It's Really Here

It felt like it would never come, but as happens in Montreal, spring suddenly appeared with temperatures in the teens (C)  and growth has been rapid. Although traces of snow can still be seen in north-facing wooded areas in parks, or where there are remnants of snow banks in parking lots, it feels as if winter is long past. We suddenly have collective amnesia about the cold and don our lighter clothing, walking about with our faces turned towards the sun.



Flowers seem to grow before our eyes. One day sprouts poke up and the next day blooms start to appear. Everything seems to be in a rush to make an appearance. Each day the landscape changes.



No slow spring here! No time to savour each new growth. Spring is here in a rush.

Portobello Road

Photos: March 31, 2015

In all my trips to London, I had never gone to Portobello Road. We took advantage of a sunny day to stroll, poke around the stores and soak in the atmosphere.



Antiques mingle with newer items; antique stores with tourist shops.



You can find jewellery, and household goods as well as fruit and vegetables!



Just around the corner I found these buildings. Each tries to stand out from the others. This is definitely a colourful area.

Walking Through Regent's Park

Photos: March 30, 2015


London has some wonderful, expansive parks. This was my first visit to Regent's Park.I was impressed by the variety of water fowl. It is always a delight to stroll away from the bustle of city streets.



This bird was testing the water, searching for food. Its bright beak looks glued on!



It is always the flowers that catch my eyes. These magnolias were just opening; I like the way they seem to perch on the branches.



The English seem to have a love of formal gardens. This kind of orderly display would be quite foreign to my city's parks.



A bonus of travelling is that I get to experience spring twice. I won't be seeing blossoms like this until some time in May in Montreal.

A Taste of London

I have been to London a number of times because my brother lives in England. Family sometimes guides vacation plans. I still manage to do some "sight-seeing" during my British sojourns. There is something special about emerging from the tube and being in Trafalgar Square. This is a view of the National Gallery. I went to the exhibit, Inventing Impressionism, about Paul Durand-Ruel and how he brought the art of the impressionists to public attention.




Just off Trafalgar Square is St. Martin in the Fields (no fields around now!). Apparently there has been a church on this site since Medieval times. On this visit I only saw it from the outside, but many years ago I went there with my children. We ate in the cafe in the crypt and did some brass rubbings at the Brass Rubbing Centre.



A visit to the British Library to see the Magna Carta exhibit took us past St. Pancras. What an imposing building! The exhibit was quite extensive and fascinating. As always, I am moved when I am so close to touching history.



Another stop was at the British Museum.We went to the exhibit Defining Beauty: the body in ancient Greek Art. While it was interesting and worth seeing, the two exhibits mentioned above made more of an impact on me.



Not all was about museums. I love to walk in London and walk we did! It was great to have a taste of spring after the cold winter in Montreal. I feasted my eyes on the flowers and green grass, celebrated the blossoms and enjoyed walking with my head held high instead of being pulled into my coat like a turtle. And for the two of us - early music lovers, no trip is complete without concerts (we went to 2) and a visit to a music shop (I bought a few pieces and am looking forward to playing).

Buskers

There seems to be a new style of busker in London. In the past I have seen people dressed in costume, made up to look like a statue. They barely move until someone drops money into their box and then there is acknowledgement of the contribution. Now this idea has been taken to a whole new level. These buskers seem to be suspended in air.



I did manage to get a look at the frame that is inside one of the costumes, but I still cannot imagine the strength it takes to stay hanging there in one position. I saw the top person near Covent Garden. Then near the National Gallery I saw many in costumes varying from what you see above to movie characters and even a witch.



I have no idea how much money they take in each day, but it must be enough to make it worthwhile.




This guy had a totally different approach. He behaved quite dog-like but had an amusing patter, interacting with anyone who came close by. Better him than me. I can't imagine how stiff I would be trying to get up after being scrunched down in this box for hours!

Hastings

I've always been fascinated by the notion of Hastings ever since I read 1066 and All That. Although the battle did not take place here (rather in a place now called Battle), the name conjures up the history of the time. I have seen the Bayeux Tapestry in France and love the feeling of walking the area where these historical figures may once have walked. The castle (built in 1070), or what remains of it, was one of the first of a series along the coast that the Normans built after the conquest.



A second reason for visiting Hastings is that my spouse and I have been watching Foyle's War which takes place in Hastings during World War II. It was fun to wander some of the streets and try to imagine where parts of episodes may have been filmed.



We took the funicular up to the top of the hill. The castle grounds were closed until some time in April but the view was certainly open! Hastings now seems to be a fading seaside town. Along the shore are a number of amusement facilities from mini-golf to rides. The oldest part of the city has narrow winding streets.




Once a major fishing town, it is now much less so. It was fun to stroll around and see a slightly different part of England.

Rural Sussex

Photos: March 24, 2015

After a Montreal winter, it is lovely to see the lush green English countryside. Even though the trees are still not in leaf, the spring growth is evident everywhere. We spent a day visiting different spots in Sussex. Above you can see the view from the Berwick church churchyard.



A church has been located here since the 1100s. During WWII the Bloomsbury group stayed at Virginia Woolf's farm nearby. Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell and Quentin Bell painted the murals in the church at that time.



This country pub sits waiting for customers. My brother and I had lunch there some years back. Everywhere you look in England there are mosses and lichen growing. The damp climate is perfect for them.



Our next stop was Alfriston, a quaint town with many tea shops. We did not stop for afternoon tea, but did have lunch in The George Inn, which was granted a license in 1397. It was delightful to sit by the fire and enjoy our meal.



My eyes feasted on all the flowers. Blossoms are opening everywhere. 



We also stopped in at the museum in Brighton which sits next to The Royal Pavilion. This is an over the top building which was constructed for the future George IV, who was an extravagant man with a very extravagant lifestyle. Having toured the inside once, I just gawked from the exterior this time.



Grafitti can be found everywhere. While I hate the tagging you see in many places, I love murals done by good street artists. Brighton had several.