Oxford

We never tire of jumping on the Oxford Tube - actually a bus - for a visit to Oxford. The history of this university town is quite amazing. We all had a taste for the city through the original series of Morse and in more recent years the sequel to Morse, Lewis.

There are some lovely walks, it rains a lot - always take an umbrella, the vibrancy of the city and architecture is spectacular. For our second visit this trip again it rained and rained again. 

The Radcliffe Camera (Library) the main reading room of the famous nearby Bodleian Library. 

The two are linked by an underground tunnel. 

The Bodleian holds a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom and is used by scholars from around the world.

The intricate rooflines of St Mary the Virgin
Church

The view of part of the city from the 13th century tower of
St Mary the Virgin Church

The beautiful Bridge of Sighs which links the old and new quads of Hertford College. Built as recently as 1913, the bridge was actually named Hertford Bridge but no-one calls it that. It's adoptive name, Bridge of Sighs, is after the original bridge in Venice.

Our friends from Ebenhausen near Munich, Renate and Sabine, came across to London. We took them to Oxford and found some great pubs for lunch!

Oxford the third time round - sunshine

This trip we took our friends from Sweden, who had come to visit us in London. Perolov and Annette being Swedes, brought the sun with them for this excursion to Oxford. We decided on a tour on the hop-on, hop-off bus.  This gives a great opportunity to listen to excellent commentary on what you are seeing as you drive by.

Oxford Castle

The neo-classical Ashmolean Museum

Annette and Perolov outside another fabulous pub for lunch in Oxford - the Crown.
The Saxon Tower at the left is known as St Michael at the Northgate. The old tudor building is on the corner of Cornmarket Street

The Martyrs' Memorial - erected 300 years after the deaths of three churchmen who refused to renounce Protentantism. They were burned at the stake.

And on that note we'll move on to our trip to the south of England…...

Greenwich

This ship in a bottle had pride of place at Trafalgar Square when we were in London in 2011

A boat trip to Greenwich is compulsory when in London. Whilst you have to pick your day weatherwise (it's freezing on the river on a windy day) the Thames Clipper roars down river to the home of the Cutty Sark and Greenwich Mean Time at the Greenwich Observatory.

To find the Embankment Pier where the boat for Greenwich leaves from just look for this building. 

It's striking outline of Charing Cross Station.

Tower Bridge from the Thames Clipper

HMS Belfast on the Thames with the Shard to the left

The beautiful buildings as you approach Greenwich Pier

The Cutty Sark, originally a tea clipper 

The sailing ship has been faithfully restored and is popular attraction with an excellent museum

England is full of fantastic pubs - the Kings Arms at Greenwich is no exception

The beautiful building that is Greenwich Observatory

The parkland around the Greenwich Observatory are beautiful and afford lovely views
across to the London skyline

Germany and a short stay in Austria

We were delighted that Renate had organised a perfect weekend's weather for our excursion across the border into Austria. It's incredibly easy to visit another country in Europe. Renate's research found a beautiful resort not far over the border called Kuhtai (pron. Kootye.)

It was about a two hour drive. We stayed at a lovely little guest house in an apartment on the top floor.  The weather was superb. 

Laurie pictured walking in the little village near Kuhtai.

Our beautiful guest house, Schmalzerhof in the village of Seltrain

The view from our bedroom!

We'd arrived early enough in the afternoon to soak up the sun on the deck
of one of the restaurants in the resort 

One of the easy slopes running down to the village

Laurie near the top of the 2450 metre resort of Kuhtai

The car's dashboard showed -7 degrees on the way back from Kuhtai  somewhat cooler than the 47 degrees our car registered a couple of days before we left Melbourne for London in January!

To Germany - the Ebenhausen May Pole

We were excited to return to Munich to visit our friend of many years, Renate, who lives at Ebenhausen, which is south  of  the Bavarian capitol in Germany.  After a two-hour flight on Easyjet - the 'only one piece of luggage in the cabin' airline -  Renate picked us up for the one hour car journey south to her village.

The next morning (happily I slept in) then woke to the sounds of a band playing nearby. It turned out to be the day the village prepared for the painting of the May Pole. It takes weeks to prepare for the raising of the pole in May. Laurie and Renate had gone shopping for fresh bread rolls for breakfast so they were already watching the parade by the time I got there! 

The band played as the pole was brought into the village of Ebenhausen

The pole is cut from the forest and brought to the village, by tractor pulling a little trailer, where a site has been prepared for it to be stored ready for painting and decorating which they do with great precision and pride.

The 30 - metre long log is carefully moved along the street. No traffic control here!

We were surprised at the length of the tree. It was about 30 metres long. It took ages to go past us as the tractor had to move very slowly. With precision driving the tractor, trailer and further down the length of the pole another trailer carried it along the little street.

The pole is carefully moved into position on the racks built for the  purpose

The ground was very soft but the large furrows made by the tractor were quickly levelled, gravelled over and a pre-made shed put in place. This is to provide shelter for the 'guard' who stays all night protecting the pole from being plundered by any neighbouring villagers who want to take it for their own village!  If the pole is stolen negotiations begin involving large quantities of beer and food!!!! Note the timbers in place for the roof over the pole.

This is the pole we saw last year. The poles last five years then they are replaced. The cut outs along the pole represent professions carried out in the village.

The process was very interesting and an incite into the culture of this part of Germany. Maypoles can be seen all across Bavaria and May 1st is the celebration day with dancing and much food and beer.

The next day we headed for a walk along the shores of Lake Stanberg. This beautiful lake is a mecca for Germans in the summertime. We parked a long way from the lake so we had a decent walk. It was lovely.

Not sure what the sign refers to….maybe wind surfing?

The properties along the lake shore are worth a fortune  

Our long walk to and along Lake Stanberg took us to a little village called Sebald im Ammerland where there is a wonderful fish restaurant which only has outdoor seating. It reminded us of the La Dolce Vitea weekend in the King Valley where we have many times sat at tables at Pizzini's enjoying home made fare.

Laurie, Renate and Sabine at the outdoor restaurant which reminded us of Pizzini's

It's a family business where each sibling has built a house for their families on the property

It was a beautiful setting and we had a lovely traditional meal which we chose from a display in the shop

Now this is a wood pile

Next we head for a day's  skiing at the Austrian resort of Kuhtai.

Dover Castle

We wanted to explore the secret wartime tunnels which were hidden underneath Dover Castle with access from the cliffs. We were not disappointed. After a  two hour bus trip from London and a steep uphill walk to the castle we explored the castle first while waiting for our time slot for the tour through the tunnels. Space is limited so they allocate times for visitors.

Construction on the castle was started by Henry 11 in 1160. The first of the tunnels were built in the 1700s as part of the fortress for Henry VIII. They have been extended in response to various wartime threats.

The existing tunnels extend for many kilometres and during the war served as a bomb shelter, command centre for the D-Day landings, a hospital, and much more.  It is a complex and intriguing place. We were not permitted to tie photographs.

St Mary in Castro Church and Norman Lighthouse

The imposing Dover Castle on a stunning day

The interior has been beautifully and faithfully restored

The King's bedroom

St Mary in Castro Chapel in the grounds of Dover Castle

For more information about Dover Castle you might like to go the English Heritage website found at: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/dover-castle/