5 COUNTRIES IN 6 WEEKS

[Bushcraft]

Awesome STF, keep it coming

Sorry about the lost post

[steamtrainfan]

Thanks for your support everybody. The problem could lie with my computer as it is going on and off line like a jumping jack.

Lets try again.

I have had to use scans of photos from Joans scrapbook or scans of post cards for places where I could not find a photo on my hard drive. You will easily make out the difference.

WEEK 2 - PAIGNTON TO LONDON. Part 1/2

20 July 2005 - Paignton.
Caught the steam train from Paignton to Kingswear which is about a 45 minute trip.


On arrival at Kingswear we hopped onto the ferry for the trip across the River Dart to Dartmouth to find a nice place to have some lunch.
A very attractive building at Dartmouth.


One of the many lovely gardens in Dartmout - note the seagull in the foreground.


Did the return trip per ferry and train to Paignton to go and relax at the B&B.

21 July 2005 - Paignton to Bournemouth.
Stopped off at Corfe Castle for lunch.
My Mom asked that when in Bournemouth we would try and go see the house in which she was born and brought up. We found the house and stood outside taking photos. Next minute the owners came out and asked what we were doing. When we told them they invited us inside and allowed us to roam around and take photos wherever we wanted to. These photos were the source of much joy to Mom when we got back home. In the late afternoon we went for a walk in Bournemouth Gardens where this little fellow came out to greet us.


We also came across this band playing after which we walked to the beach front to watch a fireworks display from a barge out at sea.




23 July 2005. Bournemouth and Swanage.
We had decided that we would go to Swanage and ride the steam train from Swanage to Norden. We had also read that one could catch an open topped (weather permitting) from Bournemouth to Swanage. This morning was beautiful so off we went to find out where we could catch the bus. Managed to get the front seat upstairs for a grandstand view as the bus travelled through suburbs and countryside. When we got to Poole the bus had get on to the ferry which was quite an experience for us. Here is a video clip of the bus riding on to the ferry and then the ride leaving the ferry - enjoy the ride with us.



On arrival at Swanage we caught the train to Norden. On the return trip we got off at Corfe Castle to find a place for lunch.
A photo of a very nice looking pub but not where we went for lunch.


A look down the main road with Corfe Castle in the background.


Part 2 of week 2 next.

[Dewi]

Good one STF.

Nice firework display - well captured.

[steamtrainfan]

WEEK 2 PAIGNTON TO LONDON Part 2/2

22 July 2005 continued - Swanage to Bournemouth.

After a lunch at Corfe Castle restaurant we caught the train back to Swanage.

The bus trip back, this time we had the back seat upstairs, proved to be just as exciting - listen carefully to the comments about my water bottle.



Waiting for the ferry at Poole.


On a safe arrival back at Bournemouth we took a late evening walk for one last look at Bournemouths amazing beach.


23 July 2005 - Bournemouth to London.
As today was Claudias birthday we left early and hit the A31 and M3 for London. It was a late night out with Ken and friends.
No photos.

24 July 2005 - London.
No photos.

25 July 2005 - Salisbury and Stonehenge.
By train to Salisbury and bust to Stonehenge.


Stonehenge never fails to amaze and fascinate me. What happened there, how did they get those huge stones there and how did they mount the other huge stones on top of the base ones??????????

At Salisbury we stopped off at Salisbury Cathedral to find that the funeral of Sir Edward Heath had just finished. This cathedral has the tallest spire in all England at a height of 123 metres from ground level.


After a late night and a busy day it was early to bed.

26 July 2005 - London.

A relaxing day at home. In the evening Joan and I went to Phantom of the Opera at Her Majestys Theatre.
No photos.

27 July 2005 - London.

At home - no photos.

28 July 2005 - London

Sightseeing in London. Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Green Park etc etc..
No photos.

29 July 2005 - London.
Into to London again to see lady Dianas memorial, a walk around the Serpentine. Lunch at Covent Garden where we watched these most amazing buskers. We hope you enjoy watching this short excerpt of their performance.





Next - A week in Italy and Switzerland.

[Lisbeth]

[nan]

[Flutterby]

Lovely pics, tx for sharing STF.

[JustN@ture]

Awesome stuff STF, love the old buildings...they hold so much history,
keep it coming

[steamtrainfan]

Thanks very much Lisbeth and nan.

Awesome stuff STF, love the old buildings...they hold so much history,
keep it coming

Hi JN. Thanks very much for your support. Hope that you enjoy the rest of the trip.

[steamtrainfan]

WEEK 3 - ITALY AND SWITZERLAND. Part 1 of 2.

30 July 2005.
Fly from Luton Airport to Torino.
Claudias brother fetched us at the airport and took us back to their farm at Pralormo.
No photos.

31 July 2005.
An organised tour of Torino.

A general view over Torino toward Monte dei Cappucini in the background.


The Colle Della Maddalena overlooking Torino from Monte dei Cappucini. Just caught the sun in the right place.


A memorial on the monestary in remembrance of the Torino football team who were all killed when their plane flew into the monestary at this spot.


On board the rack railway coming down from Monte dei Cappucini to Torino.


01 August 2005.
Travelled by car to Courmayeur for a cable car ride up Monte Bianco.

A view of Monte Bianco looming over a house in Courmayeur.


About half way up with Courmayeur way down there.


2 August 2005.
Spent the day in Pralormo.
No photos.

3 August 2005. Pralormo - Torino - Tirano - St Moritz.
By train from Torino - which is the closest town to the village of Pralormo - to Tirano to catch the Bernina Express up to St Moritz.
As a matter of interest this train has to climb from Tirano at 429m up the highest point on the line Ospizio Bernina at 2253m - a climb of 1824m in a distance of 38.4 km without the assistance of a rack railway. To me this was the most amazing train trip I have ever done. Photos and videos cannot do justice to the beautiful scenery but lets try.

The train entering Tirano via the town square.


and then on its way up to St Moritz.


On the spiral just outside Tirano.


A lovely section next to a river.


Just look at the lovely seat to ceiling windows for your sightseeing enjoyment. Also how neat and clean the train is.


A nice scenic view from the train crossing over a freeway. We have just come out of the tunnel on the left.


Just one of the many glaciers with cascading waterfalls that we passed on the way up.


One of the many lakes we passed. Note the ice blue colour of the water.


St Moritz.


Next - St Moritz to Rome.