Friday 26th and Saturday 27th May 2022 Robert had not realised when he was planning this trip that we would be in Washington for the Memorial Day weekend. In fact, this proved to be a mixed blessing. The city was busy with visiting families but there were also activities and celebrations afoot along the National Mall and a stage had been set up in front of the US Capitol. The many food and ice cream trucks ruined the views slightly. Setting off to walk along the Mall to see some of the sights we first encountered the Eisenhower Monument which opened in 2020 and so has had relatively few visitors. A helpful gentleman started telling us how neglected it was and where the best place was to take photos. We were a little reluctant to engage with him in case he was trying to sell us something but when we realised he was one of the Memorial Day weekend volunteers, we relaxed. At one end of the Mall, the US Capitol has a distinctive yet familiar outline. Part way along, the 555 foot Washington Monument towers over the city. It was some time in the planning. The idea to erect […]
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Sunday 31st March 2019 It is easy to forget that, following Viceroy of India John Lawrence’s decision to move the capital of the British Raj from New Delhi to the hill station of Shimla in 1863, for six months of the year this was the headquarters of the government of India. In our guide book, the address of the Viceregal Lodge is given as The Mall and although this road spans four miles, as this has been a more sedentary holiday than we usually have we thought we would try walking. A more accurate address, which is given elsewhere, would be near Observatory Hill. There are no tuk-tuks or cows on the streets of Shimla and the traffic is therefore calmer than in other towns and cities. There are many hairpin bends on the roads to cope with the steep gradients but there are plenty of traffic police wearing curious shiny white hats shaped like those worn by Canadian Mounties, to direct and control the flow of vehicles. Our route took us back past the Post Office [below right] and the Railway Board Building [below left], which was built between 1896 and 1897 using cast iron and steel to ensire it […]
Tuesday, 28th August 2018 Bratislava is quite compact and approaching by river is dominated by the castle on the hill. The walk from our mooring took in the local transport. . . . . . the landmark statues. . . . . . which it is obligatory to pose with and photograph . . . . . . and the main square. We also found the very picturesque post office which Robert and Matilda remembered from their last visit so were able to buy stamps and post two final postcards. Matilda recalled a very good ice cream shop which had been based in small premises, situated through an archway between two vacant properties, leading into a courtyard. Three years ago the queue had snaked out of the shop, through the archway and into the main street. Clearly it has been a very successful venture as the old premises now house a cake shop [without a queue] and Arthur has relocated to a larger, more central location. The ice cream is still as good. Fortified by the ice cream, Matilda, Ruth and Jaime walked up to the castle to take in the views and admire the historical baroque gardens which have […]