Category: Main article

The remains of four woolly rhinos have been unearthed in an English quarry.

Scientists describe the group find at Whitemoor Haye in Staffordshire
as “extraordinary” and one of the best Ice Age discoveries of
its type in Northern Europe in recent years.

In addition to the great beasts, researchers have also dug out a remarkable
range of superbly preserved plants and insects. One of the rhinos even
has plant material still stuck to its teeth, giving possible clues to
its last meal.

Taken together, the specimens should enable archaeologists to build up
a detailed picture of what life was like in this particular corner of
the UK 30-50,000 years ago.

“We'll be able to piece together the whole Ice Age environment
in that area by the banks of the River Trent,” said Simon Buteux,
director of the field archaeology unit at the University of Birmingham.

He told BBC News Online: “The plants in particular are beautifully
preserved – they look as if they were buried last week quite frankly.
And in amongst them are remains of beetles which are very sensitive to
the climate, so this will give us good clues to what the local environment
was back then.”

The initial woolly rhino (Coelodonta antiquus) discovery was made by
quarryman Ray Davies, who pulled up a massive skull in the bucket of his
digger.

Gary Coates, a University of Birmingham archaeologist, said: “I've
been working at Whitemoor Haye Quarry for five years and have excavated
everything from prehistoric burial grounds to Roman farmsteads, but this
find was totally unexpected.

“It's the biggest find – in all senses of the word – I've
ever been involved with.”

Globetrotters meeting Saturday 7^th December 2002
By Padmassana

This afternoon our first speaker was Damian Welch, Royal Geographical
Society (RGS) winner of a “Journey of a Lifetime “ Award,
who took us to Tokelau, a group of remote Polynesian islands located north
of New Zealand. His talk and slides demonstrating to us the effect that
the 21^st Century has had on the islanders way
of life. Tokelau’s population of 1,500 souls crowd onto just three
islands. Damian's graphic photos demonstrated just how dependant the
islanders are on the imported barrels of oil, petrol and diesel, which
arrive like everything else by ship. The islanders life revolves around
the ship’s comings and goings. The islanders share everything, from
the oil, to the work and the food that sustains them. Though this system
is rapidly being overtaken by the introduction of money, people are asking
how much?, before doing tasks they would previously have just done. Fishing
is one area where the old way carries on, the fish are caught and shared
equally among the people when the catch is landed. Tokelau’s women
folk prepare the food and then play noisy games of dominoes. Afternoons
on Tokelau are often spent playing volleyball under the scorching sun.
Unfortunately the once healthy Tokelau diet of fish and coconut is being
replaced by imported corned beef, beer and vast amounts of sugar, resulting
in the 21^st century diseases of obesity and
diabetes. Damian’s idyllic photos of the islands peeping out of
the blue sea and thought provoking talk on daily life made for a very
interesting and educational 40 minutes.

Our second speaker was Robert Twigger, whose talk was entitled
“Putting the adventure back into travel”.

Robert’s wanderlust was instilled in him by his Grandfather, who
had returned from his own travels with Naga spears, which Robert has inherited,
just as well as I don’t think you would be very successful at bringing
them through Heathrow airport in the current climate.

Roberts’s plan was to try and replicate the epic 1793 journey of
Alexander MacKenzie, who crossed Canada from east to west. Robert particularly
wanted to repeat the last section down the Athabasca river in a birch-bark
canoe. First though Robert and his friend Ben had to get the canoe to
their starting point. They achieved this by delivering a van 3500 miles
across Canada in three days, before being dropped off in the middle of
nowhere to begin their journey. They set off paddling often against quite
strong currents, seeing nobody else for days on end. Though they did see
a lot of bears, which were not intimidated or scared off by the bear horn
they carried with them. The locals all carry a gun for this job! Robert
and Ben camped by the river and we saw some beautiful sunset photos, however
this didn’t tell the whole story, as wherever they stopped they
were set upon by millions of mosquitoes. Unfortunately Robert’s trip was
limited by time and they have had to leave the canoe in storage having
completed 600 miles until next year when he hopes to complete the trip
all the way to the Pacific.

London meetings are held at The Church of Scotland, Crown Court, behind
the Fortune Theatre in Covent Garden at 2.30pm the first Saturday of each
month. There is no London meeting in August, but we will be back in
September. For more information, you can
contact the Globetrotter Info line on +44 (0) 20 8674 6229, or visit the
website: www.globetrotters.co.uk

I am in New York and I opened Adelante Spanish School (http://spanishamerica.com) with my Partner, Monica
Guerra, who manages day-to-day affairs in Quito. For free help in planning
a Ecuador trip, arranging a room in Quito and especially to plan Spanish
lessons please contact us (lee@spanishamerica.com in English or
monica@spanishamerica.com in Spanish)

In my opinion Quito, Ecuador and Antigua, Guatemala are the best places
in the world for a traveller to learn Spanish quickly and affordably and
with a great deal of fun. There are hundreds of schools in either city
and the competition keeps the quality high and the cost low. The cost
of language instruction can be under US$5/hr for one to one instruction
and you can experience room and board with a local family for about $15/day.
Having experienced both I chose to start my venture in Ecuador.

Quito’s many schools are excellent and the instructors are experienced.
You will find relatively few people who speak English inQuito but all
are patient with foreigners making it very conducive to learning. You
should have no problem mastering Spanish as long as you study. You don’t
need to do or study anything before you go. There is a lot to distract
in Quito. If you take classes for 4-5 hours a day, try to study for three
hours or so either over lunch or at dinner. It is a great place and you
will find the most difficult thing about studying is that there are many
wonderful things to do in Ecuador.

Ecuador is a place where you can do a lot and don't need a formal
plan, reservations, etc. It is very easy to decide to do something (visit:
jungle, mountain, hike, colonial, market, coast) on a Thursday night,
to get on a bus Friday afternoon and to find a hotel when you arrive.
It is the best way to meet people and to make sure that your experience
is the best possible. Furthermore, Spanish schools tend to be flexible
and accommodating for the spontaneous traveller.

Small schools are less expensive and tend to offer more personal attention
and a better immersion experience while more costly larger schools offer
the opportunity to socialize with more American students and English speakers.
If you want a large number of peers visit a large school as well as a
smaller school.

Most schools specialize in one-to-one Spanish instruction. One to one
immersion training offers the best way to rapidly develop your language
skills. Most professors are skilled and experienced in engaging in interesting
conversation with students that is gauged to their level and challengs
them to improve at their best ability. Your professor should be able to
tell where you need assistance and focus on that aspect of your language
training. Discusssion in English can be a welcome relief but they do not
often further the goal of learning Spanish nearly so well as struggling
with Spanish. That is what immersion is all about. There are volunteer
opportunities available in and around Quito. Schools work with organisations
to arrange volunteer opportunities

Please contact lee@spanishamerica.com or monica@spanishamerica.com for information
or look at their web site http://spanishamerica.com. We can pick you up
at the airport even if you later decide not to study with us. We are also
happy to discuss your plans and assist in arrangements without any fees.

Our guest speaker at our december meeting was Amy Gissen, who gave a
great slide show and lecture about Myanmar, truly one of Asia's jewels.

For details of forthcoming meetings email newyork@globetrotters.co.uk or register
for email updates at click here at our
website.

New York meetings are held at The Wings Theater, 154 Christopher
Street (btw Greenwich St and Washington St), to the right of Crunch Fitness,
in the Archive on the first Saturday of each month at 4 pm.

Believe it or not, storm chasing has become something of a hobby. So
when the weather is bad, throw away that jigsaw, that book, that piece
of embroidery or the TV guide, get your waterproofs on, grab a map and
jump into your car! Oh, and don’t forget your camera or camcorder
and mobile (cell) phone! The real storm “techies” fit thermometers,
barometers, hygrometers and even anemometers in their cars.

Why do this? It’s a lot of fun – generated heart churning
adrenaline levels and can involve you in some of the most beautiful sky
scenes. According to the UK storm chasers club, people who actively chase
tend to have “a sound meteorological knowledge of the atmosphere
and storms including their behaviour and dynamics. It is this knowledge
that keeps them safe: storm chasing can be dangerous if undertaken by
inexperienced individuals both for themselves and others. In the UK the
danger is even greater due to our busy and congested road networks. When
you encounter a local storm these already bad road conditions will rapidly
deteriorate with copious amounts of standing rain water, flash flooding
and sometimes even a hail covering.

So how do you do it? Again, according to the British club, the trick
is to attempt to forecast where thunderstorms may develop and then head
to a favourable area. There are hundreds and hundreds of people including
storm chasers who attempt their own forecasts using internet data. There
are lots of websites with information including Westwind.ch they make surface pressure charts and
upper air charts freely available. You can also get various lightning
detection products (often called sferics products) and you can now get
free hourly radar images on the BBC Weather pages. If you wish there is also
data available on line but at cost. For example there is a better radar
picture now offered by Avbrief but
there is a fee. “The majority of us are TORRO members which means images we capture
and information we gather is gratefully received and put to good use,”
says a storm chaser from Holland.

There are storm chasing groups in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, all
over the United States and Australia. The Dutch Storm Chase Team formed
last year when the guys got together for a one-off chase that ended up
so much fun they decided to make a regular thing of it. “We started
that afternoon,” says Bernard Hulshof, a meteorologist with Holland
Weather Services, “and drove to the west near Schiphol Airport where
we saw numerous showers, beautiful showers, large rainbows and deep blue
skies. It was heaven for us and later on we followed the storm to the
province of Flevoland, in the centre of The Netherlands. By then it had
become dark, the sun was setting and the storm was producing lightning.
It was all very exciting and very successful for us.”

In the US, there is a region known as Tornado Alley that stretches from
Texas northward to the Dakotas. More tornados occur there than anywhere
else on earth, so this is naturally something of a mecca for storm chasers.
“I can't think of any other place on earth which would be more
exciting for storms than Tornado Alley,” says Harald of the Netherlands’
club. “The situation in America is perfect for storm development,
it's unique in the world. You can get any type of storm if you have
time for it. But of course,” he adds, without even a hint of irony,
“it all depends on the weather.”

The Beetle found a couple of companies that specialise in storm chasing
“tours” – if this interests you, you might want to check
out Silver Lining Tours, owned by David Gold,
a meteorologist and self proclaimed outstanding storm chaser. He says
he will take customers to watch incredible super cells, awesome tornadoes,
huge hail and wild lightning.

Texas-based Tempest Tours are taking bookings now for Storm Chasing
Expeditions in the 2003 spring season. The company, headed by three veteran
storm chasers (with more than 50 years of storm chasing experience), will
lead six tours into Tornado Alley in search of nature's most spectacular
weather. The tours take place in May and June, the peak of tornado activity
in the United States. Tours will depart from Oklahoma City and in minivans.
Veteran storm chasers typically drive 100-400 miles a day to reach their
targets.

Stormchasing.com say“if you're
looking for adventure, you'll love this thrilling storm chasing holiday
in America. We offer “10-Day” and “5-Day” tours where
you'll travel across a number of states. One of our vans is the most
highly equipped chase van in Tornado Alley — unlike any other storm chasing
van on the road.” They go on to say that they are the only storm
chasing company that has “real-time” weather information 100%
of the time, delivered by satellite technology to our storm chasing van.
You will get to ride in that van and be part of the action as we chase
down severe storms and tornados in America's Tornado Alley!!

For information on Ontario meetings, please contact: Svatka Hermanek:

shermanek@schulich.yorku.ca or
Bruce Weber: tel. 416-203-0911 or Paul Webb: tel. 416-694-8259.

Meetings are held on the third Friday of January, March, May, September
and November. Usually at the Woodsworth Co-op, Penthouse, 133, Wilton
Street in downtown Toronto at 8.00 p.m.

Costa Rica, a tiny country that forms part of the land bridge between
North and South America, is almost too good to believe. It has more species
of mammals and birds than the continental United States and Canada combined,
unmatched flora that includes over 3,000 species of wild orchids alone
and a world famous national park system.

It is a land of natural treasures: lush green jungles and forests, steaming
volcanoes, mountains, Caribbean beaches, and Pacific surf. You can explore
miles of nature trails that access a variety of unique natural habitats,
drive to the edge of a volcanic crater or through the deep, rich mountain
jungle, or soak up the rays on a magnificent tree-lined beach.

Costa Rica is a paradise for orchids, butterflies and hummingbirds. Near
San Ramón you can visit a beautiful Orchid garden full of the national
orchid – La Guaria. On Sunday you observe the families hanging around
and playing with their children. San Ramón and its surroundings offer
a lot of fun and entertainment with adventure, beautiful nature and also
culture.

Where are we talking about? Costa Rica's Central Valley is
noted for its eternal spring like weather. The district San Ramón de Alajuela
is the biggest district of Costa Rica and is situated on the end of the
Central Valley just in the heart of Costa Rica. San Ramón is a pleasant
small town about halfway between the capital San José and Puntarenas,
just off the Carretera Interamericana that joins San José with the Pacific
coast. When you leave the airport and take the autoroute to Puntarenas
the first sign you see is the sign to San Ramón and takes about 45 minutes.

San Ramón is situated on the tenth degree of latitude and 3,280 feet
above sea level. This provides one of the best climates in the world with
all year long average temperature of 77 º F (25 º C). The perfect climate
to promote or maintain your health and to relax.

San Ramón is known locally as the city of presidents and poets because
several of them were born or lived here. It is a clear, green and safe
area and offers a lot of activities like sightseeing to the museum and
to the beautiful church. The museum has interesting exhibits of local
history and culture. The church looks very similar to European churches
and is a combination of gothic and roman styles. It was designed by a
German architect and construction started in 1925. The altar was built
in Italy, the tiles from Germany and the bells from France. Artisans from
around the world and many Costa Rican artists contributed to its creation.
The construction was finished in 1954.

So, where to eat? A new restaurant has opened which is excellent
by any standards. The owner of Alirass is a native of San Ramon who has
also travelled. Her fusion Costa Rican food is a must. Try the fish with
avocado and cheese and save room for the excellent home-made desserts.
The owner/chef Ligia has contributed a gem to her hometown.

What to do? Life runs slowly in this part of the world and you
can relax and enjoy. Visit the central market, the weekly market, the
park in the centre of San Ramón and watch the people talking in the street
and hear the loudspeakers from a passing car announcing good shopping
offers or activities for the next weekend. There is no hurry.

You find around San Ramón big waterfalls, bungee jumping, canopy tours,
hot air ballooning, hiking in rainforest, bird watching, and horseback
riding, tours with mountain bikes and a beautiful Spa. From this central
position you can travel very easily to most of the volcanoes or beaches.
Near San Ramón you can visit the “Reservado Alberto Manuel Brenes”,
a large area with an incredible variety of fauna and flora.

Getting around: it is best that you don't expect perfect roads
but you will see this as a part of the adventure. You drive slowly and
have time to look around. Of course you always need more time than you
expected. But there is no reason to hurry. You will be rewarded with unforgettable
occurrences. You will see animals and plants you never have seen before
in your life. Guides are always available to take you around and to explain
the nature of the area that is new and eye opening.

Come join us in what is still a relatively undiscovered part of Costa
Rica, a very special country in these turbulent times.

Where to stay to chill out: I run the Hotel and Spa Casaelena
that is 6 miles from town at 3000 ft. altitude with a breathtaking view
of the Pacific Ocean. We have 24 acres of landscaped grounds with a large
pool with a steam room and solar heated jacuzzi. Spa services such as
massage and pedicures are available. It’s a great place for peace
and quiet, for couples who want a romantic get away or for groups who
want a real spa experience: yoga, meditation, nutrition advice, massage,
beauty treatments, acupuncture and chiropractor services. For more information,
contact me, Helene on: casaelena@racsa.co.cr or visit our website:

www.costaricarelax.com

Festive food and fellowship was shared at the December Texas branch meeting.
The scheduled slide show of Portugal was postponed to the January meeting.
In addition to the slide show we will share our 2003 travel goals during
the January meeting. Hope to see you – same time, same place!

New Braunfels Public Library 700 E. Common Street, New Braunfels,
Texas 830-620-5482, at 2pm, January 11th 2003

As the year 2002 comes to an end, the Texas Branch of the Globetrotters
Club continues to flourish. If you have not yet joined the Globetrotters
Club, now is the time to do so.

Go to http://www.globetrotters.co.uk/join/
and today! If it is time to renew your membership, do that today! Make
sure you welcome 2003 as a member in good standing with the Globetrotters
Club.

Dates of future meetings: January 11th, February 8th

The Globetrotters Club is encouraging anyone interested in writing articles

• without pictures for the free monthly Globetrotters e-newsletter,
  contact the Beetle on beetle@globetrotters.co.uk
• or with pictures, contact the editor of Globe on editor@globetrotters.co.uk

Learn more about Globetrotters at www.globetrotters.co.uk.

For more information about the Texas Branch: please Contact texas@globetrotters.co.uk or call Christina
at 830-620-5482

Meetings are held at 2pm at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E.
Common Street in New Braunfels, Texas. The meeting ends at 5 p.m. If you
would like to continue travel talk on a more informal basis, we plan to
adjourn to the Hoity-Toit, a local New Braunfels establishment. If anybody
would like to enquire about meetings or help Christina, please contact
her on: texas@globetrotters.co.uk

Whether it’s a Bank holiday or any other weekend, Layer Marney
is the perfect place to take the family for a fun-packed day out. Situated
down a quiet, single-track lane, well signposted from the historic town
of Colchester, it is hard to believe that anything so beautiful could
exist in the heart of the Essex countryside – that is until you
reach the gates leading to the estate.

Seeped in history, the tower is the tallest, most elaborate Tudor gatehouse
in England and an initial glimpse of the striking building will take your
breath away. Constructed in the Italian design, popular in the period
in which it was built and made from terracotta bricks, the gatehouse is
a vibrant red colour and very eye-catching.

The house spans either side of the tower itself and is currently occupied
and so not open for public viewing. Beautifully designed gardens surround
the building and a signpost to the left of the tower indicates the presence
of the church of St Mary The Virgin, where regular Sunday worship is still
practised.

Lying to the South of the main gatehouse is the very long and very narrow,
Long Hall. Features include a wrought iron fireplace on the right hand
wall and black iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The room itself
is panelled with black wood and is the ideal venue to re-enact a Tudor
banquet, where the staff will dress for the period and provide appropriate
entertainment in the form of fire-eaters, jugglers or jesters.

On departing the hall you find yourself in a large courtyard, consisting
of the Corsellis room (currently split into two housing the gift shop
and the tearoom), and the barn that contains a collection of rare breed
animals, many of which can be fed. There are also two farm walks, starting
from the barn and varying in length, which include the chance to see the
red deer that roam the grounds.

Entrance to the tower itself is via wooden double doors, passing a marbled
jaguar cat on either side, into a small entrance room with archways to
the left and right. All windows are arched and those in the entrance hall
span the length of the wall. Dark curtains hang to the ground either side
of the window and deer heads hang over each arch.

Those interested in Layer Marney’s history are advised to visit
the History room – a large room thought to be the place where Queen Elizabeth
I stayed on a visit to the tower in 1579 – which houses a model
replica of the estate and also contains historical information. This room
is found between the stairwells on the right and left of the tower and
is reached via a well-maintained, spiral, wooden staircase. 95 steps lead
to the top, where breathtaking views of the estate and surrounding countryside
can be observed.

The estate is of interest to all ages and many events are held here,
including craft fairs where there are activities and goods on offer for
both young and old. It is also a popular venue for both civil ceremonies
and wedding receptions and corporate events are often held here, where
activities on offer include clay pigeon shooting, archery and jousting.

The tower has a colourful history and has seen many occupants over the
years. It was built by Henry, the first Lord Marney, who wanted a home
that would reflect his position as an important member of the royal court
and it was originally intended to be a rival to Hampton Court Palace.
By his death in 1515 only one side of the tower had been completed, however,
the work was continued by his son until his death in 1525.

Though many others have lived at Layer Marney, the major restoration
of the house was carried out by Sir Walter Zoete, who owned it from 1904.
Following his death, ownership of the house passed to the Carrington family,
descendants of whom currently occupy the property.

The history of Layer Marney Tower has led to it becoming a place of interest
to those interested in paranormal activity. The voice of the first Lord
Marney can often be heard echoing throughout the church that adjoins the
tower and he may also be seen sliding down the banisters of the tower
staircase as he attempts to scare those who interrupt his descent of the
stairs.

All in all, if you’re ever in Essex with nothing to do, do pay
Layer Marney Tower a visit. It’s a beautiful building set in beautiful
countryside and is a little piece of history that should not be missed.

Layer Marney is open to the public daily from 1^st
April till 5^th October 2003 and admission costs
are £3 per adult or £2.50 per child. Further information can be gained
from the website www.layermarneytower.co.uk

Clare is 27 years old and has a BSc in Anatomy and MSc in Forensic Science.
She used to work at New Scotland Yard until she fell ill in December 2000
with ME. Clare is a first time mum to 8 month old Lauren and wife to Andrew.
She writes freelance in any spare time and hope to begin writing a crime
novel later this year (Beetle: PD James, watch out!) She is currently
writing a children’s fairy story and various articles for mother
and baby magazines.

Wandering amongst Pisa’s famed sights, I found myself eased culturally
back into Italy and following the big, rounded taste of the evenings Rosso
Di Montepulciano I felt readied (or should be that steadied?) for the
imminent return. The year that had passed seemed all too long to be away
from such a good friend as Firenze…

No alarm call was needed to wake me from the darkened Sunday slumber
of Pensione Rinascente – the bright, cool morning had already been
disturbed by medieval equivalents! Whilst masses filed through splendid
church facades, my own calling came from Pisa Centrale and as I found
myself being drawn across the Arno a thought occurred – would the famed
Italian trains be on time? My answer was forthcoming as the 9.18 was only
a couple of minutes late and was already busy transporting people going
about their Sunday lives. Moving away from the platform a certain sensation
I had felt when travelling on warm, early morning trains across India
flitted through my consciousness once again – a good omen for the
journey I smiled!

Stops such as Pontedera disappeared behind the train as a hazy sun opened
up a landscape of smallholdings, allotments and vine trails. Surrounded
by the languid Italian chatter of our fellow passengers, I felt suitably
drawn away from everything of the previous working week – a fleeting
travel moment to be cherished. Further along the journey, the archetypal
Italian station of Empoli and the ever changing faces of fellow passengers
also reminded me of previous travels – this time of Inter-rail journeys.
Playing that old game of guessing people’s destinations, I wondered
whether the young Scandinavians were heading south or and whether the
Africans were heading business like to northern destinations. Our route
to Firenze narrowed through a rising valley as it progressed and as in
many photos and films, I glimpsed some of the traditional Tuscan imagery
– hill top villages connected by winding roads that twisted through lush
green countryside and trees stretching skywards. Almost as the quickly
as the track had risen did we descend down through the last few suburban
stops and onto the final destination…Firenze!

I hadn’t thought what I’d wanted to see of my old friend
again, but first thoughts were drawn along a slow loop through the heart
of the city, across the Arno and up to the panorama of Piazzale Michelangelo.
Familiar sites greeted me as Kate and I sped across the expanse of the
rather unvisited Piazza Dell’ Unita Italia– the still petitioning
HIV charity, the market where I purchased a most expensive wallet and
then onto a renewing glimpse of the Duomo’s bell tower and Battistero.
What struck me this time about the magnificent cathedral of Santa Maria
del Fiore (to give the Duomo its consecrated name) was not the beautiful
façade but how the turret like bastions sat atop, allowing all comers
to be seen. Being a Sunday we couldn’t undertake the winding climb
to dome’s top (thankfully appreciated by my apprehension of heights)
and the slower start to the day allowed us more space and time to enjoy
the walk across Piazza del Duomo and onwards.

For those that cherish Firenze, Via De’ Calzaiuoli’s opening
up on to

Piazza della Signora grandly displays much of what should be seen –
the splendid Palazzo Vecchio with its dominating tower, the near perfectly
copied statues of David or the beheading of Medusa by Perseus and the
Uffizi’s columned walk ways sheltering its snaking queues! Though
much of this grandeur owes its origins to the power of the Medici and
their egos, its subsequent evolution into a marvel of civic planning underscores
what the renaissance is depicted as representing. Even the mounted police
seemed proud to be part of this elegant cityscape. We had little desire
to enjoy the Uffizi’s always crowded galleries and somewhat cramped
displays and instead Kate diverted us off to the quiet of Santa Croce.
Previously I had strolled around this intriguing church with its incomplete
facade and had found that many of two hundred plus monuments commemorated
famous past lives – Michelangelo, Galileo and Dante I believe are
of the many. The adjoining convent turned museum and its cloisters echo
this silence and is a relatively unknown yet worthy destination for its
visitors.

As the climb upwards began, I noticed another of those travelling oddities
that catch my imagination – certain cities feature a building or
place that my wandering always seems to take me through or past! In London
it is the Embankment underground station, with Dublin it is O’Connell
Bridge and with Firenze it is the Biblioteca Nazionale! Whatever view
or late night revelry I have been party to, these buildings always seem
found themselves within view and I have no idea why! As we swiftly crossed
the modern Ponte Santa Niccolo we again had to pass this squared jawed
building before moving over to the quieter side of the Arno.

The steep route up through the steps and gardens of Guiseppe Poggi lifts
the walker onto a supreme vantage point! This perspective offers an unbeatable
right to left panorama – the view sweeps back across the trail I’ve
just described, over the Arno hunched Ponte Vecchio and through to the
old Forte Di Belvedere. From here I could imagine no better way to present
the city to visitors. Like many I sat awhile, allowing the warm breezes
to brush across my face and savour my return to this wonderful city. Somewhat
later our thirsts were indulgently quenched before moving on by visiting
one of the hilltop gelateria and selecting a double-portioned cone. Here
less cream and more ice is definitely better, with my favourite being
strawberry overlain with pistachio! Whether any sports dietician would
approve of such recharging remains to be seen but we were certainly ready
to move on…

If you’d like to contact Matthew about his time in Firenze or any
of his other travels, please e-mail him on: matthewdoughty@totalise.co.uk