The Motivation Blog

August 2009Monthly Archives

Art and History of Norwich, England

The city of Norwich is home to the amazing Norwich Civic Regalia, which houses an impressive collection of relics of the medieval time era such as the famous flower, the snapdragon, gardens as well as a collection of the silver coins of the time  The Castle Museum, located close by, and conveniently located to any one of the fine Norwich hotel or resort displays relics as well as many hands on displays and exhibits, perfect for an afternoon out with children.

The Castle outlines the timeline and the history of the times preceding the Roman’s collapse of their Empire, and provides a look into the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxon history.  There is a display that illustrates the ways in which archaeologists go about sectioning off and excavating sites, and the ways in which they put together an economic, a social and a political story based on the artifacts that they find.  Amazing that these relics can be used to explain a way of life that took place more than 1000 years in the past.  Archaeologists have discovered many pieces of famous jewelry, such as the Bathilde seal, tiny rings and other objects set in gold and silver.

The history of the tribe of Iceni and their Queen Boudica is displayed through a collection of treasures that are dated at two thousand years old.  Items include necklaces and other objects in gold, as well as a chariot in which it is fine for the children to climb into and get a bit of the experience of what it was like to ride into battle with the Roman armies.  Along with the history museums there are many galleries in Norwich which display many generations of artists of the Norwich School.  Two of the famous painters on display are John Sell Cotman and John Crome.  There are also examples of the modern English painters to the landscapes painted by the Dutch as well as a fine collection of amazing water color paintings.  History and art come together in the village of Norwich.

Lisa
August 19, 2009
Travel
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Sherlock Holmes Story Set in Winchester

Winchester, England is located in the county of Hampshire. It is an incredible historic city that is full of amazing and beautiful architecture, as well as incredible scenic views. It has recently been acknowledged as being the best place to live, though even more recently it has fallen to second place and rests just behind Edinburgh, Scotland. Due to its beauty, charm and intriguing historic aspects, Winchester has also been the subject of or setting for a large body of literature. Tourists staying in one of the Winchester Hotels are likely to be captivated by the mystery crime story The Problem of Thor Bridge, which was written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and is set in the city.

Sir Conan Doyle is an extremely popular British writer who is primarily known for his famous Sherlock Holmes series. The Problem of Thor Bridge was first published in Strand Magazine in 1922. He was born in Edinburgh, and lived from May of 1859 to July of 1930. His output was prolific and he wrote in various genres including historical novels, science fiction, romance stories, plays and of course the incredible mystery crime genre. His Professor Challenger adventures are another famous legacy of this intriguing writer.

He began his adult career life in medicine and in 1882 he and a fellow classmate established a medical practice in Plymouth. This was not a harmonious partnership and Sir Conan Doyle soon ventured out to establish his own practice. This solo business was not immediately successful and he found himself with extra time on his hands while waiting for patients. It was then that he first started writing stories and in 1887 he published A Study in Scarlet, which was the world’s introduction to the character of Sherlock Holmes. Sir Conan Doyle has acknowledged that this intriguing crime detective was partially based on his former university professor Joseph Bell.

Lisa
August 19, 2009
Travel
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Southend Pier Attractions

Southend is more officially known as Southend-on-Sea and it is located in Essex, England. Some of the major attractions that entice numerous tourists every year include the seaside areas and the major festivals and celebrations that occur throughout the seasons. The seafront itself and its many elements and attractions is one of the main reasons the town is well known and popular. The Southend Pier extends far out into the water and has had a hydraulic diesel fueled railway that runs the length of it. Many tourists choose a Southend Hotel that is conveniently close to the seaside and offers great views of the water and pier area.

One of the major interests that surrounds the pier is a large theme park, which was until recently was known as Peter Pan’s Playground. It has since been renamed Adventure Island due to its increase in size and offerings. The park no has over 50 rides and other fantasy games and activities. It is popular with locals and a must see adventure for tourists. Nearby is the Sea-Life Aquarium, which offers first hand viewing opportunities for the local marine life as well as educational and conservation information. In May of every year, there is a spectacular air show along the water front that began in 1986. It is one of Europe’s largest free admission air shows and demonstrates the agility and skill of military aircraft.

Southend also houses three main theatres. The Pavilion is one of the multipurpose venues and is a large versatile building where most of the major concerts occur. There is also a special program of ice based performances that occur here. The most recent addition is the only privately owned venue of the three. This is the New Empire Theatre and is used primarily by amateur groups. The Palace Theatre is located in an Edwardian building that was built in 1912. This is the main venue for staging professional productions and hosting major touring shows.

Lisa
August 11, 2009
Travel
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Day-trip from Birmingham

I’ve been in Birmingham, England many times visiting friends and the occasional business trip. I’ve pretty much seen all there is to see in while I’ve stayed at a Birmingham Hotel. So, this time, I’ve decided to see what day trips I could take while I have spare time in between visiting my friends and the one business meeting I have scheduled.

My first day trip was to the Warwick Castle located in Warwickshire England. It’s one of the best preserved castles I’ve ever toured. I so enjoyed watching the largest trebuchet in action. While I attended the Birds of Prey show, I almost got my head ripped open when a trained hawk flew only an inch above my head. With watching a ghost re-enactment, the whole tour and programs took me about 4 and half-hours.

The next day, on my second day trip, I booked a guided tour at the Black Country Museum just nine miles outside of Birmingham. This is an outdoor museum where I was transported to a simpler time in England; the 1900′s. Well, to be honest, I would never ever think the 1900′s were ‘simpler’ times. But, Black Country Museum spans over 26 acres and brings history to life with real people acting like they live and breath in the time. I actually got to interact with them and hear their stories. Then, I attended a comedy written during the 1920′s, it was really funny. I eat traditional fish n’ chips and explore an underground coal mine. That really made me glad I’m not a coal miner. What a very awful occupation.

My third day trip was to Lichfield. A sleepy small town not too far from Birmingham and has the most amazing cathedral dating back to the 7th century.  The medieval cathedral is the only one with three spires. But, the best part of my day trip was seen the house of  Charles Darwin’s grandfather. I know, it’s not Charles Darwin’s house, but I still enjoyed learning about his grandfather. So, all three day-trips really made me appreciate what Birmingham has to offer, variety. All the other places I visited were very limited with what you can do there. So, even though I thoroughly enjoyed my day-trips, I think I’ll stick with Birmingham.

Lisa
August 10, 2009
Travel
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