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A 275-foot
tower rises above Flanders Fields. I was there on a clear day, which affords broad
views of the old battlescape ––Nieuwpoort, Passhendaele, Ypres, Poperinge, Ploegsteert.
There are 22
floors in the museum,
which help visitors thinks about the people and the land, which experienced so
much destruction. In between the carnage and memories of lost loved ones, are
photos of those who offered sustenance and messages of peace.
The size of
some displays provokes the sort of thinking that’s hard to experience when
reading a book or glancing at an old photo.
Shells as Urns
In addition to lessons
of war and peace, we can learn about Flemish culture (Read More).
After crossing the English Channel from Dover to Calais as
my grandfather did in 1914, I headed north to De Panne, Belgium, a town in the Flemish
Province of West Flanders—part of Flanders,
one of three Belgian regions. The next morning we went a short distance to the North Sea port, Nieuwpoort. Here we stood on the beaches, close to the northern point on the western front of World War I.
Following the German attack on Belgium, 4 August 1914, Nieuwpoort
was part of the area still under Belgian control after the October Battle of the Yser.
The German “Race to the Sea” had been thwarted by the allies. The Battle of the
Yser is part of the defense of Flanders and the Battles at Ypres
(called “Wipers” by the British). Nearby is the first available Demarcation
Stone. These small stones mark the battle line of the Western Front
from Belgium to Pfetterhouse
on the French-Swiss border. Each of these 119 monuments are one metre high and
topped with a laurel wreath and a soldier’s helmet. The helmets represent the
troops—Belgian, French, or British.
A memorial to King Albert, near the Yser river, recalls national pride in the Belgian resistance. The King had opened the sluices allowing the land to be flooded and ending the German advance.
Nearby is a memorial
remembering the British Expeditionary Force, which landed later in August.
Before leaving the Nieuwpoort area, we stopped at the Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery. Here, 841 Commonwealth soldiers are buried or remembered: UK 830, Canada 2, Australia 8, South Africa 1.
The National Portrait Gallery in London was founded in 1856. Walking through the main collection is a walk through time as revealed in the faces and scenes of people whose words and deeds continue to influence British Culture. In addition, we see centuries of changes in portraiture.
In addition to the royals and political leaders, the collection includes artists, scientists, activists, warriors, religious leaders, and authors.
This 2018 portrait of Malala Yousafzai by Shirin Neshat was commissioned by the Gallery. The artist inscribed a poem in calligraphy on the photograph. Read more about the work at this outset link.
In addition to paintings, sculputres, and photographs are eledtrotypes. Here's one of The Black Prince (Edward, Prince of Wales 1330-76).
The National Portrait Gallery is close to the National Gallery of Art, which is by Trafalgar Square and St. Martin-in-the-Fields church.
Admission is free and donations are welcome. There are fees for special exhibitions. The Gallery is open most days. Check the website for times.
The website also includes a floor plan and information about special events. You can also find information on accessibility.
I walked up the steps from the London Bridge Tube station and was immediately struck by the height of The Shard. On a clear day, you will see London like you've never seen it before. The cool breeze on the open upper deck adds to the sense of adventure. In short, The Shard is an experience.
According to the website, you get 360-degree views up to 40 miles. Such a visit might even be a good starting point for a tour of the city. The viewing areas are on floors 68, 69, and 72.
Here's my view of Tower Bridge
The Tower of London looks like a miniature castle. You can see The Shard reflected in the Thames.
If you have a railway enthusiast in your group, check out this view.
You might recognize the HMS Belfast, an historic WW II battleship.
The Shard contains a hotel, offices, and restaurants. Tickets can be purchased online. Access is by high speed lifts that travel at the rate of 6 metres per second.
I visited in November so I had very little wait time. There is a security check. Refreshments are available on the viewing decks.
Consider the direction of the sun and time of day if that is a factor in what you want to see. For example, I went in the afternoon so the western sun made it diffuclt to get great photos in that direction but nicely lit up the other parts of London. You can add a day and a night experience for an additional fee.
For details on hours, prices, and more, check out the website: https://www.the-shard.com/
You might like this fun and
informative guide to British words and phrases.
Our visit to St Fagans was an enjoyable day out. We boarded a bus in Cardiff, which stopped near the visitor's centre.
We followed the path around the grounds of St Fagans Castle and gardens and stopped in most buildings, which follow a path through the history of Wales from past centuries to the present.
The farm is one early stop.
The country castle-mansion is interesting inside and out.
A restored medieval church includes a lot of artwork.
There are several small shops where you can purchase food and drink.
There's a variety of cottages and more recent houses.
On our recent holiday in the UK, my wife suggested we re-visit Chester--I'm glad she did. There's a sort of timelessness as you walk amongst the restored "black and white" shops, tour an old cathedral, enjoy an ice cream by the river Dee, or stroll along ancient sandstone walls.
We arrived by rail from Euston station, London and stayed in a hotel near the ornate 1768 East Gate-- less than a mile from the railway station. The 1899 clock atop the gate comemorates Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.
East Gate, Chester/ G Sutton
On our first day, we walked about Grosvenor Park, stopping for photos and enjoying the scenery. The small railway looks like a fun ride for children.
Grosvenor Park, Chester / G Sutton 2018
Railway at Grosvenor Park, Chester / G Sutton 2018
Caught this bird near Grosvenor Park
We crossed the River Dee on two bridges and ambled about the picturesque city storing one image after another lest we forget.
Here's a video of the calm waters of the river Dee from a different bridge.
Here's an example of the "black and white" architechture--a hallmark of Chester architecture. The buildings are part of a 19th century Tudor Revival.
We listened to street entertainers and enjoyed fish n' chips at one of the local pubs. Some entertainers were quite good.
Here's a video clip from the a street musician.
Some pretty good Fish 'n Chips followed by a cuppa.
After fish 'n chips
On the second day we toured Chester Cathedral, examined the Roman finds (link), and circumnavigated the city along the two miles of walls. See my post on the Cathedral for more details of that experience.
Section of the south wall by the river Dee
We enjoyed an outdoors lunch by the old pink and buff colored town hall with a green-grey slate roof and three-sided clock.
Chester Town Hall 1864-1869
And on the third day we visited the Grosvenor museum (link), cruised the River Dee, and enjoyed our surrounds.
BTW--there's lots of spots to eat along the river bank including ubiquitous ice cream stands.
Cruise boats on the River Dee, Chester
You might like this fun and informative guide to British words and phrases.