Category: Travel

Questions But No Answers

Walking in the woods yesterday I found this semi-circular stone edifice. It is on an outcrop high above the river Aveyron. Could it have provided shelter for a look-out or a forester? It is about the same size as the WW II pillboxes you see in England.

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Two Masses

The hunting season has opened in the Tarn and on Sunday morning local sportsmen were out in pursuit of deer and boar (sangliers). Not a good day to be out walking in the woods with Reggie.

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Exekias: Painter and Potter

When I arrived at Garrhan in the Tarn on Friday evening I was first greeted by Reggie. We performed a ritual that was already established in the 6th century BC.

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Quarkini

Forgive me, for I have sinned; sins of omission are my special weakness. Earlier this summer I moaned about the bus replacement service after Ariadne auf Naxos at Longborough. You were entitled to think that I was on that bus when the reality is that I went back with my host in an ultra-comfy BMW.

The Hills Are Alive …

The Malvern hills are alive with the sound of music. “ … There is music in the air, music all around us, the world is full of it and you simply take as much as you require.” So said Edward Elgar.

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Malvern Hills

Robert and I usually take a few days respite from London life and here we are in the Malvern Hills.

Altyn-Arashan

30th September 2002. For an hour and a half the truck crawls up a rough track alongside a fast flowing river up the Altyn-Arashan valley. The sides are steep and interspersed with conifers and pasture. At last we drive over a crest and the valley suddenly broadens out. The river sparkles as it flows through… Continue reading Altyn-Arashan

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Karakol

27th September 2002. The centre of Karakol looks like a frontier town in a Western film. Long, low wooden buildings with covered walkways in front line one dusty street but turn around and there is a massive shopping mall faced with brown stone and topped with metallic silver decorations that catch the sun. We roam… Continue reading Karakol

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Crossing the Border

26th September 2002. So far we have only walked for half a day but are hopeful of getting in a full day today. Worryingly the guide book says that it takes several days to cross over into Kyrgyzstan and we are not keen to be caught on the pass (3,300 metres) for the night. We… Continue reading Crossing the Border

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Kazakhstan: Part II

25th September 2002. The day starts earlier than I wished. At 4.00 am I am pulling on some clothes and setting off with torch and bog paper to answer a call of nature. The moon is almost full so the torch is not much needed. On returning to the tent I share with PJ he… Continue reading Kazakhstan: Part II

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