Globe Wanderer

29/08/2024

Start the day with a big jiucy nectarine! Oh what joy…..

30/06/2022

18/09/2021

As you can see, it’s a gorgeous September on the Algarve and will probably continue in to October. It usually does. The second beach in the pictures has no bars/restaurants.

05/07/2021

The British military cemetery in Elvas, in the alentejo region of Portugal, is one of the oldest of its kind in the world.
It’s a beautiful garden inside the bastion walls of a garrison city, a memory to the thousands of soldiers who died in the peninsular war of the Napoleonic era.
Wellington and Britain’s allies wanted to drive Napoleon out of southern Spain and they plotted the campaign to take Badajoz and Albuera, just over the border in Spain, from a base in Elvas.
The thousands of soldiers who died were buried where they fell with nothing to mark the spot but five officers were found graves within the Elvas fortress and the cemetery now represents all those fallen.
It is a place of serenity with marvellous views, pine trees and palm trees and lots of benches to sit and contemplate from.
The story is all in the numerous tribute stones around the walls. Places like this bring history alive to me and I would recommend a visit here to anyone.

03/07/2021

Elvas is a city close to the Spanish border in the upper alentejo region of Portugal. It’s a world heritage site, one of the most important bastion fortifications in the world.
The city still lives within its sprawling fortifications but you won’t see any soldiers these days. You can walk for miles and miles along its walls and wander seemingly endlessly around the twisting streets and gateways inside.
It has a beautiful square - Praca da Republica - surrounded by historic buildings and churches.
It also has a unique link with the UK as it was a base for Wellington during one of the bloodiest campaigns of the Peninsular War with Napoleon.

01/07/2021

Next stop on my alentejo trip was Elvas which has such an interesting military history. Still a well preserved garrison town but without soldiers anymore, it was a base for Wellington as he worked out how he was going to drive Napoleon out of Spain.
More on that later. Here’s a link for my blog about Evora and Alentejo.

http://globewanderer.co.uk/category/portugal/alentejo-and-evora/

Evora and the Alentejo region of Portugal – a magic mix of past and present Leave a reply Time after time – remains of Roman temple frame the spires of cathedral in Evora, Alentejo region Praca de Giraldo, the main square in Evora, Alentejo, and its imposing balconies. Evora and the Alentejo It....

30/06/2021

Next stop on my tour of the alentejo was Evora, capital of upper alentejo, a beautiful city that has much to offer.
I went straight up to its high point to see the Temple of Diana in summer sunset and it didn’t disappoint.
Built in the time of Emperor Augustus, it still does exactly what it was meant to do - dominate the view.
The Romans put Evora on the map and their presence still abounds. In the town hall you can see a carefully preserved Roman bath which the municipal offices have included as a centrepiece.
A fortress town, once ruled by muslims, it still lives within its historic walls.
I’d been here a few years ago and that trip can be seen in the link to my blog which I will add later.

28/06/2021

Went for a mini-tour of the alentejo region of Portugal, a beautiful area of Europe steeped in history. First stop was the small city of Beja where I had time to see a castle, a church and a convent before heading further north.

15/05/2021

Some photos I took from the Tyne Bridge today. Do love that little walk across river from Newcastle to Gateshead.

20/04/2021

Had a little walk in the North Pennines today....tranquil and beautiful

22/03/2021

Pause for thought. Noticed this plaque on a building near Church of St Ann, Newcastle.

16/03/2021

16/03/2021

Love to see the old DFDS ship sliding in to the Tyne. Amsterdam calling! Makes me want to get travelling again, even just a short journey to somewhere nice.