Thursday, June 25 Brighton to Plymouth

　


Salisbury Cathedral

Stonehenge

Anne at Stonehenge

Anne at Brighton Pier


Day 3
Thursday, June 25

Another sunny and warm day and after breakfast at 7 we are off to Salisbury, Stonehenge, Widecombe-in-the-Moor across Dartmoor and stopping 2 nights in Plymouth at the Holiday Inn. All of the roads are in good condition with many “round abouts”. The speed limit is 60mph on the major roadways which vary from 2 to 4 lanes. Distances and speeds are given in miles, mph, and most drivers keep to the speed limit. They have cameras and road markers to check your speed at various intervals so you often will not know that you have a ticket until you receive it in the mail.

We head first to Salisbury where we visit the famous cathedral (apparently the ultimate in English gothic architecture). Started in 1220ad the cathedral added (1310ad) what is now the tallest spire in Britain at 404ft. In the cathedral is William Pye’s water sculpture and the oldest working medieval clock in Europe dating to 1386. The most famous item, however, is the best preserved of only 4 surviving original Magna Carta sealed by King John in 1215 and written in latin on vellum or calfskin. Very small and perfectly written lines close together and almost too small to read (even if you could read latin).

From here it was on to Stonehenge with its various mysteries. Along the way we passed the land with the most UFO sightings and crop circles in Britain..no sightings by us. Stonehenge is located in a very large open expanse of land and very much what we would have expected. It is actually only one of many such structures across Britain. It is estimated that it was begun in 3050bc with a ditch and bank (or henge) with the stone monument constructed, arranged and re-arranged over almost 1,000 years. It is primarily considered to be a sort of calendar but it is also linked through various measurements to other monuments in the country. We missed the equinox (June 21) by only a few days. On this day it is open to the current “druids” who flock there to see the rays of the sun passing through one of the openings to strike a specific spot in the centre..alas it was cloudy as usual on that day. Most days you are able to circle the structure, separated by about 20 metres (or 20ish yards American). Again the use of audiophones was very helpful.

Continuing across the moors we stopped briefly in the small village of Widecombe-in-the moor before heading off to Plymouth. Here is where Sir Francis Drake fought the Armada and where the pilgrims set off on the Mayflower.

The Holiday Inn is an older hotel but near the Ocean with the restaurant on the top floor. We are on the first floor with a view of rooftops and again internet is costly at 10pd for 24 hours. After a good meal and a couple of hours trying to figure out how to put the pictures on the blog where I want them we crash for the night.
　
　

Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd

Day 1 Monday June 21

Sunny and warm about 26. Keith drove us to airport and no problems with plane. Good seats and food, pasta for me and chicken for Anne. Wine included.

Anne awaiting flight announcement at Ottawa Airport

Good flight overall but no sleep and landed at Heathrow about 6:20 am. Unfortunately so did about 4 or 5 other planes and we were in a huge “Disney-like” line for about an hour and a half. Those with Euro passports, however, went through another queue that was very quick..so if you have a European passport then use it! Although it was a long process it was orderly (unlike CDG near Paris) and by the time we were through our bags were waiting.We then took the Heathrow Express ($16 pds each economy); I, however, forgetting that a pound is not a dollar, opted for first class..nice choice…and only about $35 wasted so far. 15 minutes later, however, we were at Paddington Station and walked the 5 minutes to the hotel.Very nice hotel, Hilton Metropole, and we met the Globus people, chose not to take their tour options, and were checked in. Nice room with view on 18th floor…Internet service is 15 pds for each day..no way!

We called Nicole who came over and took us on the tube…For 3pd you get an “oyster” card onto

which we added 10pds each. Each time you use the tube an amount is deducted. When you leave you turn in the card and get your 3pd back and any unused funds. We toured part of the City with Nicole and met Michael for lunch at a pub called the Barley Mow. In pubs you go to the bar and place and pay for your order and it is delivered to your table. Tipping is not expected but appreciated. It appears that all tips are collected and shard by all staff. We then tubed back to the hotel for a short nap and then met Michael and Nicole at Piccadilly Circus (which means circle) and then walked to meet Howard Singleton and his “almost adopted” son Sean at the Traveler’s Club.

Michael, Nicole, Anne, Sean and Howard at the Traveler’s Club

The club is exclusive and established in the 1800’s by and for travelers. Now membership is restricted with a complex admission process, but ambassadors are welcome at no cost, and there are some arrangements for diplomats as well. The Rideau Club in Ottawa is an affiliate as are other similar clubs around the world. We started with Champagne in the garden, followed by a terrific roast beef dinner and a variety of wines and desserts. We finished with liquors in the Library and made if back in one piece to the hotel at about 11pm..a bit weary.


Day 2 Tuesday, June 24
The day again sunny and warm, started with our rising at 6am and bags in the hall by 6:45 then breakfast (included) at Fiamma’s in the Hotel. The breakfast had everything possible for a breakfast to have and the restaurant very popular and crowded.We boarded the coach at 7:50am and the coach left promptly at 8am. Our guide for the duration is Michael and driver, Bob. Michael is very well informed with a sense of humour and, so far, keeps the drive enjoyable. Not sure of the exact totals, but the majority of the 42 passengers are from Australia, others from New Zealand, the United States, and one other Canadian, Barbara from Toronto. A variety of ages but mostly older people and a greater number of women than men.Distances are relatively short for Canadians/Americans so the trip through Kent (the orchard, green, relatively flat part of our trip) was quick, only about 50 miles over narrow (no shoulders) but well maintained Motorway. We learned a bit along the way..most common surnames in Britain are Scottish and Welsh, Davis, Jones, Brown..and current and past Prime Ministers are Scots. The Romans had everyone drive their carriages on the left in order to have their right arms free to fend off the fierce Island “savages” and the rest of Europe drove on the right when Napoleon ruled supreme everywhere but in Britain.

Our first stop is Canterbury and a tour of the famous cathedral where Thomas Becket met his untimely, and unintended, death at the hands of 4 knights of King Henry II. An excellent tour and we wisely used the audiophones as recommended by Michael and Nicole. This is a very historic and important event and led to the canonization of Becket and the start of many tours by pilgrims to this “shrine” where miracles have been reported over the years. Good time for catholics until dear Henry VIII looted the place and made Catholicism a no, no.

We then went on to the town of Battle the site of the 1066 victory of William the Conqueror. This was a short stop but there is a famous old Abbey which we admired from the outside while having crab cakes (excellent) and a Guinness at the Pilgrim’s Rest pub across the street. The owners swear that they have ghosts they believe are from the Abbey.

We were then off to Brighton where we toured the Royal Pavilion, which was built by George IV in the early 1800’s when he was Prince Regent (meaning he ruled while his father, George III, was hidden away, being somewhat deranged). This was a “party place” quite elaborate, with many oriental design features. George became king at age 49 and gradually partied himself to death. He did seem to enjoy himself on the way, however, with numerous mistresses and a couple of wives. His heir had no children so in came Queen Victoria, a mother of 9, and not to fond of the “party palace”, much too small for her taste and brood. She moved out with most of the goodies. There is a statue of her outside glaring at the Pavilion.

While we were touring, the coach had gone on to the hotel and stored our luggage and when we departed the guide (Michael) gave us the keys to our rooms. We arrived at about 6pm at the Hilton, a very classy hotel on the beach. Rooms are fine but we did not get a view (204) and again the internet was very expensive.
Dinner was at 7pm in a very classy dining room facing the Ocean. We shared a table with a retired American couple from Illinois, and now mostly Florida. Anne had Chicken and I had Red Snapper..good food but not great. We then took a walk along the beach out to the Brighton Pier. Something like Coney Island, or Santa Monica, California. Back in the room by 10:15 and I began this dissertation. So far the people seem friendly enough and the first day we rate a success!

nb..WILL ADD MORE PHOTOS

away we go and all ready for the rain

Well we are off to the British Isles and I understand it rains a bit in Britain..I am ready..bring it on..

We are posting this blog as a means for family and friends to follow our trip and as a personal record. Daily upkeeps with photos are planned. I am learning as I go along and have already lost this once.

Our trip begins Monday, June 22nd as we head off on air chance flight 888 leaving Ottawa at 6:40pm and arriving at Heathrow at 6:25am June 23rd..actually a 6.75 hour flight. This will begin a four week tour of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland with a planned return July 19.

We arranged the trip through Manotick Travel (Heather Hutt, heather@manoticktravel.com) and decided on Globus rather than our original choice of Insight (we used Insight before) as Globus went to a couple of places not included on the Insight tour. We did take the cancellation insurance and arranged our own air travel. The trip itself can be found at globusjourneys.ca and our tour is Britain & Ireland in Depth. The tour departure number is o624 and the trip, day by day, is described. The tour includes all breakfasts and 13 dinners. A tour guide and driver are with us as for the entire trip, as are some 45 strangers, at least one of whom, Anne assures me, I will get along with. All lunches are ours to pay for as are the additional dinner nights. The guide and tour info offer suggestions as to places to visit, eat, etc. some of which can be booked ahead of time. We have not yet decided on what to do during free time and dinners but will keep our loyal followers informed as to costs, value etc.

For those not familiar with bus tours, everything is pretty well taken care of and each trip your bags are taken to your room (which is assigned as you arrive at each hotel) and then picked up at your door the day you leave. Some excursions are pre-planned and others optional and the guide is (usually) very informed and helpful. Globus sent us an information package with two small cases and a summary booklet of the trip. They also included an envelope for "gratuities" for each of the driver and guide suggesting 2 to 3 pounds per day, or about $85 each from both Anne and me and each of our fellow tourists. Will keep you informed as to what actually transpires as the envelopes are given out at the end of the trip.

We are booked to join the group the morning we arrive (23rd) for a London tour but may be too late getting to the hotel from the airport. The booklet suggests a number of ways for making this first journey with costs and times..train, cab, bus, underground etc.

For the first night we are staying at the Hilton Metropole London (hilton.co.uk/londonmet, 44 2074 024141) and that evening joining our son Michael and best girl, Nicole, for dinner at the Travellers Club (thetravellersclub.org.uk/club/facilities.php), hosted by a friend of the family, Howard Singleton. Apparently I will need a shirt and tie and jacket and socks. We will keep you posted on the flight, hotel, event and meal.

Wednesday morning, June 24th, after a very early breakfast, we board our chariot at 8am with 45 of our new "closest" friends and head off to Brighton, 227km, where we will be staying at the Hilton Metropole (hilton.co.uk/brightonmet, 44 1273 775432).

All who follow this blog are invited to comment, ask questions and, most importantly, suggest things for us to do, places to visit, to drink and eat..and the best pubs.