Bagni Caldi

Posted on March 9, 2016 by kathy

One afternoon, while staying in Ponte a Serraglio, we walked up the narrow, winding road to Bagni Caldi. Famous for its healing waters and natural grottos, the thermal spa town has been a favourite since the 13th century. We didn’t actually make it to the town but the walk held some delightful surprises. This seemed a sensible way to get the groceries home.

1.lift

We crossed a tranquil, flowing stream

2.stream 3.stream

and passed a long forgotten chapel.

4.chapel 5.chapel door

This building contrasted sharply with the verdant landscape.

6.high rise

As we climbed higher, the views became more breathtaking.

7.view1 8.view2 9.view3

We made it as far as the Hotel Pio X.

10.hotel

The ominous clouds urged us to turn back.

11.view4 12.view5

It was a lovely way to walk off lunch.

13.road

discovering Darwin

Posted on March 5, 2016 by kathy

Our last day in Darwin before heading south, we arrived early for a lunch date with a friend and took the opportunity to explore the Botanic Gardens. Named after George Brown, under whose guiding hand they were restored after Cyclone Tracy, the gardens exude a lovely serenity.

2.pool 3.garden2 4.waterfall 8.gardens6 6.gardens4

Some of the trees are works of art,

5.gardens3

others serving as nature’s plant pots.

7.gardens5

The tropical flowers are so delicate, I would love to have these in my garden.

There is colour everywhere.

12.gardens10

The orange-footed scrub fowls are lucky to call the gardens home.

19.orange footed scrub fowl

Lunch was calling and we were introduced to the Darwin Waterfront. Stokes Hill Wharf was there when we were last in Darwin in 2005,

25.Stokes Hill Wharf

but now the precinct is an impressive collection of eateries, accommodation and activity.

23.waterfront3 22.waterfront2 24.waterfront4

We dined at Il Lido with views over the lagoon

21.waterfront1

and Convention Centre.

20.convention centre

There were some interesting beverages on tap

and the quarter pounder & fries were delicious.

29.quarter pounders

We managed to ward off the heat with a few cold beers.

30.cheers

Cheers! Thanks for a great afternoon, Nigel, it was lovely to see you again.

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

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

3.Arundel 4.Arundel

7.Arundel

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

8.Arundel 9.Arundel 13.Arundel

The grounds are magnificent, scattered with stunning outbuildings.

11.Arundel 18.Arundel 10.Arundel

The views across the South Downs are breathtaking.

12.Arundel 14.Arundel

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

15.Arundel

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.

16.Arundel 17.Arundel

We left Arundel a lot later than anticipated

19.Arundel

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,

22.Portsmouth 23.Portsmouth

with a locally brewed beverage in hand

24.Isle of W Ferry

we crossed the Solent

25.Isle of W Ferry 26.Isle of W Ferry 27.Isle of W Ferry 28.Isle of W Ferry

and settled in at the Windmill Inn, Bembridge.

29.Windmill Inn Bembridge

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.

1.walk2 2.walk5 3.walk7 4.walk8 5.walk6 6.walk9

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

7.walk3 8.walk10 9.walk4 10.walk1

The delicate wildflowers were putting on a show.

The main street wasn’t too busy

21.main street

and we found just what we were looking for.

22.nonsolovino

The park had a lovely fountain.

23.fountain

The view downstream from the town bridge was serene.

24.from bridge

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

25.bust

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.

26.gelateria

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,

27.Ristorante Del Sonno

overlooking the gorgeous facade of Teatro Accademico

28.teatro accademico

and the cute dog waiting outside.

29.teatro statue

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.

30.river walk1 31.river walk2

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.

1.woodland1 2.monsoon1

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

4.monsoon3

16.aviary13

Birds weren’t the only creatures in the aviary.

17.aviary14

14.aviary11

The surroundings were stunning

20.pmonsoon9 21.pmonsoon2 22.pmonsoon3

with the occasional surprise at ground level.

23.pmonsoon1

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

27.pmonsoon7 28.pmonsoon8

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.