Travel Logs – Page 2 – Travel Destinations

The White Rose of Athens

The song “The White Rose of Athens” was based on a traditional Greek song which translated as “When you whistle three times”. The song was originally adapted into German as “Weiße Rosen aus Athen” for Nana Mouskouri to sing for a soundtrack on a German documentary called “Greece, land of dreams”.

Nana Mouskouri – The White Rose of Athens

For most people that first thing that spring to mind when you mention Athens, is the Acropolis. The word acropolis basically means the highest point of the city. It is known that the area was inhabitated as far back as 3000BC but the buildings that stand on the site have been there since the 5th century BC.

The Acropolis is not one building but a collection of buildings including the including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechteion and the Temple of Athena Nike. Unfortunately for us the Parthenon and many surrounding buildings were severely damaged in 1687 during the seige of Athens by the Venetians. Gunpowder being stored by the Ottomans was hit by a cannonball and exploded. See our post on Monte Cassino here.

The Parthenon is the most instantly recognisable building and was built as a temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena. It is considered to be the most important surviving building of classical Greece. In its time, it has served as both a Christian Church and a Muslim Mosque. Since 1975 there has been a concerted effort to restore the Parthenon including financial support from the European Union. Whilst the efforts have been highly praised, in 2021 the use of concrete for footpaths has been criticised.

Between 1801 and 1812 under the direction of the Earl of Elgin, many classical Greek sculptures from the Parthenon and other buildings were removed and are now on display in the British Museum. The Greek government has sought to have these so called “Elgin Marbles” returned. Elgin claimed that he was given permission to remove them by the then ruler of Greece, the Ottoman Empire though no paperwork has ever been discovered. Approximately half of the marbles remain in Athens today.

A worthwhile day trip from Athens is one that will take you to the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. When the Athenian defeated the Persians in 480 BC they had a captured Persian naval vessel displayed at Sounion as a dedication to the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. The temple itself was built during 444–440 BC and stands on the edge of the cape at a height of 60m, so that it is clearly visible to passing vessels as a reminder of the power of Athens. The temple was constructed of white marble and originally there were 38 columns of which 16 are standing today. 4 of these were rebuilt in the 1990s.

Of course there is so much more to Athens and Greece that ancient monuments so we will be back before too long to discover more.

In the meantime contact Maggie today to book your break to Athens or Greece.

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Kentucky Rain

“In the cold Kentucky Rain” is probably not the best way to entice visitors to visit the state of Kentucky. Recorded in 1969 and released 11 months later in 1970, for many, this is their favourite Elvis song, so much so that it earned a place on the CD “Elvis with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: The Wonder of You“. Enjoy this version with images of Kentucky.

Visitors to Kentucky are typically drawn to the state for one of three reasons: sports, cars and whisky. Not necessarily in that order. For horse racing fans all around the world.

Most people will have heard of the Kentucky Derby even if they haven’t actually seen the race. The race itself is the oldest continuously held sporting event in the USA, first taking place in 1975. The race typically takes place on the 1st Saturday in May. Held at the Churchill Downs racetrack is only 10 minutes from downtown Louisville, the race itself last approximately 2 minutes. Horses are competing for a prize of US$2 million,

Racing typically takes place from Thursday through Sundays. However you can take a range of guided tours of the track and its facilites everyday of the week. Right next door you can also visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Your admission ticket to the museum includes a walking tour of the racetrack. So make sure if you book a guided tour ticket you can getting to see other parts of the track! One racetrack not enough then head off to Keeneland in Lexington for a further equine fix. A visit here at the time of writing was listed as the No.2 thing to do in Kentucky on Tripadvisor.

Copyright: National Corvette Museum — National Corvette Museum – Bowling Green – Kentucky – USA

No self-confessed car enthusiast could visit Kentucky and not visit the National Corvette Museum. Within the museum there are a number areas which focus on various aspects of Corvette History. One of the favourite areas for visitors is the Nostalgia Area where you can walk down Main Street and see a mid-20th century barbershop. Visit a 1960s Chevrolet dealer or the St Louis production line. There are a variety of events and car shows throughout the year so check before you visit.

Of course you can’t visit Kentucky without stopping off at one of the many bourbon distilleries. Bourbon is a way of life here. The distilleries are numerous and almost all are open for visits. The Kentucky tourism website lists 62 of them. You can find a number of tours including some that will take you to 20 of them. You start off on a walking tour, whether you are still able to walk at the end of the day is up to you.

We started off with music and this where we will finish our short trip to Kentucky, many of the bars where you will experiencing your bourbon or whiskey will have local live music, so check out the local schedules when you arrive.

Contact Maggie today to find out when you book your trip to Kentucky to avoid the rain. She can book those tours for you in advance so you can relax and just turn up.

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It’s a trip around the Sun in Gran Canaria

If there is one song, that will entice you to get on a plane to Gran Canaria, it has to be this one by Edward Fox and the Animal Kingdom. Information on the band is a bit sketchy but they are based in Gran Canaria with links to Poland, Italy and Denmark. They say the song was written because “This place made us believe in ourselves and made us resurrect, it seemed natural to start from there”.

Gran Canaria – Edward Fox and the Animal Kingdom

Take time to listen to the lyrics. Soon you will be booking your tickets.

“I’ve seen dunes, jungles, volcanos and hills. Beaches and mountains that give you the chills. Those microcomos appear disappear. Product of Africa since million years. From Las Palmas to Mogán. It’s a trip around the Sun in Gran Canaria.” At the end of the song, you’ll how to correctly pronounce all the popular destinations on the island.

Gran Canaria is the second most visited Canary Island after Tenerife which we visited in May. In terms of landscape, it provides everything from beautiful beaches to mountains.

Dunes – Maspalomas – Canary Islands – Spain

Since 1987 the Maspalomas Dunes have been designated as a nature reserve. Many tourists will be heading to the hotels close by but if you venture far enough into this desert like environment you will feel like you are miles from humanity. The beach here is over 7 miles long so you can usually find a place to lay down your towels and soak up the sun.

El Faro de Maspalomas – Gran Canaria – Spain

The Maspalomas Lighthouse was built in 1890 and the dunes are located to the east of here. The represents the importance of the islands in helping to guide vessels on their journeys between Spain and Latin America. It can be seen 19 nautical miles out to sea. The lighthouse reopened to the public in 2019 after being closed for 10 years.

Roque Nublo – Gran Canaria – Canary Islands – Spain

Visting the Nublo Rural Park is a great way to spend a day out. Here you will find the third highest point on the island, the Roque Nublo. Located almost in the centre of the island, at a height of almost 6000 ft you can touch the past (the rock is over 4 and half million years old) and see fantastic views of island or the cloud base depending on the day. There is a circular route of about 3 miles (5km) from the main road that will also take in other prominent sites.

Las Palmas – Gran Canaria – Canary Islands – Spain

Not on many people’s list for a city break is the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas. You can also visit on a day trip from the popular beach destinations such as Maspalomas in the south. Christopher Columbus once lived here for a period of time in 1492 when his ship anchored in the port for repairs. The house where he lived is now a museum, the “Casa de Colón”. The Casa de Colón can be found in the old district known as Veguetta. This was the first part of the island conquered by the Castillians in 1478.

For followers of the arts you might be interested visiting the birthplace of the writer Perez Galdos or the Museo Mestor which is dedicated to the modernist painter Nestor Martin-Fernandez de la Torre.

Playa de Las Canteras – Las Palmas – Gran Canaria – Spain

For a city Las Palmas has a number of very accessible beaches. The most popular is the Playa de Las Canteras. It is almost 2 miles (3km) long and is one of only three beaches in Spain that has received ISO 14001 certification. If laying on the beach is not your thing, then take in the atmosphere by strolling along the Paseo de Las Canteras that runs alongside. The average temperature all year round is over 20^oC even in January. So there is not excuse to visit anytime.

Puerto de Mogán – Gran Canaria – Canary Islands – Spain

Finally as the song says ” From Las Palmas to Mogán ” before we go, we should mention the later. The town of Mogán is 5 miles from the coast, not far away from Puerto De Mogán. It has a beautiful sheltered bay which is great for kids and right next door is a lovely harbour which is a great base for a sailing holiday.

There is plenty more to visit not just in Las Palmas but throughout the whole island so we will be back. In the meantime contact Maggie today to book your holiday in Gran Canaria.

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It was in Prague not so long ago

So goes the opening line of 1965 released song Prague by Rika Zaraï, an Israeli singer who not only sang in French, but English, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian and German. Rika lived most of her life in Paris where she made a career as a singer, songwriter, musician and author.

Rika Zaraï – Prague – 1967 Recording

Prague is a great place to visit at any time of year but the winter always seems so magical. Come the evenings the buildings in the centre are lit up and somehow it enhances their beauty.

Then at the end of your evening you can head for a cosy restaurant or maybe a bar where you can drink “probably” the best beer (pivo) in the world.

The Prague Beer Museum offers 31 beers on tap so you have plenty of choice.

Many visitors will head for the Old Town Square for refreshment. It is equally stunning both in the day and at night. The Square has remained relatively unchanged since the 10th Century. Here in the summer and for the hearty in the winter you can sit out al fresco and watch the world pass by. Standing or sitting in the square you can view the beautiful arcitecture. There are usuallly a few street performers and traders to enhance your experience.

Old Town Square – Prague – Czech Republic

I personally became familiar with the layout of the city via countless hours playing Forza on my Xbox. If you can get access to one have a go and you will get a great feel for the city. Many a time have I outbraked myself and crashed into the building above. One of the most familar sights from the games is that of the Charles Bridge in whose reign in 1357 the construction was begun. It wasnt formally called the Charles Bridge until 1870. The distinctive stone arches are similar in principle to the stone bridge in Regensburg and is now a UNESCO heritage site. Until 1841 the bridge was the only means of crossing the river Vltava and this led to Prague becoming an important centre on the east-west trade route. The bridge connects Prague Castle with the Old Town. Starting in 2019 it is currently undergoing a 20 years process of inspections, repairs and restoration.

Charles Bridge – Prague – Czech Republic

Whilst in the square do not miss a chance to see the Astronomical Clock. It was installed in 1410 and whilst it is the third oldest in terms on construction, it is the oldest working one in the world. It is mounted on the south wall of the Old Town Hall. The clock mechanism has three main components — the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky, the statutes of various saints and a calendar dial showing the months. According to legend the city will suffer if the good operation of the clock is neglected, so you can understand why it is in excellent working order today. In fact it was restored in 2018.

Astronomical Clock – Prague – Czech Republic

On the opposite side of the Charles Bridge is Prague Castle, the most visit attraction in the Czech Republic. Not only in this area is the castle itself but the St Vitus Cathedral, St George’s Basillica and Golden Lane. There has been a castle on this site since the 9th century. The St Vitus Cathedral is the largest religious building in Prague and it was here that the kings and queens were crowned. St George’s Basillica was the second church of the castle. Here you will find the tomb of One of them belongs to prince Vratislav, father of St. (Good King) Wenceslas.

Contact Maggie today to book your city break to beautiful Prague.

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Songo ‘e nato

This song by Mario Abbate was realeased in 1969. Mario Abbate is one of a long line of singers who follow in the tradition of a long line of artists who perform “Canzone Napoletana”, songs sung in the Neopolitan language typically by a male singer. In 1830 at the Festival of Piedigrotta an annual song writing competition was held in the Mergellina district of Naples. This festival was instrumental in bringing forward singers and songwriters. Since that time there have been numerous classics written. Many of these have travelled round the world mainly through the emigration of people from the Naples region around the turn of the 20th century.

Mario Abbate

Naples is Italy’s third largest city and often gets overlooked by its larger cousins Milan and Rome. Hindered negative press tourists have tended to look elsewhere when choosing an Italian destination. However the city has so much to offer and because its not been as popular as its northern counterparts it just feels that bit more authentically Italian or should we say Neopolitan.

Mount Vesuvius – Backdrop to Naples – Italy

This city is full of history, which you sense as you walk down its narrow cobbled streets and sits in its many bars, restaurants and pizzerias. With Vesuvius to the east, the port of Pozzuoli to the west and the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida not far away in Naples Bay. Right in the centre of Naples you will find the Chiostri di Santa Chiara. The construction on this site began in 1310 when two convents were built, one for men and one for women. Around 1740 major modifications were made and this is basis of what we see today. Sadly in August 1943, almost the entire building was destroyed by Allied bombing. It took 10 years to reconstruct the buildings. There is a museum where arifacts that survived the bombing on on display including a traditional shepherd based nativity scene from around the end of the 18th century. This is the place to head towards the end of the day to unwind from the hussle and bussle of the city.

Aerial View of Naples featuring the Chiostri di Santa Chiara.

Most of the churches that we visit on travellogs, have a long and ancient history. The Basilica di San Francesco in Naples is relatively new and was not in fact built as a church. The square in front and the building itself were planned by Napolean’s brother-in-law as a tribute to the Emperor. Napoleon was defeated and the Bourbon royal family were restored. King Ferdinand continued the construction and had it converted to a church devoted to Saint Francis of Paola, who once stayed in a monastry on this site.

Basilica di San Francesco in Naples, Italy

The dome is 53 metres high and overall the church would appear to take its design and styling cues from the Pantheon in Rome. The interior is fascinating as its contains a number of statues and arteifacts some of which are from around the period of its construction, but other older ones transfered from other churches including many from the renaissance.

When we visited Milan here on travellogs last year, we didnt have space to mention the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Something that we will redress at a future date. Naples has its own version called the Galleria Umberto I. Built between 1887 and 1891, it was part of the rebuilding of Naples programme called “risanamento” or “making healthy again”. The Galleria gets its name from Umberto 1 who was the King of Italy at the time of construction. The building is part of the listing of the Historic Centre of Naples as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We don’t normally recommend that you head below ground to travel on the metro or underground. However in Naples the Linea Uno has a collection of over 180 one-off commissions by international artists. For example at Toledo station the silver-blue walls are designed to make you feel that you are traversing through the ground and into the sea. The station was the 2013 LEAF Award as “Public building of the year”. The line for a large part runs parallel to the ancient city wall and many historical object were recovered during the construction process. These objects are displayed in the Museo station, there are plans to exhibit more at other stations in the future.

We do love a market and in Naples you will find a very unique one. The San Gregorio Armeno is a church and monastry. It was established by a group of nuns escaping from the Byzantine Empire with the relics of St Gregory, a bishop of Armenia, on the site of a Roman temple. The current church was built in the 15th century and you can visit the cloisters for a couple of hours each morning before the nuns reclaim it. Close by in the Via San Gregorio Aremeno is a well established market that comes into its own at Christmas.

Via San Gregorio Aremeno – Naples – Italy

Here you will find endless jobs dedicated to the Christmas Nativity scene. Neapolitan families will come here buy figures to create their own nativity scenes at home. Outside the nativity season, visiting the market will allow you to see many of the artisans at work and you will have more space to shop.

Contact Maggie today to book your break to Naples and the Bay of Naples. She can advise you on the best places to stay and pre-book your tickets where necessary.

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Vanlose Stairway

Van Morrison wrote this song* about his Danish girlfriend Ulla Munch. She lived on the fourth floor of an apartment in the Vanlose district of Copenhagen. They lived together here from 1980 to 1983. The song itself was released in January 1982.

Vanlose Stairway – Van Morrison

Vanlose is on of the 10 districts of Copenhagen and also was home to the The French artist Paul Gauguin between 1884 and1885. and the Danish artist Henry Heerup who lived there for many years. The Heerup Museum was opened in the district in 2000.

The Heerup is just one of many museums that Copenhagen has to offer. There are several other art based museums in the city and the surrounding areaO including the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, which is considered by many to be the top attraction in Denmark. Incidently the Louisiana has no connection with the USA, it was the name given to the first property on the site by Alexander Brun (1814-93), who named the villa after his three wives, all called Louise.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art – Denmark

At the other end of the time scale why not visit the Glyptoteket which houses excellent collections of Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman art, as well as works by Gauguin and Degas.

Glyptoketet - Copenhagen - Denmark — Glyptoteket – Copenhagen -Denmark

On a less high brow note, adjacent to the Glytoketet, are the Tivoli Gardens. The gardens house the world’s third oldest operating theme park. It has been operating since 1843 and is the 5th most popular amusement park in Europe. One of the highlights of a visit is a ride on the “Rutschebanen” (Roller Coaster), this is a wooden roller coaster where a brakeman controls the speed of the descent. The ride is designated as a classic roller coaster by the ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts). The oldest amusement park in the world is also in Copenhagen, approximately 6 miles (10km) north of the city centre. An amusement park has been operating at Bakken since 1583.

Tivoli Gardens at Night - Copenhagen- Denmark — Tivoli Gardens at Night – Copenhagen – Denmark

The most internationally recognised symbol of Copenhagen is the Den lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid). It depicts a mermaid becoming human and is based on the Hans Christian Anderson story of the same name. It has been on display since 1913, the head is based on the ballerina Ellen Price, whilst its body is that of the sculpture’s wife. When you seen the sculpture, be prepared to be underwhelmed as its only around 4 ft (1.25cm) tall. Sadly over the years the mermaid has had her head cut off twice (the first time it was never recovered), her right arm was sawn off, been covered in green paint, red paint and then blue and white paint, and an attempt was made to blow her up. It is not surprising therefore that the current sculpture on display is a copy of the original. From time to time she has been dressed. Notably in Norwegian or Swedish football jerseys.

Den lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid) - Copenhagen - Denmark — *Den lille Havfrue* (The Little Mermaid) – Copenhagen – Denmark

Hans Christian Andersen lived in Copenhagen in Nyhavn (New Haven). In years gone by this was the seedier part of town. Along side a 17th century canal stand some beautifully painted houses from the same era. Andersen lived at various times at numbers 18, 20 and 67. Today the ground floors of the properies are home to bars, restaurants and cafes most with outdoor seating wherre you can view the wooden boats.

Nyhavn - Copenhagen - Denmark — Nyhavn – Copenhagen – Denmark

Keep following us here on travellogs.co.uk as we will be returning to Copenhagen at a future date. In the meantime contact Maggie today to book your city break to Copenhagen. She can advise you on the best places to stay and pre-book your tickets where necessary.

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Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair.

The title of today’s post is from a 1967 song sung by Scott McKenzie. The full title of of the song is neither “San Francisco” or “Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair”, but both. The song was produced and released by John Phillips (who also wrote the lyrics) and Lou Alder to promote their Monterey International Pop Music Festival in June of that year. The video below was recorded at the festival itself.

My introduction to San Francisco was the epic car chase in the film Bullitt starring Steve McQueen. You can visit the RJSmith’s excellent website to see details of all the locations used in the filming. If you have 10 minutes you might like to watch probably the greates car chase of all time.

We havent come across a specific Bullitt tour, but we do know that currently there is a Dirty Harry Tour operating and there are general Movie related tours that will take you to some of the places seen in the video clip above. The San Francisco Movie Tour company for example operates a tour that allows you visit 50 plus film locations that includes various locations from the film Bullitt plus the spot at the Golden Gate Bridge where Kim Novak jumped into the water and Jimmy Stewart saved her in Vertigo, the house where Robin Williams’ family lived in Mrs. Doubtfire, the high school attended by Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries, the sniper’s perch from Dirty Harry and many more.

Alcatraz Island – San Francisco – CA – USA

For many visitors, a trip to San Francisco wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Alcatraz Island. Just a 15 minute ferry ride from pier 33 will take you to the island which is surrounded cold water and strong currents which make it almost impossible to escape. The not only is home to a former federal prison, but a military fort, a military prison and was occupied by native Americans for a period of time. In the picture above you can see very clearly the lighthouse, which was the first built on the west coast of the United States.

Interior Alcatraz Prison – San Francisco – CA – USA

For 29 years the island was home to the federal prison that held some of the most notorious criminals in American history, who included gangsters such as Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the “Birdman of Acatraz”) and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Today you are allowed to get off the island. The authorities state that no-one ever successfully escaped from the island though 36 tried.

The island and its facilties are managed as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The area is not one continuous area but a collection of areas and is one of the largest urban parks in the world. It attacts over 15 millions visitors a year. Included in the area is the Presidio, which is located on the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula. This area was fortified in 1776 when New Spain was established, it passed to Mexico in 1820 and then to the United States in 1848. It is from here that you can get an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco – CA – USA

The bridge is the most photographed bridge in the world as well as for many years being the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world. It was opened in 1937 and has provision for bicycles and pedestrians so if you fancy a one long walk at a height of 245 feet (75M) above the water then its possible. The colour of the bridge is officially called international orange and was chosen to compliment its surrounding as well as enhancing its visibility in poor weather.

Phew I am exhausted. We will be back to visit more of San Francisco on another occassion. In the meantime contact Maggie today to organise, your flights, accommodation and tours.

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P’tite fleur aimée

P’tite fleur aimée (“Little beloved flower”, also known as P’tite fleur fanée, “Little faded flower”), is the best known song from the island of Réunion . It is considered the unofficial local anthem. Being technically part of France its national anthem is La Marseillaise.

P’tite Fleur aimée (Ti Fleur fané) – île de La Réunion – Jessica Morel – Jean-Claude Welche

Flying from Paris to the island of Réunion you are undertaking the longest domestic flight in the world. Its just over 11 hours from Paris. Add on the a hop across the channel from London and we are looking at 13 to 14 hours travel time airport to airport. The island is in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Madagascar, hence the journey time and it an alternative destination to the Seychelles or Maldives.

Volcan du Ciel – Reunion – France
Copyright Emmanuel Virin

The island is 63 km long and 45 km wide, so in theory it should be relatively quick to get from one side to the other, however the island is volcanic in origin and its landscape presents challenges and opportunites to the islands inhabitants and visitors. The island is above a hotspot in the Earth’s crust and two volcanoes dominate the landscape. The 3000 m tall Piton des Neiges is now dormant but the Piton de la Fournaise (2600 m) has erupted over 100 times in the past 400 years.

Outstanding Views – L’Reunion -France Copyright -Stéphane Michel

Making the effort to venture inland and upwards will give you some of the most magnificent views possible over a volcanic landscape. There are over 1000 kms of hiking trials on the island. If that sounds like hand work then a helicopter ride round the island might be the answer.

Réunion contains many beaches many of which are pretty civilised being equipped with barbecues, amenities, and parking spaces. Hermitage Beach is the most extensive and best-preserved lagoon in Réunion Island and a popular snorkelling location.Plage des Brisants is a well-known surfing spot, with many athletic and leisurely activities taking place. L’Étang-Salé on the west coast is a particularly unique beach as it is covered in black sand consisting of tiny fragments of basalt. Grand Anse is a tropical white-sand beach lined with coconut trees in the south of Réunion.

The miles of coastline provide ample opportunities for many kinds of watersports including snorkelling, diving, surfing, stand-up paddling boarding and sailing.

At your destination you will find high quality 4 and 5 star hotels to suit all tastes and budgets, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. So contact Maggie today and discover the waters of the Indian Ocean.

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It’s the same from Auschwitz to Ipswich

So go the lyrics from the track “Auschwitz to Ipswich” by Jarvis Cocker from his “self titled” solo album. Its quite difficult to find songs with Ipswich in the lyrics that are positive about the town. We debated hard and strong on whether to include Ipswich Town football chants or go for a bit of Jarvis. So here we go a bit of Jarvis.

https://youtu.be/Sg-y0sZas4E

From Auschwitz to Ipswich – Jarvis Cocker

Earlier this year Tripadvisor released a list of the Top 25 emerging travel destinations. Top of the list was Kaliningrad, Russia. We recently covered the 13th place on the list, Tulsa and by now you can guess that Ipswich is also on the list at No. 14.

In some ways its not surprising that Ipswich it up there on the list. In a survey by the Royal Mail, Ipswich was rated as the 7th most desirable place and in a separate service, the 3rd happiest place to live in the UK.

Although settled in Roman times, Ipswich grew due to the importance of maritime trading in the middle ages. The riverfront area of the town used to be a hub of activity with boats loading and unloading their wares. Today the boats are for pleasure. There are a number of boat trips you can book lasting from an hour up to 3 and half hours down the River Orwell to the port of Felixstowe. You can even book dinner on a river barge. For those of you who prefer to keep your feet on dry land, there is plenty of choice to eat and drink along the waterfront.

The oldest surviving building on the Ipswich Waterfront is over 175 years old. The Old Customs House as it is known today has been at the centre of Ipswich’s maritime story since its construction in 1845. It was built to coincide with the construction of the Wet Dock. An area of thirty-three acres and an island of fourteen acres. When the dock when built, it was the largest in the country exceeding any of the docks in London, Liverpool or Hull. The building was designed by local architect, John Medland Clark who won a competition for the design. The iron door shown above was the entrance to the bonded stores and sits beneah the stairways to the main entrance.

Christchurch Mansion is a beautiful brick built Tudor House. Vistors can visit the rooms that show the history of the house from Tudor to Victorian times. In addition there are a number of collections available to view incluing the biggest selection of works by Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable outside of London.

Ipswich has great road transport routes in part due to its position near the main east coast ports. In addition it has good rail links to London, Cambridge, Peterborough, Norwich and the whole of the East Anglian region. In fact one of the hidden gems in Ipswich is the Ipswich Transport Musuem that is housed in the old Trolleybus Depot. Please check their opening hours before travelling as they are restricted. The collection started with one bus now inludes include trams, trolleybuses, motorbuses, lorries, fire engines, horse drawn vehicles, bicycles, prams, ambulances, a police car, and even a funeral hearse.

Ipswich is the entertainment capital of the region with an exciting summer events programme, thriving theatres, cinemas, clubs and bars.

Lavenham Church – A short drive from Ipswich – UK

Yet, wherever you stay in or around the town you are only minutes away from picture postcard villages, Constable Country and the Heritage Coast. We will cover these in more detail at a later date.

Contact Maggie today to get to you started with ideas of where to stay not just in Ipswich but anywhere on Tripadvisor’s Top 25 up and coming tourist destinations.

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Then it’s the feeling like you’re also glad you came

We have a really tenuous link between our video and today’s destination. First enjoy the video and then we’ll explain the link. The title of today’s post is taken from the second line of the song.

Many of you will be aware that Canadian born Nelly Furtado is of Portuguese ancestry and has from time to time sung in Portuguese. In fact Nelly’s parents were born on Sao Miguel Island which are part of the Portuguese Azores.

The Azores are a group of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, almost equidistant from Portugal and Morocco. Another 500kms to the north west would take you to Newfoundland, Canada.

There are nine major islands in three main clusters, each one is distinct due to the fact that these remote islands were gradually inhabited over two centuries. Sao Miguel Island is one of the easterly islands. Alternatively known as the “Green Island”, Sao Miguel Island is the most populated of the islands and the location of the islands largest city, Ponta Delgado. The low buildings that dominate the city are mainly built of local volcanic stone which contrasts with the traditional Portuguese facades.

Building Facade – Ponta Delgada – Azores – Portugal

The island’s main attractions are not man-made but its natural landscapes. The most famous of these it the Sete Cidades, a forested caldera with twin lakes at the bottom, one green and one blue. The tour round the outside of the caldera is fairly flat whilst in contrast the drive to the rim is up, narrow uneven dirt roads.

Lagoa das Sete Cidades – Azores – Portugal

There are a number of local legends associated with the formation of the Lagoa das Sete Cidades (Lagoon of the Seven Cities), the green and blue lagoons are very distinctive.

Moving on from Sao Miguel Island, further to the west is the “Blue Island” of Faial. The name comes from many hydrangea bushes they flourish on the island as the result of being introduced by Flemish settlers many years ago. You can visit Faial as a day trip from nearby Pico or stay overnight. The highlight of the island is Capelinhos, which erupted in 1957. The closest village to the volcano was covered in ash and pumice and you can vist the half buried lighthouse which today houses the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre.

Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre – Faial _Azores – Portugal

Pico is known as the “Grey Island”. A look at the landscape and the volcanic rock explains why. Its landscape was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. It was neither the Portuguese nor the Flemish who had most influence of the destiny of this island, but Sicilian monks who brought their knowledge of grape husbandry to the island. They used the volcanic stone to great effect as can be seen below. The stone walls protect the vines from the Atlantic winds and the stone absord heat during the day and keep the vines warm at night.

Moving on again we come to the “Brown Island” of São Jorge. Again this island can be visited on a day trip from Pico. The brown is from the colour of the cliffs and looking at the cliffs you can make out the outline of a dragon’s spiney back, hence the island is named after São Jorge the dragon slayer. Can you spot the dragon in the image below?

The main reason to visit the island is for the cheese as cows outnumber the local population by 2 to 1. The spicy cheese produced on the island is gaining a following around the world.

This leads us on to our final island of the day, the “Purple Island” of Terceira, famous for the colour of the sunsets seen from the island. The city of Angra do Heroísmo is the oldest on any of the its and with its narrow cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings and terracotta-tiled roofs gained it a UNESCO World Heritage Site desination.

Bulls play a very important part in the culture of the island. When the Spanish tried the invade the island, the locals forced their cattle to stampede the Spanish invaders as they tried to come ashore. Since the 16th century, the “touradas a corda” are held in the summer months. A bull is let loose with a very long rope around its neck. The other end of the rope are held by eight men who control the bull at length. People then attempt to get as close as they dare to the bull.

Getting back to the title of the post. We think that once you are in the Azores you will get the feeling that you were glad you came.

Contact Maggie today to book your break to the Azores.

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