(no subject)

[durham_rambler]

shewhomust has started a meme listing favourite places. I've accepted the challenge, so here they are.

Best View: Durham Cathedral and Castle, probably from Wharton Park (just above the Railway Station). Or possibly from Paul Beard's back garden (lucky man). Or then again maybe from Framwellgate Bridge. I've lived here close on 33 years and it still takes by breath away, even when I've just been to the dentist's.

Best Walk: From Cow Green Reservoir on the Pennine Way over to High Cup Nick (see shewhomust's best view). I just love those walks where the walker can do in five miles or so what the motorist needs 25 to go round, the sense that we're not just paralleling other travellers but have a route that is only open to those who put their boots on and do it.

Best gallery: I'm not really sure, and it may well be the Gulbenkian here in Durham. But I tend to see more in temporary exhibitions and artists' shows than the permanent exhibitions. But I must go back and explore The Bowes Museum some more, and I'll put in a good word for the temporary exhibitions at the National Glass Centre

Best pub: I would have to say The Shakespeare in Durham City, but only if you can get into the snug. Otherwise I think that Antony Gormley and shewhomust have got the field almost covered with The Bodega, the Crown Posada, and the Free Trade. Though I have spent many happy hours in The Cluny and not just at samarcand's wedding celebrations.

Best restaurant: Ever since Stile closed down in Willington I've been looking for a good restaurant and while there are OK ones about, I've yet to find one where the food, the wine, the service and the cost come together. So I'll cheat and say that if ever Chaz Brenchley offers to cook for you, do not hestitate.

Best place to stay: Again, living here makes this difficult to comment. In a sense, the place I have most experience of is, like Antony Gormley, the Vermont Hotel. Except that in my case, it was the nine years I spent working there when it was Northumberland County Hall ("unfortunate" - Pevsner). But I love the house I live in in Durham and can think of nowhere nicer.

Comments

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

The Glass Centre - I hadn't thought of that. Though I get more pleasure from the sculpture trail that passes in front of the Centre. That's probably generally the case for me: sculpture in a landscape beats an exhibition in a musuem almost every time!

[helenraven.livejournal.com]

This is a very classy meme. Good way to start off! I'd like to try some of these pubs and also the Best Walk.

[samarcand.livejournal.com]

I've been wracking my brains trying to come up with my own answers and come up with an almost complete blank. This is probably because I never walk anywhere interesting (to and from work doesn't count...), haven't been to a gallery in ages, ditto with the pub and the restaurant and have very little experience with hotels in the area.

Useless, eh?

Useless, eh?

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

So far, yes: but you've lived in Paris, you've lived in London, but you've come back to live in Newcastle. There must be a reason, so tell us! If necessary, invent other categories and wax lyrical. Or tell us what you like about Paris and London.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Or answer the questions for Ylahyem, it's about time you took me back there!