From Nailsworth to Horsley

Posted on 28/05/2016 by Martin

A walk through the Cotswold countryside passing through Horsley Mill Fish Farm.

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Bruges. Again

Posted on 26/05/2016 by Martin

We’ve been to Bruges about this time of year for three years now, mainly because we refuse to believe that the weather can’t always be worse there than it is at home. It was a draw, more or less, this year. As I’ve taken all the tourist pictures before, I intended to keep the camera in my backpack this time, but, well…

[Click any picture to enlarge]

Bruges bricks
Bruges weaver
Bruges fungi
Cafe in the re-cycling shop in Bruges.
Boy racers’ cafe in Ostende.
Inside the weirdest general stores in Sluis.
Sluis cheese shop.
Square in central Bruges, during Saturday market.
Bruges Saturday market
Bruges Saturday market
Bruges Saturday market
Bruges Saturday market
Ostende pier.
Sal outside seafood lunch restaurant.
Dolls’ house in Neuporte
Art installation, Ostende.
Sculpture in Neuporte.
The Eagle by Leo Camps 1996. Neuporte.
Statue of Edward Anseele, Belgian Socialist. Ghent.
Lille Citadel.
Lille zoo.
Lille zoo.
Lille zoo.
Lille Citadel.
Lille Citadel.
Lille Citadel.
Lille Citadel.
Ghent barge.
The Old Fish Market restaurant. Closed on Mondays!
Lunch, Ghent.
Ghent.
Ghent.
Ghent building site.
Hotel, Bruges.
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Forest of Dean sculpture trail

Posted on 12/05/2016 by Martin

The four sides of “Raw”, by Neville Gabie.

Martin, pixellated.

Martin, pixellated.

Part of Echo by Annie Cattrell.

Part of “Echo” by Annie Cattrell.

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“Fire and Water Boats” by David Nash.

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“The Heart of Stone” by Tim Lees.

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“Iron Road” by Keir Smith.

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“Cathedral” by Kevin Atherton.

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Bluebells by Mother Nature.

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The Slad valley

Posted on 09/05/2016 by Martin

Laurie Lee made this part of Gloucestershire famous when he wrote Cider With Rosie about his childhood in the period between the wars. He died almost twenty years ago and in his lifetime the area moved considerably upmarket, being now full of second homes and Range Rovers.

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Llanthony Priory

Posted on 05/05/2016 by Martin

The little village of Llanthony, in the Welsh Black Mountains, is home to the spectacular ruins of Llanthony Priory. The scenery is breathtaking and incorporates the Offa’s Dyke long-distance path. We walked down to a village called Cwmyoy, on one side of the valley of the Afon (river) Honddu, and back climbing to a ridge to the west of Llanthony.

Llanthony Priory.

Llanthony Priory.

View from Offa's Dyke.

View from Offa’s Dyke.

Lunch overlooking Maes-y-Beran farm.

Lunch overlooking Maes-y-Beran farm.

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St Martin's church, Cwmyoy, in the Brecon Beacons.

St Martin’s church, Cwmyoy, in the Brecon Beacons.

St Martin's church, Cwmyoy. The Lord is not immune to subsidence,

St Martin’s church, Cwmyoy. The Lord is not immune to subsidence,

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Descending to Llanthony

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A pint (Sal – cider; me – beer) back at the priory ruins (there’s a pub in what was a priory – there IS a God!)

 

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A walk near Dunster, North Devon

Posted on 02/05/2016 by Martin

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Horses near the Exe River, Tiverton

Posted on 13/04/2016 by Martin

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Porto, on the Douro River in Portugal, seems like a great place.  After a  direct flight from Bristol, and an easy bus journey, we arrived at our apartment, conveniently situated above a patisserie, bar and restaurant.

Porto view, looking down river.

Porto view, looking down river.

Woman reading by statue, Pç Carlos Alberto.

Woman reading by statue, Pç Carlos Alberto.

Walking along south bank of Douro to Fishing Village at the sea, and San Pedro's restaurant!

Walking along south bank of Douro to Fishing Village at the sea, and San Pedro’s restaurant!

BMW in front of smoked glass.

BMW in front of smoked glass.

Street art near Luis I bridge.

Street art near Luis I bridge.

Luis I bridge from derelict window.

Luis I bridge from derelict window.

Derelict building south of River.

Derelict building south of River.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Disused wash house near Ponte do Infante.

Majestic Café.

Majestic Café.

Majestic Café.

Majestic Café.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Steps in Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Mosteiro S. Bento da Vitória.

Subway station

Subway station

Grafitti near Luis I bridge

Grafitti near Luis I bridge

Solitary musician.

Solitary musician.

River view toward Serra do Pilar

River view toward Serra do Pilar

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Knocker in Jewish quarter

Knocker in Jewish quarter.

Street sculpture.

Street sculpture.

Street art.

Street art.

Port tasting in market.

Port tasting in market.

After port tasting.

After port tasting.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Cathedral.

Photography exhibition in old gaol and courthouse building.

Photography exhibition in old gaol and courthouse building. Yes, that’s a camera.

Chairs in old gaol and courthouse building.

Chairs in old gaol and courthouse building.

Old gaol and courthouse building.

Old gaol and courthouse building.

Wine o'clock.

Wine o’clock.

Casa da Musical.

Casa da Musical.

Bad town planning?

Bad town planning?

Sculpture in Serralves Gardens.

Sculpture in Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Serralves Gardens.

Teahouse in Serralves Gardens.

Teahouse in Serralves Gardens.

Bird sanctuary on river

Bird sanctuary on river

Lighthouse at Foz.

Lighthouse at Foz.

Fortifications at Foz.

Fortifications at Foz.

Tram interior.

Tram interior.

Tram driver. Every boy's dream job

Tram driver. Every boy’s dream job

Tram interior

Tram interior

Street art

Street art

Church interior.

Church interior.

Igreja dos Carmelitas, Carmo.

Igreja dos Carmelitas, Carmo.

Roof garden near Cordoaria.

Roof garden near Cordoaria.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Being seranaded from below.

Being seranaded from below.

The Luis I bridge from south-west.

The Luis I bridge from south-west.

Fontainhaus district

Fontainhaus district

In the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

In the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Apartment window.

Apartment window.

View from apartment. TWO churches separated by narrowest house in Portugal. Allegedly.

View from apartment. TWO churches separated by narrowest house in Portugal. Allegedly.

Narrowest house in Porto between two churches.

Narrowest house in Porto between two churches.

Apartment staircase.

Apartment staircase.

 

Grafitti

Grafitti

Sally's painting of view.

Sally’s painting of view.

Sally's painting.

Sally’s painting.

Sally painting.

Sally painting.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Grafitti.

Palacio de Cristal.

Palacio de Cristal.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Thirsty dog.

Thirsty dog.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Parque da Pasteliera.

Motorway bridge from the Parque da Pasteliera.

Motorway bridge from the Parque da Pasteliera.

Trams.

Trams.

Tram.

Tram.

Tram.

Tram.

Railway station.

Railway station.

Railway station.

Railway station.

Lello & Irmão Bookstore.

Lello & Irmão Bookstore.

Pc de Gomes Teixeira. Apartment out of shot on left.

Pc de Gomes Teixeira. Apartment out of shot on left.

Apartment above Primar patisserie.

Apartment above Primar patisserie. Sal pointing at favourite cake.

Luis I bridge from south.

Luis I bridge from south.

Tuk-tuk taxis.

Tuk-tuk taxis.

Street art/protection.

Street art/protection.

Serra do Pilar.

Serra do Pilar.

Old city wall, Porto.

Old city wall, Porto.

Luis I bridge, lower level.

Luis I bridge, lower level.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

Near the Parque Municipal das Virtudes.

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Grafitti.

Posted on 20/03/2016 by Martin | Leave a comment

Near the River Wye

Posted on 06/03/2016 by Martin

Sheep and oak tree near Fownhope in Herefordshire.

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Living wall

Posted on 01/03/2016 by Martin

A colourful (for February) “living” wall at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. Mostly ivy and, er, begonias, I think.

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