I'm back home after a great six weeks away. This was a "short" trip for me.
So here we go with an overview of my trip.
London
London for me is always a good idea. I fell in love with it back in the mid 70's and it's been calling me back ever since. Some of the best things in my life have happened in London. When I learned my two Oz friends Loraine and Linda were going to be in London in the fall I knew I had to be there. And what fun we had!! Of course, I did loads of other things as well. I spent two weeks there from mid September until very early October and then back again for four nights at the end of October before flying home.
After over five years (delayed for two and a half years thanks to Covid) of walking, I finally finished the 126 km Capital Ring. The picture above is taken at the end of my walk and where I started in May of 2018 at the main door of Streatham Common station just steps from my B and B. What a walk! I got to see so much more of my beloved city. At times it was a challenge and I sat down lots but oh how I loved it. I must say (and I shouldn't say this being the president of a walking club) I really do prefer walking alone. You observe so much more and are more open to meeting people - well guess that goes for solo travel period. Of course, now I will have to find another challenge to do in London. I've got a few brewing in my head!
I toured Buckingham Palace again! I had been previously in September of 2002 (the palace is only open during the summer months and into September) but I decided I needed a refresher. I had booked for September of last year but it was understandably canceled. What can I say...I was just as blown away as the first time. Sorry, no pictures allowed - not even on the garden tour. However, this time around there was a cafe at the back of the palace. (we were whisked out the back last time with barely a glance at the garden) The goal was to have afternoon tea but that changed when I saw the price and noted that it came in a box (sacrilege!!) so I opted for a piece of fancy overpriced cake and a flat white instead. (a tea bag in a paper cup....I don't think so! that's not tea!)
Seeing ABBA Voyage! When I was in London last March Claudia and I were sitting at her kitchen table having a drink and she mentioned she would love to see ABBA Voyage and I said let's do it! So she got online then and there and six months later here we were. It was fabulous!!! (no photos allowed) Ironically in the Spring, I had seen the arena walking past on the Capital Ring never dreaming that I would be actually be going inside.
My friend Loraine told me about the Chelsea History Festival and who was going to be there. I immediately got online and booked tickets like mad. Besides two great walking tours with Katie from Look up London I saw my adventure hero hunky Levison Wood AGAIN (no comments from the gallery....and no I'm not a Levison groupie!!! I save that for someone else!!) AND Bill Wyman, a former Rolling Stone. What a thrill! I was ballsy and as Bill was signing my book I asked if I could have a photo with him and he graciously said yes. Eeek..I'm standing beside a (former) Rolling Stone!!
It was fabulous to spend time with my Australian friends Loraine and Linda. Loraine was at Claudia's (where we all met) in September and we spent a lot of time together between the history festival, going out for Sunday roast, guided walks and oh yes did I mention Loraine was turning 65? Claudia and I wanted to do something special for her birthday and I said an ordinary afternoon tea was just too boring - we needed something different. I found a Drag Queen Brunchette online so we booked it and the rest is history. Such fun!!! I hope it's something Loraine will always remember with a smile because I sure will.
Photos are blurry as they didn't stand still needless to say - the videos are better! What fun!!
After three weeks in Europe, I spent the last few days of my trip in London and Claudia decided that I should surprise Linda because she had surprised me for my birthday back in 2019. So that's what we did. I stayed in my room when she arrived and then I heard her say I just missed Laurie and I said "did I hear someone mention my name" as I came down the stairs! We did a tour of West Highgate cemetery together, went to see a movie and with Claudia had an evening meal and drinks in the local pub my last evening. Of course every evening there were drinks and cheese at the kitchen table to talk about our day. We are known to Claudia as the "three L's". Sadly Loraine was back home by the time Linda arrived so no three "L's" all together. We are all independent solo travelers but happy to get together for activities and drinks!!!
Of course, there were other highlights; meeting up with my friend Amanda in Nottingham for a walk around the city (upcoming blog post....at the rate I'm going...um 2025...) and a good catch up, as well as a boat trip on the Regents Canal and visit to Camden Market with my friend Irene. I met up with my friend Marie at the Paul McCartney photo exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery and had a meal with her and her friends. I never got to see my friend Judi but that will happen on my next trip over. Just getting up in the morning knowing I am in my favourite place in the world makes me happy. I got to see sheep being herded over London Bridge again as well as seeing the Pearly Kings and Queens and oh so much more.
I watched part of the Harvest Festival activities at the Guildhall but standing so long is not good (too much standing for hours outside on cold London days back in the 70's and 80's..my Paul peeps will get this...) so I retired to a bench outside St Mary-le-Bow church. I had a plan!! I was able to snag a seat on the aisle for the Costermongers Harvest Festival service at this church. In attendance were not only Pearly Kings and Queens but the mayors from the different London boroughs all decked out in their fancy gear. So cool!
Then it was time to hop on an Air Baltic flight and head to...
Riga, Latvia
Why Latvia? I get asked this so many times. My friend Pat had visited there and loved it and her pictures intrigued me. I needed a place to go to for a few days before meeting up with friends in Berlin and I knew I wanted somewhere new and Riga fit.
I stayed in an Airbnb flat in the Old Town that was absolutely perfect for me. I tend to stay in rooms as I don't like the feeling I am contributing to a housing shortage plus I like to stay with locals. However there weren't many options for this in Riga. As the weather was pretty dire for half my stay I was grateful I was able to dash back to my abode to dry off and rest.
Riga, a city of over 600,000 has an absolutely beautiful Old Town.
Above is the House of the Black Heads...I took a tour of it which was so interesting.
There was also a beautiful park with a canal running through that I enjoyed walking in.
I took a day trip on the train to Jurmala on the Baltic Sea - it was so beautiful. Sadly due to a couple of very rainy days I was unable to fit in the other day trip I had planned to do.
I can't talk about Riga without sharing a couple of pictures of the beautiful Art Nouveau buildings. On a rainy Saturday morning, I walked over to the Art Nouveau district and was blown away. Now this type of architecture is all over Riga but there are blocks of it in this area. I also visited the Art Nouveau Museum. Wow!! Why does Riga have so much? Riga's wealth was at its highest at the end of the 19th century and before the first World War when Art Nouveau architecture was at its most popular. Unlike other European cities, most of these buildings luckily survived bombing by the Nazis and Soviets.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Riga and wouldn't rule out a return trip someday. There will definitely be more posts on Riga and even though it's off the beaten tourist path in Europe it is well worth a visit.
Berlin
Over four years ago when Berit, Claudia and I met up in Berit's home village in Denmark I suggested the three of us meet up in Berlin next time. Berit had lived there some years before and she could be our guide. Finally, we were able to do it. Sadly Claudia had to cancel so there were only the two of us. We missed her but the two of us still had fun together.
Of course, our first port of call was Check Point Charlie. It was the first time Berit had seen it since she had lived there and it was in the 80's when the wall was still up. It was so interesting to view Berlin from her perspective and learn how it has changed since then..
Of course, the Brandenburg Gate was another place to visit...
Every morning we had breakfast at the same bakery/cafe across from our building - if only we had places like that here. Well probably just as well as I'd never fit through my front door.
Of course, as we all know Berlin has a sad complicated history. We saw many memorials to those who lost their lives in a bid for freedom. We also visited the Holocaust memorial.
2,711 structures of different heights which are designed to disorientate and cause claustrophobia in the visitor.
I felt fortunate to be there during the Berlin Light Festival when iconic buildings in the city were bathed in beautiful colours. The Berlin Cathedral above had many different designs reflected onto it.
The Brandenburg Gate display did not disappoint either.
In a week I used all forms of transport in Berlin - Ubahn (mainly underground), Sbahn (suburban trains), trams and buses.
It was great to put my travel brain on hold for a few days and just let Berit lead me around - even figuring out public transport.
After Berit left I spent a day going to a few different neighbourhoods going to markets and looking at street art.
Token dog photo.
Except for the Spy Museum, I didn't visit any museums or galleries in Berlin. I had planned to but it just never happened. Even though I was there almost a week spent one day just moving from one place to the other and another day waiting for Berit (her train was late) My last Airbnb was a room in an apartment and I encountered my first hostile host...she had rave reviews so I don't know if she was in a bad space but I felt very uncomfortable there.
While my time in Berlin was enjoyable I feel I've seen what I went to see and I can't see me going back. Never say never though!
Corfu
I had been wanting to visit Corfu for a very long time. Years ago I read naturalist Gerald's Durrells books about growing up on the island and knew I had to visit someday. While there I took a copy of "My Family and Other Animals" with me and reread it. I soon learned that the idyllic life he lived in the 1930's and present day Corfu were much different. Of course, if I had rented a car I likely might have had more of a glimpse of it but that wasn't going to happen. What I had imagined in my head and the reality did not jive. I honestly don't know what I expected but what I saw wasn't it however I still enjoyed my time there.
My accommodation was an Airbnb apartment in the Old Town of Corfu which was run by an American woman married to a Greek - her husband's family owned the building. Patricia was an amazing host and I loved the apartment. Patricia had a dog but had adopted five stray cats that she fed - there are a lot of stray cats in Corfu and most of them seem to be looked after by local residents and shopkeepers. There was a lovely cafe around the corner from where I was staying called Favela 17 and I found out from a German couple seated next to me that's it one of the recommended places to eat in Old Corfu. The staff was friendly and got to know me as I had quite a few of my breakfasts there.
This cat spent a lot of time curled up on the step of my apartment and if I wasn't careful it would have come in to join me for a cuppa I'm sure.
I spent hours in the Old Fort shown behind me and climbed to the top for a great view. My knees certainly got a workout in Corfu Town.
Corfu has a great bus system. The buses are modern and the service (in my experience) was great. I used the long-distance buses (once I finally found the bus terminal) and local ones to visit places outside of Corfu town.
Greek food is one of my favourites. The best meal I had on Corfu? Lamb kleftiko. Marinated lamb cooked with potatoes, onions and peppers in parchment paper. Oh my my my...
I enjoyed my time in Corfu. Would I go back? Probably not. I love to revisit places but at my age I only have so much left for adventures so I'd rather revisit much-loved places while exploring new ones too.
And that's a wrap on the overview on my Fall 2023 trip. I'll be writing more on this trip but I still have to finish the 2022 one and the Spring 2023 one so don't hold your breath!!!
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