Days 19 & 20 December 10 & 11 Homeward Bound

I have combined the last two days of our holiday to one posting.  Day 20 Durham to Penzance
We had a taxi from the Travelodge back to Durham station to catch a 0855 train which went all the way to Plymouth.  It arrived on time and we had an uneventful, but quite long and boring journey eventually arriving at Plymouth at about 1600.  We had a 17 minute wait before catching a modern, comfortable commuter train to Penzance arriving at approx. 1800.  We deposited our cases at Heather & Alan's flat and had a meal at the nearby Longboat pub.  We were then able to watch a bit of tv before retiring.

Day 21 Penzance to St Martin's



festive Lands End airport

We were grateful that today did not look foggy or too windy when emerged from bed.  We breakfasted and caught the shuttle bus to Lands End airport at 0945.  The minibus driver assured us that the flights were OK today as we made our way to the airport.  We checked in with our slightly overweight luggage and the Twin Otter took off at the scheduled 0945.  We were 

Little Ganilly & Little Arthur

soon amongst the islands and flew near Little Ganilly and Little Arthur (two of the Eastern Islands).   We 

Bar Point

passed over Bar Point on St Mary's before approaching the runway from the north in the southerly wind.  We soon collected our luggage and were minibussed down to St Mary's quay.  Our boat was not until 1230 and so we ventured into Hugh Town to do some shopping and have a cup of coffee.  We met Heather & Alan before catching the Falcon (in use because the Lightning had had a severe accident in the storm over the weekend).  We were soon on Lower Town, St Martin's and I fetched the car to take us back home where Button the cat was pleased to see us.

We counted up that we had used 25 different trains in this holiday as well as boats, planes, cars, minibusses and coaches.  It certainly is interesting travelling from Scilly.  Thank you for reading the blog, hopefully it gives a flavour of a very enjoyable holiday.

 

Day 18 December 9th Durham



Fountains in the gardens

We were picked up by our niece at 1000 and initially went to the out-of-town M & S for Christine to successfully replace a garment which she had bought in the wrong size at Chelmsford.  We then carried on to the Durham 

the fish pond

Botanic Gardens.  We had a coffee together and then started our garden tour.  We encountered a fountain area although it was evident that it was not the best season for most of the plants.  We carried on into a glasshouse/heated building where there were some fish in a pond and different insects in pens.  We then had quite a long walk round in the blue sky and pleasant, varied planting areas.  There were 

giant insect sculpture

sculptures and other features such as a mock terracotta soldier.  By this time at least one of us was getting tired of walking and so we decided to retire a local pub for a very good meal which we all enjoyed.

We then went back to the Durham home for a sleep and relax before having a cup of tea and some more play.  We said our goodbyes at about 1700 and wandered back to the Travelodge.  We bought some sandwiches for tea and for our journey to Penzance tomorrow and so we are now set up for the long journey tomorrow.  We now have to pack and will have an early night. 

Day 17 December 8th Durham

We slept well and arose at our leisure in the Travelodge.  Staying at Durham Travelodge was quite appropriate considering our holiday because it was the original Durham railway station and up until the 1960s it was used as a goods station and yard.  We had our breakfast (not as good as the Premier Inn)  and walked to the home of our niece and 2 year old great nephew.  We were soon there and were received rather reticently at first by the young one but enthusiastically by our niece. 

reindeer on the roundabout

He soon got used to us and we were soon active playmates.  We had some lunch and after a sleep we ventured out for a walk/bug ride around the cul de sac.  All went well, we collected some stones and on the way back met a neighbour who provided a kit-kat finger as fuel for the rest of the way home.  It was lovely to see them and after another cup of tea and more playing we withdrew back to the Travelodge.  Part of the Durham Christmas illuminations are reindeer on the several roundabouts and there was one near where we are staying. Later we went for a good meal at the adjacent Italian restaurant.  We then relaxed and retired relatively early.

Day 16 December 17th England bound!

I shall not write much about today as we were travelling for 17 hours.  We rose at 0530 (0430 UK time), breakfasted quickly and were ready to leave by 0630.  Unfortunately there was a mechanical problem with our coach and we didn’t leave until 0715.  We coached to Hanover with minutes to spare and got on the train to Cologne.  The train gradually got behind time and it put pressure on the transfer to train to Brussells – so much for German efficiency and mechanical prowess. However we did have just enough time and we arrived 

meeting point at Brussells station

in Brussells with plenty of 

catching Eurostar

time to spare.  The Eurostar train went smoothly and we arrived at St Pancras in OK time to catch the train from Kings Cross to Durham.  This train was delayed because of staffing problems by half an hour and so we did no 

Kings Cross Christmas display

arrive in Durham until 1120.  There was a taxi available to take us to the Travelodge and we checked in and retired almost immediately.  A long day with difficulties but we made it safely in the end and for that we are grateful.

Day 15 December 6th Goslar



decorated home

Today we are going by rail to 

former alms houses

the town of Goslar.  Goslar remained on the western side of the divide after the last war.  The weather was bright and we had an early start, the modern, diesel train left Wernigerode at about 0915 and we were on our way.  We were met 

new friends

at Goslar station by our town guide who then for the

more new friends

 90 minutes gave a history and geography of the area.  It was evident that everybody in the town had made an effort to decorate their properties for Christmas.  The town became important because 

empty church crib

in previous centuries lead, copper and importantly silver 

church ceiling

were mined at the base of the nearby Harz mountains.  There were local mints for silver coins authorised by the emperor and the town became prosperous and there were many fine half-timbered houses and even the Kaiser (emperor) built a palace 

horse and carriage

here so that he could keep an eye on these crown resources.  Now there is some industry but they put great effort into attracting people (mostly German) to their Christmas market.  We visited a 

coin producer

church which had a beautiful crib which was empty at the beginning of advent.  We made some new friends of the metallic kind as 

old buildings

appropriate in this town based on metallic mining. We saw former alms houses, a model of the town, a water mill from the river and other important landmarks.  We were left at the edge of the market thinking that we would never retain all the information that had been imparted but such is the nature of these tours. We then had 

model of town



forest of lights

some time to explore, purchase items and get some local food.  We had a coffee and stollen cake in a coffee shop after doing a little exploring.  The market was interesting and included a forest of trees feature where we stopped for a glass of gluhwein.  After visiting all the places we thought we could take in and making the souvenir purchases we required, we sought refuge in a nearby 

ore with handprint

hotel and had a soup plus a cup of tea each.



Kaiser's palace

Suitably refreshed we carried on some more round the market before making gradual progress back to the train station.  We did go into a shopping mall and visited a supermarket

this is the place

 to a purchase a bottle of water for our long day of journeying tomorrow.  One feature of this town was it

had a Woolworth store which none of us including Americans had seen for several years.  Outside the station was a dedicated lump of metal ore with a hand imprint which signified the hand of the authorities looking after their entitlements.  We were soon back on the train for the short journey back to Wernigerode.

We had a meal in the hotel restaurant after having a briefing concerning the arrangements for the long journey home tomorrow.  After eating we did some packing & blogging before retiring early as we have an early start tomorrow – 0530 local time (0430 UK time).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 14 December 5th Magdeburg

Today was allotted as a free day in our holiday and nothing was formally arranged.  We decided that we would visit the larger city of Magdeburg for its Christmas market etc.  We had a leisurely start to the day and decided to catch a train 1142.  Before then we explored Wernigerode a bit more including finding a supermarket which we may use for supplies for our journey 

Brocken Mountain

home.  The day was clear and sunny although quite cold, when we arrived at the station we watched as a steam train was being stocked up with coal and we could see clearly the top of Brocken mountain.  There were a few of our party making the same excursion and the train went straight to Magdeburg, taking just over an hour.



market view

Our tour guide had given us a street map and we found our way via some road works to the Christmas markets.  Being a

another market view

larger town this market was more extensive than the previous ones visited.  We enjoyed the extended offering in the number and variety of stalls but against

town hall at end of market square

that the area was much busier.  We had a quick look round part of it and decided to have a steak burger each which was only of medium quality. After our break we had a further look and did buy some Christmas craft items.  They too had a talking/singing reindeer, how's your German Val?  By now we had had our fill of this scene and decided to walk down to view the cathedral.



hundertwassers building

We had been told about Hundertwassers green citadel which had been designed and built in the city as a contrast to the austere buildings of the 

another view

East German era.  It certainly was a contrast and we are not sure it would fit in with anything but the locals are quite proud of it.   It was built by a housing association and contained shops, local homes and restaurants.  It is full of windows, curves, different  coloured pillars and the roof is a green meadow. There are still some baroque and other older style buildings nearby and this stood out from them all.



Magdeburg cathedral

We carried on to the cathedral which was

piece of Berlin wall

in more classic style.  We had a look round and the interior was rather plain but it had some royal tombs.  Outside there was a section of the old Berlin wall which was interesting.  The sun was still shining as we made our way back to the Christmas markets.  We stopped for a hot chocolate and I had an apple strudel which was well decorated but not up to the standard of yesterday.  We made our way back to the train station via a shopping mall which was very festively decorated and had a moving Father Christmas display,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13 December 4th Quedlinburg

Another day, another town, another train journey & another Christmas market!  We were on 

not such a charismatic train

a provided tour of the nearby town of Quedlinburg today.  It was a dry and brighter day and we breakfasted and took the local train at about 1000 to the town with a 30 minute journey.  After coming out of the station we were met by our guide who conducted a 90 

"alms houses" equivalent

minute tour of the important aspects of life and culture in the town.  Most of the old architecture is half timbered from the medieval period (it is a unesco world heritage  site) and the 

redundant church

video shows a square of which

last supper painting

there were several (over 2000 similar houses).  We went to a redundant church now used as a community/function building.  It has in the altar screen an unusual picture of the last supper in that Jesus and the disciples are sitting round the table and 

town crier's house

not in a straight line. We carried on and found the building previously occupied by the town crier.  If you magnify the picture you can see a 

21stC half timbered house

carving of a bugle (used by him) in the far right of the beam above the ground floor windows.  We were also shown a 21st century half timbered house which had recently been constructed to keep in the same spirit of the rest of the town.  We were then left near the Christmas market to have a look round and have some lunch.  The market had a good array of stalls selling mainly seasonal food and 

giant mobile in the market

drink.  There was a giant revolving "mobile" which included a nativity scene as part of its display.  We wandered through the stalls and some more streets before requiring sustenance at a good looking, well 


best strudel so far

occupied café.  We ordered a hot chocolate and an apple strudel each which were the best strudels experienced so far.  The interesting thing about the hot chocolate was that it had floating on it a hot chilli.  We were

unaware of this at the start and it made drinking it very lively at times but most of the drink was very acceptable.  We came out of the café, looked at some more streets and returned to the market square. A school group was singing carols which added to the atmosphere.  We strolled through more streets to find

Quedlinburg castle

the castle which although it was not too ancient was being worked on.  It was now 

the road train

time to slowly make our way back to the train station and as we did so the road train came past us which some of our party had used.  We all arrived back at the station and returned to Wernigerode in the late afternoon.  We relaxed and eventually went to the local Christmas market at 1930 but it was closing down by then but we managed to find a hotdog to eat and gluhwein to drink to sustain us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 12 December 3rd Brocken Mountain & Christmas Market

 

Video of previous train.  A good day if you are interested in steam trains and Christmas markets but not so good if you wanted mountain views!  An overcast day and after breakfast we made our ahead of the rest of the group to the railway station to watch the steam trains prepare for their work.   We watched the train prior to ours leave the station with much puffing and effort to pull the seven carriages.  We then went to a viewing platform where we could see several engines.

 The carriages for our train were already alongside the platform and we discussed which of 

Our engine approaching station

the others would be our 

coupling up the engine

engine.  It was none of them because eventually another engine came from further down the track to couple up to the carriages.   We were soon on our way and leaving the town to climb up through forests.   We stopped at several stations and at one of them took on extra water.  After 90 minutes we came to 

mist at mountain top

the top of Mount Brocken but mist had descended, the visibility and the temperature were low.  We had passed some snow along the side of the track but usually at this time of the year there is a deep covering.  We got off the train at the station and walked in one direction and it soon became obvious that was not the way to the hotel and the visitor centre.  As we retraced our steps we saw our engine coming through the mist to recouple at the other end of the train.  The Brocken is somewhat higher than

some snow still evident

any UK mountain and the terrain reminded us of Dartmoor - 

break in the clouds

somewhat bleak with lots of granite and moorland heather. 
We found the visitor centre and had a good bowl of potato soup each which was very welcome as it was very cold and windy outside.  We toured the visitor centre which had displays about the local fauna and flora.  The mountain was just inside the former East Germany and was closed to the public but a listening centre was established here to spy on the west.  Across the valley, on another hill,  the Americans had a listening station for the same purpose - neither are used now and tourism is the main activity.  As we were looking round there was a break in the clouds and we were able to see some of the area.  We had a brief walk round but soon ended up at the railway station café where we had a hot 

directly behind engine descending

chocolate and I had apple strudel.   Suitably fortified it was time to board the train for the return journey which was the reverse of the outward one.  We were in a coach just behind the engine and could go 

engine at end of trip

onto the coach platform to photo the engine.  We arrived back Wernigerode and it was now dark, the engine was uncoupled and we said goodbye to it and went back to the hotel.  We rested, changed for dinner and had a meal in the hotel before venturing out to the town's Christmas market.  On the way every home and business was impressively, festively 

Wernigerode Christmas market

decorated.  The market was quite a collection of stalls mainly food, drink and entertainments for children.  We both had a glass of gluhwein! There was Christmas 

the Christmas market

music playing in the background.  We were impressed that the local churches had put together a lovely carved nativity scene as well.  It was a 

the Christmas market

disappointment that there were no craft stalls but we are told that one of the other Christmas markets concentrates on these and so we shall look forward to 

nativity scene at the market

that.  We spent 
some time wandering around the stalls and going to other areas away from the market square where there were also stalls and a childrens' train ride.  We were beginning to feel a little cool and decided to retire to the warmth of the hotel after what had been a very interesting day.  A thoroughly recommendable experience today.