chris955

Why ? Because you don't agree with all the millions of people that find the UK a beautiful place to live they must be wearing rose tinted glasses ?

Jerseygirl

The medieval town is the City of Chester...Foregate Street leading to The Cross. There's my bank...on the right just above Next.

chris955

I have never been to Chester, what a stunning looking place.

Jerseygirl

I lived there for 17 years before moving to the US. I miss Chester.

Grayling

...and put them on again when you enter Australia

In Exile

thanks, thats reminded me: I must remember to raise my IQ by 40 points before I go home to visit.

In Exile

Oh, I know it well. Used to live nearby in Caergwrle/Hope (near Wrexham).
Unfortunately I didnt appreciate it at the time (teenageer) and it was only when I went back last year for a visit that I noticed how increadible and picturesque it was.

A perfectly preserved place.
I'm sure there are many others in the UK that I havent been to that have similar characteristics. Thats the beauty of teh place, there's so much interesting stuff to see.

Jerseygirl

I used to live in Rossett...midway between Wrexham and Chester. The guy who used to service our central heating boiler lived on Hope Mountain. We could see it from our house.

In Exile

I've passed through Rossett a few times but dont know it too well.

I must say I've got no real memory of Hope Mountain, suffice to say that I'd question its status as "a mountain"

I do remember seeing some amateur medieval re-enactment of some battle up by Caergwrle castle by a load of blatently drunken Sealed Knot people. They had a medieval festival once a year whcih was awesomely cheesy.

Where possible I would also steer clear of Wrexham. Its one of those places thats functional, but not particulalry pleasant!

chris955

chris955

Can we see some photos guys ?

bandrui

Good idea Chris.

1. Weston's cider, Much Marcle
2. River Wye near Hay on Wye
3. Hay on Wye - a booklover's dream.
4. Ancient artifacts (Brecon Museum).
5. Ancient places (Maen Mawr/Cerrig Duon).

Jerseygirl

I haven't been to Wrexham for over 15 years...and yes it was a bit of a dump then. I believe it's changed a lot since then...for the better.

In Exile

whilst these pictures arent particulaly pretty or picturesque, they remind me of one thing that the UK has in spades: Obscure traditions, which deserve to be celebrated.

Ottery St Mary: on Bonfire Night this town in Devon is insanly good fun. Grown men run through the streets (which are jam packed) with burning barrells of tar on their backs. Basically move out of the way or get burned. They also have a huge bonfire and suitably creaky fairground. Its the perfect way to celebrate the oncoming winter.



and then there's cheese rolling. A few miles from my folks house in Gloucestershire.
The premise: grown men and women chasing a ball of cheese down a stupildy steep hill. The winner, quite simply, gets the cheese:




and another shot of what happens to the people





UK traditions probably deserves its own thread.
Sadly too many are being phased out in the cotton wool world that we live in. Health and Safety and various cases of litigation are slowly putting an end to it.

edit: why dont my photos show up anymore? ok now they do.

bandrui

part 2 (I'm very visual)

1. Wild Welsh ponies.
2. Sweet shops.
3. Asparagus festival at the Fleece Inn nr Evesham.
4. Quintessential England (exercising the hounds at Broadway, Cotswolds).
5. Market days. (Devizes)