Illuminate Bradford

Back to West Yorkshire and Divali (Diwali/Deepawali) weekend. Our adopted city let out all the stops and hosted the 'Illuminate Bradford' festival. We loved it so much that we went on all three nights (bus pass to the ready). Amazing!

Bradford gets a lot of negative press so it was great to see so many people having fun

We've seen this kind of lightshow before (Biarritz, La Tranche and León), each different and all impressive

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCjYakErqoo&t=112s and imagine really quality sound that doesn't come through on the video

Maddie & Alfie loved playing the illumaphonium
(Another YouTube link for those interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRfs1d2dgRc)

Bradford's famous Alhambra theatre...

...and the City Park Mirror Pool in all their glory.

On the last night there were giant puppets ('Illuminares')...

...and fascinating illuminated stilt-walkers.

Do you reckon we enjoyed it?

Hadrian's Wall (2)

More exploring along the wall, the weather still rather bleak. You can imagine Roman soldiers dreading being posted to these out-of-the-way places.

The Temple of Mithras...

...with its three Roman altars.

Google Maps shows you the hidden Brocolitia Fort alongside the temple 

Onwards to the picture-perfect town of Corbridge. The photo shows the town's communal oven, dating back to 1310.

Geordies' favourite river, the Tyne

We had a gentle walk along its banks...

...and chatted to a very friendly woman, giving away surplus baking apples (later appreciated in a tasty crumble)!

Yet another Roman settlement that we hadn't seen before: Coria or Corbridge

Grain stores

Back into Corbridge 'new' town. This was a fortified vicarage (the Vicar's Pele), built around 1300

Last night drinks back at the hotel with young George

Hadrian's Wall (1)

Last time we visited Hadrian's Wall was a whole quarter century ago: nothing compared to the near 1900 years since its construction was started!

The wall marked the northern limit of the Roman Empire; its purpose is still being discussed today.

1992, when Tine was still taller than the kids!

We stopped in the Hadrian Hotel in a village called Wall, now there's a coincidence!

A short distance away we found a small section of the wall and the remains of Brunton Turret

Vindolanda is possibly one of the most famous forts, here in all its glory (model form)...

...and how it looks today.

Water channels...

...and a 12 to 14 seater toilet block! Rather you than me.

Ah, the tavern. Sadly no ale today though.

Some ancient Briton here to claim his heritage

I can't help but notice that the weather was very much the same 25 years apart! 

To prove we're back!

Nine weeks away from home but now we're back. I've not finished with our exploits back in England (and Malta, spoiler alert) but thought my regulars might like a touch of Vendée!

The Abbaye de Lieu Dieu is as imposing as ever, even if you can't get near it nowadays. It is good that it is being taken care of though.

We used to push through that doorway to see a model of how the abbey once looked. No more, I'm afraid!

Onto la Plage de la Mine...

...with hardly a soul to be seen. That's Tine in the distance!

One of my reflective shots

We love the limestone cliffs here...

...Madame giving them a bit of perspective.

Yet another geography lesson running through my head!

Look what Tine found: a piece of coral washed up in high tides.