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.

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Built in 1067, Arundel Castle was damaged during the English Civil War, then restored in the 18th & 19th centuries.

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It has been the home to the Duke of Norfolk for over 400 years.

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The grounds are magnificent, scattered with stunning outbuildings.

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The views across the South Downs are breathtaking.

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It’s easy to imagine the knights in shining armour clattering up the worn stone steps.

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The Fitzalan Chapel, founded in 1390, is still the burial place of the Dukes of Norfolk. The window is a little more impressive from inside.

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We left Arundel a lot later than anticipated

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and continued westward. We detoured to enquire about the fares and timetable for the Isle of Wight ferry. Before we knew it, we were in the queue.

Leaving Portsmouth behind,

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with a locally brewed beverage in hand

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we crossed the Solent

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and settled in at the Windmill Inn, Bembridge.

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wondrous walk

Posted on February 28, 2016 by kathy

My favourite walk with Poppy is one we call the river walk. The Blythe Conservation Area meets our property at the eastern boundary. Across the paddock and through a gate, we join a walking track. A short distance along, I look to my right and am awestruck at the realisation we live in our own patch of Tasmanian wilderness.

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The view across the valley changes with the seasons.

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Now and then there is a little surprise

and the forest embraces from all sides as the track continues.

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Nature’s debris has its own beauty

and the trees reach for the sky.

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About a kilometre into the forest, the track descends steeply to the Blythe River,

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a serene spot for a few hours of fishing.

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The light reflects the natural tannins in the water.

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The best time of day to walk the river track is early morning, the rising sun glistening through the trees is spectacular.

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Just another day in paradise.

La Villa

Posted on February 24, 2016 by kathy

A leisurely walk from the apartment in Ponte a Serraglio is the village of La Villa, the commercial centre of Bagni di Lucca. The houses along the way were intriguing, I would love to have seen inside them.

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They had great views of the green hills and the river flowed just outside their windows.

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The delicate wildflowers were putting on a show.

The main street wasn’t too busy

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and we found just what we were looking for.

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The park had a lovely fountain.

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The view downstream from the town bridge was serene.

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I don’t know who this gentleman is but I think he has kind eyes.

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We were a little early for lunch and were forced to endure a beer at the bar next door, complemented by bowls of olives and potato crisps, to pass the time.

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Lunch at Ristorante Del Sonno was well worth the wait. I discovered my favourite pizza – ham, artichokes, olives & egg. I returned to La Villa a week later with the ‘wives’ while the men were busy building guitars. We lunched at Del Sonno,

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overlooking the gorgeous facade of Teatro Accademico

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and the cute dog waiting outside.

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We then walked off our meal along the river path dedicated to Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. They lived most of their lives in Florence and had a summer house in La Villa from 1853-1857.

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No wonder they wrote such beautiful poetry with inspiration like this.

Territory Wildlife Park

Posted on February 19, 2016 by kathy

On a perfect winters day in Darwin, we set off to discover Territory Wildlife Park, situated about 60km south on 400 hectares of natural bushland. We spent a few hours wandering through woodland, wetland and monsoon habitats.

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Along the Monsoon Vine Forest Walk is one of the largest domed walk-through aviaries in the southern hemisphere.

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Birds weren’t the only creatures in the aviary.

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The surroundings were stunning

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with the occasional surprise at ground level.

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Some of the trees had created fascinating designs of their own.

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The Park is well set out with a shuttle train continuously travelling the 4km loop, a welcome service as the temperature rises. Each exhibit entrance is adorned with cute critters and clever decorations.

The display of free-flying birds at the Flight Deck was amazing.

The eagle trying to break open an emu egg with a rock showed the innate behaviour is still strong in these birds in captivity.

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Neil, the bush stone-curlew stole the show.

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Just when you think you’ve seen everything there is something new to surprise.

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Kent

Posted on February 17, 2016 by kathy

After five wonderful days in London, we caught the train from Charing Cross to Tonbridge, Kent, and picked up our hire car. We drove to Tunbridge Wells, where Michael grew up, and explored the town.

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