World Travel Reviews

NATIONAL TRUST 2024

2025-01-11T04:21:00.000-08:00

A ROUNDUP OF NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES VISITED IN 2024

SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDENS

Nestled in the beautiful Kent countryside, just three miles east of Cranbrook, is the magnificent Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, a National Trust property since 1962.

The site was once a Saxon pig farm, originally called Saxenhurst and it has a rich and colourful history. In the 18^th century Sissinghurst was used as a prison to house up to 3,000 French sailors who were captured during the 7 year war (1756-1763). Then in 1796 it was used as a poor house, with the inmates working on the farm. The site was also once used to house The Women's Land Army.

As visitors wander around the gardens and 450 acre estate today, they have one person to thank for splendour in which they find themselves. Vita Sackville-West was a poet and writer who began transforming Sissinghurst into the grand estate that it is today in 1930, when along with her diplomat and author husband Harold Nicolson, purchased Sissinghurst, then a run down Elizabethan Mansion.

The estate is open from 10am to 5.30pm, with the tower, from which visitors have wonderful panoramic views of the garden and estate, once they have climbed the 78 steps to reach the top, open from 11am to 5pm. Last entry of the day is 4.45pm.

Entry is free to National Trust members, as is the car park. Paying guests must pay £4 for the car park, whilst entry to the whole estate starts at £8.50 for children and £17 for adults.

Facilities include car park, plant shop, restaurant, gift shop, and coffee shop.

The address and postcode is: Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, Biddenden Road, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB

FLATFORD MILL, CONSTABLE COUNTRY.

The National Trust and The RSPB

Nestled in the heart of the Dedham Vale, in the beautiful Suffolk countryside, is the wonderful Flatford Mill. Here, in what is very much Constable country, tourists and art lovers alike, can marvel at the magnificent scenery that so inspired the artist John Constable. One can easily pick out the locations of some of his most famous paintings. most notably, The Haywain.

The National Trust operate the car park for the site which is free to National Trust members, otherwise the cost is just £1 for Motorcycles, £5 for cars, and £15 for Coaches. The car park is open from Dawn to Dusk.

For those not arriving by motor vehicle, Manningtree train station is less than 2 miles away by footpath, or less than 4 miles by road. Cycle hire is available at the train station. there is also a regular bus service to the village of East Bergholt, a short walk away.

From the car park it is a pleasant stroll, pass the National Trust Information Office, through a tree lined path (a downward slope with steps) to the river.

Prior to reaching the river, visitors will pass the RSPB Wildlife Gardens, a delightful space of interesting plants and imaginatively designed gardens. Children will love the little paths and hideaways where they can explore nature in complete safety. There is a shop and seating area here, and visitors can purchase plants which have been propagated by the RSPB volunteers.

Opposite the gardens is the toilet block which is open from 10:00 to 16:00.

The right hand path from the gardens will take you over the old wooden bridge to the riverside and open fields. Be prepared for beautiful scenery, lovely walks and a lot of very friendly cattle. The cattle roam free in the fields and it is a delight to walk amongst them and watch them make their way to the river for a drink. Besides just strolling or sitting by the river, visitors can opt to hire a rowing boat or go for a ride in an environmentally friendly boat.

Returning back over the bridge visitors will find a lovely thatched cottage which is managed by The National Trust as a museum, opposite the cottage is the site of the ice cream kiosk, unfortunately, this has recently been destroyed by fire!

Continuing along the righthand path, you will pass the National Trust Shop which is open from 10:30 to 16:00. Further along this path and you will eventually pass Flatford Mill and Willy Lott's House. The mill is used for residential art courses, and visitors can often see students with paint brush in hand learning the skill of painting.

Whatever your reasons for visiting Flatford, whether as a tourist or as a budding artist following in John Constable's footsteps, you will not be disappointed, it is truly a remarkable place.

ICKWORTH

This was actually my second visit to Ickworth. Unfortunately, on my first visit, a few years ago, the house was closed and I only got to look around the gardens and parkland. Ickworth is a Georgian house with Italianate influences. Commissioned by the 4^th Earl of Bristol in the 18^th century, Ickworth is set in beautiful gardens and extensive parklands, and surrounded by the magnificent English landscape.

As I had explored the grounds extensively on my previous visit, I was happy, on this occasion, to spend my time looking around this splendid house. I especially enjoyed visiting the restored servants basement which gave a fascinating insight into what life was like 'below stairs' in the 1930s.

During the winter months, entry to the house is limited, but usual opening times are from 11am to 5pm, with the gardens open from 9am to 5.30pm. Entry to house and gardens cost £15 for adults and £7.50 for children (inclusive of gift aid). Entry to gardens only costs £9 and £4.50. There is a restaurant and a cafe, ample parking, a gift shop and garden shop where a good array of plants and shrubs and garden accessories can be purchased. Located close to Bury St Edmunds, the post code is IP29 5QE.

NATIONAL TRUST

2024-06-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDENS

Nestled in the beautiful Kent countryside, just three miles east of Cranbrook, is the magnificent Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, a National Trust property since 1962.

Entry is free to National Trust members, as is the car park. Paying guests must pay £4 for the car park, whilst entry to the whole estate starts at £8.50 for children and £17 for adults.

Facilities include car park, plant shop, restaurant, gift shop, and coffee shop.

The address and postcode is: Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, Biddenden Road, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB

Further information can be found on the National Trust website: www.nationaltrust.co.uk

AMAZON E-BOOK PROMOTION

2023-07-15T03:15:00.000-07:00

IN MY FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS

One of the longest and personally involved journeys that I have ever undertaken was in May and June 2010 when I travelled through France, Germany and Poland. The reason for my trip was to follow the route that my father, Ernest William Lidster, had taken in 1940 during World War Two. Along with his regiment, The Royal Signals, he had landed in Cherbourg and made his way to Lille. Just outside of Lille my father's regiment engaged with German forces, my father managed to escape and make his way to Saint Valery where he and some other men tried to escape France by boat. Unfortunately, my father was then captured and after some time in the military hospital in Lille, he was taken to the prisoner of war camps in Lamsdorf where he spent the rest of the war.

Following my own journey, I wrote a book "In My Father's Footsteps" which I published as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. The book describes my own journey and the discoveries that I found along the way. The book is currently on special promotion on Amazon until 21st July 2023. You can view the offer by following this link: In My Father's Footsteps eBook : Lidster, Robert: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

I hope you enjoy reading about this very personal journey.

Robert M Lidster

MOTORCYCLES AND THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

2023-06-30T02:59:00.000-07:00

GREAT BENTLEY MOTORCYCLE MEET

Great Bentley is a quiet, peaceful, and very picturesque village, located in the Tendring area of Essex. The village has a long history, dating back to the Doomsday Book. With a population of 2,381 (2011 census data), it is the second largest village in Tendring, and it is also home to the second largest village green in England, at some 43 acres.

Every Wednesday evening throughout the Summer months, this famous green becomes home to one of the largest motorcycle meetings in the area, with motorbike enthusiasts descending on the village from near and far.

As an old biker myself ( I passed my motorcycle test back in 1976), I was very interested in going along and witnessing this hugely popular spectacle for myself, and to see what draws so many people to this Essex village every Wednesday evening. With my family in tow, I set off on four wheels (my biking days, now sadly far behind me) to drive the short distance from my own Essex home to Great Bentley.

In actual fact, this wasn't my first visit to the bike meet, and certainly not my first visit to Great Bentley. The last time I witnessed this coming together of bikers was a few years ago when I was out to dinner with some friends at Restaurant 43 which faces the green, I had intended to dine at the restaurant again on this occasion, but unfortunately, the restaurant is currently closed on Wednesdays.

My family and I arrived fairly early in the evening, at around 5:30pm, so motorcycles were a little thin on the ground to start with. We found all of the bikers that we spoke with, to be very friendly and more than happy to talk to us about their bikes, some bikers even offering us a seat on their bikes to take a photograph if we wanted. We were told by one biker that at times there can be as many as 3,000 bikes in attendance, which would be quite a sight to see. By the time my family and I had to leave for another engagement, having only been there for about an hour, there was a fascinating array of around 200 bikes, but I know many more arrived after we left.

One of the bikers that we spoke to was a young woman riding a rather handsome Harley Davidson. She informed us that she was a professional YouTuber, and that she posts You Tube videos about Motorcycles. Her You Tube Channel is: tomboy_a_bit - YouTube Here is a link to the You Tube post that she filmed that evening: Are Bikers Good or Bad Thing? For The World Values Day - YouTube

One of the highlights for me was the arrival of a classic BSA Bantam. The reason for my interest in the BSA Bantam is that it just so happens that in 1973, my very first motorcycle was a BSA Bantam, oh, happy memories, how I wished I still had that bike, or indeed the Triumph Trophy that I later owned, both bikes would be collectors items now.

Anyone interested in motorcycles, or even those just wanting to spend a nice evening out doing something different would enjoy a visit to Great Bentley on a Wednesday evening this Summer, there is a great community atmosphere, and a number of food and drink establishments to choose from for refreshments. You are sure to get a warm, friendly welcome, just don't forget your camera!

The post code for the village green is: CO7 8PJ

FLATFORD MILL, CONSTABLE COUNTRY.

2023-06-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

The National Trust and The RSPB

From the car park it is a pleasant stroll, pass the National Trust Information Office, through a tree lined path (a downward slope with steps) to the river.

Opposite the gardens is the toilet block which is open from 10:00 to 16:00.

Whatever your reasons for visiting Flatford, whether as a tourist or as a budding artist following in John Constable's footsteps, you will not be disappointed, it is truly a remarkable place.

For further information please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk or telephone 01206 298260

IN MY FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS

2023-06-05T02:37:00.001-07:00

MY JOURNAL

INTRODUCTION

On 29th May 2010, I set off on a trip that I had been planning for some time, a trip that would take me through 4 countries, and lead to the publication of my book 'In My Father's Footsteps': In My Father's Footsteps eBook : Lidster, Robert: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store I was re-tracing the route that my father had taken in 1940 when he was serving with the Royal Signals, a route that would lead to his capture by the Germans, and imprisonment in a P.O.W. camp for the rest of the war.

Here are my journal entries from that trip, (as I wrote them at the time, warts and all). These journal entries are the basis for my book which is available on Amazon as an e-book.

Saturday 29th May 2010

07:00 Left home, Chris (my wife) drove me to Clacton railway station to catch National Express coach service 484 to London Victoria. We got to station at 07:25, weather was cold and overcast. As I sat down I began to realise what a big trip this was. We made stops at University of Essex, Colchester (20 minute break), Witham, Romford, London Embankment (opposite London Eye) and arrived at Victoria on time at 10:20, giving me 1 hour 10 minutes to have something to eat and drink before catching the coach to Portsmouth at 11:30.

N.B. On A12 between Colchester and Witham we just managed to avoid an accident when 3 cars came to a grinding halt in the two outside lanes, with smoke pouring from the tyres and 2 cars coming into contact (looked like a case of road rage).

11:30 Service 030 Victoria to Portsmouth left about 2 minutes late, Nathan, our driver did however give us a safety talk Re: exit doors and belts, before we set off. It was now raining hard and after a while the boredom took over and I fell asleep, albeit only for about 20 minutes. There were road works on the way which slowed things down, and we arrived at the ferry terminal in Portsmouth at about 13:40 (ten to fifteen minutes late). I checked in immediately and was told boarding would start at 15:00 at gate 1. The terminal had a couple of bureau de change, check ins for Brittany Ferries (who I was travelling with), P&O Ferries, LD Lines and Condor Ferries. It also had ample seating, a café, vending machines and toilets, and the obligatory shop.

There was also, nearby, a separate terminal with café and shop and bureau de change for car passengers, which had views of the port, which had a couple of old Navy boats docked over the far side. It was only as I was walking between the two terminals that I remembered that 13 years ago, I worked here for 1 day in my capacity of an Interviewer for The Office of National Statistics. It was pouring with rain that day as well!

15:00 and boarding started for the 15:30 sailing from Portsmouth to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries. We were quickly through customs, but foot passengers were taken on board via the same ramp as the cars, via the car deck, and not via a separate ramp as usual. It was very badly signposted and not at all clear as to the procedure. Once on board, the ferry seemed bright and airy with a large seating area, with a bar and café and good views out to sea. We left 10 minutes late at 15:40 and as we sailed out of port we passed the Navy dock with it's many navy grey ships of all shapes and sizes, including 'Invincible', 'Fort Austin', 'Westminster' and the 'Kent'.

The ferry was pretty full, mainly with car passengers as very few foot passengers came on board with me. There were a lot of children (it must be school holidays yet again!) it is Bank Holiday on Monday in the UK. We sailed past Nelson's ship and HMS Warrior, past the iconic 'Sail' and Portsmouth harbour and marina. Once we had been sailing for 30-45 minutes, I decided to check out the ferry, and my plan was to get some dinner on board to save me time in France, however, I was to be disappointed as there was no restaurant on board, only 3 bars/cafes serving hot and cold drinks and snacks, sufficient for the short Dover-Calais crossings, but a bit disappointing on a crossing that takes 3 hours. I purchased a coffee (£1.20) and returned to my seat to watch '101 Dalmations on the giant TV ( I just hope I can get a decent meal in Cherbourg). My summing up of Brittany Ferries Normandie Express? OK if you need to travel this route in the quickest time possible, but not a great part of the overall holiday experience, I'm looking forward to getting off and getting something to eat!

NB The crossing was fairly rough, making it difficult to walk around. Re: the movie, this is the second time I have seen '101 Dalmations, the last time was on a flight from London to Dubai, I really think that someone should have informed the producers that there aren't any racoons or skunks in the wild in the UK.

19:40 Arrived in Cherbourg about 10 minutes late, this time the foot passengers were taken off via a proper foot gangway, and a bus ferried us to the terminal. There was no French customs so we were straight out, and I was on my way by foot to my hotel at 19:55. I arrived at 'Marine Hotel' at 20:10 and after checking in and putting my things in my room, I was in the restaurant just after 20:30. I had steak and chips which was very tasty. Only the small restaurant (7 tables) was open as there was a private function in the main restaurant. The food being served at the other tables all looked to be of a good standard, and the service was quick and pleasant. I went back to my room at about 21:45 to look through leaflets I had picked up and plan my day for tomorrow.

NB On arrival at hotel, the tall rectangle building was not handsome, although it had a fantastic vantage point overlooking the marina. The foyer however, was bright and inviting, and the staff behind reception very accommodating. The corridors looked not at their best, as did my room, but it was clean and had everything I needed, tea/coffee making facilities and complimentary shampoo etc. The room was fitted out as a double, although size wise, it was ideal as a single. The Marine Hotel is 3 star.

Sunday 30th May 2010

I had a good nights sleep, woke a few times and eventually got up at 07:00, showered and had coffee, cereal bars and an apple for breakfast, in my room. I left hotel at 08:15 to walk around town and go to train station to inquire about trains to Pontorson. Nice and sunny with a cool breeze. It took 10 minutes to walk into town and a further 10 minutes to get to the train station. I bought a ticket for 25.90 euros to leave at 13:46. I walked around town and harbour, getting back to hotel at 09:45. I had a coffee in my room and rested before checking out at 11.00 and walking back into town.

As I walk around Cherbourg it is a strange feeling to think that exactly 70 years ago my father was here, but under very different circumstances. Had lunch at 12:00 at 'Le Narval' café overlooking the marina. Very good omelette and chips for 5.50 euros and coffee 2.90 euros. Very relaxing eating al fresco in the sunshine.

I got to train station in plenty of time at 12:45 and boarded the train at about 13:15. Left Cherbourg on time at 13:46. Travelled through lush green countryside, stopping at Volognes and Carentan and arriving at Lison at 14:26 where I had to change for another train to Pontorson, leaving at 14:46. This was a SNCF Ten train stopping at St Lo, Coutances, Folligny, Avranches and arriving at Pontorson at 16:12. The train was full and I had to sit on a little 'flip up chair' near the sliding door until we got to Coutances, when a seat became vacant.

The countryside was pretty much as before, very rural, mostly grazing land. I got to Pontorson on time and after picking up some leaflets and a map from the train station, I walked a couple of hundred yards down the road to the 'Hotel de France', one which I had looked up on the internet before coming away. This morning I had inquired at my hotel in Cherbourg (which is part of Mecure) if they had a hotel in Pontorson, they did not but did have one on Mont St Michel, but wanted 97 euros a night, room only, which was a bit more than I wanted to pay.

The staff at 'Hotel de France' were very friendly and offered me a room for 58 euros per night ( I noticed from the prices on the wall, that for my room, number 6, the going rate was 85 euros per night, I just hope she hasn't got her figures mixed up). The room was a family room with a double bed and twin beds on a second floor. Everywhere was very clean and for a 2 star hotel I was very impressed.

I booked myself in for 2 nights and reserved a table for dinner tonight. I then went for a walk around the town and came across a 'Best Western' hotel offering single rooms from 45 euros. I went in to inquire but they wanted 89 euros! I returned to my hotel, happy that I had made the right decision, and got ready for dinner at 19:30.

Unbeknown to me, whilst I was in my room the weather took a turn for the worst, and it was raining as I walked from my room (which was in a separate building) to the main hotel and restaurant. To make matters worse, I had to wait at the level crossing for a train to pass!

The restaurant was fully booked with some private function, but they managed to squeeze me in, so long as I chose off the set menu. I had fish soup to start, followed by fish on a bed of vegetables, and crème Brule to finish. I was back in my room by 21:00

Monday 31st May 2010

I eventually got up at 07:30, having woken several times during the night, not as I had expected by the noise of the trains passing just yards from my window. I showered and went to breakfast at 08:00. Although I had been informed breakfast was from 08:00 to 10:00, the restaurant was already busy with the party from last nights dinner. They soon finished and were boarding their coach which awaited them.

Breakfast was continental, bread, cheese, meat, fruit, croissants and cake, there was also fruit juice, coffee and tea. I had my fill and made my way over to the railway station to inquire on the bus for Mont St Michel today, and my train to Laval for tomorrow. The train station was closed, not opening until 09:00. I went back to my room and prepared for the day. I left my room again at 09:10.

At the train station, I checked on my bus, it leaves at 10:00 arriving at Mont St Michel at 10:13, bus number 6, it is run by SNCF and costs 2.20 euros. I also booked my ticket for tomorrow. the train leaves at 09:16 to Rennes, where I have to change trains, and I arrive at Laval at 11:39, cost 22.80 euros.

Bus left just after 10:00 and we arrived at Mont St Michel at about 10:15. Very impressive sight as you drive along the causeway, and the abbey looms into sight. Steep climb with many steps to get to abbey (entrance 8.50 euros), many shops and restaurants on-route, fantastic views from top. A couple of hours is enough time to see abbey, and stroll around the Mont, more time would be needed if you wished to explore all the museums, dungeons and prisons that are dotted along the streets, all at an extra cost.

The many restaurants looked inviting, but I had a large breakfast and wasn't ready for anything to eat yet. I made my way back to the entrance looking for the post office, in order that I might post the postcard I purchased earlier. On arrival at the post office I found it to be closed between 12:00 and 14:00 (it was now 12:10, typical!) I sat and rested on the rocks at the foot of the Mont, and contemplated the rest of my day.

There are a few hotels on the Mont but they tend to be expensive, a few more who advertise that they are at Mont St Michel are actually on the mainland, about a mile or so from the Mont. The Mercure being one of them (I'm glad I didn't book in there after all). My bus to return to Pontorson (which I caught after having another walk around the Mont, and finally posting my postcard) was at 14:35 and I boarded it along with 3 elderly French ladies who were travelling to Beauvoir, and an American couple who were on their way to Pontorson to catch a train, but first had to get to the Mercure hotel to pick up their luggage. The cost to them, and it seems for any of the stops on-route was 2.20 euros, the same as for myself doing the entire trip (another good reason for not having stopped at the Mercure!) The Americans would have 70 minutes to wait until the next bus. On-route there were various hotels and eating places, and interestingly, as I didn't know the French made cider, a cider museum, there was also a working windmill where you can still purchase flour.

I got back to my hotel and caught up with my writing and preparing for tomorrow, and freshened up for dinner. Although, before doing so, I had a walk around the town and purchased some bottled water for tomorrows journey. The sun was shining and it was the warmest it had been since I left home. I sat in the hotels courtyard, which was adequately furnished with patio style table, chairs and loungers. I sat soaking up the sunshine from 16:45, back to room at 17:50, had a shower and changed and was out again by 18:50.

I went to a hotel restaurant right at the end of town, 'Le Tour Brotte', and had a set menu of Pate, Braised Ham, and ice cream. This and half a bottle of red wine came to 17.80 euros. It was very good food, good service and good value. I saw a young Malaysian man (from Singapore) on way back to the hotel, who had arrived on the same train as me yesterday and was staying at the same hotel. We had a chat for a while, he was leaving for Paris tomorrow night and flying back to Singapore. I got back to hotel at 20:30 and had an early night.

Tuesday 1st June 2010

Woke up at about 02:00, wide awake! (That will teach me for going to bed so early). I laid awake for about one and a half hours, just mulling over thoughts, and planning the rest of my journey. I got up at 07:15 having finally fallen back to sleep. I showered, packed my bags, and went for breakfast. I checked out of hotel at 08:45.

The area seems popular with cyclists, whilst waiting for my bus to Mont St Michel yesterday, 4 elderly Americans came off a train, resplendent in Lycra, and an array of other strange attire. Then, this morning at breakfast, the room was full of pensioners in Lycra! Now, I am of the opinion that Lycra isn't a good look on anyone, but when you reach 60, it's a definite no no. Some of them looked well into their 80s and judging from the shape and size of them, cycling isn't that good for you after all! As yesterday was very hot and sunny, this morning I did the right thing and applied my factor 25 sun cream (I should have looked out of the window first, it was pouring with rain!)

My train left on time at 09:16, with one stop at Dol de Bretagne, it arrived on time at 10:07 at Rennes, where I had to change trains, giving me an hour before the 11:05 train to Paris. I walked down the main street opposite the station, until I reached 'Jardin George'. I then turned around and retraced my steps, got back to station at 10:35. Rennes looked a bit industrialised as the train for Paris pulled out on time, and from what I saw on my short walk, it doesn't seem a very pretty town. Plenty of hotels and restaurants, although the park was nice.

I arrived in Laval at 11:39, I hadn't pre-booked a hotel so I walked around the town looking for a suitable hotel. There were several hotels, but none that I was drawn to. Following signs for hotels, eventually led me out of the town centre and on the outskirts. To make matters worse it began to rain, to make matters even worse, my umbrella was knackered, having been turned inside out in the strong wind and rain that greeted me on arrival in Cherbourg. Still, it kept the worst of the rain off me.

Finding myself a little lost, and looking for the way back to the train station, I approached a lady in the street, and in my best French asked where the train station was, she glared at me, didn't utter a word. and carried on walking. Now it could be that she wasn't French so didn't understand me, or that my French is that bad that she didn't even recognise it as French.

NB I can't even call my grasp of the French language even 'School Boy French' as I never took languages at school. My first attempt at learning French was in 1974 when I was sixteen and I went to Epernay to pick grapes for 2 weeks. I bought a Penguin French phrase book, which I still have. I taught myself a few rudimental phrases. I visited France again the following year, but after that it would be another 17 years before dusting off that old phrase book for a trip to Monte Carlo. Over the following years I travelled through France on my way to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium, but never staying often in France. I did buy a 'Readers Digest' 'Learn French' cassette course, but only got half way through it before losing interest. As I was spending a lot of time in Germany, I concentrated more on learning German. Even though my German isn't very good, it is better than my French!

After being snubbed by the French Lady, I came across a bus stop with a map (which I made a copy of), I got my bearings and eventually found myself back at the train station. I booked into the 2 star 'Marin Hotel' which is right opposite the station, and next door to a hotel I had dismissed almost 2 hours earlier. The cost for a single room was 48 euros. The reception area was clean and bright and my room, although basic, was clean. It directly faced the train station. The gentleman who checked me in spoke good English and was very friendly, he informed me that continental breakfast could be purchased for 6.50 euros.

I sorted some things out in my room, then went back to the station to book my ticket for tomorrow on the TGV (fast train) leaving at 09:52 for Lille, arriving in Lille at 13:40, the cost was 69.20 euros. I was given a window seat, number 22 in coach 6.

NB Now, what I didn't realise earlier today when I boarded the TGV in Rennes, I had been allocated a seat, as on a plane, but I just sat in the first available seat. Luckily no one came to claim it, so I stayed there for the entire journey, oblivious to my mistake. I sensed something wasn't quite right when I noticed other passengers checking their tickets and seat numbers, oh well, you live and learn!

After purchasing my ticket, I went for another walk, this time I chose the right way and didn't get lost. I walked across the river to a park with a war memorial with a copy of the speech made by General de Gaulle whilst he was in exile in London in 1940.

I had dinner at 'Le Duplex' on Allee de Cambras. I had a Caesar Salad for 8.70 euros, it was enormous and had just about everything in it, topped off with a fried egg and half a baguette. A slow wander back to the hotel, and another early night. I have done a lot of walking today, and a lot of thinking and planning, I need the rest.

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

I got up at 07:30 and had a shower, went into town at 08:00 and walked to the park, where I purchased a rather large ham and cheese baguette and a bottle of water, and had my breakfast al-fresco in the park. I got back to hotel at 09:00 and checked out.

I think I have finally sussed out this TGV seat reservation thing, your ticket shows the coach (voiture) number and seat (place assise). On the platform, you have to look for a letter which denotes where your coach will stop ( this doesn't seem to be a precise science, but it will put you in the rough area). So, I stood on the platform at the allocated point and only had to walk a few further feet when the train arrived to find Voiture 6. I then found seat 22 (a window seat, as requested), however, it was already occupied by an elderly French woman, so I sat myself down in seat 21 (an aisle seat) as I couldn't be bothered, and lacked the linguistic skills to inform her of her error. As it turns out I was probably better off in the aisle seat as it was easier to get up and move around the train when I wanted. Also, it wasn't as if there was much to see out of the window, the French countryside in this area is not that much different to that of Essex, which I know so well.

The train had a buffet serving snacks and hot and cold drinks. The journey would be about 4 hours and would cover somewhere in the region of 300 miles. With stops at Le Mans, Massy TGV, Marne la Vallee Ghessy, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Haute Picardie, it would arrive at Lille Europe on time at 13:40.

On arrival in Lille, I did what I so often do when first arriving at a new destination, and went directly to the tourist information desk, to pick up a free map of Lille. The assistant informed me that it was just a short 5 minute walk to the city centre.

Before heading off into the city, I went to inquire about my onward journey to Wroclaw. At the ticket office they could not book me all the way through to Wroclaw, saying I would have to get my ticket in Berlin for Wroclaw. They could only book me from Lille to Paris, and Paris to Berlin on the overnight sleeper. I wasn't sure if I wanted to leave Lille on Friday or Saturday, but when they informed me that if I left Saturday I could have a couchette for less than the normal price of a seat, I was sold! I booked it for Saturday at a cost of 128.60 euros ( I will of course be saving on a nights hotel bill by travelling overnight).

I left feeling pleased with my purchase, and started my search for a hotel (this is when my luck runs out). Very close to the station is the hotel 'Lille Europe', a 2 star hotel that I had seen on the internet at home, before leaving. It didn't look very inviting from outside, a rather square block of steel and glass, and the tariff stated 92 euros for a single room, a little more than I wanted to pay! I walked through the main square and eventually found 'The Mecure', their tariff stated 155 euros for a single room! The next half an hour consisted of me calling into some of the cheaper hotels ( one stated rooms from 37 euros, but I got to the top of the stairs, saw the state of the place, and made a quick retreat).

None of the hotels could take me tonight as they were all fully booked. I ended up back at the 'Hotel Lille Europe' (which incidentally, turned out to be far nicer inside than the exterior would make you think). Thankfully, they could take me tonight, but are full tomorrow! I booked in for the one night at 92 euros, hoping that I will be able to find something else for the next 2 nights. It was now 14:30 and my room wouldn't be ready for an hour, so I sat in the very comfortable lounge and caught up with writing this journal.

Next to the lounge was the breakfast area which also had a vending machine for snacks and drinks, which included a microwave fish and rice dinner for one (microwave was supplied). There was also a small library with internet access. I got into my room at about 15:30 and just threw my bags in (room looked nice from what I saw of it, on 7th floor, overlooking a park).

I hot footed it to the tourist information office to inquire on hotels, no rooms at all in Lille city centre over next 2 days, but I managed to book into the 'Citotel Nord Hotel' in the south of Lille, which I can get to on the metro. Cost for 2 nights 116 euros. The young man also gave me information on the military hospital in Lille, and a museum on the resistance. He also showed me some photographs on the internet of French soldiers marching through Lille in June 1940 after the German occupation.

I went back to my hotel and had a bath, then walked back to the square to get dinner. Plenty of eating places offering inside or al-fresco, similar menus, similar prices, with 'Plat du Jour' from about 8.40 euros, and pizzas and pasta at about the same price. I was looking at one 'Plat du Jour' special menu, when the staff tempted me in with an offer of a free aperitif, how could I refuse? I had my whiskey aperitif followed by another large salad (I'm certainly getting my 5 a day!) with ham, Parma ham and pate, a basket of bread, a cold drink and a coffee, all for the princely sum of 10.90 euros.

Lille is really busy, hence the lack of hotel rooms. It is a nice city, with nice squares and old buildings, but there were a lot of beggars around, although, when I walked around in the evening after the crowds had gone, so had the beggars! (business over for the day). The city was quite untidy, with a lot of litter about, free leaflets and newspapers strewn everywhere. A great pity, as it is a nice city. I walked back to my hotel via the park and Garre du Lille Europe.

Thursday 3rd June 2010

I got up between 07:00 and 07:30 and had a bath, I left hotel at about 08:30 to go for a walk and take some photos. I was walking back to the hotel, via the park, when I decided to go to the train station to try and get a photo of a TGV train. Good idea! for as I approached the stairs to go up to the station, I found a 10 euro note (that will pay for lunch!) I got my photo and on the way back to the hotel, I spent 2.50 euros of my windfall on a coffee and a bottle of water. I got back to hotel at 09:30, packed and left at 10:00.

NB
There are 2 train stations in Lille, just a couple of minutes walk apart. 'Lille Europe' where I arrived yesterday caters for the intercity TGV and Eurostar, and 'Lille Flandres', where I will get my train to Paris on Saturday, caters for some TGV trains and most local trains.

I went to the old military hospital, which is now the Notary Office for Administrations. Before doing so, I visited the church next door. A very nice lady at the Notary Office gave me some information on the building and when I showed her photos of Dad (photos I thought could have been taken at the hospital), she took me outside and we found the exact spot where Dad stood for the photo.

I then went back to the tourist information to thank Greg, who had helped me yesterday, and to show him the photos etc. He was busy in the back office but another assistant called him on the phone and I spoke with him. Greg asked me to call back in 30 minutes, which I did. He was very interested and confirmed that it was the right hospital, and that Dad had been moved between 2 different hospitals (1 no longer standing), and a steel works which is still a military building. Greg gave me his email address and asked me to keep him abreast of my discoveries. Some days are better than others, and today is proving to be a good one, certainly better than yesterday.

I decided to spend the rest of my earlier windfall and went for lunch at 'Le Rihours' at 'Place Rihour'. A lemonade and Croque Monsieur set me back 6.80 euros. I then went on to 'Rue Masurel', where Greg thinks the other hospital use to be, but no longer is. I went in the 'Cathedale Notre- Dame De La Treille' which was at the end of the street. From there, I walked to 'Caserne Kleber' off of 'Rue Du Pont Neuf'. I spoke to a civilian lady and a female soldier, and was informed that I could not take photos as it was military land. The civilian lady suggested I look around the 'Citedel', although, again, she said I would not be allowed to take photos as it is also military land.

I walked to the 'Citedel' but although interesting and a pleasant walk, it held no significance for me. I did see a sign which was paying homage to some French military of the 'Citedel' who in September 1941 put up some resistance to the Germans. It is a well fortified place, with a moat (and nowadays an electric fence running alongside the moat to keep unwanted visitors out).

I needed to get to my next hotel, which will be my home for the next 2 nights. It is in the south of the city on 'Rue Du Faubourg D' Arras'. I took the exit out of 'Parc De Loisirs De La Citadelle' which took me out onto 'Rue Solferino'. I followed this very long road (at least a mile), down to 'Rue Du Faubourg D'Arras', and arrived at my hotel at about 16:00, it had taken an hour to walk from the 'Citadelle'. I checked the mileage later and it was about 2 and a half miles.

I settled into my room and caught up on this journal. I went out to dinner at 19:00, and as I felt I had already done a marathon today, I didn't want to walk miles looking for a place to eat, so I asked at reception, and was given directions to a French restaurant (now, there's a surprise!) 150 yards down the road on the left. When I found the restaurant it was closed, so I continued to walk and found a second one, this one was open and although it looked ok, there was no one in the restaurant (not a good sign!) so I continued walking for about half a mile, turned around, crossed the street, and walked back towards the hotel.

Eventually, I found a pizzeria and although it would mean overdosing on the cheese today (remember, I had a croque Monsieur for lunch), I was desperate and my feet wanted me to eat! I ordered a margarita which came in small or large priced at 6 euro and 9 euro. I didn't specify the size, and when the massive plateful was put in front of me I assumed it was the large, however, when I came to pay, the pizza, a bottle of water and a bottle of coke came to 8 euros! As it happens, I couldn't eat all the pizza, so 2 slices were kindly wrapped up in tin foil for me to have later. I got back to hotel at 20:30.

I've just remembered a couple of things as I lay here, trying to get to sleep. I feel that I should explain that if this journal seems a bit disjointed at times, it is because I don't always get the chance to write things down as they happen, and then I forget things, only to remember them at times like this. (still by the time anyone gets to read this, I would have tidied it all up and everything will be in it's proper place, or maybe not!)

Not surprisingly, as this whole journey is about my dad, I had a dream about him on Sunday night, it was strange, I was in the front room of my parent's house and the front door blew open, I went to the door and was surprised to find my father standing on the doorstep. I was surprised as in my dream he was supposed to be in hospital, which in reality he had been on two occasions leading up to his death. I never got to the bottom of things in my dream, as at that point I woke up.

Another thing, I think I have mentioned that Greg from the Tourist Information has an interest in WW2. When I saw him today he informed me that he was very excited as he had been given details of an 83 year old French lady who at the age of 13 was put to work as a cook to the occupying German army. He hopes to interview her for his research.

Yet another thing, I haven't said much about the hotel yet. Well! it isn't in the best of areas, a long way from anything, it isn't the best looking building you could wish for, but it is reasonably clean, and at 58.90 euros a night, reasonably priced. The young lady at reception spoke good English and was polite and helpful. There is a very small bar in the foyer and a breakfast area, that's about it really. Oh! I was on the 4th floor, overlooking the main street. Right! I think that's it, I'm going to try to get to sleep now.

Friday 4th June 2010

Well! I did manage to get to sleep in the end, and I had the best nights sleep I've had since I've been away, it must have been all that walking yesterday. I got up at 07:00, had a bath and packed a smaller nap sack to carry with me today (it's a relief not to have to carry my heavier ruck sack, although it only weighs about 8kg, it is still a lot to carry around all the time, and my shoulder was beginning to ache a bit yesterday, a problem as I suffer from a bad back and also have problems with my neck).

I left the hotel at 08:15, it took me 45 minutes to walk to 'Lille Flandres' railway station. There, I inquired about getting to St Valery, as that is where my father was actually captured by the Germans. The story goes, that he was in a small boat with some other men, trying to escape, when they were shelled by the Germans. This is how my father became injured and ended up in the military hospital in Lille. I don't know all the injuries that he sustained, but he did suffer from a perforated ear drum, which gave him hearing problems throughout his life, and was the reason he was discharged from the army at the end of the war.

Anyway, getting back to the present, it seems that it is not really possible to get to St Valery and back today. I would have had to catch the 09:02 train to 'Paris Nord', arriving at 10:02, then get across Paris to 'Paris St Lazare' to catch the 10:50 train to Yvetot, arriving at 12:24, catch another train at 12:45, finally arriving in St Valery at 13:32. What I should have done (hindsight is a wonderful thing) is to have arranged a hotel in Paris tonight, I could have left for Paris this morning, gone to St Valery for the day, stayed in Paris tonight, and continued my journey onto Berlin on Saturday as booked. Oh well! it was never on my original itinerary, it's just that I was looking at what to do today, and if it was possible, it would have been interesting.

I left the train station and went to a café for a coffee and croissant (1.70 euros). Before leaving the café, I thought I'd make use of the W.C. the door was locked with a large sign on it, with my limited French, I managed to deduce that you had to get the staff to unlock it for you, obviously, they didn't want the general public making use of their facilities. I spoke to the lady behind the counter, and at a push of a button, she unlocked the door for me.

Afterwards, I sat in the park and contemplated what to do, and decided on a 'chill out' day, maybe take in a museum or art gallery. I also decided that I would try to leave Lille on an earlier train tomorrow, as I am pretty much finished with Lille, and would rather spend some time in Paris, especially as at the moment, I only have 1 hour between trains in Paris, and I would rather not be rushed. I thought about going to the station now to make the changes, but remembered that I did not have my train tickets with me as I had left my main ruck sack at the hotel. So I plan to come to the station early tomorrow, and try to make the changes.

Whilst I was in the park, I received, and replied to, a text from my son who lives in Hamburg Germany, he was wondering how I was getting on. I also phoned my wife to update her on my progress, whilst I was speaking to my wife, I was approached by a French girl asking me the time, although she could clearly see and hear me deep in conversation (in English) on the phone. I held my arm out, showing her my watch, and continued with my conversation (well! at 35p a minute, I wasn't going to waste a second.

I often tend to stray from the usual tourist routes when I'm away, and it often pays off with me finding some beautiful buildings or some peaceful tranquillity. So, I headed away from the main streets and throngs of tourists, and soon found myself at a university, not that interesting, but slap bang in the middle of all these modern university buildings is a beautiful old church. I sat in its grounds, taking in its splendour. I then followed directions to 'Le Grand Palais', expecting to find a palace of some description, however, it turned out to be an exposition and congress building! It was grand, but no palace!

Well! I've seen it all now, I'm used to seeing car windscreen washers at traffic lights, and have seen on TV beggars, in 3rd world countries, going from car to car, but I have never, until now, seen buskers at traffic lights! An elderly gentleman was walking up the middle of the street, playing an accordion to the occupants of the stationary vehicles, meanwhile a young boy went from car to car, in the hope of some remuneration.

Just after 13:00, a short walk from 'Lille Grand Palais', I stopped for some lunch at 'Au Bureau'. 'Plat du Jour' was filet de hoki in sauce citron, priced at 8.40 euros it came with mixed vegetables, rice, and salad, with a basket of bread. A little more than I would usually eat at this time of day, but I didn't fancy the alternative, sandwiches or pizza. The food was of a good quality and I managed to get through most of it.

During my wanderings back towards my hotel, I came across the 'Platen Parc and Botanical Gardens' (I'd given up on the idea of visiting a museum or art gallery as I had already failed to find 2 museums that I had hoped to visit). Evidently, there have been botanical gardens here since the 17th century. They were well laid out gardens, and the hothouse was of a tropical nature. The only complaint that I had was that as I had now run out of drinking water, and was beginning to get thirsty, there was nowhere to purchase a drink. A café or vending machine, or even a water fountain would have been nice,but alas there were none to be found!

After looking around the hothouse and gardens, I found a nice little spot and sat down to rest. As I sat there, in the beautiful June Sunshine, my mind wandered, and I found myself wondering what sort of day it was 70 years ago when the Royal Signals saw action against the Germans, and my father escaped, only to end up being shelled in a boat at St Valery 8 days later. I wondered what was going through the minds of that young 21 year old Englishman, so far from home and his loved ones?

It was just a 10 minute walk back to my hotel from the park, although I continued walking past it as I wanted to find a shop to get some water. I have never been so pleased to see an Aldi sign, I eagerly entered the store and purchased a 1.5 litre bottle of clod drink, a 2 litre bottle of water, 3 bananas and a pack of chicken sandwiches (that will do me for supper). The entire purchase came to 1.87 euros (a 50ml bottle of water at the restaurant earlier was 2.70 euros) Unbelievable prices, why didn't I spot the Aldi store last night?

I took my purchases back to my hotel room, it was now 17:15. The first thing I did was have a long 'wallow' in the bath, and rehydrate myself with fluids. I wouldn't be venturing out again today as I have a lot of things to sort out for my journey tomorrow, charge up camera and phone, and pack. I also want to try and lighten my load a little. I came away with some old shirts that once finished with wearing, could be thrown away (I've already ditched 2 shirts). I also brought an old towel with me in case it was needed, I used it today to sit on in the park, and as I doubt I will need it again, that can go.

You would think that my bag would be a little lighter with what I have already thrown away, but it doesn't feel it, probably because I have been collecting a lot of leaflets and maps along the way, I guess they are compensating for what I've thrown away. The umbrella will be ditched before flying out of Wroclaw, it's just about had it, thankfully, I have not needed it since Laval, but I had better keep it for the time being as a broken umbrella has to be better than no umbrella.

NB
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Saturday 5th June 2010

I got up at 06:45 and had a bath before finishing my packing, I had a banana for breakfast and left the hotel at 08:00. The streets of Lille were a lot quieter on a Saturday morning at 08:00, not so much traffic to dodge when crossing the road. Now I know the way and I don't need to keep stopping to look at the map, it only took me 35 minutes to walk to 'Lille Flandres' station. I exchanged my ticket to Paris for one leaving at 10:00, it cost 10 euros to do the exchange.

I sat outside the station, by the fountains, and took in the surroundings. Opposite where I sat was 'A 'L' Hotel de Londres' (this was the 2 star hotel where I made a hasty retreat whilst looking for a hotel). Greg (from the tourist information office) had informed me that Lille is usually busier during the week than it is at weekends, hence the reason why I found it so difficult to get a hotel mid-week. It was much quieter today than it was when I arrived in Lille, even the beggers seem to have taken the day off.

The train left on time at 10:00, I found my seat eventually, the coaches were not numbered very clearly. It was interesting to watch the other passengers looking for their seats, even the French seemed to have problems with the system! I saw a few people settle into seats, only to be evicted a few minutes later by the real occupants of that seat.

On arrival in 'Paris Gare du Nord' I went to the information desk to pick up a free map. I toyed with the idea of leaving my luggage at luggage as I have done on a previous trip to Paris, but as I only have a small ruck sack, I decided to keep it with me. My train tonight departs from 'Gare du Est', which was only a ten minute walk away, so I decided to walk there and check it out.

Having checked out 'Gare du Est', I walked down 'Boulevard de Strasbourg', I then cut through to 'Rue du Faubourg St Martin' where I had lunch at 'Café Richard'. I had Croque Monsieur and a coffee. The Croque Monsieur wasn't as good as the one that I had in Lille, although it did come with a big salad which was reasonably fresh (unlike most of the salads that I have had in France so far).

After lunch, I walked to the 'Pompidou Centre. Having miss-read the signs outside the centre, I entered thinking it was free entry, it turned out that it is free entry tomorrow! Due to time restraints, I decided against looking around all the galleries, and instead just looked around the reception area and perimeter. Whilst walking around outside the area, I was approached by a young girl, she didn't say anything, but pointed to her mouth and ears to inform me she was deaf and dumb. She then held up a clip board which had a form on it, although it was in French, I understood enough to understand she was asking for donations, I politely declined, as I am always wary of people canvassing in the streets. The young girl was very persistent and walked with me a while, only giving up when it was clear I was not going to relent. No sooner had she given up, than another young girl did the same thing, until she was called away by yet another young girl. Amazingly, although she had indicated to me that she was deaf and dumb, she had heard her friend calling her. A scam for sure!

I walked on to 'Rue Pierre-Lescot', which has a rather impressive modern municipal building with landscaped gardens. Unfortunately, what could be a beautiful area has been taken over by people sleeping rough, with areas turned into a carboard city, and the smell of urine around the building ( I actually came across a man urinating up against a wall as I looked around). I have never found Paris to be a very clean city, but I really do feel it is getting worse.

A little further on I came to a nice church with very nice grounds, so I sat there on a bench for a while admiring the view. As I did so, 4 French Policeman came by on bicycles, it looked strange to see 4 armed men on bicycles, with their little cycle helmets, and with batons and pistols clearly on display.

I then walked to the 'Louvre'. A beautiful palace with its iconic glass pyramid and wonderful fountains. I didn't go into the art gallery, instead I joined the many other visitors who were enjoying the cooling waters of the fountains, by sitting around the edge, with their bare feet in the water. Well! when in Rome (or in this case Paris). I can't begin to tell you how good it felt to put my tired old feet in that cooling water, it was sheer bliss. Reluctantly, I had to eventually put on my socks and shoes, and make my way back to 'Gare du Nord', where I purchased a salami baguette and a cold drink for 6.30 euros. I then made my way to 'Gare du Est' to catch the 20:20 overnight sleeper train to Berlin, which left 15 minutes late.

I located my couchette, I had a middle bunk in a compartment sleeping 6 (last time I travelled on a sleeper train, from Paris to Venice, I was in a similar couchette but it was only being used to sleep 4 people, much more room!) Having made my bed and stowing away my bag, I went to the restaurant car and enjoyed a nice cold beer, very refreshing after a long, hot, sticky day, walking around Paris. I was the first customer in the bar and was surprised when the bartender spoke to me in German, I then realised that the service was run by the German railway, not the French.

As I sat down with my beer, an announcement was made asking people to stay in their seats whilst the train crew checked tickets, well! I wasn't going to desert my beer to return to my couchette, so I remained where I was, the ticket inspector caught up with me eventually in the bar. Over the next hour, the restaurant and bar filled up, mostly with Germans, but also a couple of Americans and at least one French girl. The bar staff only spoke German and English, so it was strange to see the French girl ordering something in French, in her own country, only to be asked if she spoke English! It was like being in a little bit of Germany, but in France. After a second beer, I retired for the night.

We were supplied with a pillow, sheet and blanket, but as it was so warm, I just slept on top of the covers, remaining in my clothes. The train was due to stop at Gonningen, Hanover, and 3 other stops. Parts of the train were due to split off and go onto Munich as well as Moscow and Belarus. I noticed a few other stops during the night, one being Mannheim, whether these were scheduled stops or not, I don't know.

Sunday 6th June 2010

I had a fitful sleep, although the bunk was quite comfortable. I got up at 06:15 to freshen up, and went to breakfast, bread roll, croissant, jam, honey, and a coffee for 4.20 euros. As I sat having breakfast, we pulled into Hanover, I overheard the bartender telling an American that the front of the train was detaching, and going on to Hamburg.

We arrived in Berlin on time and I made a mad dash to the ticket office. It took a little while to find, but once I had, I was quickly seen and bought my ticket to Wroclaw for 49.70 euros, the train was due to depart at 09:35, arriving in Wroclaw at 15:18.

I was given directions to the correct platform, and once there, I consulted the signage to ascertain the position on the platform that my coach would stop. My train was already at the platform so I immediately boarded and settled into my allocated seat. The train left on time and after a short while the ticket inspector came through checking tickets. I asked him where the buffet car was and he informed me that there wasn't one! Unbelievable, that on a journey of this length, that there isn't a buffet car. Good thing I had breakfast on the sleeper train, and I have a bottle of water with me.

Another new experience for me! I have just been to the WC on the train and the soap dispenser is like a pepper pot grinder, it grinds a bar of soap into little flakes as you turn the handle.

I'm not sure at what point we left Germany and entered Poland, but about one and a half hours into our journey, the scenery changed from lush meadows to thick forest, with tall fir trees on both sides of the track. I also started to notice signs which were written in Polish. However, after a while, I consulted my map, and we were only just over the border. This became evident when the German train guard was replaced by two Polish train guards, who came through the train checking tickets.

As I have been on a train since 20:20 last night, with very little walking about, after about 2 and a half hours, I decided to stretch my legs and walk around the carriage which was partly fitted out with seats, and partly for bicycle storage. I remained standing for a while in the bicycle area, as this offered better views of the passing scenery. I could see amongst the tress, clusters of wild lupins which brought a splash of colour to an otherwise green landscape. I also saw a large deer in the undergrowth, not more than 4 yards from the track.

Finally arrived at Wroclaw about 5 or 10 minutes late. I couldn't find a tourist information office or hotel booking point anywhere, and whilst looking, I found myself on the street by the station exit. A bottled water company were handing out free bottles of their flavoured water, I took a bottle gladly, as I was very thirsty, having run out of water, and the train having been like a hot house. It was so hot on the train that people were fanning themselves with magazines in an attempt to keep cool, and at one point, after several complaints, one of the guards went through the carriage, unlocking and opening all the windows. It made little difference, and shortly afterwards the other guard came through, closing them all again! I guess he realised that the air conditioning would not work properly if the windows are open.

With no map and no way of knowing which direction the old town is, or where the bulk of hotels were, all I could do was follow my nose! In doing so, I came across another group of workers handing out bottles of water, so I accepted another two bottles, and a little while later a third. At least I won't go thirsty.

I saw a hotel which my wife had texted me the details of a few days ago. I knew the quality and prices of this hotel, and now knew where it was located, so I continued to walk on looking for other hotels to compare it with. I passed one other which looked very nice and was 4 star. As I am on a budget, I decided to hold this one in reserve. After a while, having not found any other suitable hotels, I returned to the first one which was 3 star. I booked myself into The ' Silfor Premium Europejski' at a cost of 229 Zloty a night (about £51).

After a bit of a palaver with my room key (they had a problem with the computer system), an elderly gentleman showed me to my room. He spoke no English, I speak no Polish, so we conversed in German. Once in my room, he made a show of checking everything was ok, however, he had a problem with the lights, until I pointed out to him that he needed to put my key in the light switch point, for them to work. He laughed and thanked me and made some comment about everything going wrong today. He shook my hand, and left. Five minutes later, he was back with a new key, as the one he had left was his master key. Again, he shook my hand and left.

Having been travelling since 20:20 last night, I needed to freshen up before getting something to eat. As I stood under the warm water of the shower, I once again thought back to some of the POW accounts of when they were being marched to the camps, days or weeks at a time, and moved around from one camp to another, some with better facilities than others. If they were lucky enough to get a camp with hot showers, they found it bliss, as they washed away weeks or even months of dirt and grime, not to mention infestations. I hadn't had a bath or shower since yesterday morning, and I felt 100% better after this one, what must those poor guys have felt like?

I walked to the old town and found a street café to have some dinner. Spinach Lasagne and a beer cost 27 Zloty (about £6). I walked around the main square and took a few photos. It appeared that I had just missed a cheese and wine festival, as the last of the stalls were packing up. I went to the 'Mecure Hotel' to book 2 nights (Monday and Tuesday) in Opole. They wanted 360 Zloty, I bartered them down to 338 Zloty.

I then returned to my hotel for the night, before turning in, I booked this hotel again for Wednesday night, my last night in Poland, before I fly back to the UK on Thursday. With all my accommodation sorted for the rest of my stay, I can now concentrate on what I came here for. I intend to look at the museum in Opole tomorrow, and travel to Lamsdorf on Tuesday.

Monday 7th June 2010

Got up at 07:00, had shower, then had to make some repairs, sewing on a button on a pair of trousers, and reinforcing the stitching on the straps to my ruck sack. Unfortunately I had been unable to make the repairs before now, as the sewing kit that I thought I had brought with me turned out to be a manicure set. (still! you should see my nails, lovely!) Luckily there was a sewing kit in the hotel room, so I set about my repairs, not expertly executed, but I'm sure it will last another 4 days. I also made some repairs to myself, applying a plaster to a rather nasty blister on my left foot.

When I booked the hotel yesterday, I did so on a room only basis, as I had done with the majority of my hotels on this trip. My intention was to have breakfast elsewhere, but as my feet were still sore, and all the restaurants were at least a 10 minute walk in the opposite direction to the train station, where I would be heading when I check out, I decided to have breakfast in the hotel.

On returning to my room, I failed to shut the door properly, this resulted in an alarm sounding until I had firmly shut the door. Once I had packed my bag (for the umpteenth time!), I checked out and made my way to the train station, as I walked out of the hotel foyer, I was greeted by a downfall of rain. I retreated back into the hotel to take off sun glasses and sun hat, and instead, put on rain coat, and get out the knackered umbrella (good job I didn't throw it away in Lille).

The train station at Wroclaw is undergoing some renovation, with the old, rather grand, building not being used at the moment. What they have instead, is a temporary station, a perfectly good brick building, but it can take some finding! Once at the station, it was quick and easy to get my ticket to Opole, which I did from one of the many ticket windows. The ticket cost 16 Zloty (about £3.75) for a journey of an hour. The train was due to leave at 10:08, but left a few minutes late. I wasn't sure if my ticket included a reserved seat or not, I scrutinised the ticket, and on finding a number, I went to the corresponding seat. However, that seat was already occupied, so I sat in the seat opposite.

We arrived in Opole at 11:08, roughly on time. I made my way to the 'Mecure Hotel', which was visible from the train station. I checked in, had a refreshing cup of green tea in my room, and caught up on this journal. The museum that I want to visit closes at 15:00, so that is my next move.

I left the hotel at about 12:15, it had stopped raining and the sun was once again showing his face. I walked to the museum, which took a little finding as it is tucked away, down a side street. It is a modern building and there is some construction work going on around it. I entered, and an elderly man approached me. When I asked him if he spoke English, he answered in German, asking me to wait a minute, he then spoke to someone on the telephone. After a short while, a young woman appeared, arm outstretched, ready to shake my hand. I explained the reason for my visit, and she in turn, explained that there was very little to see at the museum as it was 'a work in progress', and at the moment it was really just a library, where wartime documents are stored.

She offered to show me a film about Lamsdorf, and took me to the library, where a male colleague of hers put the video on for me. Whilst I was watching the film, the young woman returned with a cup of coffee for me, and details of the trains to and from Lamsdorf (I didn't have the heart to tell her that I already had the train times). The film was very moving, with many photos taken during, and after liberation. It focussed on the Polish and Russian POWs.

When the film was over, I inquired if it was possible to purchase a copy of the film, I was informed that it would be possible to purchase one at the Lambinovice museum (Lamsdorf). I was also told that the Lambinovice museum had already been told about me, and that someone from the museum would meet me there tomorrow at 10:00. The film, and the kindness of the museum staff, had moved me, and I admit to walking away from there with tears in my eyes.

I walked to the 'Staw Zamkowy', a beautiful lake with fountains and gardens, and a rather handsome restaurant (I'll bear that in mind for later). I sat, taking in the sunshine, and thinking about my journey, all I have done so far, and all that I still have to do, and of course, my father is never far from my thoughts. I had explained to the museum staff that I had copies of my father's wartime records, and some photos, they asked me to take them with me tomorrow, as the museum would like to have some copies.

I wandered around the old town before returning to the hotel, calling in at the train station on the way to check on where to get my ticket in the morning. I looked around the shops at the station to see if they were selling postcards ( I haven't seen any yet, and I want to send my son a postcard from Poland). Opole, on the whole, seems a very clean town, prettier than Wroclaw, it many old buildings and plenty of open air dining. There is also a very good, modern shopping centre.

Back at the hotel, still minus a postcard! I had another cup of tea whilst catching up on my journal. I had a shower to freshen up, and then went out to dinner. I went to the restaurant by the lake (Piramida) and was served a massive plate of fish and chips, with onion rings, lettuce, and sour kraut, washed down with a local beer, all for just 25 Zloty (about £5.75). I got back to the hotel at 21:15, and arranged a wake up call for 06:30

Tuesday 8th June 2010

My mobile phone alarm went off at 06:30, followed shortly afterwards by my hotel wake up call. Neither were necessary, as I had already been awake since 05:30, after a night of fitful sleep. I went down to breakfast at 07:00. There were a group of middle aged Germans at breakfast, no doubt on a package tour, Poland seems to be a popular destination for the Germans as it is only a short drive over the border, and everything is so cheap. Apart from the Germans, I haven't noticed any other foreign tourists, and haven't heard an English accent at all. I left the hotel at 08:15 and went to the train station to get my ticket, and then to the post office, where I finally managed to get a postcard, I wrote it and posted it immediately.

The train to Lambinovice was surprisingly modern and clean, and resembled a tram or metro train, it was certainly an improvement on my previous train journeys in Poland. The train left at 09:05, bound for Nysa, it made several stops before arriving in Lambinovice at 09:55 (7 minutes late).

I walked to the nearby post office to get directions to the museum. I spoke to a lady who was waiting in the queue ahead of me, but she didn't understand English. There was a gentleman in front of her, and after he had finished, the lady moved forward and spoke to the lady behind the counter, she then gestured to me to go first. The lady behind the counter gave me directions to the museum, once I had shown her a picture of the museum.

I left the post office and began to walk in the direction that I had been instructed to take. The gentleman, who had been in the post office, called to me from across the road, "Museum?" he inquired, I answered, and he gestured to his car. I got into the car with him and we set off for the museum. He spoke very little English, but enough to tell me that he learnt Russian at school and that the only English he knew, he had learnt from the movies. He very kindly took me all the way to the museum, which seemed a lot further than the 20 minute walk I had been led to believe it was. I thanked him profusely, and entered the museum.

I was met by a young Polish lady who informed me that two other Englishmen would join us on the tour, and that they were watching the film (the one I saw in Opole yesterday), and she asked if I wished to join them. I said I wouldn't as I had already seen the film. I asked to purchase a copy of the film, which cost me 15 Zloty. I then showed her my father's paperwork, which she made copies of for her colleague Anna, who was researching the English POWs for a book she is writing.

We then joined the other two men to continue the tour. John and Nick were old army mates, and were touring on their motorbikes. Nicks father had been at Stalag VIII B at the same time as my father. We viewed the exhibits of photos, models and replica POW bunks, and then hired a minibus and driver, along with the young lady to act as our guide, to tour the camp sites. We were taken to the site of Stalag VIII B and to the cemetery, we also went to the railway station, which of course, I had already seen. After viewing the train station, we were about to return to the museum when I suggested that I remain at the station (to save me a walk back), as the tour was now finished. John, Nick and I arranged to meet up later in Opole at 19:00 to have dinner together. I paid the driver 10 Zloty, and paid another 50 Zloty for the museum tour. I had already purchased a museum guide book for 8 Zloty. I walked around Lambinovice for a while, then purchased my train ticket. It was now 13:30 and as my train wasn't until 15:13, I found somewhere to sit and rest, and catch up on my journal.

I arrived at the restaurant 'Maska' on time, John and Nick were already there. I had a good meal of Pork, dumplings and red cabbage, a local dish called 'Silesian Roulade'. The three of us chatted over dinner about the days events and our fathers experiences. We left the restaurant at about 21:30 and I walked with John and Nick to their hotel. I hadn't been to that area of Opole yet and they assured me it was very pretty at night, with the bridge beside their hotel lit up. They were right, it was very pretty, I took some photos, then John and Nick invited me into the hotel for a drink on the rooftop terrace, this was serviced by a small bar. From the terrace, John and Nick pointed out their motorbikes, parked in the car park below, how envious was I? I left their hotel at about 22:45 and arrived back at my own hotel at 23:00. I fell asleep pretty much immediately and had a decent nights sleep.

Wednesday 9th June 2010

After what was a pretty good nights sleep, I awoke at 06:00, but as I had no need to get up early, I rested for another hour and got up at 07:00. After a shower, I went down to breakfast where I noticed that the German package holiday makers had been replaced by a couple of German businessmen, apart from John and Nick, I have still yet to see any English tourists.

I decided to walk to the 'Amfiteatr Im Tysigclecia', which I assumed was a amphitheatre. I followed the route on the map but couldn't find it, there area where I thought it should be was under construction. I walked along the river and came to the point where the river 'Odra' meets the 'Kanal Mynowka' (this is where the hotel John and Nick were staying at is located). I walked on to an area I hadn't visited before and came across a church on a steep hill. From the church, I had nice views of the town below. I then walked around the grounds of Opole University, before returning to my hotel to pack and check out.

I left the hotel at about 11:00, feeling pleased with what I had accomplished on this trip. I caught the 11:23 to Wroclaw. On arrival at Wroclaw I made my way to the 'Silfor Hotel' (where I had stayed on my first night in Poland. I checked in, changing my booking of room only to include breakfast. I was given the key card to room 405 and I took the lift to the 4th floor. On trying my key in the door, a red light showed, and the door refused to open. I had a similar problem on my last stay here, I returned to reception and the young lady behind reception did something on the computer, then asked me to try again. On first attempt the door failed to open, but after trying it with the card facing opposite directions, it finally opened. My room was much bigger than the one I had on my last visit, it also had a balcony overlooking the main street.

I walked to the main square and had my dinner at 'Pod Gryfami'. I had salmon and salad with a chive dressing, this was probably the best meal that I have had since I have been away. Whilst I was having dinner there was music and dancing in the square. Later, I watched stilt artists dancing and fire eating.

I took a different route back to my hotel and ended up a little lost. But thanks to a kind elderly gentleman who gave me directions, I finally found my way back, arriving at the hotel at 22:00.

Thursday 10th June 2010

When I stayed at this hotel on Sunday, there was only about 4 or 5 people at breakfast on the Monday morning, in a restaurant that holds about 50 people. Today, when I went down to breakfast at 08:00, I was confronted with a restaurant full to the gunnels with school children. I ventured in and looked for an empty table, but found none. I had to wait outside the restaurant until a table became vacant, this took some time, for even though most of the children had finished eating, they remained in there seats chatting with their friends, the teachers made no attempt to hurry them along. The upside to having to wait was that once all the children had finally left, the staff replenished all the food items, so breakfast was very fresh. After a good breakfast, I returned to my room and rested for a while, with no definite plans until my flight back to the UK at 22:55, the day was mine to do as I please.

I checked out of the hotel at 10:00, leaving my rucksack behind reception, to pick up later. I walked towards the 'Stare Mietra' and then continued past it towards the river. I spent the rest of the day exploring parts of Wroclaw that I didn't get to see on my previous visit. The city is very much a mix of old and new, with some old 'communist' style buildings alongside new modern buildings and shopping complexes.

Having spent some time exploring, I returned to the area around the main square and had a late lunch, as I did so, a group of musicians were going from restaurant to restaurant, playing for the customers, there was also a family of beggars going from table to table, before a member of staff chased them away.

After looking around a craft fair and a shopping complex, I returned to my hotel to pick up my bag. I asked the receptionist to order me a taxi, and as I waited she got me a glass of ice cold water, as it was so hot today, and obviously, I looked as hot as I felt.

It took about 20 minutes to get to the airport which was about 13 km away. There was heavy traffic and a lot of roadworks. This is a new airport and as you approach it, you can still see the remains of the old airport. I paid the 45 Zloty fare, and entered what is probably the smallest airport I have ever flown from, although I understand that it is still under construction, with a completion date in 2011. I was ridiculously early, as I had run out of things to do in Wroclaw, so I had plenty of time to look around this modern building. One of the reasons that I had left for the airport so early was that it was so hot in Wroclaw, I thought it would be much cooler in the airport, I was wrong, it was stifling!

Eventually, I decided to go through to departures to see if it was any cooler there, I also wanted to get something to eat and drink, and buy a few gifts from the shops. It was indeed cooler in the departure lounge, but unfortunately there were very few shops, and they had a very limited range of goods, I did however manage to purchase the gifts that I wanted, I also managed to purchase some sandwiches and water.

The departure lounge was full to bursting as I sat waiting to board my flight, it was now just as hot as it had been in the main terminal. My flight departed from Gate 6 and thankfully was not full and I had no problem finding a good aisle seat, with a space between me and the young lady who already occupied the window seat. The flight left on time and arrived in Stansted on time. It took about 40 minutes to get through border control and finally be reunited with my wife. Following an hours drive home, a bath and a cup of tea, I finally got to bed at 03:00, tired, but glad to be home.

I had completed my journey, and things had gone better than I had hoped, especially discovering where the photographs of my father had been taken, standing in the exact spot where my father had stood 70 years previously, had to be the highlight of the trip, and a memory that will stay with me forever.

If you have enjoyed reading the extracts from my journal, but would like to know more about my trip, you can purchase my e-book "In My Father's Footsteps" from Amazon: In My Father's Footsteps eBook : Lidster, Robert: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Thank you for reading this journal.

Robert M Lidster

DFDS GUEST BLOGGER

2023-04-20T02:01:00.002-07:00

A EUROPEAN ROAD TRIP

I am delighted to say that following my road trip to Germany last September and the review of that trip that I posted to this blog, DFDS have invited me to feature as a guest blogger on their own blog. You can view the blog and visit the DFDS website by following this link: A EUROPEAN ROADTRIP - All Aboard - DFDS (dfdsseaways.co.uk)

I hope you enjoy reading the review and possibly planning your own trip with DFDS.

Robert M Lidster

OPEN TO OPORTUNITIES

2023-03-17T03:28:00.000-07:00

JERNE

I have recently linked up with Jerne World's leading platform connecting creators and experiences - Jerne in order to connect with organisations with a view to reviewing their product, be it Hotel, Spa, Cruise Ship, Restaurant or any other form of leisure activity. However, I am still open to independent offers from anyone in the leisure business, please either comment below or email me on robertlidster@ymail.com I am also on Linkedin, Facebook and twitter: @robertlidster https://my.jerne.com/2lbeufvik5e

SWISS TRAVEL SYSTEM

I have also recently completed some on-line training with Home - Swiss Travel System Media & Trade Plattform (mystsnet.com) learning about the Swiss travel system, and I have obtained a Diploma of Excellence 2023. I hope to put all this new found knowledge to good use on this blog very soon.

I hope to have some new reviews for you all very soon, in the meantime please look back at the many reviews previously posted on this blog, you can search for anything of interest using the search bar,

Very best regards

Robert M Lidster

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2023-02-23T02:36:00.001-08:00

THE JOURNEY

A single step does not a journey make.

But a journey cannot start,

Without that single step.

Robert M. Lidster

February 2023

TRAVEL POST COVID PANDEMIC

2022-10-19T07:04:00.005-07:00

A EUROPEAN ROADTRIP

My wife and I were setting off on a two week European road trip that would take us from our Essex home in the UK, through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, we would cover a total of 1,300 miles, and stay in six different hotels in four countries.

We have ventured on many a road trip in the past, throughout Europe and the UK, and even driven the Great Ocean Road in Australia, but this was to be our first trip away since 2019, prior to the Covid pandemic, and to say that we were somewhat anxious about the trip would be an understatement.

There seemed to be a lot more preparation needed than on our previous road trips, due to Brexit and Covid. At the time that we were putting together the trip, it was necessary for us to apply for an NHS Covid Pass, but this is no longer necessary. We also had to apply for International Driving Permits (IDP) as we both have the old style paper driving licence, not a photo card. To establish if we needed IDPs or not took several emails and social media messages to the French, German and Belgium Embassies, none of which could give us a definitive answer. The best advise we got was from the French Embassy who, although could not say for sure, advised us that it may be best for us to apply for an IDP, to be on the safe side!

We were also shocked by how much prices had gone up in the last two years, our travel insurance alone had trebled in price, and hotels also seemed more expensive than we remembered, and as for petrol costs, they were astronomical compared to previous trips!

The route that we planned to take would take us through Belgium and Luxembourg so we decided to cross the channel from Dover to Dunkirk, this would save about 25 miles of driving, but would mean a two hour crossing as opposed to a 90 minute crossing if we had chosen to travel Dover to Calais. Total journey time would be much the same, but we would save a little on fuel costs, and it was a journey we hadn't done before, and we are always game to try something new.

We chose DFDS for our channel crossings. As one of Northern Europe's biggest ferry operators, and with up to 54 crossings a day, DFDS are a major player in transporting goods and people from the UK to the Continent. Their ferries are modern and spacious, with all the facilities the traveller needs for a comfortable crossing.

We couldn't have hoped for a better start to our journey, the weather was good and, having stayed the previous night at the Holiday Inn at Dover, we had a quick and easy drive to the port. The sun was shining and all was looking good for the journey ahead. That was until we were ushered into the customs shed at Dover....My first thought was “how on earth are they going to check all our luggage?”, we were packed to the gunnels with suitcases and all the things we would need for our journey, and quite a few things we wouldn't! However, the young customs officer just carried out a routine check under the car, a quick check in the boot and only asked for one item to be put through their scanning machine, we were then soon on our way and in no time at all we were on the ferry, relaxing in very comfortable chairs and whiling away the two hours by exploring the ship, and simply looking out the window at the astonishingly calm sea.

Having gone through French passport control in Dover, once we arrived in Dunkirk we were immediately on our way to our first overnight stay at The Ibis Styles Namur in Belgium. We arrived early evening, so after checking in we went for dinner in the hotel's restaurant Le Felicien. We enjoyed a wonderful meal, served by some very attentive and friendly staff, before retiring to a most comfortable, well equipped room.

The next morning we awoke to thick fog, not good news, as today would be the longest leg of our entire journey. However, we were not in a hurry so we waited until weather conditions had improved before setting off for our three night stop at an Air bnb in Bad Bergzabern in Germany.

We had chosen Bad Bergzabern for our stay as there are many good walks in the area, and places of interest, not least the truly spectacular rock formations in the Pfalz area, it was also not far from our final destination of Freiburg in the Black Forest. Places we visited included Fleckenstein Castle in France, Kloster Liebfrauenberg in Bad Bergzabern, a sanctuary for horses and a riding school, and Teufelstisch in Hinterwedenthal to view some fantastic, awe inspiring rock formations.

Our longest stay in any of the hotels was in Freiburg at The Hotel Zum Schiff. We had visited Freiburg on many occasions in the past and this was to be our third stay at the Hotel Zum Schiff, which although in need of refurbishment, which incidentally has now begun, is a very friendly family run hotel, and ideally suited to our needs, it also has a very good restaurant serving excellent food.

There are many wonderful places to visit whilst in Freiburg, including Tittisee with it's large lake and abundance of water sports, to the nearby ski resort of Hinterzarten, a lovely picturesque town, always worth a visit.

On our return journey we stopped off at Colmar in Alsace, this is a region of France that borders Germany and has a real mix of French and German influence. Colmar, with its beautiful old timbered buildings and network of rivers, put me in mind of Bruges in Belgium We spent several hours here before setting off for our overnight stay at The Ibis Styles Nancy Sud.

Having had a good nights sleep and a very good breakfast, we set off from Nancy for our final stay at The Hotel Kyriad in Saint Quentin, but on the way I wanted to explore the wine making area of Epernay and Le Mesnil Sur Oger. These were both places that featured in my adolescence, as a sixteen year old I had worked for two weeks picking grapes in this area, and this was the first time that I had been back there, almost exactly 48 years to the day! I reminisced as we enjoyed driving around the area, viewing the sprawling vineyards which spread out before us as far as the eye could see, memories came flooding back of those far off, care free days of youth.

For the most part we saw very little other traffic, partly due to the fact that it was a Sunday. We did however have a couple of incidents, one being mayor diversions due to a road closure, the other due to a fallen tree across the road, necessitating a Police road block and traffic control. But despite these little irritants and the unexpected diversion through the centre of Rimes, we arrived in plenty of time at our hotel in order to have a leisurely dinner in the nearby restaurant, before retiring for the night.

Alarms were set for 05:30 the next morning as we wanted to have an early start to arrive in Calais in plenty of time for our ferry. It was a good thing we had given ourselves plenty of time, as once again we were faced with thick fog! Thankfully, after about an hour the fog started to lift and the sun broke through the clouds. We arrived in Calais in plenty of time as planned, which meant we could spend some time browsing in the excellent, newly opened Duty Free Shop in Calais.

The border controls in France can be a little confusing if you haven't travelled since before Brexit, you now have to go through two sets of Passport controls, first the French control and then the UK control. Very time consuming, but it does mean that once you arrive in Dover, you drive straight off the ferry and on your way without further delays.

My wife and I were one of the first vehicles to board and for a while we thought we were in for another quiet crossing. We headed straight to the 7 Seas restaurant for lunch but were told that the restaurant would not start serving food for another ten minutes, my wife found us a table by the window, whilst I went to take some photographs of the ferry for this review. When I returned, no more than ten minutes later, the restaurant was full of teenagers on a school trip, there were literally hundreds of them, all queuing up to be served food. It was only in the last fifteen minutes of the crossing that they left the restaurant to return to their coaches, only then were my wife and I finally able to grab ourselves some sandwiches and bottled water to take to our car to eat on the drive home.

If it hadn't been for the overwhelming influx of coach passengers, then this would have been a very pleasant crossing, the sea was, once again, very calm, and the ferry is a very nice ship, with many good facilities, which under normal circumstances would have made the crossing a very comfortable one.

Although, not without incident, our European Road Trip went very well, for our first adventure since the Covid Pandemic, we are happy with how things went, We were very pleased with our choice of hotels and with our decision to travel with DFDS, the weather, as always, could have been better, but we have no control over that, we were very pleased with the route we took and we would certainly consider the same route again.

You can read my review of Crossing the channel with DFDS by following this link: World Travel Reviews: TRAVEL BY CAR FROM THE UK TO FRANCE (independentworldtravelreviews.blogspot.com)

TRAVEL BY CAR FROM THE UK TO FRANCE

2022-10-19T06:17:00.005-07:00

CROSSING THE CHANNEL WITH DFDS

Established in 1866, DFDS is one of Northern Europe's biggest ferry operators, operating a total of eight passenger routes, four of which are between the UK and the European continent, these are Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newhaven to Dieppe and Newcastle to Amsterdam. Other routes are located in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania and Estonia, with a new route added in August 2022 between Rosslare and Dunkirk.

DFDS have recently been nominated for the World Travel Awards 2022, as Europe's leading ferry operator, and also for the British Travel Awards 21/22. Impressively, they have also been voted World's & Europe's leading ferry operator for the last eleven years.

The ferries operated by DFDS are modern and spacious, with all the facilities required for an enjoyable and relaxing journey. From the comfort of the premium lounge with its complimentary drinks and snacks, to the many varied bars and restaurants, notably the splendid 7 Seas Restaurant with its comprehensive menu and comfortable seating area. For entertainment there is the video gaming area, and for the younger passengers, the 'Pirate's' play area, which is sure to keep them happy and entertained. There is also a well stocked Duty free shop where passengers can browse and shop at their leisure.

There are six vessels operating between the UK and France, three of these are UK flagged vessels, sailing between Dover and Dunkirk, they are Dover Seaways, Delft Seaways, and Dunkirk Seaways. Built in 2005 and of Scandinavian design, they have a light and airy atmosphere. At 186 meters long, 28 meters wide, and with a cruising speed of 20 knots, they can comfortably accommodate 1,000 passengers and 250 cars.

The three French flagged vessels are Cote Des Dunes, Cote Des Flandres, and Cote D' Opale. Cote Des Dunes and Cote Des Flandres were built in 2001 and 2004 respectively and were refurbished in 2016. At a length of 186 meters and a width of 28 meters, they have a cruising speed of 25 knots and can accommodate 1,500 passengers and 400 cars. Cote D' Opale is the newest vessel in the fleet, having been built in 2019 and first sailing in 2021. At 214 meters long, she is also the longest vessel in the fleet. She has a cruising speed of 20 to 22 knots and can accommodate 1,000 passengers.

For our European road trip, my wife and I had decided to sail with DFDS with our outward journey departing from Dover to Dunkirk. Having stayed at a hotel in Dover the previous night, we arrived in good time for our 12:00 sailing. Check in was very quick and efficient, however we were directed into the customs shed for a routine check of our car and contents, then having found nothing untoward they very quickly allowed us to continue, and we were soon onboard and setting sail for France.

The Ferry was very quiet, with not too many passengers, and we found a nice, secluded spot on deck 7 in some very comfortable seats by a window, where we had an excellent view throughout the calm and pleasant crossing. We found the staff onboard, in all departments, to be very friendly and helpful, from the Customer service desk to the Duty-Free shop, all were happy to assist us when necessary.

The two hour crossing went by very quickly and we were soon disembarking in Dunkirk. As we had already been checked by French Passport control in Dover, and had our British passports stamped, we could now simply drive off the ferry and immediately start our European Road Trip (you can read the full review of our trip by clicking on this link:World Travel Reviews: TRAVEL POST COVID PANDEMIC (independentworldtravelreviews.blogspot.com) ).

Our return crossing to the UK was also with DFDS, but this time we sailed on the Calais to Dover route. Again, we arrived at the port in plenty of time to catch our ferry which was timed to leave at 13:15. However, when we checked in, which unfortunately wasn't as quick as it had been in Dover, our boarding card stated our sailing time as 12:50. This was good as it meant we would arrive in Dover 25 minutes earlier than expected, and could start our 124 mile drive home that much earlier. Unfortunately, this meant that we couldn't spend as much time as we would have liked in the excellent, newly opened Duty Free Shop in Calais.

The new border controls in France can be a little confusing if you haven't travelled abroad since before Brexit, as you now have to go through two sets of Passport controls, first the French control (make sure they stamp your passport!) and then the UK control. All very time consuming, but it does mean that once you have arrived in Dover you can drive straight off the ferry and on your way without delay.

My wife and I were among the first passengers to board, and for a while we thought we were in for another quiet crossing. We headed immediately to the 7 Seas restaurant for lunch but were told that the restaurant would not start serving food for another ten minutes, my wife found us a table by the window whilst I went to take some photographs of the ferry for this review. When I returned, no more than ten minutes later, the restaurant was full of teenagers on a school trip, there were literally hundreds of them, all queuing up to be served food, it was only in the last fifteen minutes of the crossing that they finally left the restaurant to return to their coaches. It was only then that my wife and I were finally able to grab ourselves some sandwiches and bottled water to take to our car to eat on the drive home.

If it hadn't been for the huge number of very excitable and very noisy teenagers, then this would have been a very pleasant crossing indeed, the sea was once again very calm, and the ferry is a very nice ship with many good facilities, which under normal circumstances would have made the crossing a very comfortable one.

Over all, I certainly do recommend DFDS as a means to cross the channel, the vessels are modern, spacious, clean and comfortable and all the staff that my wife and I encountered were very friendly and extremely helpful.

For further information on DFDS sailings and fares, please visit their website at: www.dfds.com or keep up to date with current news on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Youtube.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT IN GERMANY

2022-06-30T01:08:00.000-07:00

LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP FOR ROAD TRIP TO GERMANY

Due to the Covid pandemic, it has been some time since I have been able to put together any writing assignments, hopefully, all this is about to change.

I am in the process of putting together a road trip from the UK to the Black Forest in Germany. The trip will take place at the end of September 2022, returning to the UK early October. I will be travelling from the east coast of England down to Dover, crossing the channel and then driving on to Freiburg in Germany. I will be staying on route in Dover, France, Pfalz area of Germany, before arriving in Freiburg. On the return journey, I will be staying in France on the way back to Calais.

I am looking for sponsorship for the following elements of the trip:

1/ One night hotel stay in the Dover/Folkestone area.

2/ Return crossing for car and two people from Dover to Calais, either by ferry or tunnel.

3/ Two nights hotel accommodation in France (one night on outward journey and one night return).

4/ Three nights hotel accommodation in the Lemberg/Dahn area of Germany.

5/ Between seven and nine nights accommodation in Freiburg Germany.

If any readers feel that they can assist in any of the above requirements, please contact the author on robertlidster@ymail.com

All crossings and accommodation will feature in my review of this road trip, major sponsors will gain from individual reviews.

I look forward to completing this road trip and posting the review later in the year.

Robert M Lidster

Author and owner of www.independentworldtravelreviews.blogspot.com

NATIONAL TRUST

2021-01-04T05:19:00.005-08:00

A SUMMARY OF SOME NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES

IGHTHAM MOTE

Ightham Mote, near Sevenoaks in Kent, is without doubt one of the best examples of a Tudor Manor House in England. It really does have it all, from medieval moat to a Victorian gentleman's billiard room. There is also the crypt of a medieval knight and the painted ceiling of a Tudor courtier. All of this comes with an American's take on an English country home.

The grounds are a delight and include beautiful gardens, featuring tranquil lakes, an orchard and many beautiful and generously stocked flower borders. There are some steep inclines to navigate so the less able bodied should contact the information desk prior to their visit to assess suitability.

Coaches are welcome, with parking just 200 yards from the main entrance. Suggested time needed to explore this site is around two hours, and guided tours are available. There is a licensed restaurant and a shop selling all manner of interesting gifts.

SUTTON HOO

Overlooking the river Deben in Suffolk, this impressive Anglo-Saxon burial ground was excavated in 1939. One of the biggest and most exciting finds was that of a burial ship measuring 89 feet in length. The ship had lain undisturbed for over 1,300 years. Also discovered was a hoard of richly ornamented weapons, utensils, and jewellery. The site was handed over to the National trust in 1998.

Besides the burial mounds and museum, there is also beautiful country walks around the extensive estate. Tranmer House makes for an interesting visit, being furnished in the fashion of the 1930s. Visitors will also find a shop and a café For those visitors wishing to spend a little more time visiting the area, there is also three holiday apartments for rent.

MELFORD HALL

Opposite the Green in Long Melford, Suffolk, Melford Hall is still home to the Hyde-Parker family. Visitors will be enthralled by this magnificent building, and intrigued by its fascinating history. Surprisingly, although not evident today, a large part of the building was destroyed by fire in the 1940s.

The property is home to some very interesting artefacts, including Beatrix Potter sketches, family photographs, a collection of Naval paintings and Chinese porcelain, and the original Jemima Puddle-Duck toy.

The Hall is set in beautiful grounds, with landscaped gardens which are well worth a walk around. There is also a splendid tearoom serving snacks and cakes, with a variety of hot and cold drinks.

ICKWORTH

Nestled in the Suffolk countryside, not far from Bury St Edmunds, stands Ickworth. A substantial building featuring an 18^th century Rotunda, commissioned by the 4^th Earl of Bristol to house his collection of priceless treasures, acquired during his tours of Europe.

This collection was added to, over the following 200 years, by the Hervey family, who also created the earliest example of Italianate gardens in England. Portraits of the family by Gainsborough, Hogarth and Reynolds adorn the walls.

Visitors can enjoy walks around the extensive grounds and gardens, as well as experiencing the lives of 1930s domestic servants in the restored servants basement.

There is a gift shop as well as a licensed restaurant in the West Wing, and a café serving snacks and drinks in the Porters Lodge, near the car park. Ample parking is available in the main car park and coaches are welcome. There is a golf buggy service from the car park to the West Wing during the main season.

BELTON HOUSE

Built in the 1680s for Sir John Brownlow, Belton House is a very classic English country house. The house sits within the splendour of the beautiful formal Italian and Dutch gardens, and if the gardens themselves are not enough to keep you occupied outdoors, there is also an impressive 1,300 acre Deer park.

Belton House is steeped in history, there are links to the abdication of King Edward VIII, as well as being the base for The Machine Gun Corps during the first world war. The house itself is a delight to visit and I would highly recommend the Basement tour. This tour offers a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives and living conditions of the servants who ran the house. There are various events throughout the year including open air theatre and cinema, with special Halloween and Christmas programs.

The house is open Wednesday to Sunday between March and October, and basement tours operate daily all year round. The gardens and cafe are open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Entry to the house and gardens is £13.10 for adults and £8.40 per child. To visit the grounds only, will cost £10.30 for an adult and £7.00 for a child.

For full details on all up to date pricing and current opening times please visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beltonhouse

Facilities at Belton House include a restaurant, cafe, children's play area, second hand book shop, gift shop and garden shop. There is also ample free parking. Belton House is located near Grantham in Lincolnshire on the A607. The postcode for Sat Navs is: NG32 2LS.

LAVENHAM GUILDHALL

Located in the beautiful and extremely popular village of Lavenham in Suffolk, Lavenham Guildhall is a hidden treasure. Known as the Guildhall of Corpus Christi, it is a remarkably well preserved timber framed Tudor building. With 500 years of history this building has more than a few stories to tell, and the friendly, helpful staff at Lavenham Guildhall are more than happy to share some of these stories with you. There is even the opportunity for visitors to dress up in a replica period costume.

More recently, the Guildhall and Lavenham have found fame among cinema goers, both young and old, by being featured in the Harry Potter films. Many visitors are drawn to Lavenham to see the film location of the fictional town of Godric's Hollow, the birthplace of Harry Potter.

Facilities on-site include a well stocked gift shop, and a very nice tea room serving hot and cold food and drinks. There is a small courtyard garden which features a 'lock up' from the days when the Guildhall was used as a prison, and an old wooden fire engine.

The Guildhall is open from 11am to 5pm and entry costs £6.20 for adults and £3.10 for children.
For full details on all up to date prices and current opening times please visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lavenham-guildhall

Located just seven miles from Sudbury, the postcode for Sat Navs is: CO10 9QZ. Free parking is available in Market Square or any of the surrounding roads where parking is permitted.

BOURNE MILL

Located on the outskirts of Colchester, England's oldest recorded town, Bourne Mill is a magnificent example of a working watermill. Not that this building has always been a mill, it was originally an Elizabethan fishing lodge.

Built in 1591 by Sir Thomas Lucas, it was a place for entertaining his wealthy friends. Over the years it has also served as a working corn mill, as well as producing woolen cloth.

Visitors are able to see the watermill in action and enjoy listening to the rhythmic sound of its workings, with all its creaking and rumbling. Outside, visitors can enjoy relaxing by the beautiful, tranquil lake, whilst admiring the scenery and wildlife. Perhaps, even take a walk along the wetlands and maybe enjoy a little pond dipping.

The mill and grounds are open March to October and cost £3.75 for adults and £1.90 for children.
For full details on all up to date opening times and current prices please visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bourne-mill

Located on Bourne Road Colchester. Limited Free parking is available on-site. The postcode for Sat Navs is: CO2 8RT

CHARTWELL

This is somewhere that had been on my wish to visit list for sometime. As a great fan of Sir Winston Churchill, I was delighted to finally get to visit his old family home. Chartwell was Churchill's beloved home from 1922, it is a lovely, characterful building, with many rooms left just as they were when he and his family lived there. For art fans, there is a wonderful collection of Churchill's art work, a varied and impressive display adorning the walls of his old studio. It was a delight to view so many pieces of art and learn about how, in his 40's, his passion for painting grew from his cousins encouragement for him to take up painting as a way of combatting his depression.

The grounds at Chartwell are beautifully laid out and feature lakes which were designed and created by Churchill himself. There is a restaurant and a shop on-site, as well as a good sized car park. The gardens are open from 10am to 5pm and the house from 11am to 5pm, although the house does close during the winter months, so please check the website for up to date information. Entry to the house and gardens is £16 for adults and £8 for children (including gift aid). Entry to the garden and studio only is £8 and £4. Located in Westerham, Kent, the postcode for directions is TN16 1PS.

ICKWORTH

GRANGE BARN

Located just outside Coggeshall in Essex, Grange Barn is a wonderfully, characterful 13^th century monastic barn, reported to be one of Europe's oldest timber framed buildings. Within the barn and outbuildings, visitors can view a good collection of very interesting woodcarving tools and old agricultural carts.

There is no cafe on site, but there are toilet facilities. The barn is closed during the winter, opening again mid march. Opening times are 11am to 4pm. Entry is £7.50 for adults and £3.75 for children, these prices include entry to nearby Paycocke's House and Garden. The post code for directions is CO16 1RE.

PAYCOCKE'S HOUSE & GARDEN

Within walking distance of Grange Barn, sits Paycocke's House, a delightful Tudor Merchants house. Built around 1500 for Thomas Paycocke, the house has a fascinating history and is a remarkable example of a Tudor building. The secluded, elongated garden, hidden away at the back of the house, is compact but very peaceful, so much so, it is easy to forget you are in a town setting and not some rural location. Refreshments can be purchased in the small cafe located within the house, and a gift shop and toilet facilities can also be found on site. As with Grange Barn, Paycocke's is closed during the winter months. However, normal opening times are 11am to 5pm. The post code is CO16 1NS

Whenever I am travelling within the UK, I will always look out to see what National Trust properties are in the area I am visiting. It was no different when in April I found myself spending a few days on a road trip which took in the beautiful county of Norfolk. I was very happy to find that there were two very substantial National Trust properties for me to visit within a short distance of where I was staying.

FELBRIGG HALL

The first of these was Felbrigg Hall, a magnificent house with some beautiful stained glass windows dating back to the 15^th century. Set in 520 acres of wonderful parkland and woods, Felbrigg Hall is an absolute delight, and even comes complete with a herd of very friendly, inquisitive cows which came to greet me and pose for some photos. Close to the famous seaside town of Cromer, Felbrigg Hall is easily accessible and provides ample parking along with a garden shop, gift shop, cafe and toilet facilities. The parkland is open from dawn to dusk, but as opening times for the house vary, please check the National Trust website prior to your visit.

Post code for Sat Navs: NR11 8PR

BLICKLING ESTATE

The second property visited on this trip was Blickling Estate, an incredibly well preserved Jacobean mansion with a very impressive 18^th century long gallery. Visitors, with an interest in books, will be extremely impressed with the marvellous, inspiring library, housing over 12,500 volumes.

Surrounded by a formal garden, the house is a joy to visit, and with the gardens leading onto undulating parkland, the opportunity to wander free is there for all. There is the obligatory gift shop for all those delightful little purchases, 3 very tempting cafes to tend to your culinary requirements, a garden shop and a very interesting second hand book shop.

For entrance charges and opening times please refer to the National Trust website.

Located in Aylsham, the post code for Sat Nav directions is: NR11 6NF

HADRIAN'S WALL & HOUSESTEADS FORT

One of the lifetime ambitions that I mentioned in my foreword, was to visit Hadrian's Wall. I have travelled to the north of England on many occasions, even venturing over the border into Scotland at least half a dozen times. However, for whatever reasons, I have never managed to find the time to visit Hadrian's Wall or any of the many forts and towers that are scattered along the way. The scale of the wall is very impressive, and it is both the scale and the amazing history that has always appealed to me, and fired up my imagination. So, in July I found myself setting off on yet another road trip, this time taking in all four corners of the UK. I was determined, on this occasion, to finally take the time to visit this very famous and historic wall.

I was heading to the Dumfries area of Scotland and had planned a route that would allow me to view both the wall and an old Roman fort, with a diversion of approximately sixty miles. The part of the wall that I had selected for my visit was near Housesteads Fort, a remarkably well maintained Roman fort, cared for by the National Trust. Close to the town of Hexham in Northumberland, the site was easy to locate using the NE47 6NN postcode provided by the National Trust on their website.

There is a charge to use the car park as it is not run by the National trust, but this is only a few pounds, and the car park provides ample parking. There is a small visitor centre with a gift shop, toilet facilities and a cafe area. From the visitor centre it is a ten minute walk to the site of the fort, and just a little further beyond the fort is Hadrian's Wall.

Unfortunately, due to time restraints, my time at Hadrian's Wall and Housesteads fort was shorter than I would have liked. Nonetheless, my visit was most enjoyable and I even managed a short walk along the top of the wall. The views were amazing, and even though the weather was somewhat inclement (typical British summer!), it did not dampen my enthusiasm, or, evidently, that of other visitors, with many people walking along the wall and visiting the fort.

I left Houseteads fort very pleased that I had made that sixty mile diversion. Both the wall and the fort far surpassed my expectations, and I would urge anybody with an interest in history, or even just a love of the beautiful British countryside, to pay this historically rich and extremely interesting site a visit, you won't be sorry you did.

THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

Following on from my visit to Hadrian's Wall, I spent a few days in Scotland before travelling by ferry across the Irish Sea to Belfast. It was to be in Northern Ireland that I would fulfil another of my lifelong ambitions, to visit The Giant's Causeway!

The Giant's Causeway is located just a few miles north east of the town of Bushmill in County Antrim. Bushmill is famous for its whiskey as well as being the gateway to the causeway. Having seen countless documentaries over the years about these incredible Basalt columns, and having heard the stories surrounding their formation, I was excited and intrigued to finally get to see and touch them, for myself.

Formed by ancient volcanic eruptions between 50 and 60 million years ago, the causeway is made up of some 40,000 interlocking columns. Unesco declared it a world heritage site in 1986, and in 2005 it was named as the 4^th greatest natural wonder in the UK by a Radio Times poll.

The columns form stepping stones leading from the cliff out to sea, and it is these stepping stones which led to the stories of two battling giants. Most of the columns are hexagonal and the tallest of these is a very impressive 12 metres high!

On arrival at the site, visitors will find ample car parking close to the visitor centre. It is then a downhill walk of approximately 20 minutes from the visitor centre to the causeway. However, a shuttle bus is provided, at a small charge, for both disabled visitors and those preferring not to walk. There is a coffee shop, gift shop, bureau de change, and toilet facilities within the visitor centre.

Although a very popular tourist destination, the site did not appear overcrowded on my visit, and as the coast and the coast path is open from dawn to dusk, there is ample time and opportunity for all to view and even stand on this historic site. I spent some time exploring the fascinating columns and sitting amongst them, gazing out to sea, and understanding perfectly just how the mythical tale of the brawling giants came about. The sun was setting as I left to continue my journey, and this stunning, picturesque scene made the moment seem even more magical. It was an experience that I will never forget!

I can't believe that it's that time of year again when I look back at the National Trust properties that I have visited in the previous year. Where has that year gone?

I started 2019 with a trip to the south coast of England and as usual I looked for National Trust properties that I could visit during my travels. It was a cold, wet and windy February when I made the trip, but thankfully on the days that I visited two of the National Trust's wonderful properties, the wind and rain held off long enough for me to enjoy two very pleasant visits.

NYMANS

My first stop was at Nymans, one of the National Trust's premier gardens. These are beautiful and extensive late 19^th century gardens, located just east of the village of Handcross in West Sussex. I could very happily have spent much longer here than I did, and would have done so, had it not been for the inclement weather. The house, which was sadly destroyed by fire in 1947, and gardens were owned by the Messel family until the National Trust took over in 1953. Although in ruins, the house still dominates the garden and is a prominent and imposing feature in its own right.

WAKEHURST PLACE

My second visit on this trip was to Wakehurst Place, close to Haywards Heath, and not a million miles away from Nymans. Wakehurst is the country Estate of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. There are very interesting gardens to be found here and delightful wetland, woodland and nature reserve. But what sets Wakehurst apart from other country estates is the amazing seed collection housed in The Millennium Seed Bank, the largest seed collection in the world. There is some very impressive and important work being carried out here, and the displays are fascinating and very informative.

March turned out to be somewhat disappointing. Whilst in the Barking area of London, I had hoped to visit at least one National Trust property. However, on the designated day of my visit, none were open, which just illustrates the importance of forward planning! I did, however, get to look around the gardens of Eastbury Manor, although officially closed for a private function, the gentleman in charge very kindly allowed my wife and I to view the gardens, but not the Manor on this occasion. Eastbury Manor is an Elizabethan Gentry house built by Clement Sysley and is a magnificent building. The gardens, although small, are delightful and very peaceful. I look forward to returning to explore Eastbury Manor more fully in the near future.

SHAW'S CORNER

May saw me visiting the Luton and Bedford area. Just a few miles from the hustle and bustle of a vibrant Luton, sits the modest and pleasingly tranquil Shaw's Corner. Situated in Ayot St Lawrence, Shaw's Corner was the rural home of George Bernard Shaw. A very evocative place to visit, with much of interest, particularly to readers of Shaw's works. The house remains very much as it was in Shaw's day, and the small but very interesting garden still houses Shaw's writing hut, which can be found in a delightful, peaceful, secluded and thought provoking spot among the trees at the bottom of the garden.

WILLINGTON DOVECOTE & STABLES

My second visit on this trip was to Willington Dovecote and Stables, close to Bedford. These are perfectly preserved examples of 16^th century workmanship, with the Dovecote very much still in use. John Gostwick had these built, along with the nearby church, as part of his large Tudor estate. It is likely that some of the building materials came from old monastic sites. There is ample parking on the site, and it is a lovely, quiet, picturesque setting for a picnic.

The National Trust is a fantastic organisation, looking after these historic buildings and gardens and ensuring they are there for future generations to enjoy. I urge readers of this blog to join if they can, or at least try to visit one or two of these wonderful properties. They make for a wonderful day out and you won't be disappointed.

For more details, visit the National Trust website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk

COVID CHRONICLES

2020-05-27T02:08:00.002-07:00

LOCK DOWN

I am leaving my house for the first time in over a month. My wife and I have been self isolating, dependant on spasmodic home deliveries for essential shopping, searching online daily for a delivery slot with one of the many online supermarkets. It will be some time before we feel confident that it is safe enough to shop in the real world again.

I've decided to take the car for a run as it's been sitting idle on my driveway for over a month and I worry that the battery will go flat, and the car will not start when it is needed.

I slide into the drivers seat and turn the key, the engine starts first time, I put the car into gear, ease off the clutch and press down on the accelerator and there's a jolt as the brakes, which have been in the applied position for all these weeks, reluctantly loosen their grip on the wheels and the car moves forward. The car seems none the worse for its idleness as I edge out onto the open road.

The sense of freedom is incredible. Who would have thought that something as simple as driving a car could bring such pleasure. My route is a round trip of 22 miles, through villages and towns, and will take 50 minutes, enough time, I hope, to charge the battery and ensure the car will be ready if needed.

I'm surprised at how many vehicles are on the roads, I wasn't expecting it to be so busy. There are more pedestrians out as well, many of them with dogs. People appear to be trying to distance themselves from other walkers, although I do see some not adhering to the 2 metre rule. Driving through the town, I notice many shuttered shops. However, at some of the shops that are open, shoppers are not always adhering to social distancing, with shoppers passing each other in the doorways as they enter or leave the premises. The queue snaking along the pavement outside the bank is a pretty mixed bag, with some adhering to the rules whilst others are blatantly flouting them.

Returning home, I am glad I've taken the car for a run, for the car's and my own well-being, but I have no desire to venture out again anytime soon. Although I miss my social life, I feel safer at home.

COVID 19 AND TRAVEL

2020-03-19T07:51:00.002-07:00

A note from the author:
Since writing the article on Oberammergau Passion Play 2020, I have found out that the passion play has now been postponed until 2022, due to the Coronavirus outbreak. I have not yet been informed by Leger, the tour operator who organised the trip, what they intend to do about it, or if I will get a refund!

OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2020

Nestling against the banks of the Ammer River in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Southern Bavaria, is the beautiful German town of Oberammergau. Famed for its woodcarvers and woodcarvings, this small town of around 5,000 inhabitants has also found worldwide fame for another reason.

During the early part of the 17^th century, this part of Europe was gripped in the clutches of a deathly epidemic, Bubonic plague was ravaging the area. Untreated, this devastating disease can kill anywhere between 30% and 90% of those infected, even with treatment it can claim approximately 10% of sufferers.

Facing these horrendous odds of survival, the townsfolk of Oberammergau prayed to God, pleading with him to spare them from this terrifying illness. They made a vow to God that if their town was spared from the plague, they would perform a passion play once every ten years as a means of thanks.

The story goes, that having made their vow, there were no more deaths in the town, and no more new cases of the plague. The townsfolk, being true to their word, staged the first passion play in 1634, and then every ten years thereafter, in years ending in a zero. The only exceptions to this rule was in 1920, when it was postponed until 1922 due to postwar economic conditions, and 1940 when the play was cancelled due to the second world war. There have also been additional plays in 1934 and 1984 to commemorate the 300^th and 350^th anniversaries.

The play involves over 2,000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and technicians, all of whom must be residents of the town. For a year prior to the performance, the male actors grow their hair and beards in order that it will look authentic. Rehearsals are also performed during this period, and most of the town is involved in one way or another. The play is performed from mid May to early October, with around half a million visitors from all over the world descending on this tiny Bavarian town to witness these spectacular performances every decade.

How ironic that the 2020 performance should be overshadowed by the global pandemic that is Covid 19. This devastating new Corona virus, which is fast sweeping the world, has the ability to cause immense economic damage and lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. This brings me to a personal note, having wished to attend the passion play for many years, my wife and I finally made the decision, last August, to book our seats for the final play of 2020. At that time no-one had even heard of Covid 19, it didn't exist, and nobody could have predicted the events of 2020.

So what happens now? Will the passion play go ahead? If it does, is it safe to go? So many questions and so few answers. We are in unprecedented times, the future is uncertain and not even the experts have all the answers. However, as a race we will get through this, we always do.

I am sure the townsfolk of Oberammergau are once again praying to God to be spared from this latest plague, let us all pray that their prayers are answered, for us all.

NATIONAL TRUST

2020-01-24T06:33:00.001-08:00

National Trust Properties 2019

I can't believe that it's that time of year again when I look back at the National Trust properties that I have visited in the previous year. Where has that year gone?

NYMANS

WAKEHURST PLACE

SHAW'S CORNER

WILLINGTON DOVECOTE & STABLES

For more details, visit the National Trust website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk

I can't wait to see what other National Trust delights 2020 will have in store for me.

LONDON HOTELS

2019-09-28T03:12:00.001-07:00

THISTLE TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Conveniently located just off Trafalgar Square in Whitcomb street, Thistle Trafalgar Square is a wise choice for anyone visiting the cosmopolitan city of London, either on business or for pleasure. This unassuming hotel offers four room grades, ranging from the comfortable Standard and Deluxe Double rooms, to Executive rooms, through to the very generously proportioned Junior Suites. With 108 non-smoking en-suite rooms to choose from, there is sure to be a room to suit all needs.

Although there is ample car parking for 100 cars, just a 100 metres from the hotel, at a reduced price for hotel guests, on this occasion I had travelled to London by train. I arrived mid morning at Liverpool Street station and made my way by foot to the hotel, taking approximately an hour. Of course, guests could use the many taxis that ply the streets of London, or make use of the excellent underground system. However, it was a nice, sunny day and I wanted to take in a few of the sights along the way.

On arrival at the hotel, I was greeted by a very friendly and efficient member of the reception team. The young lady in question informed me that she would need to check if my room was ready, I was then directed to the small but comfortable lounge area where I could wait to be called, I was also offered a complimentary drink whilst I waited. A second member of the reception team came to take my drinks order, and returned a short time later to inform me that my room was ready.

For security reasons, the lifts to all floors above ground level are operated by scanning the guests room card, this ensures that only staff and hotel guests can access these floors. I was given my room card and instructed to take the lift to the third floor where my Junior Suite, room number 317, was located, conveniently close to the lifts.

On reaching room 317 I scanned my card over the door lock and entered, as I did so I was very pleasantly surprised to discover a large (32 square metres), well planned and comfortable room, with a large king sized bed, sofa, easy chair and office chair, writing desk and coffee table, and everything else I would need for a comfortable overnight stay.

The bathroom, also, was of a good size, with a full sized bath and a separate shower cubicle. Along with the necessary towels and flannels, all guest rooms feature complimentary toiletries. And, for Junior Suite guests, use of dressing gowns and free slippers are provided.

With plenty of wardrobe and drawer space on offer, I would have little difficulty stowing away the contents of my overnight bag! Valuables can be securely locked away in the safe, located within the wardrobe. Also to be found in the wardrobe, was an iron, ironing board and a hair dryer.

My Junior Suite was located on the corner of the building, allowing windows on both external walls which gave the room a welcome light and airy feel. The windows offered me views of the London skyline, complete with an interesting array of assorted rooftops.

Opposite my King Sized bed was a large TV, under which was located a free mini bar, stocked with an assortment of soft and alcoholic beverages, a nice little touch for guests in the Junior Suites, as was the Espresso coffee machine. All guest rooms, however, do come complete with a kettle and complimentary tea and coffee.

After checking in and familiarising myself with the hotel, I then made the very short walk to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, just 5 minutes away. There, inside this famous gallery, I spent the next couple of hours visually absorbing the magnificent collection of paintings by Van Gogh, Leonardo Da Vinci, Turner, Constable, and so many more great artists. Prior to returning to the hotel, I also took a short walk to Chinatown, a brightly coloured and decorated area that was busy with locals and tourists mingling together.

Back at the hotel, I was starting to feel a bit peckish, so I decided to go to Squares Restaurant for my evening meal. Squares Restaurant can accommodate 65 diners, although on my visit, a Sunday night, it was very quiet, with only two other guests in the restaurant whilst I was there. The menu, although not fine dining, offers a good selection of hot and cold food at very reasonable prices. The choice ranges from soups and salads, to burgers and stone baked pizzas, and a selection of steaks. I opted for Caesar Salad with Grilled Salmon, which proved to be very tasty and, at just under £15, good value for money. Between the restaurant and the reception and lobby area, there is a small bar where all manor of drinks can be purchased, including some very interesting cocktails. I tried a Pedrino Cherry Bakewell Spritz, which I enjoyed and found very refreshing.

Returning to my room for the evening, I made use of the excellent shower facilities then rested in the comfortable, spacious surroundings of the suite, whilst enjoying one of the complimentary drinks from the mini-bar. I used the time to plan my itinerary for the following day. With so many of London's famous sights within easy walking distance of the hotel, I was really spoilt for choice as to where to visit. I started to wish that I had booked an extra night as there was so much to see and do within the area. As it was, this was my one and only night in this area, so having made good use of the hotel's facilities, and having planed my route for the following day's excursion, I retired to a very comfortable bed.

Breakfast the next morning was in Squares restaurant, where the young lady at the entrance to the restaurant took my room number, showed me to a table, and took my drinks order. The self service breakfast offered a good assortment of hot and cold food and beverages, and was more than sufficient to set me up for the day.

I returned to my room to pack my overnight bag and then check out at reception. Again, I found the reception staff very friendly, cheerful and efficient, as have all the hotel staff been during my stay. I was soon on my way, having enjoyed a most comfortable stay at Thistle Trafalgar Square.

For more information On Thistle Trafalgar, and for room prices, please visit Thistle's own website at: www.thistle.com

HAVE YOUR BUSINESS REVIEWED ON THIS BLOG

2019-04-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Competition within the leisure industry has always been fierce, but these days it is even more important for companies to gain good publicity. Travel companies, hoteliers, restaurant owners and the like need to be ever more imaginative in the ways they advertise and publicise their business. Consider the following questions:

What makes your business stand out from the rest?

Why should a guest choose your hotel or restaurant over one just a few yards down the road?

There are many on-line sites where customers can leave reviews and feedback on their experience of certain businesses, but these can often simply be a platform for disgruntled customers to let off steam and complain about the most minor of annoyances. These type of reviews will often do little to inform potential customers of the benefits or not of booking with a particular company, and can do a lot of damage to a struggling business.

Here at World Travel Reviews, we try to give a balanced account of the hotel, restaurant, leisure facility or area that we are visiting. If we find fault we will say so, but we will not complain for the sake of complaining.

If you are in the leisure business and you would like us to visit your business with a view to reviewing the service that you provide and publishing that review on this blog, then please email your details to robertlidster@ymail.com Please make the subject World Travel Reviews.

Depending on the type of business and review we may be able to gain further exposure in other leisure publications. We can also offer links from this blog to your own website.

LONDON HOTELS

2019-04-02T03:46:00.000-07:00

RAMADA LONDON FINCHLEY

It's often said that you shouldn't mix business with pleasure, but that's hard to do when your business is the leisure industry! I often find myself visiting wonderful places in order to carry out reviews, and even when I'm on holiday, and not officially there to review the accommodation or destination, I find myself looking around with the critical eye of a writer. And sometimes, it is just very convenient to mix the two.

So it proved to be recently, when my wife and I attended a travel show in North London. It just so happened that the travel show was on the day before our 41^st wedding anniversary, so I thought why not have a hotel stay and combine visiting the travel show with celebrating our anniversary? Having carried out a thorough search of hotels in the area of Allianz Park, where the travel show was to be held, I decided upon the 3 star Ramada Hotel Finchley London, for a one night stay to rest after the show and to celebrate our anniversary.

Allianz Park is in Hendon North London, approximately ninety miles from where I live, and less than five miles from Finchley. We arrived at the show around midday and left at 4pm, which meant we arrived at the Ramada Hotel Finchley in good time to settle into our room before dinner.

The hotel was easy to find and is within easy access to the A406 London North Circular route. There is also quick and easy access to London city, by means of the underground network or bus route, allowing guests at the hotel the opportunity to be in the heart of London within thirty minutes. There are numerous shops and restaurants in the area, many within walking distance, which is ideal as the hotel has its own free car park for guests.

On viewing the hotel for the first time, I was aware that it has three very distinct areas. There is of course the main hotel entrance, clearly marked 'RAMADA', and adjacent to that is a large deck area, aptly named 'THE DECK', this is a fully heated area ideal for al fresco eating. Then there is 'FLAMES', a Greek restaurant serving Greek and Mediterranean style food, this is where we had booked our 6.30pm anniversary dinner.

On check-in at the hotel, the reception staff, on the 24 hour front desk, were exceptionally friendly and helpful, and made sure we had all the information we needed to make our stay as pleasant and comfortable as possible. We were then given directions to our room which was situated on the second floor overlooking the car park. The room was accessible by either lift or stairs.

The Ramada Hotel London Finchley offers 88 spacious and well equipped en-suite guest rooms, located over three floors. There are four room types, Standard, Standard Triple, Deluxe and Executive. Accessible rooms are available in either Standard, Deluxe or Executive.

Our room, an Executive Room, was designed with the business traveller in mind. The room comes with all the features of a Standard Room, shower, work desk, tea/coffee making facilities, LCD TV with freeview channels, free wi fi, double or single beds, but also features Temple Spa Bath products, a Nespresso machine, complimentary bottled water, and complimentary snacks. At 22 square metres, the Executive Rooms are also 2 square metres larger than the Standard Room. I found the room to be well designed, bright, and nicely decorated, with all the comforts we would need for our overnight stay.

Once we had settled into our room and freshened up, we then made our way to Flames restaurant for our anniversary dinner. I had made the reservation for dinner by emailing the hotel with my request prior to arriving, a quick, easy and efficient means of booking.

As with the check-in staff, all the restaurant staff were very pleasant and helpful, we were immediately shown to our table by the window, handed a menu and our drinks order was taken. The menu provided a very good choice of food and drinks, all at very reasonable prices. We were both tempted by the Swordfish and Greek Salad, accompanied by Pitta Bread and Hummus. My wife chose a soft drink, whilst I chose a glass of very palatable red wine. The restaurant was fairly busy, with a number of tables occupied by party groups, with a group of youngsters at one table celebrating a birthday. There was a good atmosphere in the restaurant and the staff were attentive at all times. Having enjoyed a very good meal, we retired to our room for the night.

Breakfast the next morning was served in Flames restaurant. At check-in we had been given, along with our room key, two coupons for redemption at breakfast time. As we entered the restaurant a member of staff greeted us, took our coupons and invited us to sit where we wished, and informed us that breakfast was self service. We sat, once again, at a table by the window, and helped ourselves from the array of breakfast cereal, fruit, bread and yoghurt etc. A selection of hot food was on offer, which was served at a serving station, but tea and coffee was self service.

Check-out was as quick and easy as check-in had been on our arrival, and we were soon on our way, having had a most enjoyable stay. The hotel is extremely well placed for visiting London and surrounding area, and was perfect for our needs. The Ramada Hotel London Finchley is a budget priced hotel that certainly doesn't skimp on hospitality, and I would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel, or indeed staying here again. Both my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay and found it an ideal place to celebrate our anniversary, as well as meeting our business needs perfectly. Now, what was I saying about mixing business with pleasure?

For more information on The Ramada London Finchley, please visit.

www.ramadahotelfinchley.co.uk .

Telephone: 0208 446 6644.

Email: reservations@ramada.london .

Post Code for Sat Nav: N12 0QZ.

NATIONAL TRUST

2019-01-23T07:49:00.001-08:00

NATIONAL TRUST VISITS 2018

Every year at about this time, I write a summary of my visits to National Trust properties during the previous year. I have been a member of the National Trust for four years now, and in that time I have had the pleasure of visiting some truly wonderful places, and 2018 was no exception. I am happy to say that I also managed to fulfil two of my lifetime ambitions in the process. Here is a summary of four of the properties visited in 2018. For more in-depth information and for charges and membership details, please visit: www.nationaltrust.co.uk

FELBRIGG HALL & BLICKLING ESTATE

FELBRIGG HALL

Post code for Sat Navs: NR11 8PR

BLICKLING ESTATE

For entrance charges and opening times please refer to the National Trust website.

Located in Aylsham, the post code for Sat Nav directions is: NR11 6NF

HADRIAN'S WALL & HOUSESTEADS FORT

THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

TEN THINGS TO DO IN SALISBURY WILTSHIRE UK

2018-09-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

MUCH MORE THAN JUST A CATHEDRAL

With Salisbury having been very much in the news lately, I got to thinking "What is there to do in Salisbury"? I have never actually visited Salisbury itself, although I have been in the area and visited Stonehenge on several occasions.

Just a quick glance at www.visitwiltshire.co.uk gave me a number of options for places to visit and things to do, here is a random list of ten:

1/ Old Sarum, originally an Iron Age hill fort, it was re-used by the Romans, Saxons, and the Normans.

2/ Saint Thomas' Church with its medieval "Doom" painting.

3/ The Market Place where regular markets have been held since 1227.

4/ The Salisbury Museum.

5/ Salisbury Cathedral.

6/ The Salisbury Playhouse, great for theatre buffs.

7/ Many parks including the Queen Elizabeth Gardens, with views of the Cathedral.

8/ Wonderful walks along the River Avon.

9/ The Avon Valley Nature Reserve.

10/ Oh! and of course there's that little known gem called Stonehenge, just a mere 8 miles away.

Well I hope this helps to whet the appetite of any potential visitor to Salisbury, seems to me that there is a lot to do there, sounds like a great place to visit.

MINI-CRUISE WITH CMV

2018-08-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

MARCO POLO

Marco Polo is a mid sized cruise ship owned and operated by Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV). With a passenger capacity of around 800, accommodated in 425 cabins, the ship has a very homely, almost country house feel. Sporting a dark blue hull, this cruise ship looks every inch your classic ocean liner.

CMV are Britain's newest privately owned cruise line, specialising in small ship, no fly cruises from the UK. Home based in Tilbury London, CMV operate out of 11 UK ports. With a fleet of 5 ships to their name, CMV have a high guest satisfaction record of 95%, and 40% repeat passengers. To read my review of Astoria and its fascinating history, another of Cruise Maritime Voyages cruise ships, please click on the following link:
https://independentworldtravelreviews.blogspot.com/2017/04/cruise-maritime-voyages.html

Originally built in 1966, Marco Polo benefited from a £3 million refit in 2009. This is evident in the stylish and comfortable public areas that await guests to this ship. Most public areas are conveniently located on the same deck, making navigating the ships facilities an easy task. There is everything that one would expect from a ship of this size, from bars and lounges, to Library, card room, and the obligatory photo shop, and shopping arcade. There is also a reception desk, information desk and booking desk for future cruises. Entertainment is altogether a much more subtle, but none the less entertaining, affair than on a lot of the bigger cruise ships, with a show lounge for live performances as well as live music in the ship's bar areas.

There is a spa which includes a sauna and provides various massages and treatments, along with a reasonably equipped gym. There is one outdoor swimming pool and three hot tubs. For anyone wishing to jog or walk away their cruise, the deck above the Promenade deck does allow for a complete circumnavigation of the ship.

There are two large forward facing viewing areas, as well as a fair amount of seating around the pool. The ship is equipped with ten zodiac landing craft which are used for shore excursions in eco-sensitive areas. Although, now some 42 years old, Marco Polo has all the latest navigational aids and benefits from biological waste treatment.

There are 425 cabins, of which 292 have a porthole or window. There are no cabins with balconies, and only 2 cabins are wheelchair accessible. There are 4 lifts onboard, although if you are able, it is usually quicker to use the stairs. With some 15 cabin price grades there should be one to suit all budgets, from a standard inside cabin all the way up to the 2 junior suites or the 2 large suites. The largest of these suites (Dynasty and Mandarin) are spacious, well equipped cabins with a separate living area, large bedroom and marble bathroom with full size bath tub.

All your culinary needs are taken care of in The Waldorf Restaurant, where waiter service is the norm and smart attire is required, here they operate a two sitting dinner service. Alternatively, you may choose to dine in Marco's Restaurant where the atmosphere is less formal and all meals are self service.

Having never cruised with CMV before, although no stranger to cruising, I booked a one night mini-cruise for my wife and myself on Marco Polo. The cruise would take us from the Essex port of Harwich to the London port of Tilbury. These short weekend mini-cruises are a great way to try out new cruise lines and ships, and is also a perfect introduction to cruising for those who have never cruised before. Usually very keenly priced, this one night mini-cruise had prices starting from just £59 per person.

My wife and I were booked into a Premier Outside cabin and had been given an embarkation time of 3pm, embarkation and disembarkation times are based on your cabin grade and deck position. We arrived at the port of Harwich at approximately 2:30pm and parked in the designated car park, we had pre-booked the car park at a cost of £11. Along with other passengers, we were then taken by bus to the cruise terminal. Check-in was very quick and we were onboard by our allocated time of 3pm.

As we stepped onboard we were greeted by a member of staff who then showed us the way to our cabin, carrying our overnight bag for us. The cabin was of a reasonable size with two large windows which afforded us good views of the port. The shower room was very small, with very little space to put your toiletries etc. There were two single beds which had been pushed together, with a bedside cabinet either side, there was a dressing table and a reasonably sized wardrobe. It was nice to see that there were power points to enable us to charge our phones, and also tea and coffee making facilities.

Once our luggage was stowed away we made our way to Marco's Restaurant where a good range of hot and cold food was being served. After having something light to eat and drink, we returned to our cabin in order to get our life jackets as it was time for the compulsory safety drill.

Having been briefed in what to do in an emergency, we set about exploring the ship. For a small ship there is a surprisingly good amount of public areas, and nowhere seemed crowded at anytime. We were due to depart Harwich at 6:30pm but an announcement informed passengers this had been put back to 9:30pm, so our plans to watch the sail away prior to dinner at 8pm were dashed!

Dinner in the Waldorf Restaurant was a very pleasant, stylish affair, we shared a table with another couple, and, as you tend to do, swapped cruise stories whilst enjoying a five course meal. After dinner we strolled around the ship and took in some of the live entertainment in the Captain's Club, a very relaxing bar lounge area.

We then retired for the evening, first having set the alarm for an early call. Cabins had to be vacated early, by 7am the next morning and disembarkation would commence at 8am, breakfast would be served from 6:30am.

The next morning, as instructed, we vacated our cabin by 7am and had breakfast in the Waldorf Restaurant, breakfast can also be taken in Marco's Restaurant. We kept our small overnight bags with us, although passengers were allowed to store baggage in the show lounge prior to disembarkation. We disembarked at 8:30am and made our way to the car park to take up our places on the coach for the return trip to Harwich, this had been pre-booked at a cost of £20 per person. We arrived back in Harwich just after 10am.

For more information on CMV and Marco Polo, please visit the cruise lines own website at: www.cruiseandmaritime.com

AN IRISH ROAD TRIP (WEXFORD)

2018-08-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

FERRYCARRIG HOTEL

My wife and I were coming to the end of our seven day road trip around Ireland. We had driven some 646 miles since arriving in Belfast in Northern Ireland, from Cairnryan in Scotland. Along the way we had visited Bushmill and the Giant's Causeway, Letterkenny, Galway, Gort, Limerick and Cork, and even got to kiss the Blarney Stone! We would end our Irish road trip in Rosslare in Southern Ireland, where we would catch the ferry to Fishguard in Wales in order to continue our journey home to the east coast of England.

After such a whirlwind tour of Ireland, visiting some wonderful places and staying at some of Ireland's best hotels, I was looking for somewhere we could spend a relaxing and comfortable night at our final port of call, somewhere to chill out before our journey home. I think I found it in the Ferrycarrig Hotel.

The Ferrycarrig Hotel is a large hotel complex with 102 bedrooms, spread over 4 floors. With views over the beautiful River Slaney estuary and perfectly located for our needs, close to Wexford and just a short distance to Rosslare, the hotel proved a great choice and a perfect way to end our Irish road trip.

There are three grades of guest room, Standard, Superior, and Delux, as well as Junior and Executive Suites, large Family Rooms and Interconnecting Rooms. All rooms of Superior grade and above feature either Balconies or French Doors. There is an entire floor reserved for adults only with Standard rooms featuring French Doors.

Facilities at the hotel are extremely comprehensive with something for everyone. Crazy Clubbers, the kids club that runs throughout all the main school holidays and bank holidays, is open from 10am to 1pm, and again from 7pm to 10pm. Here, young children can be entertained with face painting, dancing, board games, drawing, arts and crafts, football and the resident clown Giggles.

For adult guests, there is the Ferrycarrig Active Club, featuring a state of the art gym, 20m pool area, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, there is also a children's pool with water jets and fountain. Instructor led fitness classes are available and there are a number of treatment rooms.

After all that exercise, you may wish to unwind with a drink in the Dry Dock Bar. Here you can partake in casual dinning including light lunches or a full evening meal. The bar has stunning views of the river and it is possible to dine inside or out, dependent on the weather. The Snug Area is exclusively for adults only.

Reeds Restaurant is a wonderfully relaxed bistro styled restaurant, and has been named best hotel restaurant in Wexford for two years running, 2016/2017. The restaurant is renowned for using local produce in its recipes and produces some excellent dishes. A three course meal including coffee can be ordered from the Table d'hote menu for approximately £39. Reeds Lounge is an adults only dinning area, located within Reeds Restaurant, allowing guests a more peaceful and relaxing dinning experience.

My wife and I arrived at the hotel around 5:30pm, having driven from Cork where we had stayed the previous night, visiting Waterford along the way. The car park is built on two levels and we parked in the higher level, conveniently close to the steps that would take us to the lower level and the entrance to the hotel. We were greeted at reception by a very friendly member of staff who checked us in and gave us all the information we needed. We also made a reservation for dinner in Reeds Restaurant for 6:30pm.

We used the lift to take our luggage to our room and settle in before dinner. The room was of a good size and was comfortably furnished with everything you would expect from a four star hotel. Our room featured French doors, complete with safety rails to prevent any accidental falls, which opened inwards allowing some fantastic views of the river. As we admired the views, we were joined by a family of swallows who had made their nest just 3 to 4 feet from where we stood. They were clearly not shy and obviously well used to being up close to people. They gave us great enjoyment watching their skilful aerial acrobatics when busily flying in and out of their nest. Wonderful!

After snapping a few photos of our new found feathered friends, we made our way down to the restaurant for dinner, exploring the hotel along the way. There were plenty of interesting, well furnished public areas for guests to sit and relax. Although a large hotel, it still managed to feel intimate and welcoming. We were warmly greeted on entry to the restaurant by our waiter, who showed us to our table by the window, and presented us with the choice of two menus. As we were dinning early, we could choose between the usual menu or the early bird menu. At just 28 euros for three courses, the early bird menu represented excellent value for money and we both made our choices from that menu.

The food was delicious, the service excellent, and my glass of Merlot went down a treat and complemented my meal perfectly. Unfortunately, plans to take an evening stroll after dinner had to be abandoned as the weather had taken a turn for the worse with strong winds and rain, not a good omen for our sea crossing tomorrow!

After a good nights sleep we returned to Reeds Restaurant for breakfast. A comprehensive array of hot and cold food greeted us and we had a very fulfilling meal. Once again, we sat near the window, this time watching with interest the wading birds as we relaxed and enjoyed our meal. After breakfast we explored the hotel some more before spending some much needed relaxation time in the excellent Spa.

We checked out of the hotel at 12:30pm, by which time the weather, thankfully, had begun to improve and the sun was attempting to shine. We then drove a very short distance, just half a mile, to the fabulous Irish National Heritage park, a must visit if you are ever in the area. From there we made the short journey to Rosslare in time for our evening ferry crossing to Fishguard. We had experienced some wonderful times and met some lovely people during our tour of Ireland, and our final stay, at the Ferrycarrig Hotel, was the perfect finale to our trip. What wonderful memories we will have!

There are a wealth of places to visit in the Wexford area, among them are Wells House, Johnstown Castle Gardens, Selskar Abbey, The Saltee Islands, Hook Lighthouse and, by far my favourite,The Irish National Heritage Park.

The hotel features free Wi Fi, check-in is from 4pm and check-out by 12pm.

The address for the hotel is Ferrycarrig Hotel, Ferrycarrig Bridge, Wexford. Telephone +353 (0) 539120999

For further information visit: www.ferrycarrighotel.ie The hotel is also on Twitter and Facebook

AN IRISH ROAD TRIP (LIMERICK)

2018-08-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

NUMBER 1 PERY SQUARE

It is always difficult when choosing a hotel that you have never stayed at before, it's so easy to be disappointed, and I should know. With over forty years of travelling behind me I have had my fair share of disappointments. Of course the safe option, although this is no guarantee, is to opt for a well known hotel chain as they will have certain recognised standards, and you know pretty well what to expect. But,what if you are looking for something a little different? Smaller, independent hotels, and boutique hotels in particular, can often surprise with their individuality, attention to detail and 'go that extra mile' personalised customer service. When they 'get it right', it can be a very pleasing and fulfilling experience.

And 'get it right' is exactly what owner Patricia Roberts has achieved with Number 1 Pery Square. Overlooking the beautiful tree lined People's Park in the delightful Georgian quarter of Limerick, Number 1 Pery Square, purchased by Patricia in 2006, is a luxury twenty bedroomed boutique hotel just a mere five minute walk from the city centre.

Built around 1830 by the Pery Square Tontine Company, Number One Pery Square is a Grade 1 listed building, and is one of Ireland's best examples of late Georgian architecture. The Georgian architecture is evident throughout this remarkable building, even down to the naming of the hotel's restaurant after the Georgian sash windows.

Facilities at the hotel can only be described as excellent, with a welcoming, relaxing Spa featuring a coal bunker sauna, aroma steam room, Irish mist showers, herbal cocoon, and a Zen garden, and offering a wide choice of wellness and beauty treatments.

For all your culinary needs look no further than Restaurant Sash, a Michelin recommended restaurant, which serves some amazingly delicious meals, using many herbs and ingredients freshly sourced from the hotel's own garden. Food can also be ordered in the bar area.

Guest rooms are graded into three types, all delightfully individual and tastefully decorated. In the main town house are four Period Style rooms, these rooms are named after previous residents of the house. They are spacious rooms with large sash windows, affording views of the terrace and garden, as well as the beautiful People's park. The rooms feature roll top baths and Monsoon showers, complimentary Wi Fi, complimentary robes and slippers, and room service. Irish Voya organic beauty treatments are also available in the room.

Club Rooms also overlook the garden and terrace, and are named after renowned Irish writers. These rooms feature Monsoon showers. Complimentary Wi Fi, toiletries, robes and slippers.

Finally, there is the Townhouse Suite. Located on the top floor this suite offers fantastic views of the city and the mountains of Clare. Spacious and stylish with its own bar and dinning area, comfortable sofas, large screen television, two bedrooms, and compact kitchenette, this suite has everything the discerning guest could possibly wish for, and more! Along with the complimentary slippers and robes, toiletries and Wi Fi, there is also a Nespresso Coffee Machine. Guest wanting to really indulge themselves can arrange for Spa treatments in their room.

The front desk is open 24 hours so there is always someone on hand to assist with any queries guests may have, whether it be with service at the hotel, restaurant bookings or information on places to visit. There is also a library, laundry service, childcare facilities, and on-site car rentals.

I arrived at Number 1 Pery Square late afternoon, I was driving and, although parking is restricted in the adjacent streets, I was able to park directly outside the hotel entrance in the marked loading bay. Parking is permitted here to enable guests to unload their luggage, it is then necessary to move your vehicle to the private, secure car park which is less than half a mile away. Once I had checked in and taken my luggage to my room, I explored the hotel and spa area. Unfortunately, the spa was in the process of closing for the day, so I didn't get to use the facilities, however, I was very impressed with what I saw.

I decided to have supper in the bar area, this proved to be a good choice as the 'Classic Supper', served to me by the bar tender, a most pleasant and friendly gentleman, turned out to be a very tasty and substantial meal. The bar area was very cosy and had various sitting areas around the bar, which sat almost central between two rooms, with access from both sides.

My guest room 'Goldsmith' was a lovely room with two large windows, one to the front overlooking the street, the other to the side of the building. Charmingly furnished in a very individualistic fashion, with good quality drapes attractively framing the windows, it was evident that a lot of thought had gone into the design of the room, and indeed the entire hotel. The bathroom was spacious, with a full sized bath and separate shower cubicle. The complimentary slippers and robes were most welcome, as was the complimentary bottled water. The bed proved very comfortable, and I experienced one of the best nights sleep that I'd had on this trip.

The next morning I awoke with vigour, ready for my breakfast and the day ahead. But, little did I know what delights I had in store! Breakfast was served in Restaurant Sash, and there was everything on offer that you would expect from a good buffet breakfast. However, what made this breakfast experience so special, was a combination of things. Firstly, the restaurant itself is a beautifully decorated room, just oozing character, add to this the smartly attired, lovely lady who was enthusiastically dressing all the tables with beautiful fresh flowers, the ever so friendly, smiley and helpful waiting staff, and last, but certainly by no means least, the exceptional chef who served up, by far, the best smoked salmon and scrambled egg that I can ever recall having! With this first class breakfast experience, you certainly have the makings of a great start to the day.

I honestly cannot fault this hotel, it is beautifully decorated and furnished, spotlessly clean, has something of interest around every corner, and has some of the friendliest, most delightful and helpful staff I have come across in a long time. The staff seem truly happy to be there, they appear to really enjoy their work and are clearly passionate about their role. They work very much as a team, more like a family, which is so refreshing to see. This is one boutique hotel that ticks every box and I would not hesitate to return.

Places of interest in the area include Saint Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle, The Treaty Stone, Tait's Clock, O'Connell Street, The People's Park, and a great art gallery. All this within a twenty minute walk of the hotel!

Getting to the hotel is not a problem either, Limerick train station is only a six minute walk away, and Shannon Airport less than thirteen miles.

The address of the hotel is: 1 Perry Square, Georgian Quarter, Limerick V94 EKP9

Telephone number: 061 402402 Email: info@oneperysquare.com

Further information can be found on the hotel's own website: www.oneperysquare.com

The hotel is also on Facebook and Twitter.

AN IRISH ROAD TRIP (GALWAY)

2018-08-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

ORANMORE LODGE

Nestling in the village of Oranmore, close to the vibrant city of Galway and the magnificent Atlantic Way, sits the delightful Oranmore Lodge. This wonderful four star hotel, an original manor house built in 1850, offers fifty extremely comfortable and stylish guest rooms which are spread over three floors. The hotel conveniently provides free Wi Fi throughout and has ample free parking.

The choice of guest room is very impressive, ranging from Standard Rooms to Superior Rooms and Family or Interconnecting Rooms. The Standard Rooms are very well equipped, featuring a double bed, Egyptian towels and complimentary toiletries, a large en-suite bathroom, ironing facilities, direct dial telephone, hair dryer, multi channel television, tea/coffee making facilities and controlled heating. With a morning newspaper, and some rooms featuring a sofa, there is everything that the weary traveller could possibly want to make their stay perfect.

Needless to say, the higher grade rooms have all the excellent features of the Standard Rooms, plus that little bit extra. For example, Executive rooms, which are located in the original part of the hotel, are larger than Standard Rooms and feature a King size bed, leather sofa, a spacious seating area and feature fireplace. These luxurious rooms also benefit from a large 42inch LCD television, DVD player, bathrobes and slippers. Superior Rooms are very much aimed at the corporate guest and feature a work station with lamp. Choices of Family and Interconnecting Rooms consist of either a double bed with one single bed, a double bed with two single beds, or two double beds.

Leisure facilities at Oranmore Lodge are excellent, boasting. an impressive 17 metre indoor swimming pool, with a separate children's pool area. There are sauna and steam rooms, as well as a large jacuzzi and a well equipped gym. Guests can also take advantage of a choice of massages and health treatments or take part in fitness classes or swimming lessons.

There is no need for guests to go hungry at Oranmore Lodge as there is a fine choice of dinning options available. Barney's Bar is a great place to chill out, have a drink and a bite to eat, with the added bonus of live entertainment at weekends. The food menu is available from 2:30pm to 9pm. Butler's Bistro serves breakfast from 7:30am to 10am, as well as serving lunch. Dinner is served in the splendid Huntroom Restaurant, where diners can choose from the superb a la carte menu with a set priced two or three course meal.

Located just off the N6 approach into Galway, Oranmore Lodge is very easy to find. Its location, just one hour from Shannon Airport and two hours from Dublin Airport, makes even a flying visit an easy prospect. However, on this trip I was driving, having arrived in Belfast by ferry from Cairnryan in Scotland, and returning via Rosslare to Fishguard in Wales. This was to be my third hotel in as many nights on my Ireland road trip, and I was hopeful of a comfortable and relaxing stay. As it turned out, I was not to be disappointed.

As I turned off the main road and approached the hotel I prepared to park my car, and on doing so, not even the sudden rain shower could dampen my excitement on viewing Oranmore Lodge for the very first time. A beautiful, extensive building, covered in climbing ivy in parts, I just felt that this stay was going to be something special.

Carrying only my overnight bag, I made a desperate dash for reception, stopping only briefly to say hello to Lucy, a cat that has evidently decided to adopt Oranmore Lodge as her home. A cat with very good taste, obviously! Reception staff were very friendly and efficient, and in no time at all I was checked in and making my way up the characterful staircase to my room.

And what a room! Willow Suite which was to be my home for the night was a very large, tastefully decorated room with views over the car park and Spa. There was a large sitting area with a leather sofa and coffee table, coffee machine, tea making facilities and a fridge. The bed was large, and as I would later find out, very comfortable indeed. I had time to relax in my room with a cup of coffee before my dinner reservation at 7:30pm.

Dinner was served in the main restaurant and was of an extremely high quality. I chose the Chunky Irishman Seafood Chowder for my starter and Half Duck served with Stuffing and Orange Sauce for my main meal, although, I could easily have chosen any of the tempting dishes on the menu as it offered such good choice. Unfortunately, following my delicious and substantial main course I had very little room left for desert so, reluctantly, I declined. I must say though, the desert menu did look very enticing. I did, however, sample a glass of excellent Merlot with my meal.

Breakfast the next morning was served in the Bistro and consisted of a very comprehensive array of hot and cold food offerings, certainly something for everyone, no matter what your dietary needs may be. Having satisfied my morning hunger, I took advantage of the break in the weather to explore the exterior of the hotel, following which I spent some time chilling out in the spa area before checking out of my room at around midday.

This really was a most pleasant hotel for an overnight stay on my road trip. Given more time, I would without hesitation have happily stayed for longer, but due to the nature of this visit it was time for me to leave Oranmore Lodge and move on to my next destination. I drove away, in much better weather than when I had arrived, feeling very pleased that Oranmore Lodge had not only met my expectations, but exceeded them!

Contact details for the hotel are: Email: info@oranmorelodge.ie Tel: +353 (0) 91794400

Website: https://www.oranmorelodge.ie