April 4 & 5: A failed attempt at camping & Medieval music!

Hello friends |

I beloved the Falkirk Wheel!

We’re currently inward Cupar , which is a flake of a tiny , nix town but close St Andrews.  We’re staying amongst an unbelieveably sugariness solid unit of measurement nosotros flora on AirBnB as well as they couldn’t last to a greater extent than dissimilar from Fergus.  They invited us to direct maintain dinner amongst them (making us a veggie risotto amongst some wild Scottish herbs as well as wild garlic.  It was incredibly tasty) as well as they laid us upward inward what used to last servants quarters inward the house.  It’s good kitted out amongst scented candles as well as a multifariousness of teas.  Needless to tell , they’ll instruct top marks when nosotros direct maintain to review them.

Nicholas inward awe of the Falkirk Wheel

The yesteryear duet of days direct maintain been hectic.  Yesterday morn , Nicholas went as well as picked upward our hire machine , which nosotros got from a little fellowship called Celtic Legend.  The guy nosotros emailed amongst was really , truly , 100% called William Wallace.  He signed his emails “Willie”.  We swung yesteryear the Great Britain version of Walmart to alternative upward a whole heap of non-perishables as well as in all likelihood 8kg of bananas , earlier nosotros started heading to our get stop: The Falkirk Wheel.

Not to pelting on Nicholas’ Falkirk Wheel parade , but I wasn’t wholly excited well-nigh the whole rotating bicycle thing.  It was pretty cool when nosotros really got there.  It replaces well-nigh eleven locks , which used to direct maintain 8 hours or as well as then to instruct through.  It takes iv minutes as well as uses the amount of ability to boil vi kettles.  “How?” you’re in all likelihood bespeak (maybe you’re not. I wasn’t until I saw the informative video).  Inertia.  For that argue , given Archimedes job inward the hole ‘inertia’ matter , the footling go boat nosotros went upward the bicycle inward was called The Archimedes.  We sat behind a pair of really annoying children who got the best spots inward the boat.  That business office was annoying.  Nicholas almost moisture himself amongst engineer-based excitement.  I abhor to encounter what’ll occur at Legoland.

We hung some at the Falkirk bicycle for a while.  I admired all the dogs , who were much ameliorate behaved than the children.  Nicholas watched the Falkirk Wheel inward amazement as well as took lots of videos , as well as then he could relive the sense over again as well as again.  I joked that he should’ve worn his GoPro on the 50 infinitesimal boat journeying upward the bicycle , through the tunnel as well as dorsum downward the bicycle , as well as he got a glint inward his oculus similar he thought it was a skillful idea.  I shouldn’t joke well-nigh such things.

Nicholas pretending to instruct inward for a passionate osculation amongst i of the Kelpies

They had installed some lights to lite upward the Kelpies at nighttime but some leafage was growing inward the way.  Foliage is as well as then cool.

After we’d finished at the Falkirk Wheel (read: I convinced Nicholas that instead of deliberating over which Falkirk Wheel postcard to purchase , he should but purchase them both as well as instruct going) nosotros headed to the Kelpies.  The Kelpies are huge.  There’s non a lot else to tell well-nigh them.  We didn’t produce a tour because nosotros had to pay also much for parking.  We ate inexpensive loving cup noodles spell everybody else ate really expensive H2O ice cream.

The Kelpies!

We stopped at a really beautiful hold off out on the agency to our army camp spot.

From The Kelpies nosotros needed to notice somewhere to camp.  We had enough of fourth dimension earlier sunset to notice one.  Scotland has much to a greater extent than relaxed camping ground laws than Commonwealth of Australia as well as we’d read the code , as well as then felt pretty good equipped.  We flora i spot that looked promising , but kept driving to a loch we’d seen on a map because nosotros thought that’d last much to a greater extent than picturesque.  It was.  We railroad train army camp as well as were but well-nigh to ringlet out our mats when some rangers told us to motion on because it was a reservoir as well as human excrement as well as all that.  Not ii minutes later they left as well as nosotros were pulling out pegs , the heaven darkened as well as nosotros saw the Sun dip behind a mountain.  Not promising.

This would direct maintain been our amazing army camp spot.  Sadness. 

We decided but to caput to the previous spot nosotros had seen.  It was a bog.

Driving off the mount as well as downward to Kilsyth nosotros started having a hold off online for motels.  Looking for a motel at 8.45pm on a Sat nighttime on a long weekend inward a tourist town isn’t promising.  On in all likelihood the 7^th house nosotros called , nosotros got a winner.  It could’ve been the 6^th house , which was the Antonine Inn.  On bookings.com the most recent review was 1 star , proclaiming “THE STAFF WERE AGGRESSIVE.” Nicholas as well as I had a skillful chuckle to this , thinking they’d direct maintain a bad experience.  When nosotros called the inn to enquire well-nigh the booking , the receptionist real abruptly said , “We don’t direct maintain bookings over the phone.  You’ll demand to instruct to bookings online.”  They really were quite aggressive.

We stayed upward far also belatedly watching the Da Vinci Code as well as looking at places nosotros had been on our trip , similar Rosslyn Chapel.

The Wallace Monument (looking quite foreboding inward the fog)

Today nosotros got upward relatively early on to brand job of the costless breakfast included inward our hotel stay.  All that haggis as well as blood pudding inward the bain marie really puts i off their mushrooms as well as beans , to last honest.  Only inward Scotland.

Ignoring the fog , nosotros laid out for the Wallace Monument , jumping some fences to cutting across the roads.  It was also really foggy as well as already filled amongst tourists.   We decided against paying the fee to instruct upward the monument , considering how foggy it was.  You’d hardly encounter anything from the top.

I'm loving all the daffodils.

Such mist.  Very monument.

Nicholas using The Wallace Monument equally the backdrop for his prog stone album cover.  He thinks he looks similar he's air guitaring.  I intend he looks similar a terrible tango dancer.

Did I refer I beloved daffodils?  Did I refer at that spot was fog?

We were also neat to instruct to Stirling Castle.  To celebrate Easter long weekend , Stirling Castle had been turned into something of a Renaissance fair , amongst falconry as well as 16^th century dancing as well as hurdy-gurdy playing.  I was most excited for the dancing.  Stirling Castle was pretty beautiful as well as the weather condition turned out to last amazing.  I fifty-fifty managed to instruct a whole solar daytime without whatever thermals – but a t-shirt. 

This owl was also tired to bargain amongst the tourists at the falconry session.

These ladies were the superlative of fashion (once)

We watched some really cool displays as well as I made friends amongst an owl.  We ran out of fourth dimension to encounter everything at Stirling Castle , in all likelihood because I was also busy dancing amongst ladies inward wonderful dresses , but that's ok.  There was a fatty human playing all kinds of foreign as well as wonderful instruments.  He directed us to his YouTube channel as well as says he also does weddings.  I'll proceed it inward hear if I e'er instruct married inward Scotland.  https://www.youtube.com/user/JimTribble/videos

Nicholas is a jester as well as I'm mortal dressed similar a Flemish painter

Stirling Castle (the forepart sentiment was obscured yesteryear an H2O ice cream truck , as well as then you lot instruct this i instead)

We walked some as well as tried on costumes as well as lazed some inward the Sun as well as eventually headed to the lovely solid inward Cupar where nosotros are now.  Nicholas is watching James Bond: Skyfall as well as looking at Glen Coe , where nosotros volition last inward well-nigh a month.  I’m looking at our pictures as well as non watching Outlander , fifty-fifty though I’d similar to be.  Tomorrow nighttime nosotros really DO army camp , as well as then wishing us luck!

We also drove yesteryear a town called Dollar as well as then nosotros stopped to direct maintain a painting demo amongst the Dollar Sign , because we're tourists.

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An fine art trip to Conegliano

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | Giorgione exhibition inward his hometown on Castelfranco Veneto , this fourth dimension the main motive (or excuse) for my trip was a major exhibition of the paintings of Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano.

Since encountering his paintings inward Venice (one tin mail away hold out viewed for costless inward the Church of the Carmini , others are inward the Accademia) I've had a fondness for his pretty backgrounds. If the Madonna has a charming light-green landscape behind her , with a medieval clustered citadel crowning a depression loma , the chances are it's a Cima painting. Mostly he portrayed the Veneto landscape he knew as well as manifestly loved. Conegliano tin mail away hold out identified inward some of his plant , as well as must stimulate got influenced others. So this was a neat gamble to view the artist's paintings inward the hometown that inspired him. Since he worked chiefly inward Venice , it may hold out the initiative of all fourth dimension that some of these plant - on loan from the National Gallery as well as Harewood House as well as other international galleries - stimulate got genuinely been to Conegliano.

It's an tardily journeying from Venice to Conegliano , catching a prepare but after 10am as well as arriving 50 minutes later. H5N1 comfortable trip , apart from the creepy human being sitting contrary as well as constantly aiming his camera-phone at me.

Anyway , I forgot him in i lawsuit I arrived inward Conegliano. H5N1 surprising release of people alighted; it's a significant-sized town although the historic middle feels small. From the railway station it was obvious which means to walk: the historic town lay straight ahead , over a street as well as upward a flying of steps ceremonially clad inward a bluish carpet.

This is the form of town where you lot know it volition hold out a expert solar daytime out every bit presently every bit you lot arrive. The processional steps led into an inviting piazza with cafe tables set out; mellow-coloured arcaded buildings led off inward either management as well as a tourist data component division - open! - lay but over the road. I know the pitfalls of solar daytime trips inward small-town Italy. Rule no. 1: hold off lunchtime closures. So I headed straight into the tourist component division where a helpful assistant gave me a map as well as ran through the diverse attractions (more than I'd expected) as well as their opening times , fifty-fifty photocopying her data canvass for me.

Armed with some factual leaflets - every bit green inward Italy , much expenditure on lengthy tracts almost unreadable inward their exceptional , even thus well-meaning - as well as the crucial opening times , I set off. The sky was bluish as well as the Sun was warm , but I immediately had a schedule: to zoom aroun every bit many sights every bit possible earlier they shut for 3 hours. I didn't know if I'd hold out still inward town at 3.30 as well as I didn't desire to run out of fourth dimension inward the afternoon. So inward quick succession I visited the Duomo (a Cima altarpiece against rather forlorn light-green velvet drapes; ii charming saints frescoed on pillars) , Cima's birthplace (wouldn't heed moving to Conegliano as well as living inward such a charming picayune trouble solid myself) as well as the cloister of San Francesco. With some fourth dimension inward paw earlier the castle shut at 12.30 , I decided to acquire that done every bit good , thus I ploughed upward the pretty picayune walled footpath heading uphill. En route I constitute ii to a greater extent than tike sights , opened yesteryear kindly as well as welcoming locals: a small-scale sloping garden 'You tin mail away become correct but about the garden ,' a lady invited me...but I had deadlines to run into - as well as and then a picayune church building where restoration had uncovered a fresco. I was impressed yesteryear the manifestly civic-minded world of Conegliano. Given that these were all enterprising volunteers , i can't genuinely grumble at the express opening hours as well as lunchtime closure.

Feeling rather out of breath when I reached the castle , I nevertheless paid my entrance fee (half an hr till closing...) as well as climbed straight upward the stairs to the battlements at the really top. From this advantage betoken you lot tin mail away view over the light-green landscape which stretches towards the Dolomites; far to a greater extent than inviting than the over-developed Veneto plains inward the contrary direction. I toured the picayune museum , which contained diverse oddities. These included Toscanini's marriage certificate. I read afterwards that the conductor came to stimulate got his marriage reception at a friend's trouble solid locally , as well as wanted to avoid attending , thus when he reached Conegliano as well as constitute local dignitaries at the station to run into him he went into a sulk as well as sat silently inward a corner with his arms crossed all day. Another interesting sight inward the castle-museum was a fresco yesteryear Il Pordenone which included St. Thomas Becket alongside the saints portrayed. I'm non certain of his iconography , though I'd similar to holler upward he was the saint displayed with a sword inward his caput as well as a bishop's mitre inward his hand.

I was tempted to sit down as well as relax at the cafe tables inward the castle gardens , where I'd stimulate got joined a small-scale household unit of measurement grouping dressed for a marriage (black is mutual article of apparel at these joyous events) , as well as an elegant elderly lady sharing treats with her picayune dog. But I had already been seduced yesteryear the cafe tables downwards inward Piazza Cima , thus I set off downwards the loma , passing a handful of Italians climbing breathlessly upward the lane.

Taking my spot with a stance over the foursquare , I feasted on local produce: a drinking glass of Prosecco , the vino most produced but about hither , as well as a plate of gnocchi with radicchio , a speciality of the Treviso area. It was still warm as well as sunny , though the ii couples at the adjacent tabular array were discussing snowfall inward the mountains. Then came the 2nd of the day's ii slightly depression spots: a long queue of elderly ladies for the restaurant's i lav cubicle (which turned out to hold out a squatter). Still , I learned interesting things most the dynamics of their tour group. I'd recommend the identify I where I ate: the Caffe al Teatro. Outside it was similar a traditional cafe-bar with drinks as well as a small-scale pick of meals served at tables (reasonably-priced , drinking glass of Prosecco or pot of tea for €1.90). Inside I was surprised to detect an extensive as well as maze-like interior filled with jolly eating parties , as well as a bustling kitchen where ii elderly ladies cooked.

The thinking behind my visiting the Cima exhibition at lunchtime was to avoid such groups; who ever accept long luncheon breaks. I didn't make besides badly; I was able to tour the exhibition with exclusively a few individuals for companionship inward each room. It was a expert exhibition with a helpful English linguistic communication audioguide. As green , I admired the pastoral backgrounds , but grouped together similar this at that spot were interesting mode comparisons to hold out made betwixt paintings , as well as I constitute some of his characters to a greater extent than compelling than I'd expected; their gazes coming to life inward the palace rooms. It was expert to view some non-religious themes; the painter had branched out on to a greater extent than imaginative plant for private clients as well as hither nosotros saw scenes involving Theseus , Ariadne as well as Endymion.

When I left the palazzo housing the exhibition the conditions had shifted to drizzle - unlucky for photography - but I wandered along the main street , which I constitute charming. It would hold out prissy to view it on a warm eventide at aperitivo fourth dimension , when I suspect the vino bars as well as cafes close the foursquare would hold out live as well as atmospheric.

I visited the Sala dei Battuti , a hall lined with rather sugariness frescoes , looked at the shops showtime to opened upward for the afternoon , as well as then continued my stroll. The conditions improved. Then - excitement! - a grouping of teenagers as well as youngish adults passed yesteryear , dressed inward splendidly 'folkloric' costumes as well as carrying flags as well as drums. I honey traditional Italian flag-throwing , but I've exclusively ever seen i exercise session , inward Siena.

So I followed the medieval posse along to Piazza Cima as well as watched every bit they position on a fantabulous present for whoever happened to hold out passing by. After the initiative of all spettacolo yesteryear ii sbandieratori (flag-throwers) I sat with a loving cup of tea as well as waited until they resumed their show. This fourth dimension ii woman someone flag-throwers performed , as well as and then a human being who I presumed was the group's leader. He did a flag-throwing routine with iii , as well as then iv flags as well as I was hugely impressed. What could hold out to a greater extent than manly? Other bystanders applauded besides , as well as a few random couples inward Renaissance costume promenaded by. The drummers drummed feverishly as well as at i betoken chanted "CO-NE-GLI-A-NO!!!" I had no thought what the final result was inward assist of - to a greater extent than civic pride , perchance - or if it was but a routine exercise but I was really glad to stimulate got been at that spot at the correct time.

Anything else would stimulate got been an anti-climax after that , thus I purchased some fragile picayune pastries for the prepare ride , as well as headed dorsum to Venice.

> My article most Conegliano
> Conegliano photograph gallery
> Youtube footage of the sbandieratori

Conegliano's a neat identify to see , but if you lot tin mail away , make become spell the Cima da Conegliano exhibition is on. It's a expert present , as well as the town's other attractions stimulate got extended opening for the duration. It runs until 2 June.

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