The Journey so far......

I left college in the summer of 2001 and while I was wavig many of my friends off to university I chose to begin my working life. I had had part time shop jobs at the weekends for a few spends but I had decided I was now ready to enter the grown up world of working full time, and in an office to boot.

So off I trot for my interview, my first ever interview I hasten to add, and I land the job. I successfully passed the interview, I flashed my beaming smile at the the interviewer, which by default produce my 'cute' dimples ( I know some of you are fans) so he either felt nervous and wanted me out of the door pronto or he did indeed think I was the most suitable candidate for the roll. I am going to opt for the last statement simply because I am still in said job after nearly 10 years.

So there I am plodding on with my life not really going anywhere, career wise not literally obviously, and then in 2006 something happened to change my life forever. I met the most amazing group ladies who inspired me, encouraged me and just well gave me the boot up the backside I needed to get a grip of my life and get it going again, I mean I was 24 for goodness sake and I felt my life was over when in fact it was just about to begin.

Through their influence I started to read books and plays that I would never have dreamed of picking up and I was going to watch plays in London, plays! My theatre experiences up to that point had included the Christmas panto at Preston Guild Hall and the odd performance of Les Mis. My eyes were well and truly opened to the cultural delights that life had to offer me.

I decided enough was enough so I enrolled on a Literature degree with the Open University not really knowing what career path I wanted to go down but just knowing I couldn't stay in a boring office job all my life. Whilst it is a safe and comfortable job that is well within my comfort zone I know I must push myself on to greater things. I hate to say it, and if you worked where I did you would understand it when I say my talents are wasted there. I am not trying to be big-headed in saying that but there are occasions that I have to wonder how some of my colleagues function day to day.

So as I write this blog post I have just put aside my revision to complete year 3 with a sense of self satisfaction that I have practically self taught myself all about poetry, prose and plays from the Enlightenment to Romanticism. I can now hold my own in any conversation about the romantic poets, about the French Revolution and even about the way a play is staged. It has most definitely not been easy, there have been times when I just wanted to quit, to throw the towel in and skulk back to my desk for the next 10-20 years of my life. But I haven't been allowed to do that simply because the very special ladies mentioned above, and you know who you are, have encouraged me, urged me on & given me advice and support when I've needed it the most.

There have been many occasions when a topic being discussed goes so far over my head it's in orbit, (I just flash my dimples and pretend I understand), but I am gaining more confidence to join in said discussions and I love that bond we have. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping me going and keeping me sane (I don't think that can apply to all of you though!) and I am sorry to say that you have another 3 modules to get me through!!

Warwick Castle - 22nd May 2011

Warwick Castle can be described as a quintessential English castle. It has battlements and ramparts that succeed in transferring the visitor back to 14th century and the times of knights in shining armour. On the approach to the main castle gate you are met with huge stone walls that loom large over you. The mote has now been drained but it is easy to imagine the difficulties  any would be invader faced when attempting a raid on the castle.

In its long history however the castle has fallen, many times, and has changed hands on numerous occasions. Its most famous occupant was Richard Neville otherwise known as The Kingmaker.Neville was made the Earl of Warwick  on 2nd March 1450 by King Henry VI. The Earl was a Yorkist and after the fall of Henry, when Edward IV became king, Neville rose to a position of great wealth and importance. Over time as Warwick's influence waned he joined forces with the Edward's brother, the Duke of Clarence, during which time King Edward was captured and briefly imprisoned at Warwick Castle.

Eventually the Earl of Warwick fled England and laid his allegiance with Margaret of Anjou, King Henry VI's wife. They set sail for England and successfully restored the imprisoned Henry back on to the English throne. It was not to last however as Edward managed to raise a Yorkist army that would ultimately defeat Warwick's men at the Battle of Barnet. Warwick himself was captured, stripped naked and killed. His death was a sad loss to many but was welcomed joyfully by many more.

As you walk around the castle the atmosphere is almost tangible. Visitors have the opportunity to climb the towers and battlements but be warned with 523 steps it is not an easy task. The tight  spiral staircases of Guy's Tower and Ceaser's Tower are extremely arduous but well worth the trek, watch out for the sword marks in the walls. As you descend the towers your hand automatically reaches for the wall to help balance you and it strikes you that it has eroded away to almost nothing. Hands have grazed the very same point as yours for over 500 years, you are literally touching history.

There is so much to discover at Warwick Castle that in order to do it justice you must devote the whole day to exploring the many towers, dungeons, gardens and state rooms. The state rooms are not massive but have a few gems hidden within them. Mainly Queen Anne's state bed, it was sent from Windsor prior to her visit in 1704, only for her to never make the trip. The bed, a leather trunk and the tapestries remain thanks to King George III who made a gift of them to the then Earl of Warwick in 1773. 

I would urge everyone to make the visit to Warwick Castle, it is expensive but there is so much to see and do both for adults and children that I guarantee people of all ages will enjoy it.

Brest - Quimper 7th April 2011

We made the short over night sail from Bilbao to Brest, crossing the Bay of Biscay and dropping anchor very early the following morning.

With not much to do in the Breton port of Brest we made the 1 hour journey to Quimper, a small medieval town which is dominated by its huge cathedral.

Place de Buerre

In the first instance Quimper reminded me of Amsterdam, with little bridges crossing the small river that runs through the town centre, however, as we walked further into the town it soon took on the guise of a Tudor town not to dissimilar to Stratford upon Avon. With its over hanging timber framed buildings and its winding cobbled streets, Quimper is quintessentially French. I could imagine it the time of the revolution, with the Sans Culottes in the streets bellowing their revolutionary cries.

As we headed up one of the main streets we came upon the Saint Corentin Cathedral. A truly wonderful and impressive building. The interior is very light, with pinky brick work on the ceiling and whitewashed walls, it also boasts some of the most amazing stained glass windows that could rival any great Cathedral. We had a walk around this very serene church and just happened to notice something quite peculiar. As we sat at the rear of the church looking down the aisle towards the high alter we noticed the top of the aisle bent towards left. It was purposely built like this to depict Christ's head fallen to one side whilst on the cross, I hope this comes across in the picture below, it was quite disorientating!

The aisle of the St Corentin Cathedral.

Once we emerged back outside in to the warm French air we walked across the town square, flanked by its Hotel de Ville, with its billowing tricolour flags, and an impressive looking art gallery, which unfortunately we did not have time to stop at, but is definitely a reason to return. We strolled up cobbled streets to the 'crepe quarter'. A delightful network of streets and squares full of creperies. One thing that struck me was how quiet and peaceful the town was, despite it being a Friday you could easily wander up and down without to much hustle and bustle.

Lunch was to be had sat out by the river, eating pain au chocolat and crusty baguettes. It was just wonderful.









Full of quirky shops, unique boutiques and wonderfully French bakeries Quimper is a hidden little gem tucked away in north-west Brittany that should most definitely be on any tourists itinerary, it was the pleasant surprise of my trip.

Once we were back on board ship, we set sail out of the Bay of Biscay and made the right turn home for Southampton.

My green and pleasant land

I am taking a little diversion from my European travels, as it struck me that maybe I should talk about my feelings for my own land before I start to praise foreign shores to much.

Anytime I travel through the English countryside, whether it be on a train or in a car I can't help but gaze out over the green and pleasant land and think what a beautiful and luscious land I inhabit. From the rolling green hills of the Yorkshire Dales to the hard rugged landscape of the Peak District I often find myself letting my mind drift to those who have been before me and in whose footsteps I follow. From the farmers who used to work the lands to the soldiers who marched on foot from one battle to another in The Wars of the Roses, I can't help but think, what did they see? What did they think of the aesthetics of their homeland.

In August 2010 I was fortunate enough to visit the Norwegian Fjords, with its majestic hills shrouded in low lying clouds and its dark stone mountains with the mere hint of a waterfall trickling and tumbling over the edge. If you want atmosphere and scenery then this is the place to visit. Or is it? Can the same not be said of the Peak District? Are the lakes of The Lake District any less beautiful or serene? Are the hills of the Yorkshire Dales not as velvety green? Well the simple answer is Yes. England is just as beautiful, just has breathtaking and just as sublime as anywhere on Earth and I am proud to call it home.

I will talk more of home over time but now back to the cruise and on to Brittany.

Bilbao - 6th April 2011

Azura

We set sail from the port of Lisbon at 4pm on the 4th and sailed the whole of the following day finally arriving in Bilbao on the 6th April. We had no excursions booked and assumed we could get off and have a wander around the town, like you could in most ports, however we docked some 6 miles from the centre of Bilbao, add to that the unexpected 30 degree heat and the armed police that kept an eye on us, we decided to spend the day on ship.

I did say that this wasn't going to be about the ship but I do get asked an awful lot of questions, how big was it, what was your cabin like, did you attend the formal nights? So I thought I would answer some of these questions.

Our ship was Azura and she is massive! We have previously travelled on a mid-sized ship and thought that was big, but little could have prepared us for the enormity of Azura. As our coach pulled onto the dockside at Southampton there was a gasp, everything else was dwarfed in comparison, in fact every port she docked she dwarfed her surroundings. After the incredibly easy check-in we arrived at our deluxe balcony state room to find champagne and chocolates waiting for us. I cracked open the bottle and stepped out onto the balcony to listen to the brass band playing on the quayside.

The facilities that a ship like this has to offer are pretty spectacular. You can choose from at least 6 restaurants, an alfresco spa, open air cinema, numerous bars and a shopping arcade to name but a few. As for the pools, there are 4 with 6 spa pools, there is a sports court, an English pub and plenty to keep the youngsters entertained including the sail away party.

We had 2 formal nights where we donned our finest frocks and our most glittering jewels, we were greeted by the Captain and had our formal pictures taken, we dined in restaurants were the food would not be out of place in top London eateries and we sipped cocktails at sunset whilst gazing out onto the sea behind us.

I have said more than I wanted to and I apologise that I can't give you my views on Bilbao, but I hope you get a sense of how wonderful cruising can be. The destinations are excellent and the ships are unbelievable.

Lisbon - 4th April 2011

We set sail from Vigo on the Sunday evening and sailed over night down the coast of Portugal heading for its capital Lisbon.

On the Monday morning I awoke and stepped onto my balcony to be greeted by the rising sunlight bathing the Discoveries Monument in a warm orange glow. As we sailed down the Tagus River past the Belem Tower I witnessed a skyline dotted with many an impressive building including the brilliant white National Pantheon perched on the hillside. It was a warm spring morning and I stood happily snapping away from the balcony astounded by the beauty of this vibrant and cultural city.

Once we disembarked the ship we picked up our tour bus that was going to drive us around the city on a panoramic tour which would take in all the impressive sights, and I must say Lisbon has many majestic buildings, squares and green spaces to be seen.

Our first stop was the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery, built by Manuel I after gaining approval from the Pope, work started in 1501/2 and was later granted to the monks of the order of St Jeronimo. I had previously been told about the brilliance of the building but it exceeded my expectations tenfold. Against the back drop of the bright Portuguese sunshine the brickwork is a brilliant white and to me resembles chalk. I felt like I could have reached out, rubbed the surface and have a chalky residue left on my palm. Despite it's rather fragile look it was one of the few buildings to survive the devastating earthquake of 1755 that destroyed most of Lisbon.

Jeronimos Monastery

After a copious amount of photographs we boarded the bus and headed for the area of Belem, I was very much looking forward to seeing the Belem Tower and the Discoveries Monument, both of which I had had a taster of from the ship. Construction of the Belem Tower began in 1515 and was commissioned once again by Manuel I, its functionality was to form part of Lisbon's maritime defence however over its 500 year history it has served as a telegraphic post and even a prison. It is a very ornate monument which features images of ropes encompassing the perimeter it is adorned by Moorish watchtowers, between each tower is the emblem of a shield. Again it felt like I could crumble the stonework in my hands and reduce it to powder. Just along from the Belem Tower is the Discoveries Monument. Built to resemble the bow of a ship in 1960, it is a relatively new addition to the Lisbon skyline and yet looks like it could have been built at the same time as its neighbour. We didn't stop here so unfortunately I am unable to give to much of an insight into it's history but needless to say it looked just as impressive as it counterparts.

Belem Tower

From the district of Belem we headed for the heart of the city centre passing under the very impressive Aqueduct of the Free Waters. This is a mammoth structure that was built in 1738 to bring fresh water to the fountains of Lisbon along its 15 km channel. I cannot describe the sheer size of this structure, it really caught me by surprise simply because it was so unexpected, as we drove under it a deep shadow was cast over the coach and everyone sat in awe of this sublime feat of engineering.

Aqueduct of the Free Waters

Other highlights include the San Jorge castle which we saw perched on top of the hill overlooking the city and the 25 de abril Bridge, a carbon copy of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. There are many bustling squares, numerous statues, churches and government buildings that all deserve to be visited and looked at unfortunately we just didn't have the time.

I cannot describe the utter pleasure that visiting Lisbon gave me, I was shocked at how rich the culture was, I could quite happily have spent days there visiting every nook and cranny I could. Lisbon is a city I will most definitely visit again, it deserves to be treated with the same respect one would treat London or Paris. It's a stunner!

Vigo - Santiago de Compostela

Vigo 3rd April 2011

Obradoiro facade

Nestled on the northwest coast of Spain, Vigo is a very pleasant town full of amenities that any flourishing town needs. The only problem we encountered was that we docked on a Sunday, never visit Vigo on a Sunday, it's closed, literally. Luckily for us we had booked an excursion to the Galician capital of Santiago de Compostela with its medieval cathedral dominating its rugged skyline.

SDC is a beautiful medieval town which is dominated by the very imposing cathedral. It was in the 9th century that remains were discovered and were believed to be those of the Apostle James.  The cathedral is located on one of SDC's many squares, directly opposite the 16th century Palace of Archbishop Bartolome Rajoy and flanked on one side by a luxury hotel, which was built to house the thousands of pilgrims that visited in the 16th century.

If you were to stand in front of the Obradoiro facade you would be be greeted by the enormous double staircase which leads you up to the main doors of the cathedral. As you enter the doors you are greeted by quite a dark interior. On first impressions I was disappointed, however as I gazed down the nave I was greeted by a sumptous golden light which is the high alter. It shines like a beacon that is guiding the pilgrims to the shrine of St James. Situated behind the alter is the ornate statue of St James himself. It can be accessed via a very narrow stone staircase. We qued for only about 10 minutes, when I reached the statue the people in front of me were kissing and embracing the statue. I felt slightly uneasy with the open outpouring of faith but I had to react as you file pass the statue rather quickly so I kissed the cloak of the statue and said a little prayer, I felt quite overwhelmed that I had taken part in a ritual that many people before me had participated in, many of which had followed one of the parts of the pilgrimage route known as The Way of St James. Down another tight staircase is the casket which it is said hold the mortal remains of St James, again you pass in single file whilst taking a glimpse at the spectacular silver urn.

In the main body of the church suspended from the ceiling by eight supporting cords is the enormous incense burner that has the capability to swing out over the congregation so far down the nave that it nearly reaches the opposite end. This had just been swung just as we entered so unfortunately I cannot tell what that would have been like to experience that ritual.

Incense Burner & High Alter

Many of the visitors took the opportunity to use the wooden confessional boxes that lined one side of the wall. We lit 3 candles in a side chapel and exited by the same huge wooden doors that we entered an hour earlier.

As we entered back into the daylight and the warm Spanish air I felt I had witnessed one of Europe's gems and had the privilege to witness peoples most intimate moments with God.

It would be very unfair of me to base this entire post on the cathedral.With its haphazard passages, steps leading to split level streets SDC has a feeling all of its own and has many other sights waiting to be discovered by any intrepid traveller. We took a delightful road train ride around the city which took in the many parks and cafe lined squares that this town has to offer. As we weaved our way through the cobbled streets, turning the tight bends and climbing the steep hills I got the sense of a very close knit community that was set apart from the hustle and bustle of the cathedral's many visitors in the main square and the streets that surround it.

Would I go back to Santiago de Compostela? No probably not. That's not because I didn't like it, it is simply because I have seen it and experienced it and I see it as a once in a lifetime experience to visit a place as sacred as that. Would I visit Vigo? Yes, just not on a Sunday!

My travels in Europe

After much deliberation I have finally decided to take the plunge and attempt to produce a blog based on a recent trip I undertook to Europe in April 2011. The trip was done via cruise ship and took in ports in Spain, France and Portugal. However, this is not going to be about the ship, which incidentally was Azura, the jewel in P&O's crown, or about what we did on board, what we ate (the food was spectacular though!) etc. My posts are going to be about the places I visited, what I saw, what I heard and how I felt at the time.

Our itinerary included, from the port of Vigo in northwest Spain, the cathedral in Santiago de Compestela, which is said to be the final resting place of St James, this was followed the next day by a visit to the sun drenched capital of Portugal, Lisbon. After a day at sea our next port of call was Bilbao, but be warned we did not disembark that day so you might be lucky and get some musings about the ship and the interesting police presence in dock. Finally en route back home we visited the delightful medieval town of Quimper in Brittany, which was reached from the port of Brest.

I hope you enjoy my recollection of the journey and please excuse my feeble attempts to portray them in the way that I do. I am not a writer (yet!) but I hope that over time I can establish a writing style to call my own. Our first port of call is Vigo. Enjoy!!