Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for england
The Straw Bear of Whittlesea
By Linda Tancs
In the market town of Whittlesea (or Whittlesey), England, don’t be surprised to see a straw bear paraded through the streets. The custom dates back to the 1880s, when the Tuesday following Plough Monday (the first Monday after Twelfth Night) would be marked by getting one of the members of the plough to dress in straw. Once in decline, the tradition is alive and well thanks to the Whittlesea Society. The procession these days includes over 250 dancers, musicians and performers accompanying the straw bear and a decorated plough, making its way up Market Street. This year’s Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival takes place from January 12 to January 14. The bear appears on Saturday.
*************
Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
Share this:
Burning the Clocks in Brighton
By Linda Tancs
Today marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest night of the year. To brighten it up a bit, head to Brighton, England’s famed seaside resort, where a carnival-like atmosphere presides on this night every year. The event is known as Burning the Clocks, a family-friendly festival featuring the parading of handmade lanterns through the city to the beach where the event concludes with a massive bonfire and fireworks. The fun begins at The Royal Pavilion, just a few minutes’ walk from the seafront.
Share this:
A New Landmark in Cambridge
By Linda Tancs
Constructed between 1977 and 1980, Robinson College is not only Cambridge University’s youngest college but also its first co-educational facility. And now it enjoys Grade II (protected) status, hailed as “a stunning city landmark.” Among its gems are the artistic interiors of the chapel (particularly the window) and the library. Sporting distinctive red brick exteriors, the college was funded by David Robinson, a major contributor to British horse racing.
*************
Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
Share this:
Courtside in London
By Linda Tancs
Close to a statue of Abraham Lincoln on Parliament Square, the Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Housed in a neo-Gothic building (formerly Middlesex Guildhall), it’s open to guided tours each Friday. Highlights include the beautifully-appointed courtrooms and library. Visitors can also sit in on live hearings during the week.
Share this:
The Blackfriar
By Linda Tancs
Built in 1875 on the site of a Dominican friary, The Blackfriar pub is set in a historic, Art Nouveau Grade II wedge-shaped building on Queen Victoria Street owing its survival to a group of conservationists. It features mosaics, ornamental balconies and the famous guardian black friar above the front door. You’ll enjoy the friezes of mottos or little jokes that give a glimpse into late 19th-century England as well.
Share this:
Nashville of the North
By Linda Tancs
It might be best known as the hometown of pop/rock legends The Beatles, but Liverpool has had a long love affair with country-and-western music. Known by such monikers as “Nashville of the North” and the “Country Music Capital of England,” some credit the genre as the genesis of the Mersey Beat. Even Beatles drummer Ringo Starr reputedly took his stage name from the cowboy character Johnny Ringo. Liverpool’s musical history is so rich that it was designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2015. You can explore the city’s many musical influences (including African, Irish and reggae) year round at one of its music festivals.
Share this:
The Little Green Huts
By Linda Tancs
A quirky part of London’s history are the little green huts that pop up in various parts of the capital. Known as cabmen’s shelters, they were established in 1875 for London’s cabbies as a place to rest and eat during the workday. Once numbering 61, the 13 remaining shelters are all Grade II-listed (protected) buildings. You’ll find them at locales like Wellington Place, Russell Square and Kensington Park Road. Nowadays even non-cabbies can order takeaway from a service window; hours vary at each shelter.
Share this:
The Greater Outdoors
By Linda Tancs
Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland is home to England’s largest forest and the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe. Popular with walkers, hikers and cyclists, you’ll get great views of a gorge and waterfall at Hindhope Linn, a few miles from Kielder Castle, formerly the hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland. The castle area is a hub for cyclists. Consider a short stroll from Kielder Village along the trackbed of the former Border Counties Railway, where the Kielder Viaduct is one of the best preserved examples of a skew-arch bridge in the country. The night views aren’t bad either, considering that the dark sky zone is the second-largest area of protected night sky in Europe. The observatory offers events throughout the year that must be booked in advance.
*************
Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
Share this:
The House of Devon
By Linda Tancs
Just south of Exeter, over 600 years of British history stands resplendent over the estuary of the River Exe. This is the site of Powderham Castle, a home now occupied by the 19th earl of Devon (Charlie Courtenay) and his family. One of the grandest family estates in Britain, it was built in the 14th century by Sir Philip Courtenay, making the current occupants the 28th generation of caretakers. Little is off limits; the upstairs guided tour even includes personal family bedrooms. The other option, the State Room Tour, includes the castle’s grandest rooms, secret doors, long libraries and even a hidden ballroom. Among the highlights is the Rococo interior, especially the staircase hall that was immortalized in the film “The Remains of the Day.”
Share this:
Silver Darlings in Norfolk
By Linda Tancs
Great Yarmouth, also known as Yarmouth, is a seaside town in England with a long maritime history. By the 19th century, it was the largest herring port in the world. Known as “silver darlings” for their bright, silver color, the fish was exported as far as Russia, India and Africa. You can learn more about the fishing industry at the Time & Tide Museum, a former smokehouse. And don’t miss this month’s Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival at historic South Quay. The event features tall ships, shanty music and pirates along with a costumed actor portraying naval commander Horatio Nelson, who spent time there before the Battle of Copenhagen and on his return to England after the Battle of the Nile.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 