Latest revision as of 14:34, 22 February 2020

Visit of Georges to UK (August 2017)

Georges came to visit us in UK from 8 August (2017) till the 18, and we have travelled up and down the country to show him around.

This was the first time that Georges came to the UK and also the first time he took a plane, all by himself! We decided to go camping in the national parks, and chose the Lake and Peak Districts as fine (and close enough) specimen likely to impress, and then also went to London to show him the big city, in particular since Big Ben would soon go mute for 4 years! The rest of the time was spent in Wolverhampton.

Warrington

On 11 August (2017). Our first stop was in Warrington, in Cheshire, as we needed a stop on the way but had not time for the big cities (Manchester or Liverpool). Warrington has few peculiar features of its own (although, as with everything, when you start looking, there's much to get into), so it was suitable for a short break.

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  Warrington was the site of an IRA bombing in 1993.

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  This fountain ("Fountain of Life") is a memorial to two children victims: Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry.

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  The youngest one had the age of Julia when he was killed by the blast.

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  One of the notable sights of Warrington.

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  Warrington's museum. We stayed about one hour there.

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  This statue from Sierra Leone, used for white magic, featured an interesting rest of its anatomy.

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  The museum tells you that Warrington exited back in Roman times.

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  Local architecture.

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  The Town hall has a magnificent gate, which were on our todo list for Warrington.

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  The rest of the railings was removed in 1942 to provide iron for the war effort.

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  The Town hall behind has been described has the finest house of its date in south Lancashire.

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  In the park was a fair, and Georges joined the British children on a couple of attractions.

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  Julia could have her bit of fun too, with the trampoline.

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  This provided good energy expenditure for the rest of the trip.

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  Arrived at the Hoathwaite National Trust Campsite.

From the Museum:

Honister mine, Keswick & Coniston

On 11 August (2017). We wanted to trek the Honister hills but, unfortunately, it was raining rather heavily. Thankfully, however, the site is also home to the Honister mine which sheltered us the time of a visit. It was still raining when we got out so we went back down where the rain was much lighter. We visited Keswick and spent some time there in a coffee waiting for the weather to become more friendly and found a window to walk along the shores of the Derwenwater, of scenic fame for its appearances in some Holywood movies.

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  Typical sight of the Lake district.

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  In the Honister mine.

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  A safe spot from the rain.

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  Georges in the main cave.

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  The Honister pass in the mist.

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  A street in Keswick.

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  Preparation of Fudge.

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  Pause for chocolate (Georges) and coffee (us).

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  Milk for Julia.

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  Julia entertained us by making faces.

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  This one is a great Julia classic.

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  Of which she has infinite declinations.

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  Back to normal after the performance.

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  A stop on our way back.

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  To admire this waterfall.

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  That is as far as the car as we got.

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  English road in the lake district.

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  In Coniston.

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  Small but beautiful village in the mountains.

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  The village's church.

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  That leads to Ruskin's grave.

Tom Ghyll waterfalls, Tarn Hows, Cathedral Cavern, Cumbrian quarries & Yew Tree Tarn

On 12 August (2017). It was also raining on this day and we feared to be again limited or even prevented to do this walk. Fortunately, the weather turned out to be clear and even sunny for most of the time. This was not a very long walk (16km) but with much to see on the way and some less easy routes near the end through open lands. We found many dead trees riddled with coins of money cast forcedly in their trunk. While the phenomenon is not entirely clear [1] and seems to be the sort of fetishism that tourists do (like putting locks on bridges), it delighted Georges who managed to get a few coins out and cherished them for the rest of the walk (he lost one in a puddle).

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  Tom Ghyll waterfalls.

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  At the beginning of the tour.

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  Arriving at the lake: Tarn Hows.

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  It was still raining profusely.

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  One of the treasure trees.

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  Weather got sunnier and we could picnic here.

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  Back on the track.

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  Lambs happily and freely grazing.

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  Beautiful stone wall.

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  Extending over infinities.

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  Good spirits.

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  Escaping.

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  On the bridge.

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  A tunnel in the quarries.

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  The Cathedral Cavern, the highlight of the walk.

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  A pillar that seems to hold the mountain.

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  The quarries.

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  A spot discovered by Georges.

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  Literally a balcony on the Cathedral Cavern.

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  Probably one of the big sights of England.

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  Back to the quarry.

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  In another tunnel.

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  It is not clear where this one is going.

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  Back on our track, to close the loop.

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  Tiredness as the day comes to its end.

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  Last pause on the Yew Tree Tarn lake.

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  Georges chasing lambs as we wait for the girls.

Thorpe Cloud

On 13 August (2017). On our way back from the Lake district, as this was a long way to Wolverhampton, we stopped at the Peak district. Although we camped in the evening, we had time for a delightful walk to the Thorpe Cloud. Not only has the mountain a fantastic shape, the walk (we parked in the nearby Ilam rather that at the overpriced Dovedale car park) through the fields with lambs running round and crossing the Dovedale stepping stones was big fun. The only negative point of the day was that we did not find any place to eat and ran out of gas in our tent, hence this was a frugal last day after much walking.

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  Finishing to install our tent.

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  From Ilam to the Thorpe Cloud.

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  We met many lambs on the way.

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  From one field to the next.

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  Getting there...

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  Another stile.

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  Julia seemed to have done that all her life.

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  Georges chasing lambs again.

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  Ascending the Thorpe Cloud.

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  A steep slope. Lambs are quickly receding into dots.

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  Reached the top!

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  The view from there.

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  Everybody there.

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  Pausing with the river Dove.

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  Georges pointing at a hot balloon.

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  View on the other side.

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  Georges in the peak's greenery.

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  The stepping stones over the Dove.

London

Another highlight of the visit was London, where we spent two days, starting on 15 August (2017). On the first day, we walked the city, actually from the train station where we arrived to our hotel, passing by the Monument, which was the main highlight and a well known place to Julia from the song Arde Londres. The next day was devoted to the London Bridge, which we visited for the first time.

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  Gates of Saint George's gardens.

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  On Farrington road.

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  Passing by a London pub.

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  No need of public transport when you can go à cheval.

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  Saint Paul's cathedral.

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  Monument to firemen.

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  Georges on a Thames' bridge.

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  And Julia, nearby.

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  Skyline of modern London.

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  Monument.

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  Climbinb up.

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  On top of the Monument.

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  View from the Monument.

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  The Shard.

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  Back in the street, in the phonebooth.

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  Big Ben.

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  A peaceful London street.

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  Tower of London.

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  London skyline.

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  In the London Bridge.

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  Suspended over the Thames.

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  Georges with the mechanism to open the London Bridge.

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  Lunch break and Julia exhibiting her London acquisition.

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  We were lucky to see the bridge open.

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  In a London double-deck bus.

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  On Trafalgar square.

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  In Covent gardens.