architecture
The Cast Court, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Standing beneath Trajan's column following the frieze as it winds it way upwards, round and round, telling the story of the a eponymous emperor's bloody wars in Dacia, I marvel at how close up to it I can get. The column's too tall, though, so the top half is sitting quietly next to the bottom … Continue reading The Cast Court, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Wordless Wednesday #14: Second World War bomb damage, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Great Witcombe Roman villa, Gloucestershire
Nestled at the foot of the Cotswold hills in Gloucestershire, just as they begin to rise up and woods cover the landscape, lies the Roman villa at Great Witcombe, built in the second century AD with additions continuing on-and-off until the fourth. I'd walked up from the village, following the footpath along the field edges, … Continue reading Great Witcombe Roman villa, Gloucestershire
In the land of the Prince Bishops: the city of Durham, England
The city of Durham is one of my favourite places. The medieval castle and cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site standing high up on a wooded peninsula above a bend in the River Wear, and the steep, winding streets below form an historic centre the equal of anywhere in Europe. Bill Bryson, in his Notes … Continue reading In the land of the Prince Bishops: the city of Durham, England
Winter dreaming: the Greco-Roman theatre at Taormina, Sicily
On days that I work from home I'll always start with a walk. Nothing special at all, just a way to get some fresh air and a little exercise before turning on the laptop. Today, leaving the house I looked at the sky and was confronted with a quintessential January day in southern England: it … Continue reading Winter dreaming: the Greco-Roman theatre at Taormina, Sicily
An Italian oddity in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Every town has its oddities and Cheltenham is no exception. Behind the Town Hall in Imperial Square, tucked away in a recess in one of the buildings is a fountain. It's not functioning, or even very clean, but there it sits behind a fence with a nice little ornate hedge in front of it. The … Continue reading An Italian oddity in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
A Grand Tour around Cheltenham, England
The sky was blue and the air warm, a treat in late October in England. I was in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire enjoying the sunshine and a wander. The town only really developed from the late 18th century when its spa waters, thought to cure all sorts of ailments, made it a fashionable place to visit. Its … Continue reading A Grand Tour around Cheltenham, England
