Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Happy 'Zombie' Halloween


Fantastico y DE TERROR!

Who knew we would run into a Horror Film Festival in 
San Sebastian last weekend?

Zombies everywhere!
...a band of bloody reanimated solders from 
Napoleon's Army
marched, well shuffled, through the main streets,
by the Pintxo bars, 
drumming and scaring
bystanders .... me! 




They did look real (well I've never actually seen a Zombie!)

Whew! Time for another glass of our favorite wine of the night!

Happy 'Zombie' Halloween ! 






Monday, October 21, 2013

Handel House Museum

London is FULL of quirky, obscure yet intriguing museums....

The Handel House Museum is at 25 Brook Street nestled in a back alley among designer shops and exclusive restaurants.  It was once home to the great composer George Frideric Handel ..... and,
believe it or not,
the greatest guitarist, Jimi Hendrix.


















We were there as part of an AWC Classical Music event...
following the tour of the restored Georgian home, we were treated to an elegant harpsichord concert.















**I borrowed this photo from the Handel House website! 
Isn't that harpsichord gorgeous? 




Just another day in London!  


Monday, October 14, 2013

Antiques in Sawbridgeworth

This is what I am collecting now!

Call it a soda siphon, a syphon, or a seltzer bottle - it's a pressurized glass container for dispensing carbonated water....and not re-usable!
But they were made in beautiful sea-glass colours.

Remember the Three Stooges shaking the bottle and spraying each other in the face?








Sawbridgeworth......
 is a great place to go antiquing,
relatively close to London
and easy to get to.




















Start the journey at Liverpool Street Station in London....
where apparently this Hawk keeps other bird travellers to a minimum! 

Just across the street from the Sawbridgeworth Station is  "The Maltings",
a grouping of warehouses and several Antique Centre's,
my favourite is Acorn Antiques!



After hours of searching for treasures we usually make our way uphill, 
by the river and the houseboats,
through the gardens of the Great St. Mary's Church,
along the High Street.
On this trip we found a terrific restaurant big enough for our hungry crowd.


Goose Fat & Garlic 
Cute name!


It was not a successful antiquing trip for me this time 
but we all enjoy getting out of the city for a day.....
Now, what's on the schhheduwle 
for the rest of the week? 



Sunday, October 6, 2013

Mont-Saint-Michel


A picture post card of one of the most recognizable landmarks in Normandy......


Our actual view as we made our early morning "pilgrimage" toward the Mont Saint Michel Abbey.  
I was here 38 years ago with my Auburn roommate, Betinna, and her family.
 I remember how amazed I was ... a sight never forgotten! 
 We drove our Volkswagen Van across the causeway and parked at the base of village before making the winding climb to the top.  


The man-made causeway evidently caused the bay to "silt up" so construction is in progress to build a new bridge and a touristy shopping/parking/shuttle village has been built to handle the mass of visitors. 
I could not help but think how disappointed Betinna's family would be to see this. 


The Abbey is so beautiful....
the cloister so peaceful....



Definitely, still worth the trip! 












Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Exploration and Emotion....Normandy


Between 6:30 and 7:30 am on the morning of June 6, 1944 
135,000 men, 
Americans, British and Canadian troops 
and around 20,000 vehicles went ashore five designated beaches - 
Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword
It was 'D' Day! 


We followed the battle path
 along the beaches of Normandy with our passionate guide,
 Ashley and his wife, Lorraine from Gemmaway Travels.
At times it was operation "knowledge overload"
but so much more interesting than 
World History 101!  



........ And then this scene
to remind us that life goes on,
 and the war-torn beaches have recovered!  


We visited many of the D Day museums 
starting with the Musee Airborne in
Sainte Mere Eglise,
the very heart of the fighting by the US paratroopers.



Look closely for the paratrooper - 
the story is that
he hung from the cathedral only to watch the slaughter 
of the rest of his battalion as they landed with German troops firing.  

We often stopped along the roadside
to study a memorial site or inspect a new statue.
  


The most impressive and by far the most emotional
was the American Cemetery and Memorial.







White marble crosses and Stars of David 
as far as the eye could see.
When the bells began to play our National Anthem 
there was not a dry eye in the crowd! 


It was a day we will never forget...
and probably the only time I pose in front of a tank!!!