beentouring's Guestbook

Interesting observation - the street-level infrastructure (and the streets) do look remarkably familiar, allowing for the completely different alphabet on the signs. Functionality trumps all, I guess. I checked out the site of the first hotel. Clearly, there is no upper limit to luxury.

Any Topsy there?
Looking forward to seeing your photos: I've seen shots online of incredible architecture. Also interested in your impressions. It seems like an anomaly: a new, wealthy city in a hot place (maybe Canberra comes closest?). These shots present what looks like a planned community. Is it all like that, or did some of it just grow?

Small rocks and big ones
I particularly like the photos of stones in Pipestone Creek and the Slate Range. Striking shots. Your comments on "hang the expense" ring true. Iceland is super expensive (a VAT of 24% I think) but I remember the one meal where I just decided to eat where and what I wanted. And I don't actually miss the dollars I spent on it.

Excellent videos
Both videos are excellent at giving a sense of the experience. Those dogs were ecstatic, indeed - their enthusiasm is contagious, but I lack the energy to match them. The otters were likewise great - I really liked the bit where one popped up through the thin ice, like a pond gopher.

Your own way
Good for you for not persevering in what sounds like a disagreeable situation. Your afternoon sounds much more my speed (well, maybe not any more, but once). Having said that, your vista shots are lovely (particularly Rydal Water and High meadows) and I really like Moss on stone fence. That title could grace an impressionistic painting.

Very nice place it's stunning!

Anne Hathaway's cottage!
Well, I presume not, but the cottage tea room seems very like. Love the photo of the entry to St. Boniface Church. Did you figure out the purpose of the screens on the beach? Privacy? Windbreak? And what fun to see your photo from 1999. We were young, once. Even when we weren't that young.

Hard to imagine
I'm looking around my own office and thinking about having some attendants standing around in here. Apart from space considerations, having people hanging about all the time would drive me crazy, but maybe if that's all you've ever known, it would be odd to be alone. Your photos and descriptions give a good idea of the place, which comes across as extraordinary but not excessive, at least in context. Nice that it was being used as a convalescent home - Wiki tells me that A.A. Milne was one of the patients.

Small children
You seem to "pick up" small children (thinking here also of your recent/former neighbour). It's both a gift and a great service, I think: for short periods we enjoy them immensely, and they practice dealing with adults other than their parents. As for your walk, it sounds as if you got out of it what there was to get, and in only 6.5 miles. And the church interior looks lovely. Again, the dates are just staggering.

Small things
I laughed at your report of Betty knowing the names of everything and helping you see the small things. I've just been reading about CS Lewis, who hated to walk with JRR Tolkien (otherwise a good friend) because the latter insisted on stopping and looking at every little thing, whereas Lewis only appreciated the broad vistas. Nice to be able to do both, IMO, because you never know which you're going to get. Loved the shot of the boats seemingly embedded in the fields.