Bristol
Our drive up to Bristol took us through beautiful Devon. We really liked the countryside and the coastal areas we went through on our way to Bristol. On the advice of an arbitrary traveller in a carpark, we took a detour to Ilfracombe on the North Devon coast. What an interesting place ! The medieval lighthouse, huge modern statue in the harbour (naked pregnant warrior with sword skyward and half of her body bisected and standing on several overturned books - really weird, but impressive) , small statue of a young girl (in memory of a young russian girl who fell to her death a few years earlier while visiting the spot with her family) , the harbour and the amazing cliffs and tunnels through the cliffs to secluded beaches (the Ladies' beaches in Victorian times). Had the priviledge os seeing one of the towns oldest churches all decorated with flowers, for the local flower show. Magnificent display. Then treated ourselves to a Devon Cream Tea - which is tea/coffee with fruit scones, jam and clotted cream. Too yummy for words - and enjoyed in a little courtyard with a gorgeous flowerfilled little gnome garden - with a sign : May all your weeds be wildflowers !
Thanks to good directions from Claudia we found their home without detour in Bristol and were immidiately treated to a scrumptious supper in the outside courtyard. The weather was still being kind !

Stonehenge and Bath
Stonehenge is another one of those "must dos" when in England. So off we went driving through all the little lanes to Stonehenge. Along the way we stopped on an old bridge next to a loch and watched the very narrow and long barges manouvre their way through the locks. We chatted to some of the barge owners, as the process of getting through the locks and travelling from one to the next is a very slow process. We decided, that maybe barging is not for us at this stage ...a little slow...but looked like great fun for a holiday with grandchildren, as we witnessed on several barges.
Stonehenge is very well organised by The England National Heritage Society, the ticket includes a audio-guide, which is really essential for the visit. Otherwise ...it just looks like a pile of stones in the middle of huge fields of soft (really really soft ...enjoyed walking barefoot on this green carpet) green grass and wonderful rolling hills. As the details of Stonehenge are slowly unfolded, it takes on a whole new significance. The small details make all the difference ...as to see that the lintel rocks were not just put across the bottom stones and kept in place by their weight, but they were chiselled to fit together in a tongue and groove kind of way - as you would put pieces of wood together. Really amazing - and just adds to the many questions of why and how - especially as many of the rocks are blue rocks which come from a specific area in Wales. All the rocks were chiselled into shape before being planted several meters into the ground - no mean feat on its own. It is definately a mystical place and one feels connected to the millenia before. So pleased we took the time to experience it (in spite of the many tourists - who obviously had the same idea !).
Then off again through some really scary little lanes - I think that our TomTom has developed a very wicked sense of humour - to Bath. At one stage we started looking for a different road, as the lane we were supposed to take looked no wider than a narrow alley, and we just did not have the confidence that our car would fit through it without scraping the sides. The. We went through an area where every second sign was "beware of the tanks" and "firing range - keep out" - and hoped BIG time, that no manouvres are taking place at the moment ! Well - we are still here - so either they are bad shots or more likely ...the army is also on holiday !
Bath on the Avon Riveris a beautiful town - named after the amazing Roman baths. The old bridges, Royal Crescent buildings, Circus houses and small shopping streets and histories and pubs, beautiful royal gardens give this town an authentic historical and royal flair. The flowers in the gardens and throughout the town in baskets and pots are flowering beautifully at the moment - as in all the other towns - and make everything look very festive and specially decorated. It is amazing to see very similar houses - the one with flowers just looks out of a picture book, wheras the other just looks very ordinary and drab. The colours are all so rich and the plants look so very dense and healthy - surely due to the fact of lots of rain and good sun at the moment - and the fact that they are newly planted every springtime - and then ...the absence of a strong South Easter ! Really is a magnificent sight - wherever one is , even in the smallest of villages. We absolutely did not do Bath justice - but again ran out of time, parking money and sunshine. Also ...it was time to get back to pay for our great accommodation in kind and assist with the dishwashing (at least something we can do without asking millions of questions!) at a big party Claudia and Paul held for a friend's birthday.

The next day we, including Claudia the super tourguide, Enstia and Dani, went for a drive around Bristol to see all the major sights and get a feel for what the city has to offer. We stopped off on Clifton Village for a great view of the Suspension Bridge and Gorge. Really impressive. On our walk through Clifton we were introduced to the first of the many Grommits - that one can find throughout the city in different designs. They have been individually painted and placed all over the city for a charity projects and the idea is to find all their locations - about 86 of them. At the end of the year they will be auctioned off to raise oney for the charity. Fantastic idea and project !

Balloon Fiesta Bristol
This festival defines Bristol and the attendance of 250000 people for the evening of the mass ascent and the Night Glow certainly show the popularity of the event. Hot Air Balloons are manufactured in Bristol and every year enthusiasts from all over tue world congregate here for this festival. More than 100 balloons of all different shapes and sizes ...even a square balloon with a green dragon attached to it ...take to the skies within about an hour. It is magical to see so many balloons floating by ! Then, once it gets dark, there is a show called the night glow, where the balloons are raised, while the baskets are pegged to the ground and the burners are lit in the rythem to the music. What an amazing sight. This fiesta - with the accompanying funfair rides and stalls (masses of both variety) - is held on the lawns and wooded grounds of an old country estate, with people picnicing on the lawns to watch the spectacle. I could not believe the number of people though - and the people watching was nearly more exciting than watching the balloons. Unfortunately - the rain that was threatening throughout the early evening started in earnest before the end of the Night Glow show. As we made our way to the cars, we saw the huge firework display light up the sky behind us. Really very spectacular ! And the most amazing thing - no entry fee to this event.

The following day we took a walk through the main shopping area of Bristol down to the shores of the Avon river and on the way there admired the fantastic graffiti which adorns the walls. There have been graffiti competitions and the works of art are really impressive and worth millions (literally). One of the main graffiti artists from Bristol is called Banksy, and we saw a few of his works. He is anonymouus however and no-one knows who he is. His work can now be seen all over the world. One of his works has just been sold in the USA for $1.1 million - the money going to the owner of the wall, as the wall is private property and the graffiti therefore belongs to the owner of the wall. The Graffiti reminded us of Melbourne . Bristol has a certain edginess about it, a very interesting and diverse city with many layers and facets.
In the afternoon we go on another drive around the medieval towns of the area and look at Cheddar and the Cheddar Gorge and also the city Wells. Wells Cathedral and the Bishops Palace, as well as the town hall are impressive buildings - which have been very well maintained and restored. Again just skimming the surface - so much to see and appreciate !