England and Wales, June-July 2011

London

20th June 2011

Tony and Tatiana standing on Westminster Bridge. View of the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament).Tony and Tatiana standing on Westminster Bridge. View of the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament).

Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England

20th June 2011

Brighton War Memorial, Old Steine Gardens.Brighton War Memorial, Old Steine Gardens.

A pool of water and fountain, part of Brighton War Memorial.A pool of water and fountain, part of Brighton War Memorial.

Tony and Tatiana by Victoria Fountain, Old Steine Gardens.Tony and Tatiana by Victoria Fountain, Old Steine Gardens.

Tatiana sitting in a restaurant.Tatiana sitting in a restaurant.

Tatiana on Brighton Beach. View of Brighton Marine Palace and Pier.Tatiana on Brighton Beach. View of Brighton Marine Palace and Pier.

21st June 2011

Gardens at Palmeira Square, Hove.Gardens at Palmeira Square, Hove. Brighton and Hove are two towns along the sea front, which run into each other. Brighton has been a city since 2000.

Tony and Tatiana on the sea front promenade.Tony and Tatiana on the sea front promenade.

Grass by the sea front promenade, looking towards the Peace Statue and bandstand.Grass by the sea front promenade, looking towards the Peace Statue and bandstand.

Tatiana standing at the foot of the Peace Statue.Tatiana standing at the foot of the Peace Statue.

Side view of the Peace Statue.Side view of the Peace Statue.

Looking towards the remains of the West Pier.Looking towards the remains of the West Pier.

Sheffield – a city in south Yorkshire, England

22nd – 23rd June 2011

Path leading up to the front of a house. Russell Scott Hostels, where Tony and Tatiana stayed one night.Path leading up to the front of a house. Russell Scott Hostels, where Tony and Tatiana stayed one night.

Outside Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street.Outside Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street. Guided tours available, much history – tel: 0114 275 3434, www.sheffield-cathedral.co.uk

Sheffield Town Hall.Sheffield Town Hall.

A fountain at Barker's Pool (square), in front of Sheffield City Hall.A fountain at Barker’s Pool (square), in front of Sheffield City Hall.

The front of Sheffield City Hall.The front of Sheffield City Hall. The Sheffield City Hall was opened on 22nd September 1932. It’s a Grade II* listed building.

A plaque in the pavement dedicated to Michael Vaughan, former England cricket captain.A plaque in the pavement dedicated to Michael Vaughan, former England cricket captain.

Peace Gardens – benches, flower beds, grass.Peace Gardens.

Tony and Tatiana at the Peace Gardens. The Town Hall is on the left.Tony and Tatiana at the Peace Gardens. The Town Hall is on the left.

The Peace Fountain in the Peace Gardens.The Peace Fountain in the Peace Gardens.

Tatiana by ball fountains. An entrance to the Winter Garden is behind.Tatiana by ball fountains. An entrance to the Winter Garden is behind.

Looking across Tudor Square to the Crucible Theatre.Looking across Tudor Square to the Crucible Theatre. The Crucible Theatre is not only a venue for theatrical performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker, the World Snooker Championship.

Lyceum Theatre located opposite the Crucible Theatre.Lyceum Theatre located opposite the Crucible Theatre.

Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, home of snooker.Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, home of snooker.

Looking the other way across Tudor Square to the Winter Garden.Looking the other way across Tudor Square to the Winter Garden.

Cardiff, capital city of Wales

27th June 2011

Looking along a passageway, part of the ramparts of Cardiff Castle.Looking along a passageway, part of the ramparts of Cardiff Castle.

Cardiff Castle is located in Cardiff city centre on Castle Street. It was first built in AD 55 by the Roman army. It was rebuilt 1091 by the Normans. Renovated in 1868 during the Victorian era. Still in use today – current owner is Cardiff Council. It is open to the public. Audio guides, guided tours and special events are available.

Tatiana, Cardiff Castle ramparts.Tatiana, Cardiff Castle ramparts.

The ramparts, Cardiff castle.The ramparts.

View of the castle from the ramparts.View of the castle from the ramparts.

Tony and Tatiana, the Roof Garden.Tony and Tatiana, the Roof Garden.

The Roof Garden – tiles on the outer walls depicting the Old Testament story of Elijah. A fountain in the middle, partially visible on the left.The Roof Garden – tiles on the outer walls depicting the Old Testament story of Elijah.

Tony and Tatiana in front of a fireplace in the state rooms of the Victorian mansion – part of the modernisation of the castle.Tony and Tatiana in front of a fireplace in the state rooms of the Victorian mansion – part of the modernisation of the castle.

State rooms. Tony and Tatiana at a doorway.State rooms. Tony and Tatiana at a doorway.

Courtyard in front of Cardiff Castle.Courtyard in front of Cardiff Castle.

Another view of the castle exterior.Another view of the castle exterior.

150-foot clock tower (1868), Cardiff Castle.150-foot clock tower (1868), Cardiff Castle.

The Norman Keep raised up on a mound (motte). Cardiff Castle.The Norman Keep raised up on a mound (motte). Cardiff Castle.

Temporary marquees in the castle grounds.Temporary marquees in the castle grounds.

Looking towards a gateway through the outer walls.Looking towards a gateway through the outer walls.

Tony and Tatiana with the Norman Keep behind.Tony and Tatiana with the Norman Keep behind.

Tony and Tatiana by the south entrance gateway.Tony and Tatiana by the south entrance gateway.

Penzance, Cornwall

The westernmost town in England
28th June 2011

Tatiana standing on Market Jew Street, the main shopping street in Penzance.Tatiana standing on Market Jew Street, the main shopping street in Penzance.

Looking along Market Jew Street.Looking along Market Jew Street.

Market Jew Street.Market Jew Street.

The Star Inn, Market Jew Street.The Star Inn, Market Jew Street.

Davy statue and the Old Market House, Penzance.Davy statue, Penzance. Sir Humphry Davy (17 December 1778 – 29 May 1829), chemist and inventor. He was born in Penzance. The Old Market House is behind the statue.

Tony sitting on the base of the statue.Tony sitting on the base of the statue.

Tatiana standing by a doorway, the Old Market House.Tatiana standing by a doorway, the Old Market House.

Tatiana, The Market Green.Tatiana, The Market Green.

Tatiana sitting on a small circular wall with a tree in the middle, Causeway Head.Tatiana sitting on a wall, Causeway Head.

Sea front promenade, Penzance.Sea front promenade, Penzance.

Bath, Somerset, England

30th June 2011

Outside the Roman Bath, in the centre.Outside the Roman Bath, in the centre. Famous 18th Century Pump Room. Audio guide available. Tel; 01225 477 785.

Another view outside the Roman Bath.Another view outside the Roman Bath.

Tony and Tatiana outside a large carved-wooden doorway, the main entrance to Bath Abbey.Tony and Tatiana outside a large carved-wooden doorway, the main entrance to Bath Abbey.

Shops opposite the front of the abbey.Shops opposite the front of the abbey.

Inside the abbey looking along the central aisle.Inside the abbey looking along the central aisle. Daily guided tours of the tower are available.

View along the south aisle, Bath Abbey. Pews. Lots of memorial plaques on the wall.View along the south aisle, Bath Abbey.

Looking up at the elaborate carved-stone ceiling of the abbey.Looking up at the elaborate carved-stone ceiling of the abbey.

View from the Abbey tower.View from the Abbey tower.

Tatiana on the Abbey tower.Tatiana on the Abbey tower.

Tony and Tatiana inside the tower near the bells.Tony and Tatiana inside the tower near the bells.

The wooden structure to which the bells are attached, including a large wheel, which is rotated by pulling a rope to ring one of the bells. The wooden structure to which the bells are attached, including a large wheel, which is rotated by pulling a rope to ring one of the bells.

One of the bells. Bath Abbey.One of the bells.

Carved stonework at the top of the tower.Carved stonework at the top of the tower.

View of the Roman Bath looking down from the Abbey tower.View of the Roman Bath looking down from the Abbey tower.

Side doorway into the abbey.Side doorway into the abbey.

Tatiana by stone railings above the River Avon, Bath.Tatiana by stone railings above the River Avon, Bath.

View of the river.View of the river.

Tony and Tatiana by the river. The historic Pultney Bridge visible to the left – shops built into it.Tony and Tatiana by the river. The historic Pultney Bridge visible to the left – shops built into it.

Center Parcs Longleat Forest, Wiltshire, England

2nd-4th July 2011

Tony and Tatiana sitting on a bench.Tony and Tatiana sitting on a bench.

Tony and Tatiana touching a deer sculpted from plant material.Tony and Tatiana touching a deer sculpted from plant material.

Tatiana sitting at a table, indoor plaza.Tatiana sitting at a table, indoor plaza.

Fish in a pond, indoor plaza.Fish in a pond, indoor plaza.

By a lake. Ducks. Pedalo boats.By a lake. Ducks. Pedalo boats.

Sandy beach by the lake.Sandy beach by the lake.

London

4th July 2011

Russell Square Park, Bloomsbury, London. People sitting on the grass. Trees.Russell Square Park, Bloomsbury, London. People sitting on the grass.

Russell Square Park.Russell Square Park.

British Museum. Pharaoh statue. Egyptian collection.British Museum. Pharaoh statue. Egyptian collection.

Very large granite head of King Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC).Very large granite head of King Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC).

Tatiana by another Egyptian statue.Tatiana by another Egyptian statue.

Stone Egyptian tomb. Hieroglyphics on the side.Stone Egyptian tomb. Hieroglyphics on the side.

Pair of huge Assyrian Winged Bull statues with human heads.Pair of huge Assyrian Winged Bull statues with human heads. From the city and palace of Khorsabad, built for the Assyrian king Sargon II (721 – 705 BC). These winged bulls were guardians against misfortune.

Tatiana by one of the winged bull statues.Tatiana by one of the winged bull statues.

Looking up at the glass roof of the Grand Court at the British Museum.Looking up at the glass roof of the Grand Court at the British Museum.

The Rosetta Stone.The Rosetta Stone.

The large ornamental iron railings and gates at the main entrance to the British Museum. The large ornamental iron railings and gates at the main entrance to the British Museum.

Tatiana by the railings.Tatiana by the railings.