Greetings from Isle of Wight, UK

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:43 pm

O yes, I almost forgot---the variety & number of birds! Lots of "birdsong" during the day & you encounter all different colors & types of birds you don't see in North America. I had no idea what they were.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:27 am

2009 Trip to England

More pictures of Shanklin Old Village:

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:28 am

Downtown Shanklin:

Theatre:

Precarious Victorian steps. Imagine having to navigate these in boots & long skirts!

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:30 am

Beach at Shanklin: Dad & I spent the morning with Dad's "Blind Society" volunteer Ian & his wife Jill at their beach cafe. They also rent out beach huts.

Dad & Ian at the cafe. This cafe is at the base of those cliffs.

Dad, My Dad’s “Blind Society” volunteer Ian & his wife Jill:

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue May 12, 2009 8:02 pm

Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos with us, Tina-Kate. Love those thatched roof cottages, like something out of a fairy tale.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:06 pm

You're welcome Susan.

It's just so lovely there, I can't resist taking photos & sharing.

Now...if only I could get back to Fall River...

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Wed May 13, 2009 8:34 pm

Yes Tina:

Hope your Dad is doing Ok.......

Huge changes sometimes changes a person drastically.

But those Brits are tuff cookies and I trust all is good.

Nice photos, eye candy is always fun.

I miss home and I'm not even British.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Wed May 13, 2009 8:56 pm

Beautiful photos, T-K! The town is almost fairytale-ish.

Thanks for sharing them.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Thu May 14, 2009 12:09 am

Thank you TK!
Got your postcard yesterday!

Love your beautiful pictures!

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:15 am

2010 Pictures (is everyone sick of this place yet?).

Graveyard crawling as per usual. This is in Shanklin, where my Dad lives. St. Blasius Church:

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:17 am

More nefarious August 4th happenings: This poor fellow drowned off Shanklin on August 4th, 1888

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:18 am

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:18 am

England has the strangest trees of anywhere I've been.

Here's one that has a nose:

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:20 am

Pictures from Shanklin Chine. This is a foliage filled crevace with paths & waterfalls running down to the beach & English Channel. A notorious smugglers roost for centuries, then a Victorian spa...now still a tourist attraction.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:24 am

More Shanklin Chine:

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:26 am

Took this one overlooking the English Channel while on a "Ghost Walk". An actor takes you around the town describing various hauntings. Kind of dark pic, but I like the look of it. He was talking about a ghost ship at the time.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:28 am

These are mosaic floors from the Brading Roman Villa. Romans invaded the Island & named it Vectis.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:33 am

My Dad & his girlfriend Ruby. She's an older woman: he's 81 & she's 87

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:39 am

Ryde Esplanade:

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:40 am

Ryde Pier Head (that's my ferry coming in the distance; in the middle on the water):

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:42 am

Southampton Marine Museum with Titanic exhibit. I didn't get to go as I was on the bus madly rushing to catch my plane back.

Guess what? It's near "French Street"

mbhenty · Post by **mbhenty** » Wed May 19, 2010 11:16 pm

YES Tina: What wonderful photos of the land of ancient, respected natural decay. Antiquity worn with pride and reverence.

I love the English countryside and small towns. My favorite program on TV is DOC MARTIN. Not sure you have watched it? Half my interest in it is the English small town scenery. Another is the ever so dull LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE. Dull in every way except for the countryside. I can't help but watch it and pretend that I will retire there someday.

Your photos of the old country are always wonderful Tina.

Thanks for posting them.

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Thu May 20, 2010 11:24 am

You're welcome.

Yes, have seen most of the Doc Martin. The Cornwall scenery is quite similar to the island. I find watching the Brit shows peaceful (even the Midsomer Murders...not sure if you get that in the US).

In reality, I hate the "motorways" (could be anywhere in North America with McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc) but love the country roads where you never know what's over the next hill...an old churchyard, the ruins of a castle...

diana · Post by **diana** » Fri May 21, 2010 3:20 pm

Hi Tina-Kate -- loved the pictures of the 'old country'! My favourites were the churches and graveyards -- absolutely beautful.

I'm also a fan of Doc Martin and Midsomer Murders and am addicted to the soap Coronation Street -- I've watched that for decades!

Thanks for taking all of us on your trip!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon May 24, 2010 11:17 am

Thank you for the photos TK! They are wonderful! And it was nice to go back thru All the photos you've put here of your visits to the Isle!

I noticed a quite sunny day, the day you were looking for the ferry. How long was your stay,and how many sunny days?

Angel · Post by **Angel** » Tue May 25, 2010 7:19 am

Beautiful pictures! Thank you!

Tina-Kate · Post by **Tina-Kate** » Tue May 25, 2010 10:50 am

Diana: Coronation Street! I was raised on it & still trapped by it. They are almost a whole year ahead of us in England & Dad watches, so each time I go, I get a glimpse into the future of the show.

Kat: I went for 2 weeks & was unlucky with the weather this time. Usually it's much nicer there this time of year, but it was COLD & raining off & on. Of course, the one day I went into my fav village the sky opened as soon as I got off the bus. Went shopping & for coffee then gave up & went back.

The island for some reason gets far more sunshine than the mainland...as you can see it was nice on the day I left the island, then once over to the mainland (Southampton is the final pic) it was cloudy & spotting rain there. Dad said it warmed up as soon as I left...go figure.