Today in pictures

[Margaret Pilkington]

Nearly Halloween......so here is a spooky moon.
Well no....two spooky moons. Not the best quality despite using the monopod.
I need more practice.

[DaveinGermany]

So finally our journey comes to an end with a final jaunt to that Cockerney Eldorado of "Sarfend on sea mate!" with its most unmissable delicacies of jellied eels, winkles & whelks enough said! So on with the piccys.

The jewel in the Cockerny tarnished crown, Southend on sea - Folks enjoying the mild Autumn temperatures - A couple of shrimpers tandem trawling - Really, down to the end of the pier? all one & a quarter mile of it! Actually walking? Proper one foot in front of the other type walking? - Benches, lots of benches, definitely needed after that hike! - Southend Lifeboat station at the watery end of the pier - One little cheeky stone turner amongst hoards of the little beggars - So why didn't we use this to get here then? - Back to Harwich & our ride back to Europe & Germingland - On board, a time to reflect, relax & sink a scoop or several.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by mobertol

A day's shopping around Lucca - some amazing old shop-fronts and a great variety of products to suit all tastes.

What marvellous storefronts- captured so well I want to walk into every one of them

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Nearly Halloween......so here is a spooky moon.
Well no....two spooky moons. Not the best quality despite using the monopod.
I need more practice.

Or lay off the whiskey.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Never touch the stuff...devil's wee wee!
Only had strong tea.

[mobertol]

The gardens of Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca - tucked away just inside the town walls a little gem of a garden. Italianate in style - quite simple but striking for the lemon trees and the lemon houses which are built into the mediaeval walls where the plants spend the winter months. In one photo the single gardener who is responsible for them - very friendly man - seen talking to my aunt and uncle in photo 8 - near a storage area which he told us was the original brewery of the Pfanner family in the early 1800's. Pfanner is still a make of Italian beer. We were lucky to have the place to ourselves for an hour of perfect peace before a group arrived and the walls also filled up with tourists as you can see in the last photo.

[Margaret Pilkington]

wouldn't that be a beautiful place to have a wedding...what fantastic pictures you would get for your album.
There are aspects of your pictures which remind me of Portmeirion Dianne...and I just love that place.
It is hard to believe that it is the end of October when you look at the rose bush.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Have a trip to Portmeirion on me Dianne.

[davemac]

Originally Posted by mobertol

The gardens of Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca - tucked away just inside the town walls a little gem of a garden. Italianate in style - quite simple but striking for the lemon trees and the lemon houses which are built into the mediaeval walls where the plants spend the winter months. In one photo the single gardener who is responsible for them - very friendly man - seen talking to my aunt and uncle in photo 8 - near a storage area which he told us was the original brewery of the Pfanner family in the early 1800's. Pfanner is still a make of Italian beer. We were lucky to have the place to ourselves for an hour of perfect peace before a group arrived and the walls also filled up with tourists as you can see in the last photo.

You would think it was summer by all the greenery and plants in flower, especially the roses and begonias, also the lack of people in coats.

[davemac]

Today in Pictures, I knew where I wanted to visit today, but only had 30 minutes to achieve it. So it was straight to the site, work the area photographically, and leg it back to the car.

1. Along the canal, you can see the gasometer, upper centre, in Gt. Harwood.
2. The destination, what was once a workers community, my guess would be weavers before the industry was centralised.
3. Just around the bend is a small boatyard, but we are going sharp right.
4. Little remains after progress swept them into history.
5. If you listen carefully you can hear the sound of clogs on floorboards.
6. This region is peppered with these small hamlets that are disintegrating.
7. Today we will go through the square window.
8. Time is almost up.
9. Last shot of these buildings.
10. I bet once someone would have been very house-proud here.

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

wouldn't that be a beautiful place to have a wedding...what fantastic pictures you would get for your album.
There are aspects of your pictures which remind me of Portmeirion Dianne...and I just love that place.
It is hard to believe that it is the end of October when you look at the rose bush.

I can see what you mean about the gardens in Portmeirion Margaret - definitely a similar Italian feel. What a lovely place, I love the colours of the buildings and the mix of architecture - would love to visit there one day.

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

It is hard to believe that it is the end of October when you look at the rose bush.

Originally Posted by davemac

You would think it was summer by all the greenery and plants in flower, especially the roses and begonias, also the lack of people in coats.

I was talking to the gardener and he told me it's very protected there by the walls and not affected by winds at all. He takes all the huge pots of lemon trees in in November before they start to get frosts and they come back out at the end of March. He was really glad to have a chat as he works there by himself and most tourists don't think of approaching him. I always chat to the gardeners wherever I visit - if I see them - we all enjoy the results of their work but often don't realise the effort involved - I really envied this gardener the lovely place he works though...

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by davemac

Today in Pictures, I knew where I wanted to visit today, but only had 30 minutes to achieve it. So it was straight to the site, work the area photographically, and leg it back to the car.

1. Along the canal, you can see the gasometer, upper centre, in Gt. Harwood.
2. The destination, what was once a workers community, my guess would be weavers before the industry was centralised.
3. Just around the bend is a small boatyard, but we are going sharp right.
4. Little remains after progress swept them into history.
5. If you listen carefully you can hear the sound of clogs on floorboards.
6. This region is peppered with these small hamlets that are disintegrating.
7. Today we will go through the square window.
8. Time is almost up.
9. Last shot of these buildings.
10. I bet once someone would have been very house-proud here.

You can't beat the autumn colours - it's my favourite season for this reason. I always wonder about the people who used to live in these isolated country buildings - it must have been a hard life. I live well out in the country and love it but it would be hard without a car!

[davemac]

Originally Posted by mobertol

You can't beat the autumn colours - it's my favourite season for this reason. I always wonder about the people who used to live in these isolated country buildings - it must have been a hard life. I live well out in the country and love it but it would be hard without a car!

There is an old cart track that leads down to Burnley Road, and the canal is just behind, so it was a slower pace of life, simpler, but poorer.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by mobertol

I can see what you mean about the gardens in Portmeirion Margaret - definitely a similar Italian feel. What a lovely place, I love the colours of the buildings and the mix of architecture - would love to visit there one day.

In 2002 my niece came over from Oz and we went there....she was most impressed....what was really impressive was it was a beautiful day with blue skies as far as the eye could see and she said that she could imagine that it actually was Italy and not Wales.

There are places to stay in the actual village, but it is expensive...but for a wedding or special anniversary, it would be just perfect.
I am glad you enjoyed the virtual visit.