Travel

Jo’s Monday walk : Las Wolski and Bielany

The spires of Bielany above the tree line

The spires of Bielany monastery, above the tree line

Every time we drive out to Balice, Kraków’s airport, I can’t help but look skywards at Bielany monastery, high above the tree tops. On the last day of my recent visit, I finally achieved my ambition to see it up close. Well- the outing didn’t go quite to plan!

If you saw my Six word Saturday you’ll know that the day started damp and drizzly but, undeterred, my cousin Adam drove us out to the Las Wolski woods and deposited us there. My rainproof jacket was about to be tested again.

A long sweep of pebbly drive carried us upwards through dense greenery and opened out at a large car parking area. We had reached the zoo! At 10 in the morning nobody much was about- just one inquisitive red squirrel, who didn’t stop to chat. We debated what to do while the weather cleared, and the zoo seemed a reasonable option.

The path through the woods

Zoological gardens!

I don’t know that I expected to find elephants in the woods

But the meerkats were keeping a sharp lookout

While the peacocks performed a merry dance

But my out and out favourite was this fella

My out and out favourite was this shy fella

And his friends- messy eaters, aren’t they?

But great at posing!

The sun was breaking through in patches by the time we left the zoo. A map gave us a rough direction, so into the dappled sunlight and shade we went, full of hope. It was really just a case of follow your nose. At crossroads I always defer to Michael’s choice because I never get it right! It was a lovely woodland wander, but the clues were scarce.

Excuse the grafitti near Bielany! You are here?

Finding a clearing with a woodcutter busy at work, I dug into the phrase book for the Polish word for monastery- klasztor! It didn’t sound quite right, but the woodcutter wasn’t phased by a grinning idiot in the woods. He waved his saw in an uphill direction, which seemed to make sense. It definitely would be at the top of a hill.

And so it was! The sun was radiant by now and the photo opportunity had me skipping forward, camera at the ready.

The entrance to the monastery

Promising, isn’t it?

And in the doorway, even better!

The artwork was beautiful

In each alcove, a pictorial

Saints or sinners?

But the door was firmly closed!

Should I ring the bell?

The temptation was too great. By now, you know that Michael had retreated to a safe distance. He didn’t want to incur the wrath of the monks! A sign by the door gave the opening times, and it seemed the last tour was at 11.30. It was now 11.45! If only we’d walked faster, or not spent so long with those giraffes.

Tentatively, I rang the bell, and waited. And waited. No sound from behind the doors. Should I ring again? Michael’s expression, from far away, down the path, suggested not, but what the heck! I had my idiot English grin at the ready. Still- nothing! They must be deep in prayer within? I had to content myself with taking what photos I could from the grassy courtyard.

If only I could get closer!

It looked so intriguing!

But there was nothing else to do but make our way down to the road, and seek out a bus back to the centre. It was a glorious afternoon and we spent our final hours in Kraków by the river.

Arriving home at teatime, I explained our adventures to the family, to be greeted with hilarious laughter. It seems that the monastery is open to the public just one day in the year. And to men only! Next time perhaps I should do a little more research before my walk. But back in the UK, I found this link, on Wikipedia. Confused? Me too, but I hope you enjoyed the walk anyway.

I’ve been sharing Monday walks for a while now, and I love it! Can’t wait to see where you take me this week. You can post a link in the comments below or in the body of your post, whichever you like. And no, you don’t have to walk on a Monday! I will add your link to the bottom of my post next week so that everybody gets to see them all. Half the fun is sharing! Happy walking!

Here are last week’s walks :

Don’t miss Pauline’s scarecrow-

http://pommepal.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/a-walk-in-a-heritage-garden/

Or Yvette’s video-

http://priorhouse.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/monday-walk-with-jo-canal-walk-video/

And you just know you’ll get a lovely poem with Viv-

http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/blooming-bocage/

Six word Saturday

An unintentional trip to the zoo?

Meercats are so cute, aren’t they?

My last day in Kraków started rather damply. The plan was a woodland walk and, when we arrived, I was immediately captivated by a red squirrel. He, though, was quite determined to evade me and disappeared through a fence. The woods were, coincidentally, situated next to Kraków zoo, and I surmised that I might find more red squirrels inside. Looking through the gate, I decided that a visit might be worthwhile. The flowerbeds alone looked rather beautiful. So- in we went!

See what I mean? The rhododendrons were gorgeous!

The kookaburra was one of my favourites of the captive species

But this guy seemed determined to vie with the flowers

When he treated us to this display!

The pelicans seemed more intent on personal grooming

And nothing was going to compete with these rain dropped beauties!

But for adorable, these guys took a lot of beating

But for adorable, these guys got my vote

And antelope can always make me smile!

You know what I didn’t find, though? Not even a single red squirrel. Maybe the roaring of the lion scared them off! So I settled for more rhododendrons. Well, they are my favourite plant!

Aren’t they lovely?

I’m never too sure about zoos, though I know some of them do great conservation work. I hate to see big cats caged, and the noise coming from the single beautiful lion indicated that he felt the same way too. Paula was at the zoo in Zagreb earlier this week. Why not ask her what she thinks?

Then you need to pay a visit to Cate at Show My Face. She’s our generous hostess for Six word Saturday. Are you going to play?

‘S’ is for Szczawnica

Plac Dietla and Cafe Helenka, in the upper town

Well, where else should it be? If you saw my Monday walk this week, you’ll know that I have a new Polish love in my life. The thermal spa town Szczawnica in the very south of Poland, where it meets Slovakia, was a rich discovery for me.

Alkali sorrel springs and a temperate climate make this an ideal base for the treatment of respiratory and digestive ailments. In the mid 19th century a doctor, Jozef Dietl, saw the potential and began the development of hydrotherapy treatments unique to Poland at the time, turning Szczawnica into a spa town. An Inhalatorium equipped with pressurised rooms was built, and in the woods, Willa pod Modrzewiami (villa under the larches).

The start of World War II halted developments and in 1948 the spa was nationalised by the government and used for the treatment of miners and metalworkers. It was not until 2005 that the ownership of the resort was returned to descendants of the Stadnicki family, the pre-war owners of the estate. They invested hugely to restore the spa to its former glory. Dietl Square was rebuilt to its historical design, with Cafe Helenka at its core, and, in 2oo9, 5 star Modrzewie Park hotel replaced the villa. A museum dedicated to the project soon followed.

Wood is everywhere- I love these delicate fretwork shadows

Cafe Helenka, in its lovely situation

Facing it, across Plac Dietl, the spa museum

Brightened for me by a flurry of Spring flowers

Down in the lower town, a flurry of Spring flowers!

The park is a lush green

And naturally, there’s no shortage of water!

There are pretty riverside walks

And bridges by the dozen!

And did you ever see a quirkier souvenir kiosk?

Not for us the 5 star hotel! I had chosen to stay in a lovely old dark wood chalet, ‘Willa Danusia’, in the upper town overlooking Plac Dietl. Naturally that meant a steep climb home on an evening, but there’s always a price, isn’t there? Inside the villa, the wood was pale, while the view from our lofty porch provided wonderful views.

One evening we dined handsomely in the ‘Willa Marta’ in the lower town. It also was constructed from dark wood, but most of the town had a more modern appearance.

‘Willa Danusia’, high on the hill

‘Willa Marta’, hotel and restaurant

An evening stroll through the upper town gave me a chance to breathe deeply and make the most of the tranquil atmosphere. I know that I felt better, just for being there!

There are nymphs to admire in the woods

Playing their pipes

And 5-star Modrzewie Hotel, among the larches

The picture of health?

As the light fades the fountains begin to change colour

Glimmering in the dusk

The lights come on around the square

Looking down, we climb the hill back up to the villa

From the porch the tiniest crescent of moon is visible

From the porch the tiniest crescent of moon is just visible- can you see it?

Just visible through the trees, from our porch

While down below, the lights twinkle goodnight

‘Romantykaly’, as they say in Poland.

Willa Danusia cost almost nothing for a basic bedroom and a very fine breakfast. Willa Marta was perhaps a little more stylish but definitely wouldn’t break the bank.

I had intended my ‘S’ post to be all about the Sukiennice in Krakow. Maybe I’ll find time to write a second. Meantime I’d like to thank Frizz for providing the incentive this week with Tagged ‘S’, and also Julie Dawn Fox for her Personal A-Z Challenge. I can promise you a wonderful read at either website, and perhaps you’d like to join in with the challenges?

Jo’s Monday walk : the Dunajec Gorge

Shall we start at the chair lift?

To be fair, I have so many photos it’s hard to know where to start! After the wedding, my Polish family were wonderfully indulgent of my wandering ways. I had booked into an old wooden villa for a couple of nights, in the upper part of the thermal spa town of Szczawnica, right down on the border with Slovakia.

Why there? Well, I already knew that the scenery in nearby Zakopane was beautiful. Part of the Tatra Mountain range, it is renowned for Summer hiking and for Winter sports. But, as always, I wanted to see somewhere new, yet still within reasonable distance of Kraków. The Pieniny Mountains are not so high, nor so busy, and they have a beauty all their own.

Szczawnica (rough pronounced ‘Sh-chav-nitsa’) sits in the river valley of the Grajcarek, a tributary of the Dunajec River which forms the border with Slovakia.

Come with me on my walk, and see what you think.

From the chair lift we’re going to walk alongside the river

Using this lovely boulevard

And crossing some of the many bridges

And sometimes looking back to check the view behind

Not forgetting to look back to check the view behind- peaceful, isn’t it?

This was one of my favourite houses- just look at that roof!

And always, the river, rushing along beside

After many twists and turns the Grajcarek flows into the Dunajec, and the beckoning scenery becomes much more dramatic.

One of my reasons for choosing Szczawnica is that it sits at the end of a stretch of the Dunajec famed for river rafting. Not the white knuckle ride that phrase might conjure up for you, but nevertheless, a strong test of the skills of the boatmen. The Dunajec Gorge drew me to the area.

Szczawnica przystan, or marina

The view from the landing stage

A peaceful island lures you for a closer look

A frail bridge lures you for a closer look

A rather strange bird, guarding his territory

At this strange bird, guarding his territory

No wonder the benches are empty!

And you never know what might lurk in the caves

I wonder what might lurk in these caves?

But the flora are delicate and pretty

The water and trees are so many different shades

The trees and water are a myriad of colour

And what do we find, patiently waiting on the river bank?

Wooden canoe trips have been organised through the Gorge since the early 19th Century, when customers came primarily from nearby castles at Niedzica and Czorstyn (more of these in a later post). The Gorge loops through the valley, the limestone rock reaching 300 metres in height almost all the way. It makes for some very beautiful walking and cycling, not to mention the opportunity to river raft.

Hues of gentle aquamarine

Still, smooth water

And interesting patterns in the cliff face

Wandering through light and shade

The deeper shadow adding an air of mystery

Families, walkers and cyclists all have access to this dramatic beauty, though Spring and Autumn are probably the times to see it at its peaceful best. In Summer and on public holidays there are mountain huts where you can find food and information.

I found this sign quite interesting

And then a further clue- welcome to Lesnica, written in Slovak

Without realising it I had crossed over the border into Slovakia, part of which is formed by the River Dunajec. It felt quite strange, and looking at the remaining distance to Cerwony Klastor (approximately 2 hours, according to the sign) it seemed a good time to retrace my steps. But not without first paying homage to one of the nation’s favourite sons, who loved to hike and ski in the mountains.

Just one more sign- a view dedicated to Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)

The view is dedicated to Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)

In no time at all I was back at the marina, with a hard-earned beer

Fast approaching, round a bend in the river, some boatmen!

Where I saw, fast approaching round a bend in the river, the boatmen!

But that needs to be the subject for another post. For now, I’m hoping that you’ve enjoyed our Monday walk. I certainly did!

If you’d like to join in, you’re more than welcome to add a link to a walk you’ve enjoyed in the comments, or to link back to me from your post. Either way, I really don’t mind. I try to keep it free and easy so you can join in any day of the week. The more beautiful walks, the better- right?

Whilst I was in Poland, kind people continued to contribute walks to cheer me up on my return. I’m delighted to be able to share them with you. Enjoy your walking. See you next time.

Way out in Western Australia we have Pauline, walking on the foreshore :

Geraldton Foreshore Walk

Sylvia is busy packing up her home in South Africa, but still found the time to cherish a few memories in her walk :

Sand Between the Toes for Jo’s Monday Walk Challenge.

Tish Farrell brought me back to her home in Much Wenlock, a beautiful part of Shropshire :

http://tishfarrell.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/much-lettered-at-much-wenlocks-poetry-festival/

A lovely surprise from a lady I’d not met, Gunilla, but will certainly spend some time with :

http://gbkoru.blogspot.fi/2014/05/bloggers-sunday-walk-spring.html

And last, but never least, my sunny friend from Virginia, USA- Cathy, with an arboretum walk :

the state arboretum of virginia

Here are some of this week’s walkers,

Paula has been to the zoo :

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/a-visit-to-the-zoo-part-ii/

And Elaine introduced me to Finsbury Park in London :

a walk in Finsbury Park

And who can resist Amy’s Iphoneography? (is that spelt right?) What that girl can do with a flower!

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/phoneography-for-jos-monday-walk/

We’re going to be busy reading this week, aren’t we?

Six word Saturday

Weronika and Wojciech- health and happiness!

The bride and groom

The children helping to pick up the ‘lucky’ coins, thrown outside the church after the wedding

Sweeping up the glasses, smashed for good luck, before the reception

One of 3 tables at the 'wesele' or reception

One of 3 tables at the ‘wesele’ or wedding reception

The chandeliers were beautiful, weren’t they?

I was there, too!

The bride and groom with parents

And with sister, Ula and brother, Lukasz

Dad ‘dancing’ with his walking stick, and cousin Irena

The cake!

Feeding each other cake

Maybe not the best of photographs, but certainly the best of occasions. This is just a snippet from the Polish wedding I attended in Krakow last week. I cannot thank everybody enough for their kindness. I had a truly wonderful time, and I think you can see, the bride and groom did too. I know you’ll join me in wishing my neice, Weronika, and her husband, Wojtek (a simpler spelling) the very best of health and happiness in their future together.

My feet have barely touched the ground since my return, and my head is still full of Polish words like ‘slub’- the wedding! Join me on my Monday walk if you’d like a look at some of the Polish landscape. Meantime, hello again, and don’t forget to visit Cate at Show My Face to play Six word Saturday. I’ll be playing ‘catch up’! See you soon.

Jo’s Monday walk : Nesbitt Dene

Thorpe Bulmer Farm

This week I’m going to take you for a simple little stroll from Hart Village, through Nesbitt Dene and back again. Hart is only 2km north of Hartlepool, and if I’m not walking on a beach, the chances are I’ll be somewhere near this village. It’s not very big, but has 2 pubs, a village hall (where I do t’ai chi on Wednesday mornings) and a lovely little church. More of this later. Time to put on the walking shoes.

From the main street, a public footpath sign directs you through a gap in the housing, down to a little stream and round to St. Mary Magdalene’s Church. Sometimes it’s open and you can take a look inside, but if the sky is blue we’ll keep on striding. A right turn onto Butts Lane will lead you out of the village, towards farm land. You’ll usually pass a nosy sheep or two on the way.

Today they look like teddy bears and are busy 'tucking in'.

These two look like teddy bears, busy ‘tucking in’.

There’s an old barn, of course

And sometimes hay ‘rolls’ in the fields.

The sea is over on your right, across the fields

The sea is over on your right,in the distance

The road heads gently up an incline, and you should carry on until you see Thorpe Bulmer Farm ahead of you. It’s a large white building and not easy to miss. When you reach the farm a path splits off to the left, taking you around the side of the farm to the lovely view in the top picture.

I was surprised by the bright yellow of the seats by the duck pond. Last year they were a more soothing duck egg blue. Either way, the ducks don’t seem to mind, and wouldn’t it be a nice spot to recline? But not for us! We’re going to the woods.

The leaves are unfurling nicely and there are hens in the farmyard

The leaves are unfurling nicely, and soon there will be a canopy of green

But the woods are still breathing quietly

But the woods are still a little sparse, and breathing quietly

Wood anemones flourish

Pine cones litter the path

And a twinkling or two might catch your eye

And celandines sparkle amid the green

Following the path to the side of the farm, you very soon come to the woods, on your right. There are a number of paths leading through them, crossing a little stream, and back out again. Take the steps down and over the bridge, then continue straight ahead.

Emerging from the dene you will see Nesbitt Hall across the fields ahead of you. It is a Grade ll listed building, dating from 1697. Keep it on your left hand side and follow the edge of the field.

Nesbitt Hall, and a lot of clouds!

The fields are full of rape seed at the minute

And great heaps of rolled hay

With rusty old bits of farming equipment

Not good for pollen sufferers, I’m afraid! Take the path to your right, away from the Hall, and continue downhill, back into Nesbitt Dene and the woods.

I cannot resist a blossom shot along the way

Or even two!

And then you’re back beneath the feathery trees

Beside a stream, primulas thrive, liking the mossy surround

Beside a stream, primulas thrive, liking their mossy surroundings

The trees, reflecting in the shallow water

Then you are climbing back out of the dene and retracing your steps to Hart Village. Here you might want to linger in the churchyard. Or try one of the village pubs. I can personally recommend ‘The White Hart’. If you have driven to the village there is a car park conveniently beside the church, signed Butts Lane.

St. Mary Magdalene’s and the churchyard

Inside the church, a peaceful scene

I can guarantee you peace for a week or so, because I’m heading off to Poland tomorrow. I hope to have time to respond to your comments before I go, but if I miss anyone, my apologies in advance. I’m hoping you’ll join in and share a favourite walk with me. If not this week, then maybe when I return? You have a little extra ‘think time’.

As usual, you can leave a link to your walk post in my comments, or you can link back to me from the post. I really don’t mind, and any day of the week will do. It would be lovely to have some walks to cheer me up when I return. I’ll try to entertain you with a Polish walk in exchange. Seem fair? Great! I’ll see you then. Take care in the meantime!

Just got time for some shares before I go. Don’t miss Amy’s lovely River Walk :

https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/jos-monday-walk-river-walk/

And Yvette, being zany 🙂

http://priorhouse.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/monday-walk-with-jo-street-shots-bread-and-jim-gaffigan-clip/

And you simply can’t miss Sonel taking a Mantis for a walk, in her own inimitable style!

http://sonelcorner.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/jos-monday-walk-a-walk-with-mantis/

Bluebell woods, anyone? Thanks, Elaine!

http://elainemcnulty.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/tiptoe-through-the-bluebells-with-me/

Six word Saturday

What a year for blossom trees!

Great clusters of pinkness!

That almost take your breath away

So delicate and yet so profuse

The darker pinks, more sparing of their favours

The darker pinks are a little more restrained

But happy to flirt with their showy neighbours

But happy to flirt with their showier neighbours!

I never tire of looking up

There are still a few delicate, restful whites around

And even a flash of black with the white!

Aren’t the little black ones simply gorgeous?

Just one more splash of colour!

I’ve gone a little blossom crazy because next week I go to Poland, and I know that when I come back they’ll mostly have vanished. Isn’t this the most beautiful time of year?

I won’t be posting 6WS next week, and I have just one more Monday walk to take before I’m gone. You can catch me there if you like, or even join in, if you have a walk you’d like to share.

Meantime, have a happy and colourful weekend, and don’t forget to visit Cate at Show My Face to post your Six word Saturday.

Wild! Fast! Panoramic! Epic!

A tame version of wildness, but beautiful, don’t you think?

He’s one of my favourite photos from Loule Carnaval, and let me tell you, things can get a bit wild there. It’s a while since I entered a photographic competition, so when I discovered that my friends at Blacks were hosting one with a pretty wild prize, I thought it was time to have a go. It’s just a bit of fun really, but you never know where it might lead, do you?

The prize is £2000 to spend with adventure travel experts Explore. When I opened the link to them and read “Burma for under £2000”, I was convinced to enter! They organise walking tours and wildlife tours, and cycling tours, of course. I wondered what a ‘tame’ option like rail journeys would offer and was beyond excited when I saw ‘Japan by rail’ and ‘India by rail’. Go and have a look at the boat journeys ‘to die for’! The Nile on a felucca or the Maldives on a dhoni? I’ve taken a gulet cruise off the Turkish coast, so that’s one less to think about.

So, now you need to know what to do. Simply, compose a blog post around the subjects ‘Wild, Fast, Panoramic, Epic’. I’ll give you more details later but for now you should know that Leo the Lion, up there, is my entry for Wild. Well- you can go pretty fast with two pedalling, can’t you?

In case you haven’t guessed, this is my entry for Fast. They do say at Blacks that you should be creative, and certainly have fun with it. I haven’t made it onto that Shinkansen train yet, but I have been to Barcelona. Stick with what you know, right? El Quatre Gats was a venue for one of the most creative artists our planet has ever known. I was walking in the footsteps of Picasso.

I looked up Epic in my dictionary to be sure of the meaning and it seemed to have connotations of history and grandeur. A few places came to mind, but in the end I decided on Warsaw’s amazing reconstruction of Stare Miasto, the Old Town. Nothing can have been on a more epic scale than the rebuilding that was necessary after it’s total annihilation in World War 2.

Plac Zamkowy- Castle Square

And while I’m in Poland I thought I’d finish on a slightly different, interesting panorama. I was rather surprised by these chess pieces the last time I was in Krakow. I’m returning next week for a family wedding so I’ll have to check if they’re still there. Hope you like my Panoramic entry.

Beautiful -framed behind the chess pieces

Beautiful Wawel Castle and Cathedral, framed behind the chess pieces

So now you need some competition details, but you have to promise me not to win! Otherwise how will I get to Burma or the Maldives? The closing date for entry is Monday, May 5th at midnight. You need to tweet your post to Blacks #epicadventures or put it on their Facebook page. Full details are in the link.

I hesitate to wish you luck. Oh, go on then! Good luck! But expect to be struck off the friend list if you win.

Jo’s Monday walk : Guisborough Forest and the Priory

The ruins of Gisborough Priory

On Easter Monday I wasn’t sure whether I should take you on a little local walk, or something more grand. Well, Gisborough Priory was once very grand indeed. Now just a ruin, it nevertheless sits at the heart of one of North Yorkshire’s finest market towns, Guisborough.

English being the funny old language that it is, Guisborough town is spelt with a ‘u’, but Gisborough Priory and nearby Gisborough Hall are spelt without. You can check the Wikipedia links for the where’s and why for’s later, but it’s time to grab your coat, and off we go.

From the car park, at the back of Westgate, turn right down Bow St. The houses are an appealing mix of stone and whitewash. In gentle sunshine, a magnolia unfurls. Just before the railway bridge, a series of steps lead up to a footpath. If you turn left, it crosses over the bridge. The railway is long gone but it makes a pleasant enough path around the back of Guisborough.

This magnolia’s a beauty!

Choices! Choices!

You can turn right and head for the forest, but beware! You never know what creatures are lurking in these woods. It’s ok though- most of them are friendly.

Good morning Mr. Fox!

Sssh! Don’t wake the owls!

But today we’ll take the shorter route. Choose the junction to the left, signed Cleveland Street Trail, and follow the path. You will cross an open field and might have a friendly encounter with a sheep or two. A frisky herd of horses live at the top of the field. Normally they’ll just keep an eye on you. Don’t panic if they come to investigate.

The trail ends opposite this gatehouse

Nice, isn’t it?

Not this grand entry for you, though! Tradesman’s entrance! A few yards to the left, a more modest footpath skirts the boundaries and takes you along the Monk’s Walk, through the woods.

And there’s the priory, across a field

There’s not much to it, when you get up close. Gisborough Priory is a ruined Augustinian priory. It was founded in 1119 as the Priory of St. Mary by Robert de Brus, an ancestor of the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, and became one of the richest monastic foundations in England. In 1289 a fire destroyed much of the Romanesque Norman priory, but it was rebuilt in yet grander style.

The priory was prosperous until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540. At this time it was demolished and the stone re-used in other buildings in Guisborough. The east end of the church was left standing- a rather romantic image.

With rather pleasing arches

If you are interested in the history there is a quite substantial amount of it in Wikipedia. Also on the site are fragments of the lower courses of the west range, a vaulted undercroft, a gateway and a 14th century dovecote, along with the Priory gardens.

Gisborough Priory is an English Heritage site and instructions on getting here are contained in the link. There’s also the cutest ‘Brother Ted Bear’ for sale but I warn you, he doesn’t come cheap. Nor does the parking in the main town car park. You can also walk from nearby Pinchinthorpe through the Guisborough Forest into town if you’re feeling energetic.

In Guisborough centre you will find a number of tearooms- mostly hidden around corners, so poke about a bit. A more substantial meal can be had in several of the pubs on the main street.

So there you are. I hope you have a lovely day! If you would like to join in with Jo’s Monday walk, it’s simple enough. You can link a post back to me, or you can simply leave a link to a walk you like in my comments below. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you like, and you can join in any day of the week. I just like to see where you’ve been. Nosy, I guess. Happy walking!

First up, Yvette’s taking us to Richmond, VA :

http://priorhouse.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/short-walk-around-my-town-jos-mw/

Then Amy- avoiding the snakes, I hope! :

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/jos-monday-walk-countryside-part-2/

And Dale, having fun in the sun :

http://diaryofaninternetnobody.com/2014/04/22/monday-walk/

On top with Gaudi

The rooftop at La Pedrera

For most of the time I was in Barcelona I was on top of the world! Gaudi’s architecture far surpassed my expectations. Could anything top this? A world of pure fantasy.

Patterned or ‘plain’

Everywhere you looked, someone was pointing a camera!

And who could blame them?

At Casa Batllo, I felt I was drifting off into that sky

Lost among the chimney pots

One man’s vision, more than enough for me

From the second I saw the Weekly Photo Challenge, my head was full of Gaudi and the time I spent in Barcelona. I reached some wonderful heights, culminating in the breathtaking Sagrada Familia. If you ever have the chance, do go.

Thanks for the memories! On top was this week’s theme. Don’t forget to visit.

restlessjo

Roaming, at home and abroad

Travel

Jo’s Monday walk : Las Wolski and Bielany

Six word Saturday

An unintentional trip to the zoo?

‘S’ is for Szczawnica

Jo’s Monday walk : the Dunajec Gorge

Six word Saturday

Weronika and Wojciech- health and happiness!

Jo’s Monday walk : Nesbitt Dene

Six word Saturday

What a year for blossom trees!

Wild! Fast! Panoramic! Epic!

Jo’s Monday walk : Guisborough Forest and the Priory

On top with Gaudi

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An unintentional trip to the zoo?

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Weronika and Wojciech- health and happiness!

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What a year for blossom trees!

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