BS: 3 days in England

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 04:14 PM

Hungarian music and dance from Maramaros/Maramures:

Muszikas

Romanian pieces:

fiddle tune

*extremely* Romanian fiddle tunes

Some absolutely astonishing Gypsy music:

Nicolae Covaci of Dragomiresti, fiddle with a unique accompaniment

Following related links from those will get you lots of interesting stuff. In particular the videos of Nicolae Covaci are wonderful. And they were made only last year! He's an extraordinary link to the past and in your position I'd make every effort possible to hear him.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 01:47 PM

If you are going through Budapest on your way to Romania you could drop in to a "táncház" (dance house) - there is at least one every night of the week and some of them specialize in dances from various Hungarian regions of Romania.

Táncház listing 2011

The listing should be updated shortly but won't vary much from year to year. Both the dances and the music are more similar to Romanian stuff than either Hungarians or Romanians will generally admit, so it'll be useful practice for what you'll find in the culturally Romanian parts of Romania.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 10:51 AM

Thanks Kevin.

MtheGM,helluva funny joke!

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 08:27 AM

Good choice Brentford, amongst their folk related supporters are the great UK singer songwriter Robb Johnson and mainstay of our local music scene in East London Graham Larkbey.

I see they are playing Sheffield Wednesday that day, who should bring a good crowd and atmosphere.

More importantly though, since you state you're not a soccer fan, the ground has a Fullers pub on all 4 corners so drinks before are not to be missed. We usually use the "Griffin" corner of Braemar Road and Brook Road South, nearest to the main entrance, on our rare visits.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 05:22 AM

One of those coincidences ~~

As I was reading this, I had an e-mail from a cousin in Virginia, sending me the joke I had in fact come across not long since on one of Mudcat's joke threads, about the American conjoined twins who regularly visit UK, though they hate it, "because it's the only chance Jim gets to drive".

Seemed most strangely relevant to this thread: one of those "Perhaps there is a God after all" moments!

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Mo the caller
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 04:34 AM

Sounds like you've got it sorted.
But others might be looking for recommendations too and I wondered if the queues at the Tower of London (to get in and then to see the Crown Jewels) were as long as when I used to go with our visitors 50 years ago. They had signs at points in the queue estimating the time you would wait.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 30 Jan 12 - 10:04 PM

I think we have decided on Brentford FC on Sat April 28. My good friend Leadfingers has put me on to this and it should be a terrific afternoon of Soccer, which I have no idea about anyway but my son absolutely loves. Thanks, for everyone's help. I think for our short stop inEngland, we will head to Rye and spend a couple days there in the Rye WIndmill B and B, go to Hastings, see Canterbury Cathedral, just wander about the area, see some flowers, rest a bit before heading in to the unpredictable area of Maramures, in northern Transylvania. this is an area that the Romans didn't even try to conquer, and the Communists pretty much ignored. I will give a full account about it when I get back. anyway, if anyone has any places in that area of East sussex and Kent that you think I should try to work in, let me know! Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 30 Jan 12 - 04:18 AM

Just on the football front the end of April is difficult to plan for if thinking of a top Premier League match as the TV companies will not have picked their live matches yet and any could shift from Saturday to Sunday or Monday (or even to a different time on the Ssturday).

Not to mention how difficult it is to get tickets, you'll probably have to commit before knowing the actual match day. Also premier league football in London is IMO ridiculously overpriced.

In the 3 lower leagues you have plenty of local London options West Ham, Millwall, Watford and Crystal Palace in the Championship - Brentford in League 1 and Barnet in Lge 2.

If Witshire or Oxford then Swindon Town, Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers are at Home - Yeovil Town a bit further but not too far from Wilts.

Better value at those I'd say.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 03:33 PM

Sorry Foggers, but a few years ago we took our canal boat up the canal - which is altogether beautiful APART FROM MANSFIELD. Long before we'd got through, we had no hubcaps....

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 01:32 PM

But the Cutty Sark and the Museum and the Observatory (with Prime Meridian) won't be open at night.

Pity the Pie and Mash shop's shut.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 09:01 PM

The Cutty Sark should be open for visits by the time you get here. If you, I can recommend the train ride there or back on the Docklands Light Railway at night - try to sit at the very front of the (driverless) train so you can see out the front window at all the lights. Feels like you're in the future of a 1950s science fiction story.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: foggers
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 06:18 PM

@Paul Burke- the only good things about Mansfield are the folk club now happily homed at the Black Bull, and the A617 which leads to the altogether superior town of Chesterfield......

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 05:55 PM

Cecil Sharp House Tuesday evenings if you'd like some folk music; it's in the Camden neighborhood of London. And they have a bar as well.

Then maybe down the river to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 08:38 AM

Kendall and I went to Duxford last year - he was most impressed and we spent quite a while looking at all the exhibits. I would definitely recommend the place - easy to get to from London.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 05:17 AM

The American Air Museum in Britain stands as a memorial to the 30,000 American airmen who gave their lives flying from UK bases in defence of liberty during the Second World War, and also honours those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, Libya, Iraq and other conflicts and battles of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This outstanding example of contemporary British architecture by Foster and Partners houses the largest collection of American warbirds on display outside the United States, including a vintage B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, and aircraft from the Cold War era such as a B-52 Stratofortress, SR-71 Blackbird and F-4 Phantom, with many suspended from the ceiling as if in flight.

'... a thoughtfully landscaped, handsomely designed aircraft hangar of a building ... The graceful structure is designed to fit around the wingspan of the terrifying Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 04:45 PM

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 04:43 PM

with that background you should visit the WW2 airfield of Duxford which is now a part of the Imperial War Museum.

Many US airmen make a pilgrimage there. There is a vast and impressive building for US military aviation, and a flying B17 I think.
There is a memorial with every lost US plane commemorated.
it is within striking distance of Cambridge.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 04:08 PM

You've not been to Mansfield then.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 04:02 PM

thanks for the good info, Penny.

Eliza, My grandma came from Great Yarmouth,my father flew B17s out of Eye, Suffolk, my Uncle flew B24s out of Norwich. I have visited this beautiful area, both time staying at he Fisherman's Return, in Winterton-on-Sea. I love Eastanglia. Of course, I love every square meter of theUK I have seen. jimmyt

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 03:30 PM

OK on the lanes, then - but there's loads of wallies about who use them without knowing the rules. And idiot delivery vans on satnavs. I didn't mean to imply anything about your driving Jimmy! (I get a bit peeved myself after being forced to reverse down a hill for the third time, and wanted to spare you that.)

If you want megaliths, there's a few tombs just off the Pilgrim's Way.

Medway Megaliths BBC

Medway Megaliths - Wikipedia

I couldn't find mapping that was any use since Google and Bing don't show the sites except as satellite images unlabelled, and the Ordnance Survey no longer uses OS maps with historical features on line.

These sites give map references which will find them on a paper map.

Western group

Eastern Group

Coldrum's good, but the Chestnuts, if shown round by the owner, is worth a detour.

Penny

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 07:59 AM

By all means, visit HMS VICTORY if you can find the time.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 07:07 AM

If you have any interest in seafaring, get down to Portsmouth and the old naval dockyard.
Walk the decks of Victory and Warrior.
Take the boat tour and stop off at the submarine depot where a submariner will take you around an old boat.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 06:44 AM

Jimmy, have you visited East Anglia yet? Norfolk and Suffolk are very beautiful, full of history and relatively unspoiled and undiscovered.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 07:16 PM

By all the suggestions, yer not gonna be sleepin fer three days. Have fun!

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: jimmyt
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 03:12 PM

Leeds Casttle sounds good, I have actually been to Hever which was outstanding.that is as far as I have been in Kent though. Pilgrim's way is a go. I have driven hundreds of miles on singletrack roads in the UK in the past so that won't be a problem. ALso, somehow it has been confused,but I am also going to Romania and Budapest.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 02:15 PM

I wouldn't recommend the Pilgrims' Way for someone not used to single track roads.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: billybob
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 11:07 AM

Kent is beautiful in April, keep off the motorways and go from Heathrow through the countryside, you could follow the Pilgrims Way all the way to Canterbury. Oh and Leeds Castle near Maidstone, the most beautiful castle in the world! Plus Hever etc as already mentioned and Chartwell the home of Winston Churchill.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 10:47 AM

It's a pity that you won't have time to visit the North: the Peak District, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales are all worth seeing.

I don't know if I've misunderstood some of the people writing above but Budapest isn't in Romania - it's the capital of Hungary!

My favourite country in Eastern Europe is Bulgaria: the Black Sea coast is very beautiful as are various mountain ranges in the interior (I would especially recommend the Rila and Pirin Mts. in the west of the country). A bit more obscure but just as fascinating is Macedonia (i.e. 'FYROM' - the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). In the south west of this country are two massive glacial lakes: Ohrid (pronounced 'ok-rid') and Prespa - surrounded as they are by mountains, they are stunning! Both Bulgaria and Macedonia are positively laden (perhaps a bit too laden) with history.

"Brentford's also good for football." Having stayed there for a while, my opinion is that it's not much good for anything else!

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 08:12 AM

Brentford's also good for football. Especially if you don't like crowds.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 08:10 AM

Tottenham's a good suggestion for the football, especially if it doesn't have to be top class.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 08:01 PM

You might like to look at my travelogue about Romania a few years back:

http://www.campin.me.uk/Travel/Romania2008/

I'd like to see Maramüres/Maramaros someday too.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 06:40 PM

I have also been to all of the places you just listed, Kendall. THis will be my 13th trip to the beautiful UK and have been pretty much throughout the country except Yorkshire and Kent. I enjoyed reading the great responses from everyone and in fact, most of the places bear return visits. I am intrigued by the Isle of Purbeck as mentioned by the Snail. I may have to give that a thought. I absolutely love the New Forest. THanks everyone.

As to my trip to ROmania, I am concentrating on Maramures, the far north of Transylvania bordering Ukraine. Supposedly the only remaining Peasant economy culture etc. The lifestyle in the remote villages are pretty much self sustaining by barter. If anyone has a chance, google this area and see the mazing wooden churches etc. I will report back after the trip. Thanks again   jimmyt

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: kendall
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 03:57 PM

I've been from Land's end to John O' Groats, and even to Scapa Flow, and I like the whole area. Stonehenge, Glastonbury, London, Sherwood Forest, Hadrian's Wall, Edinburgh is my favorite city, the Isle of Skye, it's all good to see.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnomad
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 03:27 PM

Like I said ..............

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 03:01 PM

"3-4 hours from Heathrow gives you most of the country, "..

unless the 3-4 hours is out and back.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: TheSnail
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 02:55 PM

I know I should plug my adopted home of Sussex but it's an easy, if boring, run down the M25/M3/M27 and on across the New Forest to Dorset and, in particular, the Isle of Purbeck. Beautiful coastline and scenery. Lunch in the Square and Compasses in Worth Matravers and evening meal in the Scott Arms in Kingston with a view of Corfe Castle. On the way, you'll pass through Wareham which still has its Saxon earth bank walls. The Quay Inn isn't bad.

I'd better stop.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnomad
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 02:53 PM

3-4 hours from Heathrow gives you most of the country, assuming you mean by car not on foot, and that you mean to go there and stay, rather than spending your time in transit. 5-6 hours would give you all of England & Wales, and some of Scotland as a bonus (spell-check just stopped me saying Sotland, hmmm).

Three nights almost anywhere is likely to be good, if you go there then explore a bit, the inside of a car varies only in temperature and humidity, while what passes the window is available on TV.

I can't help with the football thing, at some 50-odd years (some very odd) I've yet to attend a match.

Go north or west, for choice, IMO. One day I will have a look at Kent, it sounds nice, but above all don't spend your time travelling.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 02:41 PM

When in April? On the 8th and 9th you could see the Severn Bore in the morning.

Bore times

Tide heights in the Bristol Channel are second only to the Bay of Fundy, and the bore is the same sort of height as the one in the Amazon, or the Chinese one - though they are much much wider.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Paul Burke
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 02:19 PM

April is getting near the end of the football season, there might not be a lot of choice of matches. Anything in the upper two leagues is likely to be either sold out or meaningless, so why not try one of the many lower and minor league clubs? Basingstoke Town in one of the Conference leagues, or the splendidly named Swindon Supermarine in the equally wonderfully named Evo-Stik League.. it won't cost so much to get in either.

3-4 hours from London probably won't get you to Bath except by train - which is affordable if you book well in advance, but you daren't miss it so be well prepared. Roman baths, Georgian city, set in lovely countryside.

Silchester- Calleva Atrebatum- is well within striking distance though. And it's just by Reading and Basingstoke.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 01:45 PM

Shame you seem tied by time to the Sarf and Sarf-West - there's a lot of very good stuff north of Milton Keynes.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 01:29 PM

Jim... Stonehenge... I can see your point.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Penny S.
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 11:56 AM

I think the Wessex bunch of monuments would be worth the visit - even with Stonehenge difficult. Avebury would be better, with its associated monuments, the Sanctuary, Avenues and Silbury, to get a sense of the way people used landscape.

Kent has the cluster of Knole, Hever Castle and Penshurst for more recent things. Or you could go to Rochester for the Castle, the Cathedral, Roman Wall and all the Dickensian stuff. (Read Edwin Drood first. Or watch the TV.) Also Baggins bookshop, which is a tiny bit like Hay on Wye.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 11:36 AM

Hi Jimmy ! PM sent

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Ebbie
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 10:49 AM

Welcome back, jimmyt!

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 10:10 AM

Things I have especially enjoyed in or near London:

The Globe Theater and the adjoining museum
The National Portrait Gallery
Kew Gardens
The British Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum
Hampton Court Palace

Big disappointments:

Stonehenge – it's just a bunch of rocks, and you can't even get very close to them. Sure, the archeology and interpretation of it is fascinating, but you can't see that, can you? I'd much rather read a book about Stonehenge, or see a documentary about it, than visit it.

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace – way too crowded with tourists to get a good view. It might be better in the off-season.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 08:05 AM

Any visit to Budapest HAS to include a Turkish Bath - try the newly (and expensively restored) 450 year-old Rudas Baths.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 08:05 AM

If you are near Salisbury as suggested, take a walk up to Old Sarum.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 07:30 AM

It might be a little out of your way but Hay-on-Wye is worth taking a look for the novelty of a street that is literally made up of book shops, the outside 'honesty' bookshop is very quirky and unusual. If you were going to stay overnight I would recommend staying at the 'Rest for the Tired' a lovely B&B, rooms decorated entirely with books even the tv stand is literally a pile of books (warning very low beams!). The Landlady is a mine of information and encourages everyone to get to know each other by having breakfast around one large communal table. On the far corner of the high street opposite is a coffee shop with the most amazing lemon meringue pie to die for.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: theleveller
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 07:03 AM

"The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne Nice pub nearby for lunch too."

Oh yes - in the past I've enjoyed many a pint of Owd Roger and game of bar skittles in The Boat Inn.


It's a pity you won't have time to venture oop north to Yorkshire and Northumberland and see the real England ;). However, if you're in London in early April don't miss David Hockney's exhibition of amazing (and huge) paintings of my native Yorkshire Wolds, on at The Royal Academy until 9th April. A Bigger Picture

Oh, and forget about football and go and see a great game of rugby union.

Subject: RE: BS: 3 days in England
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 04:56 AM

I would have suggested Aston Villa SJ, but thought better of it, with the boring football our current manager seems to like.