The Fitzwilliam

Spent part of the one day of vocal rest we were given on our tour visiting The Fitzwilliam Museum. Could easily have spent the better part of a week here! 

According to Wikipedia, "The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge. It is located on Trumpington Street opposite Fitzwilliam Street in central Cambridge. It was founded in 1816 under the will of Richard FitzWilliam, 7th Viscount FitzWilliam (1745–1816), and comprises one of the best collections of antiquities and modern art in western Europe."

Boots

 

 

Boots is essentially the Walgreens of England. I found this one in Cambridge. I was particularly curious about these automated checkout counters.

Chapel Notices

It really was an unexpected privilege to be able to visit the Jesus College Chapel on my own in advance of the choir's engagement for evensong. According to Wikipedia, "When founded in 1496, the college consisted of buildings taken over from the Nunnery of St Mary and St Radegund, which was founded at the beginning of the 12th century. The chapel is the oldest university building in Cambridge still in use and predates the foundation of the college by 350 years; it also predates the university by half a century."

Room with a View

After our short stop in Lincoln, the choir pressed on to Cambridge where we stayed at the slightly less glamorous, but nonetheless strategically located, Premier Inn. Didn't make much difference, anyway, as we really only had time to sleep and eat in the hotel. 

I agree, though, along with probably a whole lot of tour organizers, that glamor must sometimes give way to convenience. And the Premier Inn on Newmarket Road could hardly have been more convenient, being within an easy and pleasant one mile walk to Jesus College where we would be singing next. 

View looked much the same whether seen vertically or horizontally. :-)

Ripon

Another reason to eat lunch at the Royal Oak is that it is literally around the corner from the cathedral where I was headed next for rehearsal. We had so many rehearsals because the choir sang different music for each performance. In fact, most of us traveled with separate bags for the sole purpose of carrying our music and choir robes. Also, each cathedral or chapel had its own unique acoustics and physical space, requiring us to quickly settle in and adjust to the new circumstances.

The Crown

After rehearsing in Stamford, our choir traveled to the Crown Hotel in Harrogate (shown abpve) where we arrived just in time to take our bags to our rooms and head out to find something to eat for a late supper.

Here's how The Crown describes itself: "This glorious Victorian exercise of Italian Renaissance in sandstone has a long and distinguished history that reaches back to the early 1600s when visitors first began to drink the waters of the world's strongest known Sulphur Well The name Crown may have been adopted around the time of Charles II's restoration of the monarchy in 1660, when a much smaller inn overlooked the Sulphur Well to the west. Since then, the Crown thrived, reaching 'gigantic proportions,' by the time Lord Byron and his 'string of horses, dogs and mistresses' were guests in 1806 . . . . When Elgar stayed at the Crown, it was probably at the peak of its Edwardian perfection. After being sequestered by the government in 1939, the Crown reopened to visitors in 1958."

Movin’ On

The last of the ornaments that I photographed before packing them away for the year. And with it, I think I’m about ready to move on. Lots happening this month and next, as I’m preparing to go on tour with a choir that will be singing in various places in England. Lots of music to learn and memorize. 

Then, of course, there are all the matters that have to be attended to when traveling overseas . . . uhm, like visas. A new law came into effect January 7 this year, I understand, that now makes it mandatory for Americans traveling to England to obtain visas. So . . . I spent a good part of this past Thursday going through the application process—successfully, I might add. Tricky, though, involving downloading and working with an app. 

Hydroelectric Plant

The remains of a now abandoned hydroelectric plant in Belle Isle.

Grand Illumination

Yesterday's comment from Linda made me think about how much I take where I live for granted. I should therefore mention that these holiday wreaths are part of a larger Colonial Williamsburg celebration we call Grand Illumination. It used to be that the holiday festivities here kicked off around the time of Thanksgiving Day and more or less culminated in one night called the Grand Illumination, when there would be a huge fireworks display along with numerous other events. Now, though, because of its huge popularity, Grand Illumination is spread out over the three consecutive weekends in December before Christmas. Tonight, then, is the final night of Grand Illumination when there will be yet a third magnificent fireworks display. The wreaths, though, stay up and are replenished as needed throughout Christmastide.

You should come! :-) We have people visit from all parts of the world and on any given day, as I walk the old colonial capital's streets, I can hear people speaking in seemingly countless different languages and dialects. It's fun!

Profiles

 

I finally took leave of the Schooner Virginia after these last two profile shots. Quite appropriately, I just finished reading David Grann's excellent new book entitled The Wager last night--fuels the imagination while also offering a stark reminder of what life aboard these ships was really like during the age of sail.

BOS to PHL

 

Logan International Airport (BOS)

Boston Harbor

Approaching Philadelphia (PHL)

Back to the Future

 

Well, that was it for my Massachusetts hiking adventures. Now it was time to head back to Virginia by way of Philadelphia. Fortunately, most flights were on time on this particular Friday, including mine. Woohoo!

BOS

 

Again, I was very surprised at how few travelers there were July 3. When I've arrived at these counters before, the "mouse mazes" have been chock full with people dragging their carryon and checkin bags behind them. Not this time

Final Approach

My direct flight from Richmond to Boston on this day before the Fourth of July was smooth and on time. There were no delays at all, which, again, was surprising considering all the warnings that had begun to appear about this being the most heavily travelled week of the year.

In the photo above, I was, as I recall, cruising at somewhere near 34,000 feet at a leisurely 550 mph! 

In these next two photos, I was making my final approach into Logan International Airport with Boston Harbor down below and central Boston off in the distance.

Holiday Travel

 

My trip to Massachusetts began as usual in Richmond where I hopped aboard this Embraer 190 (shown below) bound for Boston. Having braced myself for holiday delays, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were almost no queues. Where was everybody? Had they already left? Did they never leave? I'm not sure. In any case, it was an enjoyable trip. I look forward to sharing more of it with you.

Travel

I'm traveling again, so I will not be posting for several days. Hope to be able to catch a few photos along the way. So stay safe, stay cool, and avoid the smoke from our neighbors up north, if you can. :-) See you soon.

Berlin

 

 

 

You may have noticed that I've recently been gradually uploading photographs from my 2014 visit to Berlin. This was my second visit. The first came in 1973, before the fall of the Berlin Wall. So when I spotted this book by Sinclair McKay at my local library, I simply had to bring it home and start reading. 

It's been excellent and a great companion as I sort through my photos. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.

Keen Targhee

Ready for my next 500 +/- miles.

Arcimoto

 

Farewell

 

As I bid farewell to Massachusetts, my plane passed over Fort Independence there in the foreground and the islands of Boston Harbor beyond.