weekend away to collect Gwen, but plenty on the agenda first
Saturday we set off with dark clouds but steaming heat and a forecast on the local news for heavy rain and thunderstorms. So that should be a change.
The sea has calmed down, so no more white horses to rock us about on our 15 minute crossing to Greenock on the mainland.
Then its a steady drive up to Glasgow, passing all the billboards dominating the skyline, extolling the virtues and whipping up excitement for forthcoming Comonwealth games.
As we get closer to Glasgow and start to circle it, you see the stadium floodlights against the everchanging sky.
Through odd showers, past road works, the odd accident and hold up. Before long we reach Birmingham and then head out to Coventry for the night. Still light when we arrive, so we head out to see the Cathedral. that is once we had driven around the inner ring road a few times before we find the hotel. A premier inn located in the old tec college which is now a theatre, which, as we found out to our cost was exceedingly popular. Have you ever tried to push your way through a theater crowd to get to a hotel reception. But we were not in a hurray, so it didn't matter. The hotel was new, modern and excellent value. Superking for £29 per night.
Headed through the thronging metropolis of various cultures into the centre, keeping a close eye on our backs. It came across rather intimidating. But it wasnt just us, no one was using the subways. Not surprising, when the city has a nude women flaunting all her assets for all to see.
We managed to find the odd old building not hit by the German bombs, and the new mixed with the old in the form of the cathedral.
Then it was time for dinner before heading back to the hotel. A great little watering hole across from the Cathedral. Food and drinks excellent, service rather inefficient, and in the end, they couldn't take a credit card, so l had hunt down a cash machine and return with money for the bill. Left Judith as collateral.
Next day up early and off the Blenheim palace at woodstock for the annual game fair. A great day out, although very hot and humid, and after eight hours of walking a round very tiring. But excellent, amazing and truly eye opening.
Very well organised, from start to finish. Traffic control, parking, transport from parking to the gates, toilets, watering holes, refreshment. All well thought out and managed, although the prices charged for food and drink where well OTT. But, then again,they are most possibly charged a fortune for the opportunity to sell their goods.
Into the car and off again, this time to Gloucester. A place we have never visited before, even though we have stayed many a time in Cheltenham, only a few miles away on the other side of the M5.
Hotel was new again and excellent, with free parking and a great location for touring the area. I mention the parking, as in Coventry all parking is off road and in expensive multi story parking spots, with these hidden eye cameras and number recognition technology to charge you a fortune for overstaying your welcome.
Excellent dinner and an early night in preparation of our tour of Gloucester .
Up early gain and walk along the superb system of walkways and cycle paths to the main road into the city. The bus service is amazing, running every 10 minutes between Cheltenham and Gloucester. Use the bus pass and enter a friendly unpretentious market town, sorry city.
Everyone seems so friendly, happy to give directions, telling you the best places to see and visit. Start with the Cathedral, and it was one of the best l have ever visited.
They are constantly repairing the golden stone, keeping it in immaculate condition.
The inside is is full of little gems, including the stain glass windows, the cloisters used in the filming of Harry Potter, the Edward II tomb, the ceiling structure, in fact it goes on and on. A pure architectural and religious gem.
From here we strolled through the historical town with little bits of history suddenly and unexpectedly jumping out at you. This was helped by the fantastic signposting along with detailed maps to guide you though the rather dowdy modern architecture to the punctuations of pure delight, when you traverse back in time.
Great sculptures, historical wall plaques, paths that suddenly open up to show Roman remains under glass, ruined abutments sitting alongside modern buliding unashamidly.
There is the humerus side as well, as you can see with the pub and rewritten fable of Dick Whittington. Like the tights?
I am sure that the main streets of Gloucester have the highest number of charity shops in Britain. Along with a high density of elderly drinkers lounging around amongst the detritus blowing around in the wind. Nevertheless, they seem harmless and the rest of the people are helpful and attentive and in no way intimidating. The council also seem to have adopted a positive and progressive approach to enlivening and enhancing there vast attributes. None more evident than the new development of the harbour. Just a short walk away from the centre of the city.
The area encompasses shops, offices, accommodation, university, arts, museums, leisure and recreational pursuits. And of course boats, long boats, house boats, working boats and tour boats.
All in all. this working, thriving city is totally unpretentious, but it has far more going for it than a lot of other so called visitor orientated cities in the UK.
The sea has calmed down, so no more white horses to rock us about on our 15 minute crossing to Greenock on the mainland.
Then its a steady drive up to Glasgow, passing all the billboards dominating the skyline, extolling the virtues and whipping up excitement for forthcoming Comonwealth games.
As we get closer to Glasgow and start to circle it, you see the stadium floodlights against the everchanging sky.
Through odd showers, past road works, the odd accident and hold up. Before long we reach Birmingham and then head out to Coventry for the night. Still light when we arrive, so we head out to see the Cathedral. that is once we had driven around the inner ring road a few times before we find the hotel. A premier inn located in the old tec college which is now a theatre, which, as we found out to our cost was exceedingly popular. Have you ever tried to push your way through a theater crowd to get to a hotel reception. But we were not in a hurray, so it didn't matter. The hotel was new, modern and excellent value. Superking for £29 per night.
Headed through the thronging metropolis of various cultures into the centre, keeping a close eye on our backs. It came across rather intimidating. But it wasnt just us, no one was using the subways. Not surprising, when the city has a nude women flaunting all her assets for all to see.
 |
| Godiva in her glory |
We managed to find the odd old building not hit by the German bombs, and the new mixed with the old in the form of the cathedral.
 |
| Etched spirits and angels on the glass front of the cathedral. |
 | |
| St Michael and the Devel |
Next day up early and off the Blenheim palace at woodstock for the annual game fair. A great day out, although very hot and humid, and after eight hours of walking a round very tiring. But excellent, amazing and truly eye opening.
Into the car and off again, this time to Gloucester. A place we have never visited before, even though we have stayed many a time in Cheltenham, only a few miles away on the other side of the M5.
Hotel was new again and excellent, with free parking and a great location for touring the area. I mention the parking, as in Coventry all parking is off road and in expensive multi story parking spots, with these hidden eye cameras and number recognition technology to charge you a fortune for overstaying your welcome.
Excellent dinner and an early night in preparation of our tour of Gloucester .
Up early gain and walk along the superb system of walkways and cycle paths to the main road into the city. The bus service is amazing, running every 10 minutes between Cheltenham and Gloucester. Use the bus pass and enter a friendly unpretentious market town, sorry city.
Everyone seems so friendly, happy to give directions, telling you the best places to see and visit. Start with the Cathedral, and it was one of the best l have ever visited.
They are constantly repairing the golden stone, keeping it in immaculate condition.
 |
| Crucifiction PIETA Resurrection was painted in 2004 by the artist Iain McKillop. The niches in which they fit had been empty for over 4550 years since the reformation |
 |
| Floor tiles |
From here we strolled through the historical town with little bits of history suddenly and unexpectedly jumping out at you. This was helped by the fantastic signposting along with detailed maps to guide you though the rather dowdy modern architecture to the punctuations of pure delight, when you traverse back in time.
Great sculptures, historical wall plaques, paths that suddenly open up to show Roman remains under glass, ruined abutments sitting alongside modern buliding unashamidly.
There is the humerus side as well, as you can see with the pub and rewritten fable of Dick Whittington. Like the tights?
I am sure that the main streets of Gloucester have the highest number of charity shops in Britain. Along with a high density of elderly drinkers lounging around amongst the detritus blowing around in the wind. Nevertheless, they seem harmless and the rest of the people are helpful and attentive and in no way intimidating. The council also seem to have adopted a positive and progressive approach to enlivening and enhancing there vast attributes. None more evident than the new development of the harbour. Just a short walk away from the centre of the city.
 |
| Even the graffiti is interesting and thought provoking |
The area encompasses shops, offices, accommodation, university, arts, museums, leisure and recreational pursuits. And of course boats, long boats, house boats, working boats and tour boats.
All in all. this working, thriving city is totally unpretentious, but it has far more going for it than a lot of other so called visitor orientated cities in the UK.
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