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Update #44 Welcome friends, its time to put the kettle on, settle into a comfortable armchair, and enjoy the best of Britain with Britain Update. But before you do, please take the time to forward this newsletter to someone who loves Britain as much as you do. #################
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******************** St. Govan was a sixth century hermit who established a cell for himself on this lonely spot, in the fashion of early Celtic Christian monks, who tended to live in isolated places. Legends sprang up about the saint, and about the curative properties of the natural spring which used to rise just inside the door of the chapel. During the medieval period the holy well and cell became a place of pilgrimage for cripples seeking a cure, and the original cell was rebuilt as a small chapel in the 13th century. The chapel is a very simple rectangular building with a steeply pitched roof and bellcote. Access is by way of 52 stone steps from the top of the cliffs. Legend has it that the chapel was founded when St. Govan hid in a rocky fissure of the cliff to escape from pirates. A further legend states that King Arthur's knight Sir Gawain lies buried beneath the stone altar of the chapel. Bosherton, just inland from St. Govan's Head, is famous for its freshwater ponds, home to lilies which bloom in June. The ponds are manmade, created in the 18th century, and the effect when the lilies are blooming is strikingly beautiful. There are woodland paths around the ponds. St. Govan's Chapel is contained within the Pembrokeshire National Park, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail runs along the nearby cliffs. The area is far enough off the beaten track that even today it retains an air of secluded beauty. For more on St. Govan and his chapel see http://www.stackpole.freeserve.co.uk/govan.htm ******************************
Orkneyjar http://www.orkneyjar.com/ is a lovely site chock full of information on the islands of Orkney. The Orkneys are all too easily overlooked by visitors to the UK, but they offer an extraordinary collection of ancient sites crammed into a small area. including one of the most important archaeological finds in recent memory, the Minehow chambered tomb site. Explore the rich history of the islands, photos, and travel information. This is an attractive, easy to navigate site, easily the best I have seen on the Orkneys. ******************************
Charing Cross was one of 12 "Eleanor Crosses" erected by a disconsolate Edward I when his wife Queen Eleanor of Castile died in 1290. Eleanor bore Edward 16 children in an unusually happy union for that period of arranged marriages. There is a legend that she once saved his life by sucking the poison from a wound he received while fighting in the Holy Land. When Eleanor died at Harby, near Lincoln, in November 1290, a grief-stricken Edward ordered her embalmed, and her entrails were buried at Lincoln Cathedral. Her body was then carried in a sombre procession to Westminster Abbey in London. At each place where the procession stopped for the night, Edward had built a memorial cross in her honour. Today only the crosses at Waltham (Essex), Geddington, and Hardingstone (both Northamptonshire) remain, and the cross at Charing is remembered only in the name Charing Cross. ****************************** HIGHLANDS
OF SCOTLAND LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE Activities include Canyoning (descending a waterfall using ropes and other equipment); Paragliding; a 'Hebridean Castaway Adventure'; Whale watching; and a photography week. The Web site provides travel suggestions and extensive accommodation options. Many of the packages include youth hostels that have become attractions in their own right. For instance, the Farr Cottage Activity Centre, near Fort William, provides tartan and whisky demonstrations every evening. Accommodation can also be booked in some of the area's many historic castles (one can even be hired for marriage ceremonies). GLOUCESTERSHIRE
ARTS AND CRAFTS *************************************
DAY FIVE
If you've followed my itinerary, you've had a ride on the double decker bus and toured all the "must see" sites in London. You've had a chance to eat some British food, ride the London underground, and people-watch in various corners of this city of cities. Speaking of people, it's famous people.stars.that we'll be focussing on today. The kids will see a lot that's educational without realising it because it's all about the movies and music and entertainment stars! OK. For starters, you can point out a few things to the kids to get them geared up for today's adventure. The kids have no doubt seen the movie, "101 Dalmatians," that live-action version of the much-loved Disney cartoon about a family of Dalmatians hunted by Cruela De Vil who wants to make a coat from their fur, starring Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels and Joely Richardson. Well, the movie was shot on location in and around location at places you've already visited: Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Burlington Arcade, Battersea Park and Kenwood House. Another movie Mom and Dad might be more familiar with is "First Knight," starring Richard Gere, Sean Connery, and Julia Ormond. This film, "a stunning and epic version of the legend of the Knights of the Round Table, with Connery as King Arthur and Richard Gere as Lancelot, the man who falls for Arthur's wife Guinevere, was shot on location largely in Wales, but also used was the Tower of London! You might like to go around London and look at those sites again. But if you suggest that, I warn you, the kids will mutiny faster than you can say "Margaret Thatcher." Here's my suggestion for today's outing. Rock
Circus Rock Circus is easy to find. It's located in the London Pavilion at No.1 Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly, in Central London. Your first stop, Madame Tussaud's Rock Circus, "is a must for anyone who has ever dreamt of being a pop star or of living like one. The home of Rock Circus, the famous London Pavilion building has been recreated as it was in its 60s heyday, when it hosted the world premieres of The Beatles' films 'A Hard Days Night' and 'Yellow Submarine'. A "new look" at Rock Circus takes you on an insider's tour of the world of rock and pop. You can hang out with the hip in the VIP room, get in vogue at a Madonna video shoot, join reggae master Bob Marley in the recording studio before paying tribute at the "Cemetery" to those late, great rockers who lived fast and died young. By special invitation meet the stars at a pre-concert VIP party. Rub shoulders with stars like Elvis and Bono. Your tour includes a tribute to the multi-talented Jackson family, with special focus on the amazing and ever youthful Michael Jackson and his sister Janet. The centre of music and fashion, a sixties style London street also gets the Rock Circus treatment with a wild and wonderful array of star-filled shops that mix the musical generations. Guitar greats Jimi Hendrix and Mark Knopfler enjoy a Tin Pan Alley style jam, Townshend and Daltrey play at pinball wizards and bad boys Johnny Rotten and James Brown add a touch of raunch to a typically sleazy Soho boutique. If you are still going strong after all this, Rock Circus invites you to an after show party area designed by U2's concert designer, Mark Fisher, where you can join Robbie Williams and the Spice Girls. If you've got time, depending on the day of the week and how fast you get through Rock Circus, you might want to check out one of the London Beatles Walks. There are two extensive and informative London Beatles Walks that end up at the Abbey Road Studios where the Beatles recorded their famous music. There's the "Magical Mystery Tour," every Thursday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and Wednesdays at 2 p.m. from Tottenham Court Road, the Underground Dominion Theatre Exit. Or, choose the "In My Life" Tour leaving every Tuesday and Saturday at 11 a.m. from the Baker Street Underground Station. For more details on these popular tours, contact: The Original London Walks, Tel: 011 44 171 624 3978. If you've done Rock Circus and decided to skip the Beatles Walk, how about spending the rest of the day outside London at the seaside? It's a continuation of the theme of entertainment and stardom, a bit funky, but also refreshing and gives the kids a chance to blow off a bit of youthful steam. It's only 49 minutes by rail, outside London to the seaside city of Brighton and Hove, one of the UK's most photogenic seaside cities. Rail services to and from London Victoria are fast and frequent with Connex's 49-minute service. Brighton and Hove have been featured in many famous films, including Sir Richard Attenborough's "Brighton Rock" and "Oh What a Lovely War", "Quadrophenia", "Mona Lisa", "Dirty Weekend" and "Richard III". It has also been a haven for countless TV and film celebrities and media types, and a lively backdrop to numerous advertisements and TV programs. If the weather is decent, there are all kinds of watersports to try and you can hire in-line skates to rollerblade along the esplanade, or play petanque (like boules) on the piste next to Alfresco's. And Hove's wide, elegant esplanade and peaceful lawns are perfect for strolling, picnicking, kite flying and playing. Bait and fishing is also available at the Brighton Marina. So if one of the family wants to fish and one wants to see a film and another wants to shop or take a nice walk, it is the perfect day out for a family. Afterwards you can meet up for a snack or a full meal before grabbing the train back to London. Take another look at the Thames if you want, before you head back to the hotel to pack, do your last minute souvenir shopping, and maybe even get time for one last story telling session. But tonight, you'll have visions of London dancing in your heads. Why not just talk about everyone's favourite places and have some fun reminiscing? There's a lot more to see in London that can't be stuffed into five days. You'll just have to plan for another trip over.and maybe by then, the kids will be old enough to bring their own spending money! Missed
the first five parts of this series? ---------------------------------------- We regularly beat quotes! 1.888.430.6464 or 315,337,6463 We're LEAN because we offer the lowest fares for flights to London, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, plus great cruise specials, London/UK hotel bookings at 10% off and London/UK car rentals! We're MEAN because we regularly beat quotes! Shop around, get a quote for your next trip and let us know what it is. We think we can beat it! ****************************** David
Ross
Contents © 2001 David Ross and Britain Express |
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