Yes, this was an interesting one. If you live in the UK, we’ve Channel 4 with their racing programs. I for only really have 1 bet (flutter, etc) on the horses every year, during the Grand National, but when watching the races on TV (which is rare), do not really pay attention to the exact track, as in “the 13:10 from Doncaster”.
But yes, there exists a track here, with a fairly non-mundane yearly program. And what was even more interesting was that not only is the track within 5 minutes of the town centre, but that it also contains a golf course inside (or at least partly inside) of it!
Here’s some photos:
Warwick Racing
Completely accessible, not snobby and with the many dog walkers that I witnessed, multi-purposed as well.
The last week, I had the fortune to be in south England for a week, and was based in the charming town of Warwick. Warwick resembled Ludlow (from a few weeks ago) but was on a smaller hill with no castle, though it did have a multitude of older, cute buildings, which I will blog about later in the week.
What I did do, as I was normally in the flat, working; was to go on a short, charming canal walk, with a subsequent visit to a beautiful pub for lunch.
As the map above shows, we started in the centre of Warwick, traversed the Warwick Race Course (more on that later), and continued along the Grand Union Canal for about an hour, had lunch and returned.
Along the way we enjoyed the much hotter weather in the south of England and noted both there and back, a variety of locks known as the “Stairway to Heaven“, that has 21 Locks (!!) in total.
At the end of the outward journey, was the Hatton Arms pub, which resembled more of a hotel complex, rather than a “pub” – though it was still amiable as I sat outside drinking a lovely pint of real ale, with Thai fish cakes and mash – lovely!
Warwick / Race Course
Stairway to Heaven – 1
Stairway to Heaven – 2
Hatton Arms
Pub Meal
Coming back was slightly quickly, as I was going downhill and the return was done via the town centre of Warwick.
I was once again south of the border last week, in the ever delightful Warwickshire, for which I will be showing some snaps this week on the blog.
In addition, will be looking at various things from here in Glasgow, from the ever present wave of new cafes, to certain neighbourhoods and several photos from here, but first, some pictures from one of my favourite shopping arcades here, The Argyll Arcade, in the town centre.
It’s an old fashioned Georgian? arcade, resplendent in a multitude of jewellery shops, one pub and and upstairs area; that in my opinion is criminally underused (there is a jewellery workshop there), and would be an lovely place to have a coffee, tea, or whatever.
You reach it from several ways, preferably from Buchanan Street:
Fave building on Buchanan Street
And then can enter it, head straight east, and then south, to exit on Argyll Street.
To end my thoughts on my recent trip to Deutschland, where I was predominantly in Hesse, the Pfalz and finally, Franconia in Bavaria – I’ve a variety of very different photos for your perusal.
Whilst there, the early days of campaigning were underway for the German parliament elections – there were signs everywhere, with each being highly different!
Bienenstich
Wurst und Knudeln
Donau Canal
The other shots range from the always, underrated cuisine, to city centre BMX / Roller Skate tracks, to cars, to small chapels, to freight canals, to signs for various bike paths, to where I got my PCR test to travel back to the UK, and finally part of the old Berlin Wall.
In my life, I’ve always wanted to do this; go to a brewery and see just how the stuff of Gods is produced; I was not disappointed.
Beautiful ruby red beer from the Ludlow Brewery
There were about 12 of us that took part in, the almost 2 hour long tour, and all seemed to be fascinated by it, both in the smelling of the hops, grains, etc – and in the tasting later!
I thought that it was:
* Interesting; it was very local oriented about their beer and their philosophy in making beer.
* Fascinating and new, when they spoke about malts, particularly the ones that are used to brew the alcohol, and then some that are only used to flavour the beer. I have made beer before, but simply didn’t know that they used this type of technique
* Links –
An interesting site, where many tours can be booked, here.
Another, where Visit England has some that are recommended.
As the title says, I still have some memories from the recent travel to Deutschland and will publish them, along with more from my trip a few weeks ago to Ludlow, in the beautiful county of Shropshire.
In addition, there are a good deal many new places here in Glasgow, that I’ve visited and will do several reviews even!
But first, just look at this old map of the travel system in Glasgow:
An old map of Glasgow’s Transport System (year unknown)
And compare to the modern plan; it’s changed. Equally, the blue circle above is the Glasgow Subway, and can be compared to the modern subway, shown below:
Glasgow Subway, the “Clockwork Orange”
To my knowledge, the Glasgow rail network is the largest all-electric one in the UK or outside of London, I can’t really remember the exact fact, and the Glasgow Subway (one line clockwise, the other counter clockwise), is one of the oldest in the world.
When I first arrived here to attend yooni, there was something called a “sub crawl”, where one would get off each station, and have a pint (or whatever)! I do recall trying it, but was completely unsuccessful . . . I wonder why.
It was only a few months ago when I was in Ludlow for a short stay. Very impressed with the “living museum” type of feel, the food, drink, architecture and the Shropshire Hills, so why not try it another time?
I did and was impressed yet again at their Ludlow Food Festival, and with it came beautiful weather as well (Ed; Of course, it’s way south of Glasgow!).
The “buyings” can be sorted into the two types of my faves; alcohol and non-alcohol!
The one thing that fascinated me, were the many alcohol stands on display, mainly aimed at Gin, but also spirits such as Whiskey; English Whiskey! I tried two of the whiskeys, a young one less than 3 years of age, and a casked one – the difference was immeasurable! The latter was like nectar, and I subsequently received a hand written email to contact the distillery, as only 400 bottles are produced each year.
I bought a bottle of the whiskey later at the Ludlow Farm shop just outside of town. The subsequent taste was similar to fire water though I think over ice or mixed it would do just fine; though to be fair it is technically not a whiskey (and it does say that), as it has not been aged for 3 years in a barrel.
Whiskey and Ale
The other purchase, was a variety of ales from the local Ludlow Brewery Co. (where we also had a tour – more on that later), with the “Red Dawn”, I believe a ruby ale, being a personal favourite.
Endeavour has started its eighth season on ITV and as usual, I’ve consumed the first of the episodes, “Striker”. Watch it on the ITV player as I easily feel it’s the best thing around, even if crime / detective series are not your thing.
Endeavour and Jack Swift
The plot concerned the death threats to a mixed-race Northern Ireland striker, Jack Swift, who plies his trade for a fictional Oxford football club. It’s only subsequently that we learn that his race has little to do with the threats – This IS 1971 after all, and though at times I am tired of any news from Ulster on the troubles, this is history and in ’71, they were just starting to be bloody awful.
For one thing about the episode, and who knows maybe about this series, is that this IS an older Morse, and it seems that at any stage, John Thaw will suddenly pop up on the screen! Starting with the drunken Endeavour crashed out on his sofa, after a bender. Though we’re not sure whilst seeing the record player end its playing of an LP, whether the drinking was accompanied by Wagner!
Endeavour at a Fashion Show
In addition to the death threats to Swift, there is also a college bombing, that results in the death of a departmental secretary. We subsequently discover that the first thoughts that it must be the fault of animal rights’ activists, may well be wrong.
These two rather distinct, though timely strands somehow fit, and certainly had me going in more than one direction trying to ponder just who committed these acts.
All in all, I feel as though I am viewing something that has been on for some 10 years now, but that could eventually endure for a few years more. It is naturally produced with modern tastes, but still has enough of an old-school, character driven aesthetic to put it above most “telly” or Netflix shows at present.
Take a look at these bikes. They are your basic rental bikes that exist both here and all over Europe. They were in western Germany and are quite standard and functional.
Nextbikes in Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz)
I rented these for several days and were quite basic and adequate. On the other hand, whilst in Bavaria I went for a shop-based rental and got something that though more advanced, did not really have as much comfort.
It was while I was outside the shop, that I noticed MANY second-hand bikes on sale; at surprisingly high prices in my opinion!
Prices from left to right €549, €449 and €239!
I can only put this down to the German mentality of not wasting perfectly good bikes and / or their emphasis on useable quality. All of these will easily stand the test of time, and no doubt can endure the rigours of city use.
Last week we travelled to Shropshire once again, for a fabulous food festival, a report on this and English “Whiskey” later in the week. But first, haven’t done this for a while, but look at my bargains from Poundland:
More “things” that I have to have!
The snails are everywhere in my garden right now in Glasgow, the Rustlers are devine and are my lunch for tomorrow (we don’t have a kitchen in our office), and the “King in a Million” cologne is NOT that bad, but for one quid, I’ll take it!
Seriously, we’ll bring you some photos from England, more stuff from my Germany trip a few weeks ago, and I’ll review the new Endeavour series – my favourite thing on the box as of now.
Curious Bystander 