Musing In Morecambe

Wednesday 1 June 2016. We decide the day is too nice to stay in and drive up to Lancaster first for a look round the antiques warehouse. I come away with a plastic bag full of postcards, mainly from the 1990s but a full bag for a couple of pounds still seems like a bargain!

There are one or two interesting ones amongst them and there was also a few bits of ephemera - newspaper cuttings, bags from foreign postcard shops and an old paper bag from a Ministry of Public Buildings and Works souvenir shop. It carried an advert for a season ticket to ancient monuments for just fifteen shillings (75p) - sounds a bargain to me!

Then we went on to Morecambe where, bless them, there is still free parking to be found on the Promenade. It was a busy old day though - we didn't find our space on the first pass, but spotted it on the other side of the road and had to turn to come back to it.

Morecambe always got the brunt of the variety comedians even during the heyday of seaside resort holidays. It doesn't deserve it really, because here you will find much less of the dilapidation and neglect that is all too horribly visible in other resorts. Morecambe have worked extremely hard over the last decade or two. Whilst many Promenade properties are now shops with no connection to the holiday or tourist trade, they have saved the seafront from degrading to a peeling-paint shabby look.

This bit of land is what is left after the tidy up following the closure of the open air swimming pool. It's perhaps not ideal, but it's far from hideous. A spot of landscaping and the additions of some flower beds and seating in the concrete space in the middle distance would make it a very nice space.

The War Memorial is unusual in that it dates the First World War to 1914-1919. Most memorials date it as 1914-1918. Built in 1921, it commemorates 216 men from Morecambe and Heysham who died in World War One; 180 from World War Two and one more who died during the Korean War.

The Midland Hotel is Morecambe's Art Deco masterpiece. Designed by architect Oliver Hill, it was built in 1933 on the site of a previous hotel, the North Western Hotel of 1848 which had changed its name to The Midland in 1871. It has two three-storey curved wings off a central circular tower which contains the entrance and a spiral staircase.

Two Art Deco sculptures of seahorses sit at the top of the circular tower. These, a round plaster relief of Neptune and Triton on the ceiling of the spiral staircase, a map of the north west coast from Whitehaven to Birkenhead and a bas-relief mural of Odysseus welcomed from the sea by Nausicaa which formed a backdrop to the Reception desk, were all designed by Eric Gill. As a nice aside, he is the one whose name is remembered in the name of the font he designed: Gill Sans.

Birds play a significant role in the decoration of Morecambe's Promenade. You will find many examples of bird sculptures along the Promenade paths, in seafront gardens and in railings and stand alone sculptures. This cormorant is one of many, sitting atop the finials of bollards.

Trains still run to Morecambe, but these days they stop some 400 metres from this station building whose platforms have been demolished and whose ticket hall and waiting rooms now house a pub and restaurant and where today we found sequence dancing offered as a diversion to the seafront attractions. Where the platforms used to be is a new market hall and a cinema.

Brucciani's famous ice cream parlour opened its doors in 1939 and four generations of the family have managed it since then. It is another example of Art Deco - all geometric wooden panels, formica tables which evoke memories of the Forties and Fifties and with a traditional menu including knickerbocker glory - the monster ice cream dish of the connoisseur (and large appetite...)

We had a lovely lunch here just off the seafront at The Grove cafe bar and restaurant. The food was good as was the service and I imagine that we shall enter their door again at some time in the future.

Having fed the inner man, my appetite was for having a good rummage and just north of the restaurant and back on the seafront we found one of my favourite places in Morecambe. A bookshop where browsers are requested to switch off their mobile phones and where there are many alcoves just like this one, each containing just as many or more books with each alcove holding a different genre. Bliss - call for me in an hour or two...

When I came out, wincing slightly at the brightness of the sunlight and with my purchases clutched lovingly to my chest, we crossed the road and walked back slowly along the seafront towards the car. We paused halfway back to buy ice creams and sat on a bench to enjoy them.

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Walt Disney's Animal Kingdom, Florida

Monday 25 April 2016. We are now starting our second week in Walt Disney World and it's starting to feel like an entire world too... We are meeting up with the family for a meal later at Disney Springs, but before then we decide to have a look at a park that didn't exist when we last came to Florida in 1993: Disney's Animal Kingdom.

It was a bit of an overcast day, but it was still very hot. In fact it reached 92 degrees Fahrenheit this day and from now on would get hotter!

This has a very different look and feel to the other Disney parks. Nature plays a much greater part both in attractions with animals and in the lush vegetation that forms the background and surroundings. We both found the humidity was hitting the roof, making this feel much hotter than the other parks. Drinking regularly is a must. There had been an Island of Discovery at Fort Wilderness in 1993. This had a collection of both wild and "displayed" animals, but was closed in 1999 after a guest died through swimming in the lake in which the island sat. His death was put down to his having swallowed an amoeba, a microscopic animal, from the water and people are kept well away from it these days.

The name is remembered in Discovery Island in the middle of Animal Kingdom. This is the hub of the park with trails leading to the various main areas. The 145 feet tall artificial baobab tree which is somewhat magnificent, covered in sculpted animals.

We have our photos taken and they ask Fran to hold her arm out. A little green cartoon chameleon is added! I somehow have the feeling that Miss Franny would not be so relaxed and smiling if they had tried to plonk a real one on her arm...

We pass through the Gates of Africa. The park closes earlier than the other parks as the many animals are returned to their pens for the night. They mostly do this of their own accord and the process takes around two hours, which for safety has to be completed before it goes dark.

Once through the gates we have to cross Discovery River, seen here extending into the Asia section of the park with Mount Everest at the rear..

Harambe is a fictional village in East Africa. It has restaurants, refreshments stalls and shops all with African-themed products. There's a 30-minute version of The Lion King presented Broadway or London West End theatre style with actors, dancers, puppetry and music.

The deliberate "distressing" of buildings creates a very different feel to that of the other Disney parks! Other little touches like low-slung wires across the street or spider's webs of electrical or telephone wiring on the sides of buildings all adds to the feeling of being in a less affluent environment.

A cannon reminds us of colonial times. Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Portugal all had colonies along the East African coast with the island of Madagascar coming under the French. Each jealously guarded their dominions.

A line forms at the Festival of The Lion King show. It being a show, the start times are known so it's only worth going well before time if it is likely to be over-capacity.

A sign warned of crocodiles. I wasn't sure if it was meant to warn of real danger or just set dressing. There are crocs and alligators a-plenty in Florida, but as far as I know they are removed from Disney property, particularly if large. That being said, they roam Florida wild, there have been reported sightings even in Magic Kingdom in the past. The only one I saw this entire trip however was at the side of a pond as we were on the bus from the airport to our resort.

We took a ride on the Wildlife Express Train. This goes between the Africa area and Rafiki's Planet Watch on a round trip and goes through some backlot areas where the animals are housed at night. We saw a couple of white rhinos in one compound but most were empty with the animals being out in the open where they could be seen on the safari rides.

Unlike the more usual carriage, seats were arranged to give a view out of the side of the open coach.

And back at the Africa station again. We'll take a safari through Africa on another visit. I waited before exiting to get a shot of the train pulling in. There were two trains running and the round trip takes around 10-14 minutes.

It was quite cool under the shade of the station - we were almost reluctant to go back out now as the sun had come out and the temperature was soaring up!

Following the path round the back of the park, we leave Africa and pass into Asia. In normal circumstances that would be one heck of a walk...!

The props, buildings and kiosks change in nature and now we are on the Spice Road. If you ever wish to know what in your house has caused the most deaths and misery to people throughout history - just look at those two little shakers in the centre of your dining table...

We are walking through the sights of India, Pakistan, Nepal et al on our way to the mighty Himalayas. The Yak and Yeti Restaurant ("Mummy, I don't like yeti..." "Well leave it at the side of your plate, Harvey") actually sells Asian and Mandarin style chicken.

Just let's have a closer look at that previous photo - that seems to be a lady desperate not to be photographed... Sorry!

We pass a part-ruined shrine. There are two gibbon monkeys playing and hiding amongst the scaffolding if you can find them. If you can't see them, there's a closer look at the same photo below.

A little spot of India, selling soft ice cream. Actually, soft or hard didn't matter - it was all soft within a few seconds...

We are approaching Mount Everest in the distance.

The mountain, home of the Yeti, has a coaster ride, Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Possible the roller coaster with the longest name...

The mountain itself contains loads of hidden sculptures of animals all of which need to be seen from just the right angle for you to see them. I'll just point you to a few. Above and to the left of the clump of bushes on the right of the mountain's base is a seated elephant. The coaster's lift hill at the left passes behind a bluish rock which is a gorilla's (or Yeti's) head. Just down and to the right of that is another face. They are quite small on here, but take my word for it, they are there!

On this view, find the hole where the train comes out in the previous photo and compare the two photos. In the first it's just rocks, but from this angle there is clearly an animal's face. We're still not quite in the exact position to see it properly, but the dark area makes one eye with cheek bone beneath and it has a long nose. Very clever!

Disney World Holiday Index

A Day in Bergen

8 August 2013. Our last port of call on the Fjordland Wonders cruise is Bergen.

The ship berths close to the city centre and it is an easy walk from the port into the heart of things. We walk past the castle and come to the Bryggen Harbour.

Facing the harbour is a row of timber-built shops and amongst them are tiny alleyways leading towards the rear. This is the old part of town and is known as The Bryggen. The castle can be seen on the left of the photo in the background.

The Bryggen is a delight. The buildings are very close together. It's a wonder they survived, as a fire would spread easily - and did... The city was founded in the 11th century and the merchant guilds of the Hanseatic League established a presence here after 1350. Of several fires, that of 1702 destroyed everything and the oldest of the buildings date from the rebuilding after that. About three quarters of them are not that old, a third of buildings being destroyed in another fire more recently in 1955. Thankfully though, they were generally reconstructed according to traditional age-old plans, so the area still reflects what it may have looked like 900 years ago.

Today this is a UNESCO World Heritage site and visited by over 800 thousand people a year. The shops are a mixture, but hand crafts, art and souvenir shops predominate.

Scary fish sculpture! We came across this in the Bryggen - a huge fish or eel (it's very long!) with a ferocious set of gnashers! It looks like it could do with a good coat of Cuprinol... (other wood preservatives are available...)

Another fun item was this moose head (or whatever the elk it was...) People were sitting on the chair to have their photos taken with it. One chap stood up from the chair and banged his head on its chin... His friends thought this hilarious!

We spent quite a bit of time in the Bryggen as there is plenty to see and lots of shops and artists' galleries to go round. But now it's time to have a look at what else Bergen has to offer. Join us again for the next instalment!

Fjordland Wonders Cruise Index Page

Blackpool Promenade Unveiled

Finally we get to see the new Promenade in its entirety this year after all the work on the sea defences. The final section up past the Tower and towards the North Pier has now been completed and the railings removed.

I am impressed. I went down on Saturday morning, just before high tide, hoping for a spectacular sea as I have a particular photograph I need to take for a project. I was to be disappointed in that. One by the sea itself not being quite as high as I'd hoped. Then by the fact that the Central Pier is now closed to walkers from the very front of the pier. At one time in the off season you could walk up the sides and around the back of the arcade building and the pier was closed from that point.

As I crossed the road, the sun came out, leaving me in the shadow of the Golden Mile buildings but lighting up the Tower and the horizon.

There are some new sculpture features on the Central Promenade in the shape of several huge swaying "tulips". Those long stems are flexible enough to allow the heads to sail across the sky, quite a sight if you stand beneath them and look up! You find yourself looking at the slender stalks and wondering about their strength!

And there's grass. I wonder how long it will remain green because if there's one thing the new "Spanish Steps" that replaced the old sea wall will not do, it is stop the sand being blown off the beach onto and over the Promenade. Close to, the grassed areas are sand with grass sticking up through it. Green when viewed from the side, sand coloured when viewed from above. I think the Council's workmen will have their work cut out to keep those areas green, but I hope they do. Grass and a touch of something natural rather than man-made has long been missing from Blackpool's sea front.

In the distance is the new Wedding Chapel with its distinctive shape and single window that, from within, frames the Tower for those witnessing a marriage.

This is one corner of the new Comedy Carpet. A huge expanse of ground set out in columns almost like a newspaper layout except that alternate columns face north or south, allowing people to zig-zag up and down, reading catch-phrases, one-liners, jokes and sketch scripts of comedians from the days of Music Hall and Variety all the way through to the present day. You can find all of Britain's comedy greats here from the Crazy Gang, to The Office with many forgotten snippets of shows, bits of business between double act partners and the words to both Charles Penrose's Laughing Policeman and Morecambe and Wise's Bring Me Sunshine.

It was deserted almost as I walked up and down and I only saw a fraction of it in the time I had. I've been told it is wonderful to look at when there are a lot of people there because all you can hear is the sound of laughter and chuckling. Priceless.

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