Jim's (truncated) Gap year

Double Decker bridge at Porto

Porto is an old trading port and entry point to the agricultural regions of northern Portugal. the population has a reputation for bring assertive and not always co operative with the central government from Lisbon.

Its Chamber of Business and Commerce stood up to the dictator Salazar in the 1960's and appear to have got away with that dissent. Its history goes back to the 19th century and its stunning headquarters reflect a successful and thriving and economic centre.

Beautifully tiled internal colonnade

The guilded reception hall was a showpiece of opulence and style - available for hire for events and soirees.

Reception Hall

Porto

Busking in Porto

Stayed in the east London which was a new experience - my apartment was close to Liverpool Street station and the commercial district. Even among the glass and glitz there reminders of the very ancient history of this city. The knight was a testimony to the fact that this little park was part of an estate declared in the 1100's.

The aptly nicknamed "Gherkin" Building

St Paul's was only a short walk away.

I learned at the Imperial War Museum that a Victoria Cross was awarded to the leader of the bomb disposal team that defused a 500 kg un-exploded bomb that landed just outside St Paul's during the Blitz.

Monument to children arriving unaccompanied in the years prior to WWII

Apparently some tens of thousands of children arrived in London in this way. The British were very welcoming and Liverpool Street was where they were 'processed'. The red jackets in the picture are for the purpose of promoting an appeal for homeless people.

Cartmel

13th century church Cartmel

Frost near Cartmel race track.

My first stop in the midlands was Cartmel which is at the southern end of Cumbria. It was a convenient base for Lake District walking. Many roads were single lane with the added hazard of drystone fences. Beautiful sunny cold days.

Stream through Cartmel village

Walking in Bowness was a pleasure - crossing Lake Widermere by ferry and then a circuit walk for three hours taking in idyllic farmland and hillscapes

Lake Windermere

Bowness

Autumn

From Cartmel took a day trip to Liverpool which I had not visited previously. The Mersey is a mighty river and Liverpool is a strategic port and former shipbuilding colossus. It is now a vibrant arts hub and commercial centre - and still trades upon the fame of the Beatles and many other talented performers who emerged from this city.

Outside The Cavern with John Lennon

Liverpool University - where the term 'red brick' university arose

The Catholic Cathedral - a controversial design also used as a community space.

Liverpool waterfront

Old and the New

Liverpool waterfront

Ferry 'cross the Mersey (Gerry and The Pacemakers)

From Cartmel I travelled via Lancaster to West Burton, a village in the Yorkshire Dales, where I had booked a farmhouse about 4km out of the village. The farmhouse was nestled in a valley and had been restored in the 1950's. There were pictures of it in its ruined state and it is now a very comfortable family house.

Farmhouse- West Burton

Lancaster Castle

The road to the farmhouse

There are innumerable walking trails in the Dales and they can be undertaken either as circuits or A to B walks. On my first day I started at Hawes and headed off on a circuit of about 5km. It was a perfect day bright, sunny and cold - and there were quite a few other walkers along the route.

River Ure near Hawes

Well worn and sometimes paved walking track near Hawes

Near Hawes

Ure River

On the following day I drove to Grassington and set off on a walk taking in the village of Litton which features regularly in ratings for the prettiest villages in the UK. It has a population of about 70 and is surrounded by hilly grazing country. My timing was perfect for capturing the autumn blaze of colour which has probably gone now as the winds and rain set in.

Near Litton

River Skirfare in Litton

Autumn vine Litton

Behind Grassington

Dusk in the Dales

After leaving Yorkshire headed to London and on to Rennes to meet Gar who is celebrating his 70th in December. We did some local walking around his village of Orgeres an spent a day in Nantes which is an hour away from Rennes by car. It was the early capital of Brittany before it was subsumed into France and is a coastal trading town.

Jim and Gar in Orgeres

Nantes - Palace 13th century - home of Anne de Bretagne

Gar & Anne

Inside the wall

Beutiful shopping arcade 1840's Nantes

Chez Gar - Orgeres

Birthday celebration Rennes

Nantes - Gardens

Back in London for a few more days before returning home. The autumn colours in Hyde park and Kensington Gardens were spectacular. Part of Hyde Park had been temporarily closed off for the Winter Wonderland - which includes ice rinks and a temporary theme park with exotic rides. It is a much bigger deal than it was ten years ago when we lived here.