Antibes, South of France.

 Antibes is in the Cote D'Azur. A beautiful old town on the coast. It is the place to go if you want to look at amazing sailing boats in the harbour. 

For me however it was the Musee Picasso, which is an art museum with 150 works of art by Picasso, and also art by a number of other artists. The museum is in the Chateau Grimaldi, which was built in the 12th century. 

Picasso lived there and found the light and peace of the area particularly beneficial to painting, which is why he was so prolific during this period. 

My favourite picture was a lively yellow painting of rather cheerful looking goats. Called Tete de faune en spirale avec trois figures marginales, which was produces in October 1946. I wasn't able to take any pictures of the paintings as it is not allowed, however you were allowed to take photos of the sculptures outside which is what accompanies this blog. 

The church in Antibes

York, Trains and views.

View of part of main hall at railway museum 

View inc Fire station

View inc York Minster

 York has been one of the main northern cities in England for many years. The walled city has been fought over for years, by Romans, Vikings, Saxons, anyone and everyone really.

It is home to many museums, a general social museum opposite Clifford tower, The National Railway museum, The dungeons and the Yorvik museum, about the viking history of the city.

My favourite place to visit however is the cities art gallery,  in front of which is a statue of my favourite artist. William Etty was from york and he painted the usual landscapes and portraits of the time. He was best known though for his nudes. It is the skin that just seems somehow illuminated from within. It is as if he has captured something of the soul of the sitter. They are not in anyway 2d or diminished, but still very much alive. My favourites are, Male Crouching, The Combat, and a painting who's name I can't remember, (something about Saint Peter I think) of a male nude with ropes. The flesh is so real if you were allowed to touch it I suspect I would be surprised to find it isn't warm. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take pictures in the gallery, so you will have to go there to see how truly beautiful they are.William Etty born 1787 died 1849. 

View of museum from Clifford Tower

Volterra, Easter Parade, Italy.

Volterra was originally an ancient Etruscan settlement called Velathri. It is situated in an elevated position in some of the most picturesque countryside in Italy, and much of it's ancient city walls and gates still survive.

It was on the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday that I visited it in 2011. On that day each year there is a parade, with musicians and folk dressed in historic costume. I did take pictures, but they are on a memory card I have misplaced.

Roof detail in Guarnacci Museum

We visited the Guarnacci Museum, which features many alabaster works of art. There are other museums in the town, and an art gallery also. The area is famous for its alabaster, sourced locally and there are many workshops and bargain sculptures and pieces can be bought in the many specialist gift shops.

Garden with Wistria flowering as seen from city walls

Also well worth a visit is the Piazza dei Priori, with it's Palace designed by Maestro Riccardo in 1239. The lions on it were added later in 1472 when the building became the local court, and seat to the Captain of Justice.

Volterra is also the place I enjoyed the best Italian meal I have ever eaten. It was in a little cafe, which had a shop selling pasta and oils, a covered area for eating in on the narrow street and a boar's head over the stores door. Try and find it if you ever visit.

Upton Upon Severn and the Severn Way Path

Marina entrance at Upton

 Today I walked along part of the Severn Way Path and around Upton. The river Severn is one of England's longest rivers and as it passes through Upton it is majestically wide and serenely beautiful. There are many boat tours you can take along the river, but just walking along\side it is enough to appreciate it's quiet beauty.

Dotted alongside it are numerous pubs, and a warm welcome, cool drink and something good to eat is never difficult to find.

The river here has often flooded, but the new flood defences have so far held and as they are made of glass. when the flood waters rise up t\hem the views of live within the water are fascinating

Upton itself is a quaint little town, full of amazing old historic building. Well worth a visit is the amazing looking Pepperpot Museum, which is full of things from the English Civil War. Just across the road from it is the Tudor House Museum. I have been to many museums, but this is the most curious and intriguing collection of things you never have thought about collecting and until now didn't realise had disappeared.

New flood  defences

Friendly ducks

The Pepperpot heritage centre

The Tudor House Museum