Gravesend

It was a day for B+W today.

Oxford Street

The lights on Oxford St from New Bond St

London before Christmas

We always try and have a day up in London in the week before Christmas. Mainly to visit Borough Market and to see the lights.

This year we managed to get up the day after the winter solstice. Walking all the way from London bridge almost to Marble Arch.

Dickens Festival Rochester

It was cold and sunny today, the perfect day for the Christmas fair at Rochester.

We had about three hours watching and wandering, by which time the cold was starting to seep into our bones.

This year I was trying to get interesting images of the participants.

In the end I was pleased with what I got.

Fireworks

Nearly a month since the last post. Where did the time go?

Tonight it was the fireworks behind the Temple.

Wakehurst Place

Wakehurst Place is the outpost of Kew Gardens set in West Sussex. We had a trip down and a nice walk around the gardens.

Chastleton

A few days after we got back from Symi we had a trip up to the Wirral for a friends daughters wedding. Not wanting to rush of after work I took the day of and we pottered our way across the country.

We stopped at Castletown house near Moreton-in-the-Marsh.

It is National Trust but with rather a different feel to it. The house had been open by the previous owner and many of the signs are still used around the house.

The light in the rooms was fantastic.

And there were some really odd features.

And one magnificent long gallery.

A nice house and well worth the stop.

Day 15: the Way Home

It was the usual early alarm call to get us up for the bus to drive down to the ferry.

All went well and we had a chance to watch the sun come up over the harbour.

All the boats starting to get underway.

The boat was away on time. And as we sailed towards Rhodes we had a wonderful view of the east coast of Symi bathed in the early morning light.

Rhodes was full of cruise ships.

When we got to the hotel we found a sun longer and slept and relaxed until the pick up for the airport.

Flight got away on time very full so no space to spread out. Did get a window seat but window froze over so no great views.

Landed on time collected all our missed calls found the taxi and got home to fall into bed. Our holiday over for the year!

Day 14: Last full day and an adventure or two.

Well today was the last day on Symi. I was woken at sunrise and got my last sunrise over Pedi for this holiday.

Then it was a quick breakfast and a walk down the Kalistrata.

Because today we had booked to get the bus to Panormitis which for us was a big adventure. Especially when we saw how many icon images the driver needed.

Anyway we got to Panormitis safely and had about 45 min to look around.

The museum was quirky as we had been told.

The church was beautiful inside and once the day boat had left much more peaceful.

We then got on the bus back, and after arriving safely had a walk around the harbour and something to eat.

And then watching the very important delivery of the Moet Chandon. Just hope it traveled well.

After a slow walk back up the Kalistrata we did our packing and V had a rest. I had one last walk out.

No idea where I was going, just generally going uphill.

Ending up right at the top of Horio and looking back down got some fantastic views of the windmills.

So after getting on the main road and walking back to the apartment for a quick shower it was of to dinner at Zoe's, then back for an early night as the next day would be long.