Streets of London

Founded by the Romans over two thousands years ago, London is recorded as the most visited City on the planet. During the past weekend Bazflyers, along with Bill and Kate, were among the many people visiting this mega city. Greenwich, Bow Street, The Strand, Covent Gardens, Big Ben....whether names on a Monopoly Board or straight out of a Sherlock Homes novel the familiarity of London always seems unnerving.  

Tea Time

HWho could imagine a cup of tea some hundred and fifty years ago inspiring the design and construction of fast sail boats. Back then tea came from China and the first shipment to arrive in London each season would fetch premium prices. The lure of this premium resulted in the famous tea clippers and the fastest of these tall masted sailing ships was the 'Cutty Sark'. 

Ironically, the reign of these beautiful, fast and efficient sailing ships was halted as a result of two significant developments. Steam powered vessels negated the reliance on wind power and the Suez Cannel was opened in 1869. Winds through the shorter Suez route did not favour sail and by 1877 clippers comprised only one in nine ships arriving in London with tea cargos. Seven years earlier there had been fifty nine.  

Saturday, after a tour inside the British Parliment, it was time for high tea on the terrace at Westminister....magnificently pre-organised by Katherine.

Rigging on the Cutty Sark sitting high and dry alongside the Thames at Greenwich

And more rigging....

School's in at the Cutty Sark

Taking tea at Westminister Terrace alongside the Thames

Mad Hatter's tea party display at the Chelsea Flower Show

Duxford

Established during WW1, historic Duxford Aerodrome not only served as one of Britain's oldest airforce stations but is also home to the country's largest aviation museum. Conveniently located on our route to London a visit here was simply a given. Moreover, it was practice day for the VE Day commemoration airshow being held over the weekend. What a special treat...perfect weather, no crowds and lots of action. The iconic signature of a Merlin engine in flight is adrenaline to every aviator and even capable of stirring the blood of anyone fortunate to be nearby. We wandered among the magnificent collection of aircraft while in the sky above were Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs....each rehearsing their individual show-day routines. Yes...it was our lucky day!

Hurricane being towed back to it's hangar 

Beautifully restored Hawker Fury being prepared for a further flight

A pristine example of the P51 Mustang

A Hastings - It says something when one can claim to have travelled in one of these

Reflections

Bazflyers have given a big-tick to Iceland and hopefully one day would like to drop by again to explore more of the country's fascinating landscape. However, it is now time to leave, head to Glasgow and then drive further south to the relative familiarity of Kate and Bill's cottage nescelled in the tranquility of Everthorpe in Yorkshire.

We first visited the UK in 1979 and at the time remarked on how familiar the English countryside seemed which on reflection might have been expected. Our post war upbringing in New Zealand was filled with strong connections to what was often referred to as 'the old country'. Our nation's early settlement and a stoic adherence to all things English meant post war New Zealand was in many ways even more British than the United Kingdom.

Our school text books, images on calendars, biscuit tins, comics and bed-time stories, all were directly uplifted from the UK. Then there were the aunties and uncles who had not migrated and still lived in England or Scotland. Their mailings were frequently accompanied by various magazines and pictures. Not to mention the aged fleet of British motor vehicles that populated our roads.

New Zealand's umbilical cord is still attached to the UK and testimony to this is no better underlined than the witness accorded to Prince Harry's current visit down-under. Perhaps in time the cord of birth will wether to the point where the 'old country' is no longer relevant to life in New Zealand. However, for as long as a Kiwi can visit the UK and feel a certain affinity, there will likely remain a subliminal attachment. Not such a bad thing....we think! Here are some English countryside photos taken around Everthorpe.....

Icelandic

Bazflyers think the Icelandic language must have some of the most unpronounceable place names on the planet. At least it seems like that for a monolingual touring Kiwi. Fortunately, most Icelanders are not monolingual and seamlessly transition between their own colourful tongue and English. When asked they are ever willing to assist with Icelandic pronunciation of place names. 

We quickly assimilated that any word ending with "foss" was related to the name of a waterfall of which there are many. Here is a photo of Gullfoss.

Pingvellis ( pronounced 'Thing-vellis') is a UNESCO World Heritage site and location of the longest running Parliament in the world. It is also a memorable geological landscape.

Geysir is actually the source for the English word "Geyser" and is pronounced precisely the same. An English word right out of the Icelandic dictionary....!

Reykjavík

"Reykjavík is the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. The Bazflyers together with our friend Bill flew Icelandair B757 out of Glasgow and two hours later landed at Reykjavík's impressive new international airport. In fact as we are discovering there is much to be impressed about Iceland. For example at this time of the year daytime lasts for 24 hours.

Impressive by any standards is the Harpa. An architectural masterpiece situated on the  Reykjavík waterfront and serving as a concert hall and conference centre. 

Then there is the Hallgrímskirkja, an inspirational Lutheran church. Construction began in 1945 and took 22 years. Situated in the centre of Reykjavík, it is one of the best-known landmarks and visible throughout the city. 

Also SOLON has a shop....now that's seriously impressive!

Then there are the many corrugated iron clad buildings.....

.....and the scenic harbour.

Strandarkirkja

The Bazflyers are touring in Iceland. On our drive from Reykjavik to Nonni's B&B at Hella, we spied a solitary church in the distance sitting all alone on the south coast of Iceland. This turned out to be the beautiful Lutheran church at Strandarkirkja often referred to as the 'miracle church' in Iceland.

The church's story is that one night a group of sailors were attempting to navigate back to Iceland in a storm. The southern coast of Iceland is notorious for its hidden reefs and rough waters. The distressed sailors prayed to God for a safe return and vowed to build a church wherever they landed. When they ended their prayer an angel, seemingly made of light, appeared before their bow. The angel guided them through the rough surfs and led the crew into a bay where they made a safe landing. The sailors, made good on their promise building a wooden church at the site and named it Strandarkirkja.

Strandarkirkja is reputed to be one of the richest churches in Iceland from the donations of locals and other people hoping to have their prayers and wishes realised.