OXFORD

On my way to Ireland via England and Wales I had the chance to visit Oxford for the first time.  Of course for ages it has been associated with Morse, a series I enjoyed very much so it was full of history and more recent views on TV

Despite the heavy rain I had a lovely time exploring some of the lovely buildings since many of them

so close together.  My favourite was the tranquil Fellow's Garden where I was the only visitor.  It has

great views from the far end, a lovely place to meditate and read.

the wonderful theatre

The famous Bodlian Library

Fellows Garden

BRITTANY

I love Brittany.   Each house is so different and most of them are just beautiful.  Like last year I wander around mesmirized and take far too many pictures.   These are from Ile de Re, Auray and Dinan.

favourite restaurant on Ile de Re - degustastion

Port of St. Martin

Jossilin

Dinan

IN FRANCE

I will take a ferry from St Malo on the way home so before I left Spain I went back to Rioja and got more of Abel Estabas' s wine before heading over to Pamplona, another lovely city.



Over the border around the Basque area of France I started going to some of my favourite camping places from last year like Peyrehorade although the weather became wet and windy.









I went up the highest dune in Europe - Dune du Pilar.  It is just south of La Rochelle

 On up the coast and was invited to a lovely lunch by my friends near La Rochelle Pascale and Daniele.  They have a lovely home in Andernos Les Bains.  I love going to the homes of people and experiencing how they cook and entertain in other countries.  What a priviledge

CUDILLIERO

This is a tiny fishing port not far from Orbieto but probably a Sunday in August was not the best time to visit it especially as it was raining.  I went anyway to have a look.  It reminded me very much of the Cinque Terra in Liguria, Italy.   Houses build on the hill sides and tiny roads.  Parking was at a premium.

ORVIETO

Orvieto - What a lovely city in Asturias and so proud of it's tradition.  The local cuisine is renowned so I decided to splurge and try out a really fine restaurant for lunch.   A great decision.  The name is El Raitan (the robin) for any of you who go there and the owners are so nice and kind too.  It is very near the centre and the cathedral.

El Raitan

A beloved image
People here dress up for a wedding.  Most of the men in tails.  Many women wearing long dresses.

LEON

Leon, a city of such history and wonderful buildings, parks and fountains.   It has a cathedral where the play of light is supposed to be magnificent but unfortunately I was too late to see inside it.  I did stroll around a great museum and its cloisters.  The slabs in the pavement had little low water fountains in the centre so the children (and adults) could dance around in the water.  It was a good walk in to town and the whole way was a green park, walkways and places for people to bike and jog.

another Gaudi influence now a bank

CASTILLO DE LA PULVAZARES

This is a really beautiful old village that has been kept that way.  Only inhabitants are allowed to have cars and all the streets are cobblestones and the buildings are all built of the same local brick and have almost entirely green doors.   These doors lead in to a lovely entrance area that is decorated but only visible if the door is open.

main street

An open door

ASTORGA

Pilgrims and Merlin in same shop

ASTORGA is a really lovely place on the camino.  Lots of Pilgrims around and shops doing a good trade in boots.   The cathedral is based (like many around here) on the one at Santiago and is huge for the size of the town.

It is overshadowed by the fairytale palace, now a museum, designed by Gaudi.  It looks as if it stepped out of a fairytale like many of his wonderful buildings.

Gaudi's Bishops Palace

The town itself is lovely and small.  

LUGO

The walls of Lugo are intact and run all around the inner city so it is mostly wonderfully free of cars.  One can easily walk all around the walls.

the museum

walls

cloister

Architecture