This Forum as Google and Guidebook

Old Jul 15th, 2016, 12:25 AM
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This Forum as Google and Guidebook

OK, I'm going to "play the game" for my final time.

To those of you who were kind enough toread my short "musings" post earlier on, Thank You but bad internet connections choked that off and Tosca ended up leaping off the balcony in Zurich wonderfully dramatically; Opera Bastille staged an "Aida" in a way to rival the 15,000-seat Arena di Verona performance of a few nights prior. Last night, Michael Crawford made another "triumphant return" in the "Go-Between" to a house with only a handfull of seats sold. They're still smoking on the sidewalks outside every establishment in Paris which is depressing to watch while the projected opera performances in Trafalgar Square as the new asphalt is laid in nearby roadways gives a whole new meaning to the term "nightime in London."

But onward and upward and to use this forum as the topic of my post suggests: to get travel ideas:

The question is Peaks, Lakes, Moors, or Dales and which one would YOU choose if you could only do one and it were going to be your LAST time in the UK?

Since Cornwall has decided to get out of the EU we've eliminated that area for purely politically-driven reasons. We've "done" the Cotswolds and Scotland.

We have seven full days and a "hire" car; timeframe is summer


"Best" scenery, food, experieces, and hotels: you tell me and, as always, thank you in advance.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 01:02 AM
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You could do both Moors and Dales. Peaks and Lakes get very crowded in the summer, especially at weekends.
Be prepared for rolling road blocks in the form of groups of cyclists, and for suicidal motorcyclists whichever you choose.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 01:14 AM
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Moors and Dales got to be good for me. Come to Yorkshire Dukey, you saved the best to last.

Either catch the train up to Leeds or York, or drive up the A1 or the M1,

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/
http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/

maybe stay in Harrogate as a good larger town base.

When you decide, come back and I can advise on details.

For the odd jive
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/LeedsConcert...s/default.aspx
https://www.ents24.com/hub/search/ne...enre/classical
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/unite...assical-music/
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 01:19 AM
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You're having my dream trip, Dukey - operas in some of the world's best & most interesting cities.

Enjoyed your initial "musings", wish you well on & look forward to reading about, the next legs of your travels.

Are you still in Paris? So sad France has been hit by tragedy again.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 01:43 AM
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Thank you ALL for your responses and will get to those in detail shortly but before I do am going to backtrack some (about to leave the hotel...we are in London now...for a visit to the National Portrait Gallery just down the 'road').

Since my internet connection here is much more dependable than it was in Paris I will try to do a fill-in and Bilbo, I will definitely be getting back to YOU as this thing progresses.

Stay with me and I promise I won't flake out as I did a couple days ago so perhaps we can plan this together. You folks remain THE BEST IMO.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 02:05 AM
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NB, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire were a handful of areas that voted to stay in the North ;-)
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 03:43 AM
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I love the Lakes (click on my ID for a TR), but we are getting very close to school holiday time so unless you are headed up there in the next few days, expect it to be very busy (if that doesn't bother you then look no further - the Lakes are stunning).

Such a shame you axed Cornwall, though it would be similarly heaving at this time of year tbh - I honestly think you'd love it. I like the Peaks, Moors and Dales too, but think the Lakes scenery more dramatic. All of the north except Scotland voted out, btw.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 04:53 AM
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"All of the north except Scotland voted out, btw."

no, see me comment
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 05:07 AM
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Dales with an excursion into the Moors . . .

And eat (and stay if you can) at the Yorke Arms http://www.yorke-arms.co.uk
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 06:26 AM
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Please bear with me as complete the earlier "musing" stuff on our current Euro-adventure and then I want more of this serious planning for the somewhere in the UK stuff to continue, but first...

I mentioned in my other thread about "San Marco at dusk." We started this trip out in Venice, flying from Miami through Heathrow. The flight was delayed for more than an hour out of Miami. British Airways did all they could to expedite our transfer between Terminals 3 and 5 but thanks to what appeared to be a lack of staff at Security at 5 we had a long, LONG wait to have one carry-on bag hand checked nd whe we got to the departure gate the Venice flight was loading.

We pre-arranged a water taxi to the hotel but that slog from the VCE terminal TO the docks even with rolling luggage can be a pain, but at least it is Venice!!

People say they dislike San Marco and, as usual, it was, along with the area around the Rialto, a mob scene during the day but at dusk San Marco always seems to change for me. The battle of the musical combos between the ridiculously overpriced Florian and Quadri coffee shops or whetever they think they are, somehow seems romantic despite the costs.

On the Grand Canal from our hotel the goldliers during the day continue to do a huge business; some are in costume with the stripes and hats and sashes; others are oaring as they smoke cigaarettes and make calls on their mobile phones; the riders seem oblivious to all except the supposed "rich" tourists who are observing it their rides from hotel "terraces" and plenty of selfies are being taken.

Earlier in the morning on that same canal the boats with the piles of hotel and other establishment laundry whiz by along with the garbage boats; del Salute rises up across the way looking remarkably clean.

We were fortunate enough to see a performance of La Traviata in La Fenice a short walk (not on water) from the hotel. The place has burned down, like the Liceu in Barcelona, three different times. It is remarkably intimate inside with not quite 1000 seats (when the pit is uncovered) and the decoration is the usual gilt and gold, and plaster and marble (faux and otherwise) on steroids.

The Doge's box is so gold and glittery you think it cannot possibly be real. The "orchestra" seats are like miniature armchairs; comfortable but creaky whenever you shift position.

Opera "dress" really has changed IMO. I can understand the disappointment/resentment of those who take the time to "dress up" for performances but these days despite the presence of ties and tails and beaded gowns there are as many rhinstone-adorned flip flops and ripped jeans as there are couture-like fashions.

Our three nights in Verona bore out the same "dress" message we saw in Venice (as well as in subsequent nights in Zurich and at the Bastille). Verona puts it into print: the "formal" dress code for the "gold" and other sections off the steps; forget that. They scan your ticket at the gate and let you in; 15,000 or so attendees get everything from fans to CDs to programs to 8 Euro flutes of prosecco displayed and hawked; announcements about "smoking is not allowed during the intermission" (which lasts at least 20 minutes and for 'Aida' there were four of them so we got out around 1 AM) and "it is against the law to throw the cushions from the steps into the stalls after the performance" and amazingly enough, nobody does.

Unlike La Fenice with its rather "understated" couple of columns and almost unnoticeable statues up above them at the front, Zurich has all those "If you look up Baroque, here is what it looks like" sculpted renderings of figures and maidens and monsters doing battle, or being raped/strangled/trampled/disemboweled above the entrance so you are on notice that this is opera.

And for "Tosca" there was a combo of the American Catherine Nagelstad in the title role, the Argentine Marcelo Alvarez singing Cavaradossi, and the very, VERY sinister looking Italian Marco Vratogna (complete with the pencil-thin outline beard) doing an almost sterotypical television Mafia-like Scarpia.

The voices were powerful and wonderful to hear; Tosca put the blade between Scarpia's ribs like a woman enraged and then did a leap to her death which entranced everybody and the curtin calls brought the house down even in "oh so under control" Switzerland.

More coming...
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 11:09 AM
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Signing on to join you... I always love reading your musings.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 12:03 PM
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Bilbo - I've just checked the Brexit map and there are indeed a couple of yellow bits in the north. I had thought it was a sea of blue from just above Cambridge to the borders. I am contrite
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 12:49 PM
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My only experience with GB is London, so can't help there. But why, oh why, was no one there to see Michael Crawford?
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 01:13 PM
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I appreciate your feelings about Cornwall, Dukey, but have pity on me - I have to continue to live here.

Seriously the one reason you might care to reconsider your decision [apart from the scenery, the food, the friendliness of the people and the generally lovely weather this time of year] is the wonderful Minack Theatre - scene of many theatrical and even operatic performances:

https://www.minack.com/the-2016-minack-season/

To be watching a performance whilst the sun sets over the sea behind the stage is truly something to behold.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 03:47 PM
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Thanks for continuing your musings. As to where to go in UK, we loved the Yorkshire Dales and the surrounding areas. We stayed in Harrogate. Lovely town.
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Old Jul 15th, 2016, 05:01 PM
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Dukey, have you seen PeterS _Aus's terrific Trip Reports on Venice? He & his lovely wife spend a month or so there every year & truly immerse themselves. Can't recommend his scribblings highly enough.
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Old Jul 16th, 2016, 07:47 AM
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RM67, I have to hang my head in shame as our house split 50:50
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Old Jul 16th, 2016, 09:08 AM
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annhig, I would visit in a heartbeat.
My friend's did not vote to exit.
Boycott the whole of Cornwall? Bilbo, is there remorse in your house?

https://www.minack.com/event/proms-at-the-minack/

I'd like to see this
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Old Jul 16th, 2016, 09:39 AM
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No "buyers'" remorse in our household, we were "remainers" to a man, woman and dog [had they had a vote I would definitely have had them down there making their paw prints]. Most of those I know who voted for exit [those who are prepared to 'fess up] are feeling betrayed and confused in equal measure apart from the odd one who still thinks that Farage is a "great chap" despite all evidence to the contrary.

it IS confusing that Cornwall voted to leave; the council are now desperately trying to get out of the EU the last tranche of money that we were due to receive. So much of our infrastructure has been paid for by the EU but it was seemingly invisible when compared to Boris's battle bus with the infamous £350 million a week emblazoned on the side of it.

Macross - of course you would be very welcome in Cornwall, the people are lovely, though occasionally incomprehensible! and the Minack is well worth the effort of getting here.
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Old Jul 16th, 2016, 11:24 AM
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Here you are!

I was interested in your comment on the trek to the landing stage from the airport in Venice Marco Polo. My flight, which was due to arrive at 17.30 now arrives at 22.30. I am not amused
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