Author: admin (Page 18 of 35)

Kent 15.7.20

17 July 2020 / admin / 0 Comments

Sissinghurst Castle 15-7-20

Sissinghurst

Today we aim to do something a little different. We go to Sissinghurst to visit the Castle and gardens. The gardens were the creation of Vita Sackville-West working with her husband Harold Nicholson between 1930 and 1962 and her death at which point it was donated to the National Trust. The current building was never a “castle” in the technical term – the name was adopted when it was a camp for French prisoners during the Seven Years’ War. The tower was part of the Elizabethan manor but much of that was demolished so it is not the size it once was. However the Nicholson family occupied quite separate parts of the buildings which remain.

Sissiinghurst 15-7-20

The gardens are the main draw of course and we roam around in what turned into an increasingly grey, dull day.

Double Camomile 15-7-20

There are many gardens separated by hedges and trees to provide some different and contrasting areas and the colours will depend on the time of the visit and what is in flower at the time.

Colour Sissinghurst 15-7-20

Some of the photos do not do a lot of justice to the hard work that it took to convert a poorly maintained location into the current well kept spaces and on a brighter day it may look very different.

House and colour Sissinghurst 15–7-20

At sometimes the camera can get close enough to look at the fine details

Up Close Sissinghurst 15-7-20

There are many separate gardens split up by hedges and paths and we may have missed some of them as there seems to be so much. This will give an idea of how the gardens are laid out:

Many gardens Sissinghurst 15-7-20

Some are more formal, others less so. Visitors first came here at the end of the Thirties, paying a shilling for entrance. It is somewhat more these days

Final Assortment Sissinghurst 15-7-20

16 July 2020

On the day following our trip to Sissinghurst we made a much shorter journey to Hythe and the Imperial Hotel which is adjacent to the English Channel. On the land side of the hotel there is a large garden and there this summer they are serving afternoon tea with everyone well separated. it was a little slow initially as no-one actually seemed to know what they were doing but it soon clicked into place and we rather liked the experience. Several years later we returned to stay for a couple of nights and can report an excellent dinner and breakfasts in the hotel plus a visit to the Hide and Fox (by taxi) for an excellent meal. The latter now holds two Michelin stars and well worthy of it.

Kent 14.7.20

16 July 2020 / admin / 0 Comments

Hercules RHDR 14-7-20

Running alongside the holiday camp is the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway which as the headboard shows is back in action post covid and although there are restrictions on sharing accommodation we are once again able to enjoy a ride behind a steam locomotive.

Hercules and driver RHDR 14-7-20

Whilst it does not look like it I can confirm that two people can fit in that cab – some years ago I spent a day with some others enjoying a driving experience – well shovelling coal and looking out at crossings – I left the water to the expert as I have no wish to damage a boiler and I preferred things to be safe as these locos are not cheap.

Dungeness Nuclear Power Station 14-7-20

The end of the line is not Dymchurch but Dungeness of course, but somehow Romney, Hythe and Dungeness simply does not sound as nice as Dymchurch!

Dungeness 14-7-20

In normal operation at Dungeness the service stops at the station and the progresses around the run round loop to return to the northern part of the line. However unusually the loco runs around and sets back on to the other end of the coaching stock. I am not sure why this method of operation was being used – but it may be that some track needed fettling before being returned to passenger service as it is on loose shingle which could well have suffered through lack of use.

Northern Chief RHDR 14-7-20

On our return journey we cross the other service headed by Northern Chief and it is clear that the world is steadily recovering to life after months in lockdown. However as I know now writing this somewhat later it is going to be a long slog before things really get closer to normal.

Normally when I write about a railway I feel i should write some summary – but it would be out of date and would be unfair. It was pleasing that once again a railway – not a heritage line because it is now serving the public exactly the same as it has always done. It will be 100 in 2027 (opening on 16 July 1927) and I hope that they are planning a massive celebration – the “Smallest Public Railway in the World”.

We went to the Pilot Inn Dungeness in the evening for dinner. Dungeness is a different world – the pebbles, the feeling that it is somewhere detached, remote and somehow separate from the rest of Kent being on the far side of the Romney Marsh. Otherworldly in some strange way.

Kent 12-13.7.20

14 July 2020 / admin / 0 Comments

Beef Fordwich Arms 12 July 2020 copyright J M Whitbread

Sunday 12 June 2020

This was a beautifully warm day and we headed through the Kent countryside to a superb lunch at the Fordwich Arms, Fordwich. We had a superb lunch adjacent to the river and were well looked after by the staff and it was wonderful being able to enjoy fresh air dining on the terrace in some lovely surroundings. Once back a sleep is a high priority.

Chimpanzee Port Lympne 13-7-20

Monday 13 June 2020

We head to Port Lympne this morning. Once again the sun is shining and we take our walk through the zoo quite steadily – it covers over 100 acres and we are unable to cover the full extent of it. Trying to obtain decent photos through the caging is beyond me so I apologise for the quality of the accompanying photos.

Meercat Port Lympne 13-7-20

Somewhat easier to capture was this meercat – which was not being compared to anything but was keeping a key eye on events and the people watching it from what I can see.

Distant animals Port Lympne 13-7-20

Identification of some of the more distant animals is always a challenge and I cannot now remember what these were.

Rhinoceroses Port Lympne 13-7-20

However I feel I can assert these are a pair of rhinos wandering around a very distant field. I need to a higher power zoom lens I rather think.

Folkestone / Canterbury 10&11.7.20

12 July 2020 / admin

Folkestone Harbour Station 10-7-20

Since our return from Cuba in February the world had changed. This trip had been built around a planned wedding – which was deferred until 2021 – but suddenly the restrictions were being unwound and we were able to head to Kent in the belief that something other than our own four walls might surround us.

Rocksalt restaurant 10-7-20

On the Friday evening we dined and stayed at Rocksalt in Folkestone, visiting once again the Harbour station; the last time we were able to leave it by VSOE – something no longer possible. The restaurant has a stunning location and view. It majors on seafood for obvious reasons.

Canterbury Cathedral 11-7-20

We have some time to kill on the Saturday before our caravan will be available and spend it in Canterbury. The Cathedral normally has a pretty stiff charge for entry but they are testing their new covid-style restrictions and are providing free entry at the time of our visit – so it was an absolute steal at that price!

Canterbury Cathedral on 11-7-20

The huge building is obviously nearly empty and the seating has been reduced to ensure that visitors maintain the requisite distances which were being promulgated as life saving., all long before the requirement for vaccines was imposed on everyone. In retrospect it all seems a strange way to carry on.

We also visited Canterbury Goods Shed which despite the background seemed pretty busy as I remember – and well worth visiting again at some point when back in the area.

Our destination is Romney Sands and we cross the RH&DR as we enter the park – use of the line will be made later in the week during our peregrinations around south east Kent.

Cuba 18.2.20 onwards

22 February 2020 / admin

Sopping towel 18-2-20

We are now in a holiday complex in Varadero, Northern Cuba. This is a spit of land and there are a string of hotels all along the length of this piece of the coast. We were dropped yesterday and it seemed in retrospect that the tour manager was particularly keen to get going back to Havana. We arrived just after lunchtime as I recall but as were after the appointed hour the restaurant had closed and there was nothing available for some hours – which is always wearing. I seem to remember there was something unattractive on a barbecue – but hardly looked edible.

In fairness the restaurant when it was open in the evening was actually not that bad but it was worth getting in early to ensure that first choice did not run out before eating.

Less attractive was the failure of the air conditioning unit initially spewing significant amounts of water and this was followed by the emergence of innumerable bugs which had no doubt been jamming the innards of the equipment for some considerable period – particularly as they ran around the room.

I attempted to obtain some recognition of the problem by the front desk who suddenly denied speaking English, having any spare rooms and no contacts to whom to refer the problem as they were all off duty. Despite having common branding with other hotels we had passed they were unable to contact them to obtain a spare room or arrange any form of relocation. This left an almighty bad taste in the mouth and various bites on various bits of anatomies. However it had to be grinned and born (or something like that).

On a more positive note there was a specialist restaurant within the complex – Japanese if my memory serves correctly – which did deliver a better meal so this did improve matters.

Having had a largely enjoyable holiday and been well treated these last few days were a total let down. At the time we could not work out why – but I suspect the hotel company was just unable to stay on top of maintenance and the facilities were lacking to ensure they could be sustained long term. It meant we were actually keen to get on the plane home which is often not the case.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.

Cuba 17.2.20

18 February 2020 / admin

Santa Clara Theatre 17-2-20

Today we are making stops on our way to our final hotel of which more later. However Santa Clara also has a theatre so we have an initial stop here and whilst it is similar to the one in Cienfuegos it is attractively decorated and looks very well kept.

Cuban Steam loco 17-2-20

We leave Santa Clara on a longish journey this morning after visiting the theatre and we make a service station stop with this adorning the outside area. Former Cuban American Sugar (Central Constancia) steam locomotive No.562 457 is stuffed but far from preserved as another representation of the local historic sugar trade.

Statue of José Martí Mantanzas 17-2-20

We then make a further stop in Mantanzas where we walk around the statue of José Marti, a revolutionary leader and poet. He lived between 1853 and 1895 as he was a symbolic leader for the independence from Spain leading a revolt in 1895 which led to his demise. Independence was formally granted on 20 May 1902.

Triiolet Pharmacy Mantanzas 17-2-20

In some ways a more interesting sight in Mantanzas is this amazing survivor – a drugstore (sorry but we we are almost in America) opened on 1 January 1882 which was recognised as historic in 1964 and it became a National Monument in 2007. It is a preserved and no doubt slightly restored pharmacy with bottles of herbal and other remedies which were no doubt going out fashion in 1964 but reflect a much earlier history.

Triolet Pharmacy bottles 17-2-20

Some proprietary medication can be seen – Sloans – among others.

Cash Register 17-2-20

This did not ring as sales are not possible – but it was obviously a very different world during the active life of the pharmacy.

At the rear there is an equipped kitchen were no doubt some of the noxious brews were put together, along with a huge card index recording the medications for each individual and how they would be prescribed. A very different world.

Cuban train 17-2-20

On our way to the final hotel we crossed a railway line a couple of times and I managed one shot of a locomotive but what it is doing (it looks like it might be a freight train) and where it was going I have no idea.

This marked the end of the touring holiday and we have three nights now in a holiday complex on the north of the island. Our experience here will be covered in the remaining post about Cuba.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.

Cuba 16.2.20

17 February 2020 / admin

Che Guevara Mausoleum Santa Clara 16-2-20

Ernesto Guevara was an Argentinian who met Fidel Castro and through his skills behind the Cuban revolutionary movement rose to second in command and of course became world famous for the overthrow of the Government. He remains honoured in Cuba and this morning we visited his mausoleum. Santa Clara was important as this fell to the revolutionaries at the very end of 1958 and the head of the previous government fled the country the next day. Guevara then took various political positions but returned to direct conflict in the Congo in 1965, where there was no wish to fight by the citizens. During 1966-7 he was developing a guerrilla army in Bolivia being captured on 7 October 1967 and executed two days later. In 1997 his remains were removed from Bolivia and laid to rest at the Santa Clara Mausoleum.

Statue of Liberty of Remedios 16-2-20

Despite the antipathy to the US in some respects there are interesting nods to their near but much larger neighbour. The main parliament building in Havana reflects the style of the Capitol building in Washington and in Remedios there is a local version of the Statue of Liberty to reflect the freedom of the people following the revolution in Cuba. Remedios may be the second oldest Spanish settlement on the island with evidence of existing dating back to 1514.

Tren Blindado 16-2-20

From the coach we sped past the Tren Blindado hence this appalling shot of a view which I was did not previously record. We are nearing the end of our holiday and the hotels have been generally acceptable. This one had a problem with noise given the rooms were above the public area – but we still managed to sleep most nights and have generally been very looked after throughout.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.

Cuba 15.2.20

16 February 2020 / admin

Iglesia Parroquial Mayor del Espíritu Santo 15-2-20

We are moving on again today visiting Sancti Spiritus which has the distinctive church above and some other attractive buildings.

Inside Iglesia Parroquial Mayor 15-2-20

We visited the local market as well and it is very different to markets elsewhere in the world with the quantities on display being somewhat limited with far less choice and variety. There are statues the town around which are interesting and it would appear that there are more than we saw.

Puenta Yayabo Bridge Sancti Spiritu 15-2-20

We move onwards to Santa Clara which is an important location in Communist revolutionary history being the location of he Battle of Santa Clara in December 1958. The Government had sent a supply train of ammunition, weapons and equipment in support of their troops to attempt to hold back the advancing Guevara led revolutionaries. Using the local tractors from the school of Agronomy the revolutionaries disrupted the tracks leading to the derailment of the train which was promptly captured with the 350 troops becoming prisoners, although allegedly some of them no longer wished to fight other Cubans. It was essentially a major turning point of the revolution and within days the Government had been overthrown. It is commemorated by a memorial which is on the site of the original incident.

Tren Blindado Santa Clara 15-2-20

it was not clear at the time if these are the original vehicles or ones which were used to recreate the event.

Bulldozer Santa Clara 15-2-20

Tractor is a slight understatement if these were the items used to pull up the track – more like a bulldozer!

At the hotel in the evening we enjoy a decent meal but the best story concerns a young lady on her first ever shift. We ask for a bottle of wine and she has never opened a bottle before. It also transpires that she is left-handed and opening a bottle with a bottle opener when you are left handed is not obvious. After a moment or two the good lady wife takes pity on the poor girl and demonstrates the need to use her right hand for this particular task. We wish her good luck. The payback is the following evening, she is on duty again and again we order a bottle of wine. She declines assistance and within moments she has removed the cork and is pouring wine (left handed). She will go far I am sure.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.

Cuba 14.2.20

15 February 2020 / admin

Manaca-Iznaga Tower Valle de los Ingenios 14-2-20

Having seen how the wealth was spent in Cienfuegos we now move onto discover how it was accumulated by the labour of the inevitable slaves in the sugar plantations in the central area of Cuba. Symbolic of the control which was exerted is the Manaca-Iznaga Tower from which the overseers could watch large numbers at work in the sugar plantations and ensure that they were indeed working. It was built in 1750 and the bell is retained separately at the bottom of the tower.

Sugar cane press 14-2-20

A key piece of equipment was a sugar cane press. These were used to crush the sugar cane stalks to extract the sweet juice prior to processing into sugar. It is long disused and whilst the growing of sugar cane is no longer as dominant in Cuba as it once was it is still grown and contributes to exports.

Iznaga Station 14-2-20

The sugar was historically taken to Trinidad for export via rail and this was the local station. I have identified that as recently as 2024 the tourist train did run through the valley from Trini which did used to be on the tour itinerary before out 2020 visit but had been removed as at that time it did not run regularly. I cannot comment on the situation in 2026.

Valle de los Ingenios 14-2-20

There were some wonderful views over the countryside.

Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco de Asís, Trinidad 14-2-20

Our trip today ends in Trinidad – which is in Cuba and not elsewhere. The above church is in Plaza Mayor but is now a museum.

Church of the Holy Tirinity Trinidad 14-2-20

However it would seem that my camera was over exposing everything it recorded at this point. Entirely my fault.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.

Cuba 13.2.20

14 February 2020 / admin

Palacio de Gobierno de Cienfuegos 13-2-20

We have headed east and south from Havana this morning to Cienfuegos which is on the southern coast of Cuba. Since 2005 the Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as the best extant example of early 19th century Spanish Enlightenment influence on urban planning.

Tomás Terry Theatre Cienfuegos 13-2-20

Cienfuegos has clearly experienced wealth in the past with the buildings and this magnificent theatre – Tomás Terry Theatre. No relation to the late British comedian – he was a wealthy 19th Century Venezuelan-Cuban industrialist Irish stock on his father’s side deriving his wealth initially from inevitably slavery and then sugar and banking leading to a claim that in 1886 at the time of his death he was the richest man in Cuba. The first performance in the theatre took place in 1890 so he did not live to see it.

Palacio de Valle Cienfuegos 13-2-20

Built in 1917 the Palacio de Valle is further evidence of the wealth of the local merchants – in this case Aciscio del Valle Blanco and this is now a National Monument functioning as a hotel and restaurant.

Waterfront Cienfuegos 13-2-20

We board a boat for effectively a trip around the Bahia de Cienfuegos during which we can see the local waterfront properties some of which are quite impressive. In the far distance the location of the Planta Nuclear de Juraguá is indicated – a Russian funded nuclear power station which produces a significant proportion of the island’s electricity.

This trip remains in the memory for reasons other than the sights. We were the first group to board and naturally we occupied seats along the rails. A second party joined the boat and there was much shuffling and juggling as they sought to insert themselves within the existing participants. It transpired that they were of a group of Jewish people and the impression they gave of themselves was not entirely positive. However such is life.

A slight disclaimer, this has been written over 6 years after the journey concerned so is very much based around the photographs taken on the day.