Out And About.

[Maladict]

Meet mongers for a rural bike ride and report back

[mongers]

Meet mongers for a rural bike ride and report back

 

I think Zanza likes his comfortable and stylish transport too much.

[mongers]

I consider doing a roadtrip in Southern England (i.e. get a car in Heathrow and drive west) in summer. Any particular ideas that I would miss from just reading the typical tourist guides?

Hard to say, tourist guides aren't a bad start.

What I would recommend is if you go through Bristol, make an effort to visit Brunel's SS Great Britain; it's been lovingly recreated and tells civilian stories, rather than the too often naval histories of most preserved ships.

Oh and if you do pass through Salisbury to visit the 'world famous spire and the ancient clock in the cathedral' and you're not a russian  , then check out Salisbury museum opposite the cathedral's western face, it'ss main gallery gives an excellent presentation of Neolithic Britain and up until the Romans arrived.

 

[Sheilbh]

I consider doing a roadtrip in Southern England (i.e. get a car in Heathrow and drive west) in summer. Any particular ideas that I would miss from just reading the typical tourist guides?

Honestly the places in the tourist guide are probably the ones I'd recommend, especially Bath and Salisbury (both will be busy). Bristol is great and a bit more lively. It would probably be worth trying to do a bit of the countryside like the Cotswolds or the South Downs (I've heard Arundel is nice as a base - but never been). Lots of nice walks in those areas which can be circular. And on that, the walk over Seven Sisters is good.

[Maladict]

Winchester is an interesting place if you're in that area, and the naval stuff  (Mary Rose, HMS Victory) in Portsmouth is pretty cool.
And obviously the megalithic stuff around Salisbury.

[mongers]

Winchester is an interesting place if you're in that area, and the naval stuff  (Mary Rose, HMS Victory) in Portsmouth is pretty cool.
And obviously the megalithic stuff around Salisbury.

Yes Winchester is under-rated, was there last week and discovered a bookshop, that looked like it was from 30-40 years ago, lots of art, history and academic books. It's the Deanery bookshop behind the Cathedral:

https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/business-directory/the-deanery-bookshop

[Richard Hakluyt]

I will put in a word for the chalk figures which decorate certain hillsides in England. I think it would be worthwhile going on some country lanes and having a walk near some of them. Might be able to find some untouristy country pubs for lunch while doing that.

https://www.cpre.org.uk/discover/chalking-it-up/

[Syt]

Another installation at Karlsplatz (part of the Klima Biennale). I guess it's a beach or desert, with a dead tree and artificial/mechanical palms.


Taken yesterday - tulips are planted in many flowerbeds around my office. If I was in 17th century Holland I could make a killing (or tank the market). At least I think those are tulips. I'm not a botanist.