TRAVEL WORDS

Opulent Saloons and an Engine Room

The steam yacht Gondola is a rebuilt Victorian, screw-propelled, steam-powered passenger vessel on Coniston Water, England. Originally launched in 1859, she was built for the steamer service carrying passengers from the Furness Railway and from the Coniston Railway. She was in commercial service until 1936 when she was retired, being converted to a houseboat in 1946. In 1979, by now derelict, she was given a new hull, engine, boiler and most of the superstructure. She is back in service as a passenger boat, still powered by steam and now operated by the National Trust. Source: Wikipedia.

The Illustrated London News of 7 July 1860 reported after her maiden voyage that the first class saloon was “beautifully finished in walnut wood and cushioned and decorated after the style of the royal carriages of our railways.”

Locomotion Enterprises, a training company in the North-East of England, got the task of building the new engine whilst W Bertram & Sons of South Shields provided a new high-pressure boiler, fittingly to the same design as the Ffestiniog Railway’s locomotive Prince.

If you find yourself in the Lake District then I can recommend a cruise on this beautiful boat.

A Lingering Look at Lakeland Windows

My wish is fulfilled
I am back in sweet Grasmere

~ Woodrow Wilson 1908

Visiting the beautiful Vale of Grasmere in the heart of the English Lake District I couldn’t help photographing some of the interesting buildings and windows in the pretty village.

Above: The National Trust Shop and the Storytellers Cottage.

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Some of the pretty tourist shops and cafés in the village.

And the most sumptuous Victorian Villa with lacy barge-boards and wonderful conservatory windows.

This weekly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge.

Loads of Ellies

We weren’t travelling along the Garden Route simply to explore it, beautiful though it is, no, there was an actual destination in mind – Addo Elephant Park – where we would spend the next two nights inside the park in a rondavel overlooking a waterhole. And hopefully seeing some of Africa’s wildlife close up.

So which wild animal has had you enthralled?

(Join me on safari and please add your twopenny worth to the comments on the original post. )

V for Victorian Glasshouses

frizztext hosts a weekly A – Z Challenge

Event Type: General Blogging

Start Date: Tuesdays, recurring weekly

Description: Every Tuesday I offer the “A to Z challenge”, walking step by step through the alphabet.

If you would like to join in then please click here

Glasshouses in Kew Botanical Gardens, London

V - Victorian Palm House — The Palm House – Kew Botanical Gardens designed by Decimus Burton 1830s

V - Victorian Waterlily House — Waterlily House – Kew

Glasshouse in Osborne House, IOW

v=victorian-glass-house-osborne-house — Osborne House, IOW

Glasshouse at Walmer Castle, Kent

Glasshouses at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

Do you have a favourite Victorian Glasshouse?

Valletta – The Fortress City

Valletta

“a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”

is Malta’s capital city: Valletta is named after its founder, the respected Grand Master of the Order of St. John, Jean Parisot de la Valette. Started in 1566, Valletta was completed, with its impressive bastions, forts and cathedral, in the astonishingly short time of 15 years. Today, it is one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. (source)

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St Ursula street Valletta

lantana

Auberge de Castile

Fort St Elmo

Les Gavroches (street urchins)

Lower Barakka Gardens

Maltese Bus

Victoria – Republic Square

Valletta from the parade in Sliema

Pot plants

Upper Barakka Gardens

Valletta enclosed balconies

If you visit Malta take time to wander the streets of Valletta, you will find hidden gems around every corner. Look up to see statues, niches and interesting lanterns. Doors, windows and covered walkways and interesting door handles.

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