sunny Saturday in Lincoln

I can hardly believe it that two weeks have already passed since we were on Anglesey. Where is time going? In five days I want to have finished a first draft of my dissertation for my master's degree and it doesn't feel that long ago that I finished school, graduated in Basel and came back from Honduras! The future is almost open me and I don't know where it will take me!

Enough philosophy and a few more facts from my recent past. Yesterday I spent a delightful day with some friends in Lincoln. Lincoln is an hour Northeast of Nottingham by train. Most people wondered why we decided to go there but we soon knew. Following pretty cobbled streets we made our way up to the top of the hill and its majestic cathedral and Norman castle. The road up leads past commercial shops to be found in every city but gets more interesting the further you go up with traditional sweet shops, antique shops, book shops, arts and crafts of every kind, chocolate in all variations and little tea shops where people were tucking into tea and scones. Up on the square between the castle and the cathedral there was a delightful little farmer's market where Paulina and I were delighted to find real bread (and later saw even more in other bakeries - Nottingham is definitely missing a proper bakery) and the others tucked into ostrich burgers. Lincoln cathedral was once the tallest building in the world with spires towering above the height even of the pyramids in Egypt but sadly they didn't last long. Before the spires were built though it had already gone through many changes, which a lovely lady told as about on our tour of the roof of the cathedral, which took us up above the nave to see original beams. Quite impressively the Lincoln cathedral conservation people had decided to take conservation literally and not use modern techniques but instead continue restoration using the same techniques as had been used originally recycling material in the process. After the tour we had a short break before some of us went back for a second tour up the central tower in which Peregrines had been nesting again this year. Much cause for celebration by the RSPB. This tour took us up 338 steps in total first to see the clockwork, then the bells of which the biggest one is the 13th largest bell in the UK and then all the way up onto the top of the central tower where thanks to strong winds and sunshine we had the opportunity for not only beautful views but also a bit of a sunbathe. We then headed back down to the bells just in time to be deafened by Great Tom chiming 4pm. We then crossed the square and entered the castle where we first looked at the exhibition about the Magna Carta and admired not only one of the four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta but also one of the few remaining copies of the Charter of the Forest: the Magna Carta's predecessor. The castle prison has also been well preserved by the Friends of Lincoln Castle. After visiting these gruelling sights we ventured back out into the sunlight and made our way round the castle wall getting fantastic views of the cathedral and Lincoln and the surrounding countryside. Having accomplished a group picture and taken in all we needed to it was already 5.30pm and time for a cold beer in a local pub before heading back to Nottingham by train. The whole day Paulina and I had kept ourselves sustained eating expensive but well worth it truffles in different flavours and cheese scones bought from the baker. We also bought ourselves some cheese to go with our bread for supper. I bought ginger flavour (sounds odd but is most tasty) and Paulina bought tomatoe and basil. Other flavours were: apricot, mango, hot'n'spicy, lemon and pepper, onion, garlic and herbs, apple something, etcetc.

As you can maybe tell it was a delightful day and now I feel I should maybe think of somewhere to go for a day next weekend. Possibly Chatsworth House as I haven't made it there so far and it would be a shame not to have seen it!

xxx

P.S. all pictures on: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=136423&id=663901806&l=1d519c904d

Sunshine on Anglesey

Just back from two beautiful days on Anglesey, freshly armed with the resolution to visit Wales again and explore more of the "mountains", the beaches, the castles, the lighthouses, the flora and fauna, diving, riding, cycling, etc.

But first things first, this trip: Sophie's grandparents have a cottage on Anglesey near LLanddona and the beautiful red wharf bay beach. We rented a zippy little car and headed off in that direction on Friday evening, arriving there about 22h. After watching a bit of tv we all soon turned into worms in our sleeping bags ready for an early start on Saturday. We woke up to patchy blue sky and after breakfast/showers/etc. headed off for a walk near the cottage that first took us down the road to the beach near red wharf bay, a laaaarge stretch of sand leading down to an even larger stretch of water. After the obligatory million pictures of the sea and having all picked up a couple of shells those of us in wellies waded through the reeds to get to the path along the sea wall and those without made there way round the outside to it. In the warmth and sunshine (seriously!) we wandered along for a while then turning up inland to have a chat with some friendly horses and then setting off across fields on public footpaths. This is where Sara got a little bit unhappy cause her trainers were getting a wee bit muddy und those of us in wellies/boots were probably looking raaather pleased with ourselves. Over mud and stones and through forests, past streams, natural wells, and beautiful views of the beach we made our way back round to the cottage.

Later we set off to Beaumaris to get some lunch and do some sightseeing. Lunch ended up being well-deserved fish'n'chips (or similar) on the front overlooking the people crabbing on the peer. We then went to explore Beaumaris castle, a national heritage site and one of Edward I's castles. It was never quite completed but did have rooms to accomodate royalty and still has a pretty chapel and impressive walls and manymany latrines. After that we had delicious home-made icecream from an icecream parlour - I had New York cheesecake and lime flavour! - before heading off towards Penmon, the lighthouse known by Sophie's family as George the Dong and puffin island. No puffins around at this season sadly so good thing we didn't do the puffin boat tour really. We did do some rockpooling though and even caught some shrimps and some fish but not enough for supper so after lazing around on the rocks for a while we headed back to Beaumaris to get bbq stuff for supper. Back at the cottage we summoned up our remaining energy to light the bbq (using rather damp coal so quite an achievement) and eat burgers, sausages and cook the chicken (but it took so long that no one wanted it in the end) before a bit more tv and then bed.

This morning we were up bright and early again (i.e. about 9ish, hehe) and decided to set off to Holyhead with the aim of seeing South Stack lighthouse. The way there took as past the place with the longest name in the world: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch - translation: St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and the church of St Tysilio of the red cave.



We carried on to Holyhead, an at the first view somewhat unspectacular town mainly known for its harbour and the ferries to Ireland. After a little wander we had some lunch and then drove on to South Stack lighthouse and the RSPB nature reserve surrounding it. We climbed approximately 400 steps down to the lighthouse, which still functions but now of course automatically. At one point apparently there were three cottages on its tiny little island and there were adults, children, goats, and chicken living there. We learned more interesting facts on the tour up to the top of the lighthouse like why there is a curtain rail there (not cause of the war, which was my guess).. After climbing back up the steps, admiring some brave rockclimbers and feeling rather blown around in the wind we wandered over to Ellin's tower, which now belongs to the RSPB who have a great list of things that have been spotted there before but we saw mainly seagulls.. After all that it was time for well-deserved icecream again! Ah, I should say the coastline around South Stack is spectacular. Stunning cliffs falling into the sea with caves welded into them and on top hills covered in gorse and heather and stone houses and sheep and just absolutely beautiful!



Time to head home already. Slight detour via the cottage to turn off the main water tap and then to Menai Bridge to have a look at the nice old bridge before rumbling back to Nottingham where apparently it has been raining most of the day. How ironic. All in all, it was great! Thank you Sophie for organising and being our guide and thank you Ellie for driving and thank you Petrus for the weather! I'll be back one day I hope!