me in with my shorts.

The first stop was the Bodleian Library. We decided to take a guided tour and were pleased we did. The Library, which is part of the university, is shaped like a key. You enter from the street at the top of the key and the middle is a large open quadrangle surrounded by rooms marked with the old titles such as, "Natural Philosophie". The part of the key that goes into the lock is the Divinity School where students used to be given their oral exams under the eye of the Dean as well as members of the community. The Community saw it as entertainment and when they began to hurl scoffs at the students during the exams the University shut the public gallery down. We saw the ancient collection which is still in use, and the court room where students used to be tried for breaching the school code. One student was fined 10 shillings for walking in the country with a town girl. Oscar Wilde was tried for his lifestyle and sent down.

We then had lunch in the Eagle and Child pub where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien met regularly to discuss their work. Then we did the Morse Walk visiting locations and pubs that featured in the novels and TV shows. After picking up a treat at a bakery, we did the Brideshead Revisited walk and saw where Evelyn Waugh's characters were set. We peeked into as many of the colleges as we could. Many were closed as exams are soon on.

At 6:30 we had a really wonderful dinner in The Randolph. It is so packed with olde world charm. The play, starring Tom Conti who we both like, was a light fun show followed by a Q&A by the cast. We caught our bus back to the P&R and were home before midnight. It was a great day.

How natural is natural

2010-04-30T00:39:00.000-07:00

The 6th Earl of Coventry made two men superstars. When the Earl inherited Croome Court in 1750, he wanted an estate makeover. It took over 50 years so it wasn't a made for TV kind of makeover. He hired two little known men, Lancelot Brown, to do the outside remodelling and landscaping and Robert Adam to do the interiors. Because of their work at Croome Court both men became as famous in their day as our current superstars. And their fame has endured over 250 years. Lancelot "Capability" Brown is revered as the first English garden and people from all over the world come to see Adams' beautiful rooms in many great houses. Before Croome Court came into the hands of the National Trust, the family sold the tapestry room completely, from floor to ceiling and everything in between, to the Metropolitan Museum of New York . The Museum really, really wanted a Robert Adam room. The inside of Croome Court is empty. The Trust only got the house last year. But the garden has been in their hands for about 10 and they have been restoring it back to how Brown laid it out. Capability reacted against the formal garden structures that had come over from France and Italy. He wanted the natural English countryside to be the focus of his landscape designs. At Croome, in order to create this natural look, he demolished a medieval church, designed another one on a rise to be "more pleasing to the eye", relocated the village cottages to various places at least 5 miles away as they "were not pleasing to the eye". In that day and age when people never left their villages, it would have been like being relocated to the moon. He diverted the river and dug an ornamental lake and serpentine canal. These were fed by hundred of miles of brick line tunnels. Trees and plants were brought in from around the world. So how natural is natural? And when you stroll around today, you do think "How beautifully English".

One man's treasure is another woman's junk

2010-04-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Charles Wade was an odd duck. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. He started collecting things when he was 7. In 1919, he bought Snowshill Manor to house his collection. In his own words he didn't buy valuable things but ordinary, everyday items made with the highest skill and quality. When the estate was given to the National Trust in 1955, the house was crammed with tens of thousands of items. Wade stipulated that nothing was to be labeled and the light level was always to be kept at candle light level. He spent a fortune (from sugarcane plantations) on what looked to me like a pile of junk. What I did really enjoy was the house itself. The core part was built in the 1400's. The rooms are low with small windows and heavy oak beams and floor boards. The next addition was in the early 1600's. The windows are larger as are the ceilings. And the last addition was 1720 - high Georgian panelled rooms. Nobody had tried to blend the house together. As you can see from the picture of the front of the house, it looks half and half. Poor Mrs Wade didn't even get to live in her house. With her husband, she lived next door in a 4 room priest's house again crowded with "treasures". She must have longed for the 6 month winter break on their Caribbean estate. We talked to a lady in the village who remembered Mr Wade well. She said she's never got over her surprise that he gave it to the National Trust because he hated people. "When we were kids, we couldn't even lean against his wall without being told to move on." Ah, but the views and the village of Snowshill are beautiful.

What you can do when Mama marrys well

2010-04-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hidcote Gardens are the creation of one Lawrence Johnston. He was an American who came to the UK to fight in the Boer War.The powers that be were so astounded that any foreigner would do this, they gave him British citizenship two weeks after he arrived. After the war, Lawrence and his mother searched Europe for a place to settle and chose the village of Hidcote buried in the Cotswold countryside - a barren, windswept place where Lawrence determined to build a garden. After buying the Manor house, the village and lots of the surrounding farmland (THAT'S what you can do when Mama marrys well - twice) Lawrence set to work and over the next 40 years he travelled the world gathering plants for his outside rooms. My favorite was in the wilderness room- a maple tree with leaves the colour of boiled shrimp. Here are some pictures. It was a magical place. Let's hear it for Mama and her divorce lawyer!

Upton House

2010-04-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday we tallied forth through the lanes in search of Upton House. This a biggish pile quite close to us. It has been there as a building from the 1600's. It was fiddled with over the years with pieces added and taken away by a variety of owners, but on the whole it was not a particularly interesting house until 1927 when Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted, bought the place.

Again this was a man with a collection of art that needed a display case and the house was it. His wife was an avid gardener and she did a superb job on the gardens. It has been the gardens that have been the main attraction for visitors over the years since the National Trust took it over.

Having been to the de Rothschild house first, this one suffered from the comparison. The house is really quite shabby when held beside the first. The collection of art and ceramics is also the humbler of the two. Mr. Samuel's father built the Shell Transport and Trading Co., now Royal Dutch Shell. There was lots of money there, but somehow the Rothschilds are in a different league.

During the 30's lavish house parties were held there and we tried to imagine the stylish cars with wealthy ladies and gentlemen arriving through the gates and pulling up to the house. Lady Bearsted had an eye for the latest trends in home decorating and did her best to copy the rooms she saw as she visited houses on the continent. Her bathroom for instance was a combination of aluminum leaf and dark red, quite hideous I thought.

The gardens comprise a large lawn that extends from the back of the house. As you stand at the house it appears to be just a lawn until you walk the length of the lawn and it drops dramatically with a retaining wall called a HA HA . The flower and kitchen garden descend a steep pitch to the mirror pool surrounded by trees and then sheep paddocks beyond. There is a beautiful red brick Bog Cottage along the side that Sheelagh and I coveted muchly. Enjoy the pictures.

A Little Place In The Country

2010-04-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

We are now members of the National Trust, so there. Yes today, since we have a car for the week, we took the plunge and joined the National Trust. This organization preserves and makes available to the public, a large number of historically and architecturally significant buildings in England. They have reciprocal agreements with similar bodies in other countries including Canada. With our membership we can visit all of these properties free of charge, if you don't count the hunk of cash we left with them today.

We drove about 30 miles today to the village of Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire. Here in 1874-89 Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild built a fine country home to be used on weekends and for summer holidays. It seems Ferdy was a fan of the French Chateaux, much the same as Sheelagh. He had gathered a startlingly large collection of various art pieces and he needed a place to display it. Here was the place.

We were allowed in at 12:30 and we were there until 4:30 seeing room after room of beautiful pieces of Meissen and Sevres porcelain. There are dishes as well as decorative objects. Paintings by Gainsborough et al. furniture by French designers are everywhere. de Rothschild entertained Kings and Queens as well as artists and business types in large and small numbers.

Here are a few pics.

Following my Dad's advice

2010-04-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

My Father is a great advocate of R&R days (rest and relaxation). Following his example, we had a R&R day today. A bus to Bourton on the Water and then a gentle amble along the rivers Windrush and Eye to the Slaughters, Lower and Upper. The name is a corruption of d'Schlotre, a knight who came over with William from France and was given this land after the successful conquest of 1066. And inspite of it's name, Upper Slaughter is one of the very few "thankful" villages in the UK. All of the village men who went off to fight in both world wars returned safely. So there is no war memorial in this village.
Another thing my Dad advocates is elevensies, the stopping for a refreshment break at 11am. And guess what time the church clock struck as we strolled into Lower Slaughter? The tea room at the old mill obliged.
Daffodils are giving way to tulips. A mother duck was trying to keep her brood in line as she led them to water. Lambs and foals aplenty. A great day. Thanks, Dad!

Signs Of Antiquity

2010-04-18T00:40:00.000-07:00

The last blog was about a church that we found which was one of the oldest we've seen. This one will just be a few photos that show some of the lovely old structures around Moreton in Marsh.

Chastleton House, built between 1607 and 1612 by a wealthy wool merchant, is a Jacobean house now owned by The National Trust. The family slid steadily into poverty over the 400 years and finally gave over the house in the late 1900's. You can tour the site and see it as it was when they left.

The Four Shire Stone marks the point at which the shires of Gloucestershire, Warwichshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire met. The latter boundary having been moved in 1931. It is thought to have been the inspiration for Tolkein's Three Farthing Stone if any of you know about that.

This country house with the blue dome on the roof, Sezincote Estate was built in the 1809. It was inspired by the owner Charles Cockerell's family's experiences while working in India, part of the Empire. It is now a garden open to visits. The house has changed hands twice, but is still a privately owned home. I guess they need a little extra cash.

Sheelagh stood beside this fallen tree that we passed in a farmer's field. It made us wonder what the world would have been like when it was a small sapling.

She told him, "Harold, you're planting those trees too close to the house." And 850 years later she was shown to have been correct. Actually this is a church in Stow in the Wold and I don't really know how old it is but I would say that it's been a few years.

And finally, this poor old thing has been walking all day and has come to ANOTHER stile. Quote, "I can't climb over that *#^##& thing, I'm going through it." Ah age, it does take it's toll. I just happen to think that she , as with all of the other examples has gotten more beautiful with the passing years. Don't you?

An Interesting Little Accident.

2010-04-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday our legs were not feeling up to a long walk so we decided to do a little loop walk out from here to a nearby settlement and back. About half way there we found the track blocked and had to improvise so we followed a little lane without really knowing where we were headed and ended up in a minuscule place called Lower Lemington. The only thing there was a tiny church, and it was one of the oldest churches we have ever been in.

The original nave was built during the reign of William The Conqueror, in the 1070's with a Saxon archway into the chancel. The little place was nestled into the earth and felt as though it had grown there. There was a sign there that said Lower Lemington had a population of 15 in 1086 and 16 in 1986. A neighbouring village of Upper Lemington had been purchased in the 1600's by a Lord who turfed all of the inhabitants and destroyed all of the buildings and turned it into a sheep pasture. Ah the heart warming stories of old.

The road leading into Lower Lemington is no wider than the Happy Trails in High River with two way traffic. It is situated on The Fosse Way an ancient Roman road that was originally a ditch used to protect the Roman holdings from the local warlords and those pesky Welsh folk.

We sat for a while in the church yard and then wandered back through the countryside to our quiet modern life in Morton in Marsh.

Over the hills to Blockley

2010-04-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Blockley is the village we'll be moving to when our friends Jim and Kathy join us the middle of May. Our address will be Rosemary Cottage, Snugborough Lane, Blockley. Carol's flat above the Tescos is proving wonderful for two but would be tight for four. It will be tight for two if we continue to frequent Tilly's. Today, Blockley was having it's Spring Flower Show at the village hall. The hall was built with stone salvaged from Wolverton Manor when it was destroyed by a German bomb and patriotically named St. George's Hall. We decided to stroll over the hill and check out our future abode. We packed a cut lunch. Everyone knows a cut lunch must include crips and we had nothing but the best, Walkers. Villages take their flower shows very seriously. We heard abit of muttering over the judges' decisions but no buns were thrown. I want to know how one gets to be a judge of the baking.

Our Place

2010-04-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

Just a short blog to show you Carol's Flat. That's what our flat is called in the add we found in Campden Cottages web site. It's in the very centre of M in M. It's over a Co op store and a Tesco store. Just now I needed something for supper and ran down and got it in about a minute so.
It has 5 rooms and a grand view over High Street. We look out at the Redesdale Hall where concerts and art shows are held. The furniture is comfortable and there are all the pots and pans you could need. We just learned today that we get our linen changed by somebody every 2 weeks.

So here are a few pictures of our place and a couple of the Easter flowers that we have seen in the little village churches around.

Don't Believe Everything You Read (except this blog, of course)

2010-04-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

We went to Bourton on the Water, sister village to Bourton on the Hill. Even on a grey,cool, middle of the week day there were lots of people. Can a village be too charming for it's own good? At the tourist info place we picked up a self guided tour of town and started off.
Up,down and around we went drooling over houses and gardens. We came to Well Cottage, the oldest house in town and this is what our brochure said."In the wall is the figure of a man said to be the Vicar of Lasalle with two small boys. The gruesome story tells how he would have young boys castrated in order that they may sing as high a note as possible in the choir." ( You will see picture of cottage and figure.)
Turning away with a shudder, we stopped to admire the garden of the house across the lane. Out came the owner, Mr Smith, and we struck up a conversation. George mentioned the horror story connected to the cottage next door. Mr. Smith was interested so George read it to him. Mr. Smith laughed heartily. (You will see picture of Mr. Smith laughing heartily.) "What a load of rubbish," said Mr. Smith, "We know the bloke who owned that house. Bit of a poofter, he is. He put that figure up there hisself. It's St. Christopher. Look at the other side of the cottage. He put up one of those iron cross bolts used to hold houses together. He were always doing things like that. Nice bloke. Moved to Devon." Do you suppose that in a little village in Devon white lies are being turned into village fact and history? I hope so.
Later, we stopped at the Rose Tree for lunch. It had been recommended. I read the board at the entrance - Cream teas - and throwing waistline to the winds, that's what I ordered for my lunch. (You will not see a picture of the cream tea) I didn't know it was possible to have a bad cream tea. My Mum sets the standard for cream teas as far as we are concerned but we've had lots that have come very close. This was microwaved scones, packets of diner jam and cream in a little plastic tub with a peel off lid - all in a basket. Had I misread the sign?! To be fair to the Rose Tree, George had a delicious jacket potato with two types of salad. Family history has always been that George orders the disappointing meals. On this trip, things seemed to have changed and I don't like it!

Settling In.

2010-04-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

We have been in Moreton In Marsh now since last Thursday night. It is now Tuesday. Life here is settling into a gentle rhythm which I, I think we, really enjoy. As Liam said to Ngila, it looks like Fern Hollow, a fictional town in a book that we read to the kids. We started off just wandering around oohing and awing at the picturesque stone cottages. That has been replaced with certain habits that are beginning to take shape.

Morning is usually announced by the sounds of the deliveries arriving at the store down stairs. This is not terribly disruptive. I like to get up early anyway and Shush seems to be able to ignore them. I get up and put on the kettle and read or look on the computer until Sheelagh gets going. The morning moves quite slowly as we do our reading, sip our tea and coffee and talk about what we should do that day. We usually have a couple of errands to do. We shop for the day here. We like the butcher and on Tuesdays there is a large street market outside where we can get bread and veggies and shoelaces today.

We then try to go for a walk of about 5 or 6 miles across the fields to a neighbouring town. These towns, which also have charm to spare, have a pub where we can stop for a half of some local lager for me and a bitter lemon and ice for Shush. We explore the town and take pictures, and then start off back, hopefully on a different route.

We have a library to use, and on weekends we have found a great church to attend. St. David's is a C of E. It has young energetic devout pastors. There is a large selection of places to have a Sunday roast. The Swann Inn is an all you can eat for 8.95 pounds. They have pork, lamb and beef roasts with excellent vegetables and gravy. It's a good thing we walk. Another reason to walk is Tilley's Tea House. We have set ourselves the task of sampling everything in her display case. Tough work, but someone.....

So far we have booked one music night here in town and 3 plays, one in Oxford and two in Cheltenham. There are all kinds of lectures, garden tours and classes which we could take if we so chose. It occurred to me that, with the good food, exercise and mental stimulation around here, this is a very good life style. Two months will pass all too quickly.

The Inaugural Walk

2010-04-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

When we began to contemplate this trip, well over a year ago, the idea of staying in the Cotswolds and going our for walks on the footpaths was probably the thing I most anticipated. Today it happened. We discovered that the Monarch's Way, a 681 mile walk which recalls Charles II's flight from the Battle of Worcester, proceeds past our gate. After doing a few errands this morning we set off across the fields out of town following Chucky's footsteps.

With the sun gamely trying to poke her face through the cloud cover, we dodged the puddles and passed through the kissing gates. The countryside is green with the first haze of new leaves touching the branches of the ancient and new trees.

Batsford Park, the ancient home of the Mitford Clan, lies sprawled along the hillside. It now draws tourists to the Arboretum, a 50 acre collection of plants and trees started by the first Lord Redesdale (Bertie Mitford) in the 1880's. There were a group of odd sisters who married odd men. They seemed to have had an affection for Hitler and his ilk. We went in for a quick look and decided that the collection would be more worth the 6.50 entrance fee in a couple of weeks. We did however make note of the tea house that has a mouthwatering collection of pastries and cakes. That has been earmarked for a visit in the near future.

On from there up a steady but gentle grade passing along a wonderful old dry stone wall through a well treed pasture. The sheep were noisy, but no sign yet of the spring lambs that will soon be arriving. Taking another trail that crossed ours we dropped down into the town of Bourton On The Hill. By now we were ready for lunch and The Horse and Groom did not disappoint. We had very unpublike Vietnamese Salads which hit the spot and made us feel nobly healthy. The Gloucester Wheat Beer was a bit pale but OK.

As soon as we left the rain started and we were thankful for the Queen Elizabeth bus shelter courtesy of the Parrish council. After the rain passed by we went on out of town past the Retreat for the Elderly 1831, past Bourton House and through the fields back to M in M.

It was only about 5 miles in all but more importantly it was a start. We will do this as often as the weather lets us from now on.

S&G's Amazing Race

2010-04-02T00:56:00.000-07:00

Blogman is allowing me the blog time today to thank everyone for their birthday greetings and to tell you about my amazing birthday race. As some of you know, one of my favourite TV shows is called the Amazing Race. 11 teams of two set out from some point in the US and race around the world for 2 weeks for a prize of 1 million dollars. After each leg of the race the last team to arrive at the pit stop is eliminated. During each leg, the teams must complete certain tasks successfully before they can continue. Anyway, I watch the programme faithfully when I can. A new season had just started while we were in Washington and as Janelle is also a fan, the ladies commandeered the Tv set on Sunday evenings. One of the great memories of Washington will be watching the Amazing Race with my wonderful daughter in law.
I have always wondered what it would be like to be on the show and I was given a taste for my birthday. British Airways had gone on strike and rebooked us on Continental Airways for our return to England. 1st clue - get ourselves to Baltimore/Washington International Airport to catch a 17:57 flight to Newark, New Jersey. We left Liam and Janelle's at 12:30 to catch the bus, then subway to Union Station. It was a beautiful, sunny spring day so I was wearing my sunglasses and no-one could see my red, puffy eyes. We arrived at Union Station in time to catch an earlier train to the airport (good sign; race going well)
Got to airport at 14:10. No line up at check in counter. Took this as a good sign. Should have been suspicious. Much toing and froing and disappearing by person helping us. She came back and said, "You have two options. (this in the show is called a detour) I can book you on the Amtrak train to Newark leaving at 16:20. It SHOULD get you into the airport an hour before your 20:00 flight and if you have no checked bags you can do it. Or you can stay over night somewhere and catch a 6:15 flight to Newark tomorrow and a 9:00 flight to London. This flight would get you in to Heathrow at 22:00". (every time on the show is given on the 24hr clock just to confuse us North Americans further in a stressful situation).
Quick decision. Go for option 1. All lotions, gels, sharp, pointy objects and the kitchen sink into the garbage can. With our now carry on luggage, we race through the terminal to get the shuttle bus back to the Amtrack station. The lady has told us there is an earlier train to Newark at 15:31 but she has been told it is completely booked. It is 15:00 when we board the shuttle bus. On the bus, I think we have come up with a plan to surmount our road block. (in the show a road block can be done by only one member of the team).George is to use his charm to get us on the earlier train and I will stay with the bags. We get to the station at 15:10 and I am yelling to George "Run, run!!". He takes off running and I stumble along as fast as I can with three backpacks. There has been a miscommunication and George didn't know what he was running for and I become one of those people I have always disliked on the show, the one screaming at her partner "What are you doing?! Why are you just standing there?!" Not an edifying moment. George's charm works, as it always does and we are on the 15:31 train. I have 2 1/2 hrs to contemplate my behaviour (not only did I scream, I also ran to the wrong platform, forgetting that Baltimore is south of Newark and we had to be on the northbound platform).
The train is late. We arrive at Newark airport at 18:10. Race to security point C. The line is enormous. Through security at 19:20. George had been unable to throw away his beloved razor but as his backpack goes through the machine, the two people running it are chatting and don't even glance at the screen. Feet in untied shoes, belts flapping, bags dragging, we run to gate 75. At 19:30 boarding begins and we are there and we are on and we have not been eliminated. And I never want to be in an Amazing Race again!

Airlines 3, Stones 0

2010-03-31T05:50:00.000-07:00

They didn't actually go under and strand us, but they went on strike and stranded us, sort of. British Air waited until the day before our departure, but they called on the 30th and told us our flight had been cancelled and would we like to be rebooked on a different carrier. Yes, I said. So, we are now working our magic on Continental Airlines, so if you own any stock in that company I suggest you dump it, now!!! We leave just a little earlier than originally planned and get into Heathrow about an hour earlier, which isn't all that bad. We do have an hour in Newark which isn't all that good. But hey, we wanted an adventure right?

On our last night with the fam we celebrated Sheelagh's birthday. There was a wonderful cake which Beatrix helped make. Her thanks for her supper was directed in a large part to herself. Well done Bea.

All in all it has been a wonderful time with our little girls and their Mom and Dad. We set off on the next leg of our journey renewed by the love we have experienced here. We are looking forward to seeing Dorian in England quite soon. Our good friends Malcolm and Delyth who have done so much to smooth our way are there. So, bring it on.

Cherry Blossom Time

2010-03-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

On Friday 26th Sheelagh and Janelle and the girls went down to the Smithsonian Art Gallery and the girls took an art class. It was a great hit and in ideal circumstances. There was a small group of kids with plenty of help. The projects were beautiful and the setting grand. Sheelagh came back raving about the gallery so she and I went back to have another look and we enjoyed a long slow stroll and still didn't see all there was. Along with a wonderful portrait section, there were sculptures and modern art to stretch our preconceptions. On Saturday we visited another branch of the same gallery that had a most amazing sculpture of a clock with a sheet over it. We were standing 2 feet from it and still thought that the sheet was cloth when in fact the whole thing had been carved from a single piece of mahogany.
Saturday was sunny and a bit breezy, a perfect day for a kite festival. We decided that we needed to get pictures of the famous monuments. We took the bus down 16th to the White House and walked from there to the Washington Monument where the kites were flying. The girls were given little paper kites and we did our best to get them into the air.
Next we went around to the tidal basin and Janelle and I and the girls rented a paddle boat and puffed around for about 40 minutes. We had a great view of the Jefferson Monument and the trees along the shore. Try as we could we couldn't catch up with those sea gulls. Grandad's legs were wore away by the time we could get those little navigators to steer us back to the dock.
After some pizza that Liam declared to be terrible, we took the Metro to Foggy Bottom and walked over to the Lincoln Memorial. The view from the memorial down the reflecting pool to the Washington Monument is probably one of the most famous in the world, but it is beautiful.
The trees are magnificent. There is a mixture of cherry and magnolia. The people came out in droves to enjoy their capital and she put on quite a show. The number of tour groups from all over the country was impressive. We had a fun day and came home sunburned and tired.

Grandma and Grandad's date

2010-03-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

On Thursday the 25th, Shush and I gave the Stone family a break and took to the streets of Georgetown on our own. Actually we started on M Street at The National Geographic Center. Sheelagh's Dad has been a life long NG fan, so Sheelagh felt that it was important for her to go there. There is always a fabulous photo display of the NG photo journalists' work. It was on water in the life of the world. It was great. They also have a display of big bug sculptures out front.

From there we caught the bus to Georgetown, a very shee shee part of Washington where the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis lived. We didn't see any of those homes, but we saw some winners in which we would love to live. After an excellent lunch at Furines, we struck up through the side streets enjoying the charm that oozes out of these houses and townhouses, most of which are listed as historically significant.

We stopped and looked in galleries of art and antiques, crafts and general Briq-a-braque. We stopped in a really high end plumbing store that is over 100 years old. It was great. The Old Stone House on M Street is one of the oldest houses in Washington. Since its completion in 1765 it has been a house and a used car dealership. It is set up as a display and a gift shop. The garden is beautiful and we used it to rest our weary legs.Trader Joe's was our last stop before we went on back to the house. I loved this date. That girl of mine is so cool.

Goin' to the zoo zoo zoo

2010-03-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

Wednesday the 24th was hot and beautiful so we went to the zoo. The girls were excited about showing us the many inhabitants, and so were we excited to see them. The animals, on the other hand, were not as excited. The were more inclined to find a place in the shade and snooze.
We saw the sloth bear first and the red panda and the ordinary panda. The birds were more active. Janelle noted that they reminded her of an episode of The Young And The Restless. The birds were both inside and out. This is an excellent zoo with fine settings for birds and animals.
We did all that we could do in the heat and there was still a great deal left unseen.
After parting ways with Janelle down town, we came back to get the girls supper and babysit for the night as L&J had a date night.

Butterflies and Carousels

2010-03-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately Liam had to go back to work on Tuesday. We were having a great time with the whole troop together. Tuesday was another inside day so the girls suggested a day seeing the butterfly room at the Museum of Natural History. Grandad mistakenly thought that it was in the zoo and said so as we pulled up outside the museum. Seeing all the school groups going in, Ngila quietly commented, "I hope that it isn't a zoo in there,because Tuesdays are free to the butterfly house." Sometimes her way with words amazes us all. On the bus on the way down she found a discarded newspaper and was sitting with her legs crossed, "reading" the paper, lowering it from time to time to cast disapproving looks at some men who were speaking too loudly. Later Sheelagh mentioned an activity that was going to happen a few days later and Ngila said, "Oh yes, I saw that in the paper."
We got our free tickets and got to go in and see the butterflies up close and personal. We also had time to look at some other bugs and things. It was great. After we left the museum we crossed the mall to have a ride on the carousel there.

Running as fast as we can.

2010-03-26T04:26:00.000-07:00

We have been having, "adventures" every day, coming home tired out, and I have to admit, neglecting this blog. Today will be a catch up day for me. Sheelagh, on the other hand is off on an adventure to an art workshop.
Now let's see. On Liam's last day off he had arranged for us to go on a tour of the Capital Building. These tours are free but you must have a timed ticket. We arrived at the familiar domed building with time to explore the statue area before we set off. As you might expect, security is everywhere. Sheelagh lost her water bottle, Janelle all her granola bars, Sheelagh and the girls sat on the floor to tell a story to fill in some time, and were told that sitting on the floor is prohibited. However, we got in without Grandad telling them what they could do with their Capital Building.
The tour is quite short and covers the Hall of Statues, the Rotunda and the Crypt. Each state is allowed to put two statues in the Capital Building. They tend to be non politicians such as Helen Keller or native dignitaries. The Rotunda is under the famous dome. There are several large paintings around the walls and a painting of George Washington ascending to heaven with the angels. We heard that George was a very humble man and I wondered how he would have reacted to such a Christ-like presentation of him. The crypt is the room under the rotunda and is the main thoroughfare for people at work in the building. As we stood there, Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the house and her entourage passed through.
After our tour we followed a tunnel that joins the Capital Building to the Library of Congress. The girls were excited about showing us the Library. The foyer is very ornate and the children's reading room is a wonderful place. Grandma, Grandad and Mum all got to read a story to two eager little listeners.
We had a fun day inside and didn't care about the rain outside. We are using J&L's old camera so I'll show you what we got.

Annapollis Maryland for a day.

2010-03-21T06:05:00.000-07:00

Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, is a short 30 mile drive from Washington. The hardest part is getting out of Washington. With our trusty rental cars, we set off after breakfast and were soon parked at the Chesapeake Children's Museum on the edge of the small city. This little museum was obviously someone's dream and has become a ragtag little building beside a polluted stream. It had fish tanks and areas where kids could dress up and play with artifacts from bygone days. The girls loved it, and would have stayed there, very happily for much longer. Grandad, however was getting peckish and wanted to find a reastaurant for lunch. The crab cakes were delicious.
The historic downtown is busy and parking spots are rare, but we parked and had lunch and began to explore Annapolis. This has been a city from the 1600's. The buildings range from the little shiplap sided cottages, to the grand red brick mansions. The wealthy class built around a large traffic cirle that runs around St Anne's Church. The largest of course is the Governor's Mansion which stands beside the Capital Building. The Capital is perched on a hill looking over the business district running down to the harbour.
Annapolis Naval Academy has a long and proud history. It began in 1845 and has had many famous graduates, including Alan Shepard the first US astronaut. The girls enjoyed running as hard as they could across the sprawling lawns. They sat on the canons and looked in the beautiful chapel.
After we had really good icecream cones we tried one more picture and promptly dropped our camera on a brick sidewalk. The picture of the family gathered around the statue will be the last one from our poor old camera.

More Gator bites please.

2010-03-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the troops were out early and into car seats and cars and away south from Washington toward Richmond Virginia and south east from there to Colonial Williamsburg. This is one of the earliest settlements in North America first established in 1699 and named in honour of King William III. For 81 years it was the seat of Government and the social and cultural centre of Virginia.

88 of the buildings are original, and over 400 have been restored on their original foundations. Everything worn, used or eaten is produced at Williamsburg.
After attending an orietation tour, we visited the Everard House, the court house, the cobbler, the printing office and bindery, the milliner and tailor, the silversmith, the blacksmith, the weaver and we danced on the village green.
The town has a feeling of life in the slow lane. Perhaps it's the heat, perhaps it's the lack of vehicles, whatever, it feels as if you were walking down the street of a real community. While the group was looking at something else, I sat down beside a black man called William Wells and asked him about the life of the slaves when they weren't working. He never dropped his character, but softly told me some stories of his friends and family. He told me of a lady in the village who had a baby. Her master took the baby and gave it to his brother as a Christmas present. He described how their faith sustained them, and how the other slaves gathered around her and sang to her. At this point he began to sing the song. Any of you who know me, ( you Mutti) will know that by now I was a basket case.

We had a wonderful day and by the time we left, we were all hungry. Oh the internet, we had found a restaurant called The Hog Wild Smokehouse in a small town on the way home. As we pulled into the parking area Liam said, "Oh good, motorcycles, that's a good sign." Their slogan is, NEVER TRUST A SKINNY CHEF. We started with gator bites. Ngila was a bit nervous but tried them. Bea refused. Ngila tried to encourage her sister with, "Come on Bea, they taste like chicken but are chewy like gum. More gator bites please!" Sheelagh and Janelle had a piggyback consisting of pork medallions and crab cakes. Sheelagh had chocolate pecan or picken, if you are Mrs. Graham, pie and Janelle, keylime tart.
Liam and I shared a Hog Wild. This small tray contained a pound of ribs that fell from the bone, a heap of brisket, half a chicken, apples in brown sugar and cinammon, baked beans, coldslaw and lots of sweet potato fries which they sweeten more by sprinkling them with white sugar and salt. Oh, and muffins. Mmm mmm good. With loosened belts, we drove away and reached the house in about 2 hours. For some reason, Janelle didn't feel well the next day, and I didn't sleep well. Apparently, the other two have sturdier stomachs.

When I see the Watergate Hotel, I'll know where I am.

2010-03-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

Thus spoke Ngila as we rode a bus through rush hour traffic in Washington. I think that Richard Nixon said something similar. We had a wonderful, sunny day out yesterday. We packed up our lunch and went down to the Museum of Buildings.
This is a strange place. The museum is large and made of red brick. You enter, through an oddly inauspicious little doorway, a grand marble pillared gallery. They have a wonderful room for children where they can build things out of large blocks and large lego etc. The girls loved it and they played there for about an hour. There is also an area devoted to the parkades of Washington from the '50's onward. There appears to be spaces for workshops on various aspects of building. and that was about it.
From there we made our way across the city to The Kennedy Centre for The Performing Arts. We joined Liam and had a picnic and watched an Irish storyteller and his wife perform a program of stories and music from the Emerald Isle in honour of St Patrick's Day. The girls did very well considering the Irish accent and type of story he told.
As dusk settled, we walked through a warm evening, scented with cherry blossoms, to the Metro Station to make our way home. It was a tired little band that climbed the steps of 1720 Upshur St. Great fun with our family.

I spy with my little eye something beginning with G

2010-03-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air and in the gym here in Washington. After so many days of gloom, it is wonderful to feel sun and warmth on your skin. Today we took the bus down to the All Star Gymnastics School to give our little gymnasts a chance to jump and roll and swing. I think that Canada should keep a sharp eye on these two for future Olympics.
This afternoon we did some gardening. Herbs were the order of the day. Janelle now has chives, mint and basil, along with some lettuce. I feel certain that the little plants will receive all the love and attention that they will be able to stand.
Last night Ngila was practicing her piano for Miss Dylis back in Edmonton. Her own composition was a hit.

Stop and smell the orchids.

2010-03-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Inspite of the CONTINUED inclement weather, we have been out and about this weekend. On Friday, at the excited urging of two of our group, we piled on bus S2 and ventured into the city to the Museum of Natural History to see, "The great big whale!!!". It was great, and big as well. We had our own, very knowledgable, guides who showed us all of the displays. There really is too much for 1, or probably 2 visits. We did our best though and saw tonnes of mammels, sea life, plants and geological displays, including the Hope Diamond. Cool!
After we left the museum we met Liam for lunch at a place near his office and then made our way home.
That night we had a Flamenco demonstration in the living room. Cool as well.
On Saturday we visited the National Gallery to see the impressionist display. It had wonderful works by all the usual suspects as well as some cracking sculptures etc. Near the gallery is the National Botanic Gardens display. Luckily it is under glass and so we could smell the many orchids and other beautiful flowers.
Yesterday was the highlight. We attended a very good church service near the house. The house, by the way, is a lovely classic American 2 story brick with wonderful woodwork. After church we had lunch and set off to the Imagination Theatre. There we saw a production of Peter And The Wolf. It was a top notch professional show which had been developed in a theatre in Minneapolis. Beatrice, who was sitting on Sheelagh's knee, declared before the show started, that, "I'm not going to watch this play." As soon as the lights came up and the performance started, she turned to Sheelagh with a huge smile on her face and, from that point on, didn't take her eyes off the stage. It was a huge hit. So we all tottered home very tired and very happy with our adventures.
To top the day off for Sheelagh, she got a Happy Mothers' Day call from Dorian who informed her that it was Mothers' Day in Scotland. It warmed her heart.

Back by popular demand, well at least one demand.

2010-03-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

We made the big move on Wednesday and Thursday. Off to Malaga airport at about 1 pm, flight off right on time at 3. Picked up and taken to the wonderful Trumbles Guest House. Had a comfortable quiet night. Great, "Full English Breakfast" before being dropped at Gatwick at 9 am. Train to St Pancras ? and tube to Terminal 5 Heathrow. The one glitch, a passenger illness kept us sitting on the plane for an hour before we flew away to Washington. Strange, we can go all the way to Calgary in 9 hours. It takes over 7 to get to Washington. Liam picked us up and we got to the house by about 7:30.
It was great to see the Washington branch again. The little girls are a delight, so much energy and fun. Today we took the bus to the Museum of Natural History to see all of the animals. Then we had a little present time tonight before we headed off to bed. The flamenco dresses seemed to be well received.

Mrs. Stone Gets Ready To Go To Washington

2010-03-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

With the stay in Malaga winding down, there are things to get finished and things to get eaten. We had carefully planned our meals so that our food and our days would all come out the same. Then we got invited out for lunch and supper, so we ate just about everything today.
We also finshed some painting, some weeding, some washing and we packed a box of clothes that won't make the trip to Washington. Tomorrow will be a final cleaning day, and Wednesday we fly away to London and next day to the States. We'll talk to you from there.

Bits n pieces

2010-03-04T05:04:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been very quiet with the rain and cold. Monday was a holiday and we stayed close to home. Tuesday pretty much ditto. We had no paint and the lady who will move in here didn't want us to paint because, when it rains, the walls turn to mould before it dries.. So, we read and watched TV. Yesterday, after the morning meeting, we decided to get out. We took the bus into town to run one errand and then we just went for a stroll between rain showers. These pictures are some we have taken recently. They have no theme, they were just things that caught our eye. The one showing stone pits was taken in the University of Malaga Office building. These pits are under the floor and are from Roman times. It seems that fish were layered in the pits with salt and as the sun worked on them they formed a fish sauce which was bottled and sent back to Rome. It all sounded dreadful.
Hans Christian was such a fan of Malaga that they put up a statue of him near the harbour.

So long Picasso

2010-02-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

He's had his chance, more than one actually. We've looked at his work in London, Paris, New York, Madrid and now his birthplace Malaga, and that's enough, we don't get him. So Sheelagh has declared that she has had enough of the guy for the rest of her life. Even if a travelling Picasso show is on in the High River Library, we won't go. He's done. His museum was free today, that's why we went, and that was the last straw.
We went to the St. George's English Church in Malaga today and enjoyed the service and communion. It is set in a beautiful little cemetary swathed in trees and flowers. There was a sweet little girl being baptised and she had a fair following on hand snapping pictures. It was a bit to chaotic for the minister but they were enjoying themselves. We took communion and said farewell to the folk, and headed back to the sea front for lunch. This was the first time I had been within toetouching distance with the Mediterranian, so I did.
There are some wonderful parks with exotic plants and trees along the front in Malaga. We had a walk through and stopped to watch the children in a very civilized playground, note the coffee shop in the middle. Sunday is a family day here and the streets are jammed with strollers and little bikes as the parents and grandparents walk with the little ones. It's really quite moving to see the displays of patience and affection between generations.
We then did the Picasso thing before finding a sunny plazza to sit and have coffee and a sweet crepe. A long stroll took us back through the tourist area and back to the bus home. It was a good day.

We agree with Washington Irving

2010-02-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

I hate the word awesome. I think it has been demeaned by adolescent overuse by people of all ages. I hated that overuse even more yesterday as we explored the Alhambra in Granada. This was a place that was truly awesome, and the accurate adjective had been stolen by nailcolours and sparkly cellphones.
We began our day quite early, which worked our well since we had extra time to go and find churros and molten chocolate. It was awesome. Hah! The bus ride to Granada took about 1 1/2 hours through pretty countryside, rough and rolling. It was easy to find our way across this city of maybe 600 000. We got off at the Cathedral and began our trudge along the edge of the Moorish section toward the Alhambra. The climb was quite steep and we quickly appreciated those churros and chocolate which helped power us to the top where we found the ticket office and entered an old and fabulous world.
The Alhambra, or the red fort, began life as a Ziridian fortress from the 800's. It was a rough and derelect settlement until the 1300's when it was converted into a palace for the Nasrid dynasty. In just over 100 years it was taken from the Moors by the Catholic kings, aka Ferdinand, and his wife Isabella. It was here that the charter was drawn up which sent Christopher Columbus to the new world. The Catholics held on to the Alhambra until it became property of the country of Spain.
There are 4 distinct parts. There is a military area where military stuff happened, the palace, where the royals lived, the Medina where the merchants lived and worked and the area called the area of general life where food was produced and the farming community lived. Each part was very sophisticated with running water used for cooling, sewage systems and to beautify the grounds. For the most part the Medina and the military area are now foundations which have been unearthed. The palace however is truly awesome. We have read what we can find and it is unbelievable how quickly this was built considering how ornate and huge it is. I hope that the pictures give you some idea of its grandeur.
Washington Irving, an American writer, artist, philosopher and diplomat came to Spain in the late 1820's and was given rooms in the Alhambra by the Governor. He stayed for about 3 months writing and thinking. His book, TALES FROM THE ALHAMBRA, made the area world famous. He is featured in a detailed display on the site and it is clear that he loved this place and considered it special. We agree.
We walked until we couldn't any more, and we still didn't get to everything. We had had no lunch until we got back down the hill. We were glad that our daughter in law wasn't there. She's tiny, but she gets really grumpy in those circumstances. After a lunch of which my sons would have approved. We strolled through the Arab marketplace and made our way back to the bus. Our day was wonderful and memorable for so many reasons.

Meet the one-armed lady.

2010-02-24T09:59:00.000-08:00

We decided to see Malaga. We have been here now for over a week so it's time. Thus we met the One-armed Lady. The story goes, it seems, during the US war for independence, Malaga had erected one tower on their Cathedral. Seeing an opportunity deal a blow to Britain, they took the funds for the second tower and sent it to the US to help in the fight. By the time that the US repaid the loan the Cathedral with one tower had become a tourist attraction and they chose not to spoil things and they left the church as is. She is fondly referred to as, "The One-armed Lady".
Yesterday we got our chores out of the way and took the bus to town. Buses here cost 1.10 euros. Spain has, without exception, provided cheap, clean well run bus services.
We spent our time seeing the Cathedral, built between 1528 and 1782, the ancient Roman amphitheatre, discovered in 1951. Malaga has been a city for almost 3000 years. We saw Picasso's birthplace and the city at large. It's a charming place, not as touristy as we had imagined it to be. There are wonderful hedges of geraniums coming into flower. We stopped in to see the huge silver and gold, "floats" I called them. They are carried by 240 men each in the Holy Week parade. The silver one has a statue of Mary and the gold one has a Jesus statue. As the sun was setting, we caught the bus back to our digs. It was a f ine day.

Hot water tanks 2 G&S 0

2010-02-21T10:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday started, as many do for me, with an early morning bathroom visit. When I came back I asked Sheelagh if she'd spilled water on the floor and she said no, so I mopped it up. Later when she went, the puddle had returned. After some investigation we learned that the hot water tank had sprung a leak and was dripping all over the floor. So, that's the second tank that has struck us since we left home. As a result of the tank, we have been moved to another residence on the compound so we had to move all of our stuff last night. This is another very nice place and we will be more than comfortable here.
Yesterday Dan and Gayle very kindly offered to take us on a visit to Ronda, an ancient city to the west and somewhat inland from Malaga. After the incident of the water tank had been sorted out, we set off in our friends' car in glorious sunshine. The drive took us through beautiful rolling countryside carpeted with olive trees and other crops. The hills are quite dramatic for Alberta folk. The trees and crops rose up the sides of some quite steep inclines, and the country is dotted with very quaint farm buildings.
After about an hour on the road we rolled into Ronda. This is very much a working city with several charming plazas where a chap might spend a happy sundrenched morning sipping his coffee. We took a pathway from the area surrounding the Bullring, past the breathtaking panourama lookout and on to the bridges that dominate the city. The new bridge, built in the latter half of the 1700's, is the largest and spans the river forming the main street joining new and old towns. The bridge built by the Romans looks out at the Arab bridge. A series of tunnels provided an escape route for the powers that were. Two walkways commemorate the part time residents Orson Welles and Ernest Hemmingway, both who enjoyed the drama of the Ronda bullring and drew inspiration from the town. It seems that people were thrown from the cliffs during The Civil War 1936-39 to save on bullets.
We climbed the hill back through a scenic series of sitting areas to re enter the new town to find a restaurant and enjoy lunch.
Dan and Gayle then took us home through the mountains leading to the Costa Del Sol and the Mediterranian. This is the first time I've seen the Med. The coast is a steady row of condos and shopping. We got home and moved into our new digs. Dan and Gayle gave us a fine day and we thank them.

The Grounds.

2010-02-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

Today the sun shone. This has raised our spirits and taken us outside to enjoy what we had expected all along. We took a little walk around the grounds and took some pictures of the centre and did some work. It felt great.
Sheelagh worked in the kitchen of the meeting centre sorting bedding and doing some general cleaning. Gayle, has been a warm friendly lady with whom Sheelagh has formed a good working and social relationship. They work away together very easily.
I have taken the gate as a repair project and finished that off today. The concrete facing had some holes to repair and then to repaint and that is done.
The centre produces Christian materials for the North African community wherever they happen to be in the world. They produce music videos and spoken word videos in the Arabic language, that are carried by TV stations in Africa, Europe, Australia/New Zealand and North America. They also put out printed material to anyone who responds to the videos or to churches around the world. People who respond are directed to local churches in their community.
The majority of the people here are U.S. citizens with a couple of Brits and a Canadian and of course some North African workers. They are a dedicated group who work happily together using all of the latest computer gadgets.

Our place

2010-02-17T23:49:00.000-08:00

I guess we will do this in small steps. The Centre, or Center I suppose, is a largish compound. We will go into as much detail as we can, but we will start with our apartment. It's on the top of a 2 story building. We walk up a set of steps on the outside of the building and in through the side. We enter a long room that runs almost the length of the building and contain the dining table, a desk where I sit now, a drying rack and a sitting area with two couches and a tv/vcr/dvd player.
At the top end of this room, to the left as we enter the door, is a well equipped kitchen. The fridge was stocked with lunch and breakfast things when we arrived. Through an archway straight ahead when you come in to the flat is what Shush refers to as a Spanish bathroom as it is all in blue and white tiles. There is a tub with shower that works very well, sink WC. To the left from the bathroom is a large bedroom which we are using, and the other way is an even larger bedroom with three beds in it. We keep it closed so that we don't have to heat it. Speaking of heat, it has been borderline cold since we arrived, with rain, rain and more rain so our 3 portable heaters have been working overtime.
I will take pictures of the compound and send those along next.

Rain drenched Malaga.

2010-02-16T04:08:00.000-08:00

We had a very posh hotel when we came here from Cordoba on the train. It was a great weekend rate. We had not been accustomed to such frills, and it was grand. Since Sunday morning we have been cold or wet or both. Dan and Gayle picked us up and took us to a Spanish church service and then to the centre for a chicken and potatoe lunch and then to our new digs. They are very nice too. Our welcome has been warm and generous. We've been out to lunch twice, and over to watch Larkrise to Candleford on Brit TV.
We haven't been out to see Malaga yet. It appears to be a much larger city than we expected. It is not the touristy place full of Brits and Germans that I thought it would be, at least not around here.
Sorry for the lack of pictures but we haven't taken any for the last few days. I'll try to do better.

Cold days and hot nights.

2010-02-13T13:15:00.000-08:00

Our one day in Cordoba turned out to be a cold one, but the night was hot. We had spent most of the day trying to stay warm, so I fully expected our night of Flamenco to be cold as well. We went out in the rain at about 10:20 pm, rarely heard of in our house, and took the very short walk to the ancient hall where the little man who hawked the tickets welcomed us with open arms. We were ushered to table 11, "A wery good seat, a wery good seat." At 10:30 sharp the lights went low and a short stocky man with a guitar took the stage and began to play easily recognizable Spanish music. Soon a very large man came on in near darkness and began to wail along . He had very strong lungs. Then another singer joined in and the lights came up on a pair of the dancers. From then on a steady flow of clacking castinettes, clapping hands, stomping feet, strumming guitars and wailling voices filled the air. The show lasted almost 2 hours, it was very professional and they did not try to sell drinks every 15 minutes. It was an experience that we agreed was wonderful. The people, the setting, both perfect. A hot night after a cold day.

Olive trees and windmills.

2010-02-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

The trip from Toledo to Cordoba was a long one that saw most of the day on one bus or another. From a sunny but cold Toledo the bus took us back to a cold Madrid. On the metro to another bus station for a 2 1/2 hour wait and then 4 1/2 hours on the next bus to arrive in Cordoba just as the sun sank below the hills.
The bus ride south took us through some very dreary scenery near Madrid, gradually greening up as we got about an hour out. The country of Spain is obviously investing in alternative energy. There are lots of windmills and solar panels dotting the countryside. Then at the 3 hour mark we went through some very dramatic hills and gullies with bridge building toward a super highway going at full tilt. (Get it? tilt, windmills? Nevermind) Then the olive trees came on, as far as the eye could see. The other thing that we saw were large black cutout shapes of bulls and Don Quixote and Sancho and a guitar player, odd.
As the sun was going down we pulled into Cordoba. For some reason we both thought that it would be on a hill, but no it is in a flat low lying area. This used to be the largest city in the world. Not so any more. It has a very ancient heart, and a modern thriving city surrounding it. Of course we took a bus to our B&B. It dropped us off in the old town that was surprisingly quiet for a Spanish city at 8 pm. We had to go down dark deserted streets beside the ancient Mosque. It was a little scary, even for us who are getting used to being out in tiny dark streets at night. Rounding a corner we came to a more active street and were directed to Los Patios. The room is OK, not as charming as we have come to expect here.
This morning I went out for a walk at 7 am because I was awake but it seemed that I was about the only one awake and I was alone in the streets looking in vain for a charming cafe for coffee and a bun. When 8:30 rolled around we went across the 30 feet that separate us from the mosque and had a look. Very spectacular. This mosque was built in pieces over the 800's AD by various Islamic rulers. Then in the 1200's it was grabbed by the Christians and the minerette was covered by a spire and a church was built inside. The place is breath taking. I hope my pictures give you some idea of its grandeur. From then to now we went from coffee shop to gack store, (Graham's name for tourist souveneer shops) to restaurants trying to stay warm. Tonight we will go to a Flamenco Dance show at 10:30! Till tomorrow.

In and around Toledo

2010-02-10T23:25:00.000-08:00

Our day in Toledo was one of quiet pleasure punctuated with little surprises. We went up to have breakfast to discover that the breakfast room is a windowlined bower overlooking the old city. There we met a pleasant couple who suggested a bus tour for only 5 euros which they had done the day before. This we did, but as we waited to get the bus, we visited the Museo Santa Cruz which is a work in progress so is free, great. The tapestry room is huge and dramatically lit. The courtyard has a wonderful collection of ancient stone bits and pieces from Roman and preroman days, well heads, burial markers etc. There was also a magnificent display of ceramics and of course, El Greco, citizen of Toledo . From there we wandered up to wait for the bus and found the library and on the top floor a wonderfully tranquil cafe overlooking the city. That would be our lunchspot we said and then went down to catch the bus. It was a tad cool but we had a drive all around the city with spectacular views of the Toja River.
In the afternoon we decided to find this neat outdoor escalator that takes you up or down between the old and new city. On the way Sheelagh spotted the sign for Radio Toledo and a guy unlocking the door so, of course, she engaged him in coversation about Dorian who works in a radio station so we were invited to come in and tour the studios. It was a very modern station in a 500 year old building. We rode the escalator down to the new part of the city and walked back up, I know, that was a bit backwards, but we're trying to get fit.
On the way home we found a shop selling bellota, (acorn) fed ham that Liam has been going on about and for only 7 euros we got 100 grams to go with a local strong cheese, croissants and fruit to make a picnic supper. On the way home we stumbled across a beautiful theatre where there was a free showing of the costumes from operas and plays of 20 years. We were almost alone in there and it was magical with the lights and music softly playing.
It was a wonderful day and we got to talk to Liam's family, Dorian and Malcolm and Delyth our good friends in England.

Toledo

2010-02-09T23:20:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday we breakfasted with a couple from Milan and another from Strasbourg, cool. Then we loaded up our packs and set off for the bus station and were soon on our way to Toledo. This is a smaller city about an hour's bus ride south of Madrid. The country between the two cities looked to me much like southern Alberta but with many more olive trees. It is quite flat with mountains looming in the distance. It is of course more built up. The fields are green, but aside from the olive trees, I couldn't tell you what is growing there.
We caught a city bus to the Cathedral and after a little visit with the tourist folk we found Posada de Manolo. It is a charming little hotel/B&B beside the Cathedral. We are in the Agricolas room with antique farming impliments hanging on the walls. The streets range from maybe 8 feet wide to 15 feet. Most are cobbled and some descend in steps. They twist and turn and it is very hard to find your way back to anything. We just wandered looking at the buildings and shops. Toledo is known for its knives and swords, there are shops selling these items on every corner. Marsipan? is also a local speciality which is readily available. There are many more restaurants than you would see in a town of similar size in Canada. They all put out menues by the door, usually with 2 or 3 courses for a set price ranging from about 9 euros to 20. The first course might be a soup or paella or a salad, the second is usually a meat dish. They offer bread and a glass of wine or water included. We spotted a pastry shop that served things made by the nuns in the local convent. Being too full to have it then, we decided to come back in the evening. All day I worried that we couldn't find it again. Luckily we did. Sheelagh had churroes, a thing made of donut batter squeezed out in strings and deep fried, which you then dip in hot liquid chocolate. This is such a civilized way to end a day.
We're so thankful for skype. We can see and talk with our little grandkids and the other members of our family and friends.

Two days in Madrid.

2010-02-08T23:48:00.000-08:00

Sunday in Spain is a family day. I suppose that it used to be a day of church and then family time. Now it seems to be just family time. There are churches everywhere, although we have not seen many people in them aside from tourists gaping at the glorious interiors. With the language barrior, we didn't get to a service and that feels strange.
The flea market in old Madrid is something I have never experienced anywhere before. It starts around La Latina metro station and goes for blocks and blocks. It has specialized areas for example, there is an art section of bad paintings, a live bird street which seems to attract men and it's the sort of birds with wings. There is a huge stamp coin and trading card area and a large junk area. We started in the clothing area because Sheelagh was cold and needed a hoody. The guy pointed to one end of his rack and said in his Spanish accent,"Extra extra large!". We still bought one and the guy is still alive. Then we wandered enjoying the atmosphere and the antique part.
After we had enough of that, we walked over to the Plaza Mayor and had one of our rare disagreements when I, being hungry, let a waiter sit us down in the plaza and order ONE pizza. It came and it was a six inch pizza and it cost $21. Canadian. Things got a bit icy for a while but warmed up as the day progressed.
We found the beautiful Plaza Orient near the Royal Opera House and had a sit and then went on back to the B&B because our legs were very tired. After a rest we walked down to the Prada Museum to enjoy their collection of Goya and El Greco and Velazquez. The last one is said to have done the greatest painting in the world, Las Meninas. Monet is said to have seen it and thrown down his brush and said, "Why do the rest of us bother to paint?"
Yesterday was rainy so we took a bus to see the modern part of Madrid, including their leaning towers, visited the memorial garden in the Madrid train station where the bombing took place and went shoe shopping for me who was walking through puddles in sandles and socks.

Madrid, the day of the sore feet.

2010-02-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

Having found our way to our B&B in the dark, I always like the next morning, opening the window and seeing where we are for the first time. Abracadabra is on Calle (St) Bailen, about three blocks from the Royal Palace, and the Cathedral of Madrid. It made sense to get down there quickly and get in before the lines formed, and we were right, when we came out the line was half way across the plaza. This is a palace built in the 1700's by King Felipe V, after he took all the nice stuff out of the old palace and 2 days later it mysteriously burned down. It contains the only matching quartet of Stradivarius stringed instruments in the world. Each room is farther over the top then the one before. We couldn't take pictures. I have no idea how the one of the dining room got on my camera. It must have gone off in me 'and chief. I counted 80 chairs around the table.
The Cathedral was beautiful even though, apparently, the people of Madrid don't like it. Leaving the Cathedral, we strolled down Calle Mayor enjoying the beautiful buildings and the Street signs that are made of tiles. They put pictures on them so that people who couldn't read still knew where they were.
We soon reached Plaza Mayor, the main meeting place for the folks of old Madrid. This was a bloody spot in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. It is now full of odd people in Winnie the Pooh costumes hawking for money for having a picture taken with your kid, and making irritating bird sounds with a plastic thing in their mouths. I'm surprised some Winnie the Pooh blood hasn't found its way to this plaza. One guy that I'm kicking myself for not photographing was a fat spiderman who seemed to think that standing in odd poses should be worth something to passersby.
After lunch, we walked about a mile down to find Queen Sofia's Museum and then we walked all the way back to take a 2 hour walking tour where I heard way more than I wanted to about King Carlos III who loved his brother Felipe, and the sad story of castrates (castrated guys who could sing like ladies). The tour guide who was very knowledgable and I'm sure his family loves him left us miles from home. Since we were close to the Queen Sofia Museum, and it was free now, we stopped by to see Picasso's paintings and then stumbled on home.

Madrid, Easy Jet is not easy.

2010-02-05T23:24:00.000-08:00

After a final spit and polish, we all waved goodbye to Playa Blanca and set off for the Aeroporto. That was the easy bit. Lanzarote airport is large and a good thing too. The tour buses arrive and kick out this weeks leavers to stand in long lines and wait for Easy Jet to open its desk. Then it seems that there is a plane to take those Graham folk to London, but not to take the Stone folk to Madrid. It appears that they forgot they had to do that and had to go somewhere far away and get a plane. So, after sitting and waiting a very long time, they came and took us to Madrid.
The flight took 2 hours and 10 minutes and had a bumpy descent. In the Madrid terminal you can get on the Metro train and for about $6 Canadian, for both of us, and that includes the special airport fee, we could go anywhere in this city. Calgary could learn a few things here. The trains are spotless, colourful, cheap and packed. It took us about 45 minutes and two line changes to get within 300 metres of our B&B.
The Abracadabra B&B in great. Check it out at www.abracadabrabandb.com

All good things must end.

2010-02-03T03:06:00.000-08:00

As we contemplate our departure from this place that we have enjoyed for the last month, we have drawn up a list of highlites. Each of us made a top three list and then put them together. Here are the things we think a visit to Lanzarote really should enclude.

1 A visit to La Santa to watch the waves crash on the rocks.
2 Sitting on a patio overlooking the sea drinking cafe negro con leche caliente aparti.
3 A visit to Haria.
4 Timanfaya National Park. (I don't know where the italics came from)
5 Jardin de Cactus
6 Sunset at Femes
7 Have an open air meal in a restaurant beside the sea. El Golfo.
8 Spend time on a golden sand beach.
9 Visiting the old towns such as Yaiza or Uga.

We leave on Friday and go our separate ways. Grahams home, and us to Madrid. It really is great to share an adventure with friends, and this has been a good one.

Round and round we go

2010-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

George is letting me do this blog. He has really enjoyed driving here because it's a standard car. The roads are excellent - a couple of white knuckle drops. They don't believe in guardrails. The best part are the roundabouts. There are no traffic lights just roundabouts. They allow the driver to keep circling while the three navigators argue over which way to go. Up north, our friend Cesar has put beautiful mobiles in the centre of the roundabout to keep the driver entertained until a decision is reached.
We also have to share the road with agressive bike riders - most of them on recumbent bikes worked with their arms. We were told that the nordic countries' parapalegic teams come here to train. I find it a little scary as they are so low to the ground.
We have had very unsettled weather the last two days. A terrific thunder storm Sun/Mon night. Poor Jim and Kathy had water come into their bedroom through the casing. The up side is that their undies got washed. The floors are all beautiful marble so clean up isn't bad - well I say that - I didn't have to clean up. Today we are under code red and the schools have been closed in anticipation of more stormy weather. We heard stories yesterday of the big hotels being flooded. Because of the volcanic eruptions, there is no vegetation to hold what little soil there is on the hills.

Lost in translation.

2010-01-30T06:44:00.000-08:00

Why is Arrecife the capital of Lanzarote? We don't know. It's something about pirates. We were down in caves that saved the locals from pirates, now this. Who knew pirates were such pests? The weird thing is, Teguise used to be the capital, it's in the centre of the island, they moved it to Arrecife which is on the coast. Wouldn't that be easier for the pirates?
Anyway, Arrecife was our destination on Thursday. We dropped by Andy Brot"s place, our bakery of choice, and dropped a few Euros on bread, tea cakes and cherry and apple cakes. Off from there to Costa Teguise through the rain. We strolled along the front and enjoyed the sights and sounds before driving along to Arrecife where we were really lucky to find a parking spot. The front there was lovely. I tried to use a canon to level a high rise that I'm sure would have offended my friend Cesar. We strolled, did a little shopping and had goat for lunch. More or less like beef.