Lucca

Posted on April 6, 2016 by kathy

On an overcast morning, Michael & I drove to Lucca, about 40 minutes from the apartment in Ponte a Serraglio, to explore the ancient walled town.

1.entrance

We were entranced by Cattedrale di San Martino which dates back to the 12th century.

We walked the cobbled streets lined with enticing shops

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and mysterious laneways.

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We lunched in Piazza San Michele, next to San Michele in Foro which also dates from the 12th century.

17.San Michele in Foro1

The façade is decorated with coloured marble columns bearing carvings of animals and mythical creatures.

A thunderstorm and ensuing downpour put an end to our day in Lucca.

20.thunderstorm

A week later, I returned with the girls on a glorious sunny day.

We walked the tree-lined pathways along the top of the wall, admiring the exquisite architecture

24.wall view1

before indulging in a heart starter of chocolate croissant and caffè.

Some serious shopping ensued

and led to the beautiful Piazza della Anfiteatro. Once an ancient Roman Amphitheatre where gladiators and beasts engaged in mortal combat, the shops with their wondrous merchandise now inspire a more gentle encounter.

39.Piazza dell' Anfiteatro

We passed many intriguing doorways on our way to lunch.

Paris Boheme in Piazza Cittadella was a fabulous lunch venue. The food was delicious and the passersby interesting,

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though Luis was a bit shy.

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Puccini’s house was nearby and his bronze eyes watched us a little disdainfully.

49.Puccini

Atop San Michele in Foro, the 4 metre tall statue of St Michael the Archangel killing the dragon contrasted with the blue sky

50.San Michele in Foro5

as did this Madonna and child.

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Torre delle Ore, a 13th century clocktower, is the highest of the city’s medieval towers.

Climbing the 207 steps to the top worked off some of our lunch and we were rewarded with breathtaking views.

54.Torre delle Ore3 55.Torre delle Ore4 56.Torre delle Ore5 57.Torre delle Ore6 58.Torre delle Ore7

I’m glad I hadn’t noticed the cracks before the climb.

59.Torre delle Ore8

A lot of bottoms have sat on these benches.

60.Torre delle Ore9

We eventually said goodbye to Lucca armed with wonderful memories.

61.Lion statue

standing stones

Posted on March 30, 2016 by kathy

No trip to Wiltshire would be complete without a visit to Stonehenge. A path leads sightseers around the perimeter of the stones, the audio tour educating us through headsets as we marvel at the lost technology.

1.Stonehenge 2.Stonehenge

It remains a mystery how these stones, the heaviest weighing around 45 tons, were moved into place as far back as 3150BC.

The view across Salisbury Plain is stunning.

6.Salisbury Plain

It is possible to walk amongst the stones with special access at sunrise and sunset. Early on a misty morning, we did just that.

7.Stonehenge 8.Stonehenge

There are many theories about the meaning of the stones but most agree they were a centre for ceremonial activities, most likely a burial site.

The stones have faces, some more obvious than others.

Woodhenge is another Neolithic site not far from Stonehenge. Built about 2300BC, it is believed to have been for ceremonial use. Originally a wooden structure, concrete posts now mark the positions of the original timbers.

16.Woodhenge

The White Horses of Wiltshire are scattered throughout the countryside. Cut into the chalk hillsides are eight figures of horses, the oldest believed to date back to 878AD.

17.Chalk Horse

Another unsolved mystery in the history of Wiltshire is Silbury Hill. The largest man-made mound in Europe, it was built around 2400BC and compares in height and volume to the Egyptian pyramids. It apparently contains no burial and its original purpose is unknown.

18.Silbury Hill

The Avebury henge, dating back to around 2600BC, is the largest stone circle in Britain.

19.Avebury

Once consisting of 154 stones, only 36 remain after they were removed to make way for crops and broken up to build houses in the 17th & 18th centuries.

20.Avebury 21.Avebury

The faces at Avebury are a little more obscure.

The village was quaint and inviting

24.Avebury 25.Avebury 26.Avebury

but the shadows were lengthening and we had much to ponder over dinner.

27.Avebury

heading south

Posted on March 25, 2016 by kathy

After five days in Darwin, we began our road trip southward. Our first stop was Adelaide River War Cemetery.

1.Adelaide River1 2.Adelaide River2

There are 434 war graves of service personnel who died in this part of Australia, marked by bronze plaques.

3.Adelaide River3

A further 292 are honoured by the Memorial of the Missing. The civil section contains the graves of nine Post Office staff killed in one of 63 bombing raids on Darwin.

4.Adelaide River4

Pine Creek was the next break to have a look at the now closed open-cut gold mine. The main pit, Enterprise Pit, has been filled with water to prevent acid build up.

5.Pine Creek1 6.Pine Creek2

Further on, we lunched in the shade overlooking the swimming hole at Edith Falls.

7.Edith Falls1

Leliyn, as it is known in the Aboriginal Jawoyn language, is a series of cascading waterfalls and pools on the Edith River in the Nitmiluk National Park, about 60km north of Katherine.

9.Edith Falls3 10.Edith Falls4 11.Edith Falls5

30km south of Katherine, the Cutta Cutta caves tour took us into a tropical limestone cave 15 metres below the surface. Venturing 700 metres into the cave, we were surrounded by all sorts of fascinating formations.

The spectacle wasn’t all underground, this amazing tree stood at the entrance to the cave.

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After checking into our motel in Katherine and a much needed shower, we followed the river northward to Cicada Lodge, an exclusive resort located in Nitmiluk National Park.

We savoured a beverage on the deck

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while watching the descent of the sun

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then moved inside for a unique dining experience. The Chef’s menu features specialty dishes of the Chef’s choice combining traditional elements and incredible flavours from the region. We started with ciabatta with extra virgin olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Entrée was a delicious canard (that’s duck) salad, with beetroot, orange segments, fetta & a merlot and orange glaze.

29.canard salad

Lemon Myrtle Barramundi followed, with broccolini, soft egg, confit cherry tomatoes, wilted spinach & hollandaise.

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The culinary journey was completed with dessert of chocolate tart with calvados cream & fresh raspberries.

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What a fabulous way to end an awesome day.

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Isle of Wight

Posted on March 16, 2016 by kathy

The Isle of Wight was a lovely surprise, so much to see and so much beauty in just 380 sq.km. We started early with a walk along Bembridge seafront

1.Bembridge 2.Bembridge 3.Bembridge

through peaceful countryside.

4.Bembridge

A short drive westward, we stopped at Adgestone Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in Britain. Unfortunately, there was no tasting but the views were breathtaking.

5.Adgestone Vineyard View 6.Adgestone Vineyard View 7.Adgestone Vineyard View

On to Arreton Barns, a traditional working craft village

with the 12th century Church of St George.

11.Arreton Barns

Donkeys are one of my favourite animals. I’ve always wanted a couple but Michael says they’re too noisy. The Donkey Sanctuary was heaven, a deserving retirement for these beautiful creatures who have patiently walked the seashores with all shapes and sizes on their backs.

We were hoping for a raptor experience at the Owl & Falconry centre but it was closed. All we got was more stunning scenery.

18.Owl &Falconry Centre

After a delicious pub lunch at The White Lion in Niton

19.White Lion, Niton

we ventured on to Mottistone Manor. Dating from early 16th century, the house is not open to the public

20.MottistoneManor 21.MottistoneManor

but the gardens are wondrous to stroll around.

We continued driving to the most western point on the island. A short walk along the cliff top

28.The Needles

rewarded with magnificent views across the Solent to Hurst Castle, built by Henry VIII in 1544.

29.Hurst Castle

At the tip of the headland are The Needles, three distinctive stacks of chalk rising out of the sea.

31.The Needles

The Old Battery is a fort built in 1862 following the threat of French invasion.

34.The Needles

These two gun barrels are original from 1873.

35.The Needles

An underground tunnel

36.The Needles

leads to an observation post housing a searchlight dating from 1899.

37.The Needles

Further up the headland is the New Battery where British space rockets were secretly tested in the 1950s & 60s. After testing, they were taken to Woomera in South Australia for launching.

38.The Needles

We made our way back to Bembridge for a well earned beverage and dinner. Next morning, we visited Bembridge Windmill. Built around 1700, it is the only remaining windmill on the Isle of Wight.

39.Bembridge Windmill

Last operated in 1913, most of the original machinery is intact.

Our final destination on the island was Yarmouth for the ferry journey back to the big island.

We appreciated a different perspective of Hurst Castle

49.Hurst Castle

and Lymington marina welcomed us back.

50.Lymington Marina

Arundel Castle

Posted on March 2, 2016 by kathy

We didn’t really have a plan when we visited Britain, other than starting in London then driving in a clockwise direction. After a couple of days in Kent, we decided to head for Chichester to see the cathedral. We didn’t get there. On the way, we espied an enormous castle rising majestically out of the landscape.

1.Arundel 2.Arundel