Victorian67

victorian67

Victorian67

Greetings from Windsor !

My name is Karim, I am 46yo and I live in Windsor, Berkshire.

I am French and I have worked in hospitality for the past 24 years and my job took me in places as different as New-Zealand, Australia and Canada.

I love travelling and discovering new exciting places and learn about their History, traditions and People.

A little anecdote is that I was lucky enough to live in Summer for a few years as I worked in south of France from March to October and in Russell, Bay of Islands, New-Zealand from October to March. Since then, I must admit that "old winter" came back to me...

My interests include travelling at home and abroad, creating miniatures on a 1/12th scale - mostly with the Victorian times in mind - reading, movies, walking and renovating my home in France.

This year, I have embarked on a journey of discovery of this country that has been my second home away from France and England keeps enchanting my senses with its variety, the beauty of its scenery and the wealth of its history and traditions.

I, who used to think for so many years and excitement and emotion were about "long haul" journeys, have finally discovered that beauty often lay on your very door step for you to enjoy.

I will be delighted to take you along with me on my "escapades" around the UK with a short presentation of the place spiced up here and there with a few little anecdotes and pictures.

Thank you for welcoming to this forum !

karim



Europe » United Kingdom » England » Gloucestershire » Tetbury July 26th 2014

Welcome to the Westonbirt Arboretum ! Autumn has always been one of my favorite season with that special feel and atmosphere it brings with it, a mix of crisp mornings and still gorgeous afternoons and that incredible burst of warm colors declined from trees to hedges. I used to live in Canada so I was familiar with autumn at its most glorious but I had not been to the Westonbirt National Arboretum, yet. The Westonbirt National Arboretum is located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. It belonged for centuries to the Holfords Family which ancestors date back to William the Conqueror and Robert Stayner Holford was the original Creator of the Westonbirt Arboretum which was handed over to the Forestry Commission in 1956 which still exploit it today and looks after its 16000 trees including 2500 different species. I ... read more
Westonbirt Arboretum
Westonbirt Arboretum
Westonbirt Arboretum


Welcome to Moreton in Marsh & Bourton on the Water ! What better feeling than waking up at sunset for a trip, gazing through the window as you drink your coffee hoping for a nice day and discovering a clear blue sky, then stepping outside in the crisp early morning, filling your lungs with fresh air, and smile at the thought a great day ahead ! In my own experience, many places I have visited so far have not only met but largely exceeded my expectations and one of them was Bourton on the Water and Moreton in Marsh. I had already been a few times to the Cotswolds which I love, and I one would be very fussy not to, and fell under the spell of the village of Broadway, described by many as the ... read more
Moreton in Marsh
Moreton in Marsh
Moreton in Marsh

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Shropshire » Ironbridge July 26th 2014

Welcome to the Blists Hill Victorian Town ! I invite you to step back in the Victorian Times on a journey through one of the most beautiful, unique and accurate recreation of a Victorian Town at Blists Hill in the County of Shropshire ! This amazing recreation takes place over 55 acres at the very location where the Industry or more precisely the Industrial Revolution took place 200 years ago. Today, the remains of the iconic "Blast Furnaces" are now derelict cathedrals of brick from a different time standing in silence amongst a Nature that has claimed back its rights but still speak volumes of the misery, unimaginable hard work and sometimes tragedy that accompanied the everyday life of the workers who braved the defeaning sound, the heat and the many dangers of the well named ... read more
Blists Hill Victorian Town
Blists Hill Victorian Town
Blists Hill Victorian Town

Europe » France » Alsace » Strasbourg April 21st 2014

When one arrives like myself in the 3 Borders Country and one speaks about Christmas Markets, one name comes back on everyones lips, Strasbourg ! The largest, the most beautiful and famous Christmas Market of all and as I discovered while researching prior to my visit, the Capital of Christmas, nothing less ! And as I boarded a comfortable double decker grand tourism bus for the very reasonable price of only 19.00 Euros return filled with a joyous crowd of people coming from all parts of the country, I wondered if the city of Strasbourg which I was about to discover, with such a fame and reputation would live up to my expectations, and I must say it even exceeded them ! To say that I arrived on this December 05th in a city dressed up ... read more
Strasbourg Christmas Markets
Strasbourg Christmas Markets
Strasbourg Christmas Markets

Europe » France » Lorraine » Metz April 21st 2014

It is by wonderfully sunny afternoon, this Sunday December 1st that I boarded the regional train towards the City of Metz and its Christmas Market, Christmas Markets should I rather say as they are 6 in total spread around the city centre, but all within a walking distance. As soon as I arrive in the historic train station I was greeted by the towering silhouette of the giant Vosgian Christmas Tree dressed in silver and white which welcomes you in a City that knows to celebrate Christmas with warmth ! I know the centre of Metz quite well and yet it was a a wonderful surprise to discover all these familiar Streets and squares dressed in festive colours starting with the Place de la République with its Big Wheel and its Ice Skating Rink then to ... read more
Metz Christmas Market
Metz Christmas Market
Metz Christmas Market

Europe » Germany » Saarland » Saarbrücken April 21st 2014

Welcome to Saarbrücken ! Saarbrücken tells the story of two Cities, Alt Sarrbrücken and St Johann reunited in 1900 to create a metropolis with human dimensions, resolutely modern but also proud of its heritage showing in the picturesque little Streets and squares of the historic district, making it a vibrant and cosmopolitan City with many visitors coming from the neighbouring countries. Here, in the 3 Borders Country one goes out to enjoy a drink or a dinner with friends in Germany or Luxembourg, very naturally as France, Luxembourg or Germany are well within a 30 to 45 minutes reach by car or by train. Many people from the Lorraine region are regularly shopping in Germany and admit that many casual everyday items are better value for money accross the border. Just like many people who live ... read more
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Europe » Germany » Rhineland-Palatinate » Trier April 21st 2014

Welcome to the City of Trier ! WOW ! I must admit that I am not usually short of vocabulary in French and also English after spending the past 20 years living abroad, but the interjection WOW is not the first thing to come to my mind usually, except for the City of Trier... If Metz was only a name on a map to me until I discovered this beautiful town, the City of Trier was even more obscure bringing back distant memories of History & Geography lessons at school et a few references in some of the books I read about the 16th century in recent years. Beautiful encounters are often the result of coincidence and this is my Friend Diane who, knowing how much I enjoy travelling and discovering the architecture and history of ... read more
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Europe » France » Lorraine » Metz April 21st 2014

Metz the discreet ! This is how I would describe this City... As opposed to its famous neighbour city Strasbourg, immediately recognizable through its black and white buildings, its Christmas Markets, gastronomy and traditions, the Capital of the Lorraine region is not featured much in the news or even in the documentaries highlighting the beautiful régions of France. And this is a shame really as the Lorraine region has so much to be discovered and enjoyed by the Visitor, much more than the recipe of its namesake "quiche" or even the famous Mirabelle plum I am of a curious nature opened towards the world, but this is only last winter while I was watching the "Come Dine with Me" show set in Metz, that I was finally able to discover the Capital of Lorraine and its ... read more
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Europe » Luxembourg » Luxembourg City April 21st 2014

Welcome to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and its Capital Luxembourg City ! Despite of its relatively small size - 2.586 square kilometers for 500 000 inhabitants - the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is an authentic state with a rich and eventful history. Located in the heart of Europe, between France, Belgium and Germany, it has contributed to the great European évolutions. The eventful past of the Grand Duchy is a real condensed of the history of Europe. In the Middle Ages, its Princes wore the crown of the Holy Roman German Empire. During the more recent history, its fortess was a major goal in the dispute between the major powers of the time. Before finally gaining independance in the 19th century, the Luxembourg belonged to a succession of Counts, then the Dukes of Luxembourg, then ... read more
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Europe » Luxembourg » Luxembourg City November 18th 2013

Greetings from Luxembourg ! My name is Karim, I am 46yo, a Hotel GM and I live in Luxembourg. I am French and I have worked in hospitality for the past 24 years and my job took me in places as different as New-Zealand, Australia, Canada, England and more recently Luxembourg. I love travelling and discovering new exciting places and learn about their History, traditions and People. A little anecdote is that I was lucky enough to live in Summer for a few years as I worked in south of France from March to October and in Russell, Bay of Islands, New-Zealand from October to March. Since then, I must admit that "old winter" came back to me... My interests include travelling at home and abroad, creating miniatures on a 1/12th scale - mostly with the ... read more




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