Getting arty in Catalonia

Manlleu, Catalonia.

The main square all to themselves.  Remember, Monday is market day, boys. 

 Manlleu, a mix of classic culture and industry.

 The River Ter.

Arriving at Manlleu

 Such a neat place to arrive.

Shades of the Beatles>

Emerson College revisited.

  Just before we took off for Spain, we revisited Gek's old art college in Forrest Row.

The spring blooms are well on the way, if a little late this year.

 We will be back in a couple of weeks.  Ta Ta for now.

Belton House.

It is raining and they are still at the crease.  Have things come to this?  Rain can no longer stop play?

Polly insisted we join as National Trust members, so we did.

Fabulous  house and gardens.

All the way round,

and still they are thwacking leather with willow.  Spot the ball.

And so on to Nottingham

 To see some deer,

and the deer stalker.

Still not summer.

I am being quite successful cultivating this  wild man look, don't you think?

Things to do in Druidson, rain, blow or shine.

Evening time, watch the beautiful sunset.

If it is wild and windy, watch the TV and catch a rather outdated looking soap.

When it clears up, go for a cliff top amble.

Govan Head

A wild and windy place.  Very stark but in a strange way also very beautiful.

St. Govan, who was he?  This chapel was built over the entrance to a fissure, not even a cave,  where the hermit, Govan, lived.  Lots of legends but few hard facts.  The chapel dates from the 14th century.

A bleak place to set up home, even today.

Dale

I came to Dale in 1963 on a biology field trip organised by the Darwen Grammar School following the 'O' level exams.

The field centre is still here and working!!!

The centre is housed in Dale Fort built in the 1850's to defend Milford Haven.

The court yard looks just the same as 50 years, half a bloody century ago!!!!

St. Bride's Bay

The Pembrokeshire coast is still quite pristine. The roads leading to the beaches are mostly single track and, fortunately, very little used.  just as well as the car parks are very small at the beaches.

This is May the 7th.  It is still very cold.  The tree and hedges are still mostly leafless and the fields still looked ploughed.

Out on the head the gorse has not been affected by the cold and is in full yellow glow.

Gek found her redder than red wooly hat in the Welsh loft.  Needed here, believe me.

Contemplation.

Druidson.

Home sweet home for now.

Our local beach.  Just us and the horses.

Strumble head

The light and light house on Strumble head.

St. David and the head.

St. David's Cathedral, a structure begun in the 12th century. A surprising amount of slate used in the build.

We found a secret garden on the east side for a quiet lunch.  Out of wind and in the sunshine.

A walk up out on St. David's head.

This is a wild place and yet people lived and thrived here, perhaps as far back as 5000 years ago.  The stone circles in the photo are what remains of round houses.  The ridge of stones in the middle distance are the fallen down remains of a defensive wall across the peninsular. On the horizon Carn Llidi.

And so up to Cairn Llidi.  That is me on the skyline.

St Brides Bay

The coast here abouts is absolutely fabulous. 

 

  But also doing rugged.

 

 Wind power a plenty.

 The gorse is brilliant, literally.

 And so to sunset.

Tenby

The beach, as empty as it was in 2006.

13th century town walls alongside a 19th terrace.  Love the colourful houses of the town.

Looks of surprise at being stranded.

A sea of colours too.