My friend Viviane from NY Ford Foundation days arrived with Joe after a cancelled flight and nervy drive from Heathrow. With only a day in London before visiting her parents and family in Mallorca, she drove us out to Alton to visit an old family friend from her days in Belgium. Dear old Englishman - David. His house is in the town’s history books, picture below. What a wonderful visit, we made his week as he proclaimed. Quite spry at 80+ years.
Jeff, David, Viviane and Joe.
His famous “Old House”
We joined Viviane and Joe a few days later in Mallorca. What dramatic landscapes, we had no idea the island varied so much from North to South etc.
Harbour of Palma, largest city in Mallorca and originally a Roman camp.
Bellver Castle in Palma.
Countryside drive into town of Valledemossa, home and host to such luminaries as; George Sand, Chopin, Ruben Dario…
Hidden cove by the Torrent.
When dry, people picnic and there are outdoor concerts. When rainy season, look out!
Gorgeous aqua marine water…
Sunset over Palma..
Run away….!
Wheeeee!
Viviane and Joe discuss the finer points of sand…
Ya gotta do it at least once. So given that our friend Laura had arranged for her Alumni Club of Notre Dame to attend and have a car park party, we schlepped out in our finery on the train from Waterloo Station, barely got a seat and watched the hilarity of everyone drinking their champers on they hour + ride down. We found the party in the car park after awhile and then made our way in, bets were made, pounds were lost. When the horses come around the corner it really is exciting, even the understated British announcer goes a couple decibels higher in his reporting.
“Tailgaiting” with Notre Dame alumni club, Conrad, Rob, ? and Jeff.
The masses, the dapper man in his morning suit! Rented in the nick of time…that is another story ; )
Pink, it is the new black you know!
Best advice, leave before 5pm, drunken fools abound..
My dear friend Frankie came to visit mid June and escaped the heat of Maryland in the states. We showed her all the sights from a local perspective and she rallied to the adventures. Our friends Gwinne and Diana from SF sailed into town, literally. They had taken a voyage on the Queen Mary, so we shot down on the train to meet them in Portsmouth and we hopped on the ferry to the Isle of Wight for a few hours. They then continued onto France with another ferry connection. What we saw in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight was just a hint of what other delights abound. We plan to get back and explore more.
Portsmouth harbour, and the bridge from ferry to Isle of Wight. Diana, Gwinne, Frankie and Jeff..
Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Jeff, David, Viviane and Joe.
His famous “Old House”
Harbour of Palma, largest city in Mallorca and originally a Roman camp.
When dry, people picnic and there are outdoor concerts. When rainy season, look out!
Sunset over Palma..
Run away….!
Wheeeee!
Viviane and Joe discuss the finer points of sand…
