After only a 55 minute flight from Hahn to London, I arrived back in London on Thursday. I stayed the night with dear Diana, who good naturedly puts me up - or puts up with me - whenever I rock up. I'm now in Winchester, which is, I think, the town I love best in England. This is my first visit and I was smitten within minutes, perhaps because of the gigantic statue of King Alfred in the square:-)
I met up with my e-cousin Alison from Canada, who had kindly invited me to join her in a most comfortable B&B, the Wolvesy View. Our host, John Harmer, was a delight and it would be hard to imagine a more obliging landlord. We met up with two more e-cousins: Ambrose from Ghana and Steve, who, being local to Winchester, was able to tell us all the best sights and sites.
Alison and I tramped ourselves almost footless for two days, including three wonderful hours in the town's magnificent cathedral. (If you saw The DaVinci Code you have already seen the north trancept, and I recommend a live visit to see the rest.) The next port of call was Milner Hall, which used to be the RC church where Alison's grandmother worshipped, and to our delight there was a harpsichord recital by a Miss Schmitt just starting. I feel bad because I can't remember the young lady's first name, but she was jolly good. The works were centred on the life and times of one John Bull, a contemporary of Byrd. We were entertained right royally for over an hour before proceeding back to the cathedral for a rapturous evensong. This morning we decided to spread ourselves thin - I went back to the soaring buttresses of the cathedral and Alison went to mass at St Peter's, then we spent a happy hour at the local museum, which has fine displays of Roman, Saxon and later archeological finds. I wish I could have stayed for several more days as there is so much of interest here!
Off to Salisbury now!
Hi Ho Traveller :-)
ReplyDeleteYou must be getting terribly fit with all that walking! All is well here, although not nearly as interesting as your adventures.
xxx BJ
Yes, I've even lost a bit of weight:-)
ReplyDeleteHallo Satima,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to read that you had a good and save flight back to London. Looks like you have a wonderful time in Winchester with your friend from Canada. Enjoy your homeland!! Seems there are a lot of new places even in England to see for you.
Elfriede
There you go making me jealous again. The nearest I get to Roman and Saxon ruins these days is Time Team.
ReplyDeleteTime Team is one of my fave progs, Helen. I wonder if you have a similar one in Germany, Elfriede? It's a BBC archeology show in which the team visits various sites, digging up heaps of interesting artefacts and info.
ReplyDeleteI'm paying £3 per hour for internet access so had better blog:-)
"48 Hours with Satima", with many subtitles, as we did manage to cram a lot into our all-too-short visit. We were both quite entranced by the Cathedral, the High Street, and the Roman/Saxon/Medieval flavours wound throughout. After you left, Satima, another cousin met up with me at Winchester (from Surrey, my Dad's side). We traipsed about the eastern part of Dorset on Monday. On Tuesday, I tracked down houses and the cemetery where my great-grandMum's people are buried ... and then! (speaking of tramping oneself all but footless) John H. and I trekked to the top of St Catherine's Hill (think: steep climb) for panoramic views.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you on the remainder of your Anglaland adventures. Love, Alison
p.s. Oh yes, the harpsicordist's name is Micaela Schmitt, trained at the Hague, in addition to several other renowned institutions.
ReplyDeletep.p.s. From the "it's a really, really small world after all" department -- After you left, Satima, a subsequent guest, a lady who originates from Winchester but now lives abroad, was staying for the week, for the purpose of a large-ish family reunion. At one point over breakfast, she mentioned several of the lateral surnames involved, and one of them was one that I recognized from my recent visit to Dumfries & Galloway. I mentioned a gravestone that I had seen in the churchyard at Sweethear Abbey and (believe it or not), that was her ancestor!!
Alison, that whole trip was filled with serendipitous events. Maybe it's something in the air in Winchester!
ReplyDelete