Category Archives: Travels

Photographs taken during travels outside the UK and being collated into a photo book. Pictures included here are emerging from the selection process, but may not be included finally.

Mining the Diaries 71: France 2008

Hotel Eden. Les Praz de Chamonix, 24th August 2008 The day dawned crystal clear, the rising sun turning the summit of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks brilliant, glittering white, the sky the palest ice blue streaked by chalky contrails.  … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 66: Morocco 2006

Ryad Mabrouka, Fez, 15th September 2006 Our second day and it’s time to head into the labyrinth, the medina.  It’s claustrophobic and jumbled; dirt is swept into the street; goods are hauled by men and animals; nuts, grains and pulses … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 62: Greece 2005

Fotini, Kaminaki, Corfu, 28th August 2005 We drove north to Kalami, Kassiopi and up to Ano Perithia (sometimes signed as ‘Old’, I prefer ‘Ano’).  The road from Loutses has been much improved since we visited in 2001, widened and surfaced, … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 61: Italy 2005

2796 Calle del Traghetto, Venice, 27th June 2005 This year we have abandoned the Piano Rialzato, though we are still in the sestieri of Dorsodoro.  The entrance to number 2796 is through anonymous wooden double doors directly off the Calle … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 60: Wales 2005

Or’eira, Llanfacherth, Dolgellau 11th May 2005 Drove down to Brithdir to the start, north end, of the Torrent Walk. It was created by Thomas Payne for the Richards family of the nearby Caerynwch estate in the late 1800s.  A short … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 59: Germany 2005

Hotel Ritter, Heidelberg, 30th March 2005 Here for a four-day twinning exchange visit with the Cambridge City Council delegation. 7.00  Up promptly and out for a walk.  Chilly and drizzling under an ashen sky.  Early risers trudging to work – … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 58: India 2004

Pink City Camp, Pushkar, 23rd November 2004 A night of tossing and turning punctuated by the sounds of Indian music, campers’ ablutions through canvas and camels grunting and bellowing.  A bucket of hot water arrives at six-thirty.  The bed is … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 57: Czechoslovakia 2004

Julius Apart Hotel, Wenceslas Square, Prague, 21st July 2004 A highlight of the visit so far: coffee at Café Slavia. The cafe opened in August 1884, poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke was a regular and it was famous for its associations … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 56: The Netherlands 2004

Best Western City Hotel, Groningen, 13th May 2004 Here with Planning Department colleagues on a study tour to look at urban planning and design.  Getting around on shocking pink bicycles with back-pedal brakes – impressions of Dutch gables and chestnut … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 54: Wales 2004

Or’eira, Llanfacherth, Dolgellau 11th April 2004 Arrived yesterday – our first stay here.  It is wonderfully quiet and feels very remote – hills, birdsong, fragmented fields, sheep grazing, daffodils in bloom and black-fingered oaks about to burst into leaf.  Peace … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 53: Italy 2003

Piano Rialzato, Venice, 14th September 2003 We set out to walk from the Campo de la Bragora to San Pietro di Castello via Campo San Martin, Fondamenta Arsenale, Giardini Garibaldi, Ponte Santa Anna, a trail described in the excellent Venetian … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 52: Belgium 2003

De Zwann, Scherpenheuvel, Belgium, 30th August 2003 Here for a British-Belgian wedding yesterday. A long and happy day, dancing into the night, falling into bed after two.  Breakfast with the wedding guests, who are staying here.  Goodbyes, then off for … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 51: Cuba 2003

Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba, 17th May 2003 Pavel took us on a tour from the Parque Cespedes to the area known as Tivoli.  Called ‘the most authentic picturesque mixed quarter of Santiago’ by our guide book, it’s been settled … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 50: Italy 2003

Hotel Roma, Trieste, 1st March 2003 Early morning at the Serbian Orthodox church of St Spiridione: the Eastern rite rhetoric of colour and gold, of sad-faced icons and star painted window recesses, of a host of candles and sonorous tenor … Continue reading

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Mining the Diaries 49: Italy 2002

Piano Rialzato, Venice, 16th September 2002 The soundscape is one of the best and most distinctive things about Venice.  At home we hear aeroplanes, ambulance sirens and the rumble of traffic.  Here there is a sound track playing a continual, … Continue reading

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