Chester

Where we went, as Firebird guessed, was Chester. I'd never been there before but had seen pictures and thought it looked very interesting. Which it was. I hadn't really studied its position on a map, however, and didn't realise that it was quite as far south as it is, so was somewhat disappointed at how long it took to get there. (Fortunately Mr Life, who was driving, had taken more interest in its exact location.) However, it was worth it. We stayed in this nice B & B, which I would recommend for everything except its spelling.

I mean, I know some people are better at spelling than others and it's not a moral flaw to make mistakes and we all have different talents. I'm just saying that if for instance I had to do a mathematical calculation and then get the answer put on two plastic signs outside my door, I think I'd check it first with someone who's done maths more recently than I have.

Anyway, Chester is lovely, with lots of old buildings and many newer ones which have been built in a similar style. I know there are people who mutter things about pastiche, but personally I don't like modern buildings that make no attempt to fit in with the old ones around them - as happens quite a lot in Edinburgh. Chester has city walls (as on that bridge in the picture above) that run right round the centre of the city - you can walk round them and we did. It's about a 2-mile circuit, the only complete city wall in Britain.

Here's Mr Life at one of the watch-towers.

Here's Chester Cathedral behind these red-brick buildings. I don't know why I didn't wait till we got a bit closer before I took the picture but there we are. We visited the cathedral, which was very impressive.

I took this photo inside the cathedral for my quilty friends. It represents the Chester mystery plays.

The River Dee. At this point the sun came out and stayed out for the rest of our holiday. Summer at last! Or at least spring.

A bridge. The oldest one perhaps? Can't quite remember.

This is Stanley Palace. See below.

Quite elderly.

But not as elderly as these arches, apparently built in 1274 AD and now part of this shop. The notice says that it's the oldest (part) shop still in use in Britain. I like the exactness of this date (no, no, not 1273 or 1275) and the way they put "AD", just in case you thought it might be 1274 BC. That would be quite an old shop.

Gosh, it's hard on the feet, though: trotting round a city all day.

More exciting holidays snaps coming soon.