Carol's Photos

Our Day trip to Lincoln

Author: Carolina M. Valdez Schneider // Category:

This past weekend (April 18), we took a day trip to Lincoln, Lincolnshire. It was, at first, a very nondescript sort of city. Didn't seem like much to it, aside from the very strange road system that, even with a GPS, managed to throw us. The newer part of the city was a disappointment, but historical Lincoln was definitely worth the day trip. We focused mainly on the Lincoln Castle and the surrounding area which took us to High Street filled with quaint shops in some seriously old buildings--sweets shops, antiques, ecclectic boutiques, wine shops--the type of shops that will forever mean England to me.

Lincoln Cathedral

We did not go into it. We've seen enough churches by now, and they all begin to look the same after a while. But this was conveniently located right across from the castle.

Inside the Lincoln Castle, on our way to see the Magna Carta (I should say 1 of the 4 remaining original copies. There is no 1 true original. In fact, there were, I think, 41, one for each county. But only 4 are known to remain. 1 here, 1 in Salisbury, and 2 in the British Library).

Lincoln Castle Prison Chapel

You can see the dummys that are inside the vestibules where prisoners would have sat for services. The prisoners wee kept in constant isolation, and so when taken from their cells, they always wore these face coverings. Eerie, huh? I took this photo from the minister's pulpit.

This is the inside of one of the prison cells in Lincoln Castle. Prisoners here were actually kept in fairly decent accomodations, and many homeless were said to commit petty crimes so that they could be imprisoned and be fed a decent meal and have a roof over their heads.

This is a view from inside the castle walls.

With the castle walls of Lincoln Castle.

Katie takes a rest (well, sort of. I had her sit there so I could take a photo of her resting)

Lincoln Castle

That orange divider is sectioning off an area of the castle grounds where they do archery.

View from atop the castle walls.

Em poses beside a window in one section of the castle.

Entry to Lincoln Castle (from the inside)

Historic Lincoln

You can't see it, but Emmie is finishing off some gingerbread. It was very yummy.

Jew House

Said to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest building of its kind in Britain. Originally, it belonged to Jewish people (who were the money lenders because Christians were not allowed to by law). Jews were driven out of England in the 13th century and did not meet again for worship until the 20th century (I think!).

Emmie fell asleep. She was sick this day, poor thing.

This building was being used as a tea room. We never did find out it's original purpose.

Next on the agenda: Derby Rams football game!

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Easter Holidays 2009

Author: Carolina M. Valdez Schneider // Category:

We took a long weekend trip to the Isle of Wight and on the way home, we stopped for a few hours at Salisbury and then for a brief visit to Stonehenge (let's face it; it's just a pile of rocks--not a whole lot to see there. In fact, we saw one couple approach the entrance of Stonehenge after paying his entrance fee, snap a picture, and leave). Had a great time, especially once the sun finally came out. It was our first time on a ferry for cars. We will do another ferry trip when we go to Ireland next month.

Ferry from Portsmouth to Isle of Wight We were driving onto the ferry here (well, you're seeing the cars in front of us)

On the car ferry to IOW

Ryedale Guesthouse
Shanklin, Isle of Wight
This was the first time we stayed at a guesthouse, and it was great! Very private, but also very warm and welcoming with personal touches (like the basket of toys and the special children's dishes and cutlery just for Em). Very positive experience

Going for a walk in Shanklin on a cold, rainy day (first night on IOW)

Digging in the sand at the Dinosaur Isle Museum

Standing in front of a Dinosaur fossil at the Dinosaur Isle Museum

Crab and Lobster Inn pub at lunchtime our second day in IOW

Easter morning in our guesthouse room (we had one double bed and bunk beds for the girls). The girls also did an easter egg hunt in the room after they munched on some of their basket candy.

Coastline visible from our car on our drive to the Needles (west side of the island)

Walking the 1 mile path from the Needles Park to the Needles Old Battery

Inside a firing bunker at the Needles Old Battery (a really old fort)

Needles Old Battery cannon. A few feet away is the edge of the cliff overlooking the English Channel

Hanging on a search light at the Needles Old Battery

The Needles (giant rock formations)

A tea room where we stopped for lunch on Easter sunday. It was a beautiful, sunny day, so we sat outside and dined in the magnificent tea room garden. Fresh crab sandwiches. Delicious.