ALASSIO ITALY

In the middle of the town is a pedestrianized cobbled road with shops on either side. It is known as Budello

Edward Elgar had a family holiday in Alassio in 1903-4








                                                                               1960`s holiday in Alassio Italy 

                                                                                  A friend and Susan Clarke walking along the Budello shops. 

I spent two holidays in Alassio Italy. 1965 and 1966.

The first year we travelled with the British Rail Travel club. All we had to do was pack our suitcase, pay our money and enjoy the journey. every thing had been organised for us. their was about 30 people of all different ages but all connected to the railways. We soon divided up into little groups as we began to make friends. My sister and i wanted to explore and soon made friends with the local Italians. My new friend Alexandro came from Milan, his family owned factories in Milan and Alassio was where they had their holidays each year.He was tall dark and hansome.

Italian pottery from Alassio

                                                                                                     MENTON.

                                                                                                SOUTH of FRANCE 

above and below  Perfumers garden Chelsea flower show 2015

photos by permission of designer James Basson and his wife via email They live near Grasse South of France

below , photos of Grasse perfume factory

                                                                                                                                                       SAN REMO 

                                                                                                                             We first visited the town in 1964.our holiday had been arranged by the British Rail Travel Club. It was made up of all members of the railway staff and their families. our journey had been from Calais to Paris to Nice by train and coach to Menton via Monte Carlo. Our days out from Menton included time in San Remo,Cannes,Ventimglia market, Borghera, Grasse[perfume factory, high up in the mountains.I remember seeing lots of flowers growing in the area and smelling the beautiful fragrance.The views from the town were great as you could see for miles.

In 2015 a PERFUMER`S GARDEN was exhibited at CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW .It was a reminder of the days in 1964. 51years ago that we, as a family visited GRASSE perfume factory high in the mountains .The garden designed by JAMES BASSON  won GOLD MEDAL.Well done for JAMES bringing the perfume industry to the fore again.





                                                                         Perfume shop with cat in the window in Grasse France. photo by permission of Ntalka. Flickr.

     GRASSE. SOUTH OF FRANCE

         Perfume is made here. high up in the mountains  

We visited here on a day out from Menton. The winding road from the South of France up into the mountains of the real France with villages dotted about. We were shown around the factory where they make perfume and cosmetics.I can remember the lovely smell of the flowers growing near by on the hills. They would be harvested for use in the perfume factory.As we left we  was given samples of perfume, nail varnish and soap. The perfume can now be bought at Marks and Spencer England or other outlets.                                                                                                                           

                                                                                  Eiffel Tower. Paris                                                                                                                                                                              A night stay over in Paris before travelling on to the South of France.

From the Paris Nord Rail Station we was taken by coach to our hotel for the night. next day a tour of Paris.

                                        SACRE COEUR. PARIS                                                        ARC de TRIOMPHE.PARIS

We travelled to Gare LYON to catch the over night train to NICE . Our sleeping coach was divided into apartments of six couchettes.  The beds were very comfortable .At the end of the coach was a toilet and wash basin

                                                                                      MONTE CARLO MONACO.photo. werne_from _nowhere.

             TRAIN in FRANCE                                                                                       

                                                                                                     

 

 

 In the 1960`s we were fortunate to be able to have holidays to the South of France.

 At that time the holiday package to Spain had started. anyone who could afford to holiday abroad went to Spain.

 Dad worked on the railways .

The men decided to set up a holiday club for railway members only.

One of the holidays arranged was to Menton , South of France.

 It sounded very posh and expensive.

 Railway workers were able to get discount for travel by train to Calais to Nice.

 Reductions on group booking  for the hotel.

We travelled across London in a tax i to the railway station and onwards to Folkestone.

That was just a normal day `s travel. Arriving at Calais by ferry, we went through customs.

 All of us joining a queue and if instructed to open our case to  do so.

I was the one that was stopped and had to empty my case.

 All my underwear tumbled on the bench.

Nothing of interest was found i set to put it all back in my suit case.

As we approached the train station the train was waiting .

 We found our tickets sorted out the coach and seats assigned to us, stepping up the steep steps on to the train, we found our seats .

We was on our way to Paris. There we were to stay at a hotel for the night.

The hotel was a very narrow building, our bedroom was near the top of the hotel.

 In the morning we went down  for breakfast. our first introduction to a continental breakfast. coffee , croissants and jam.

 Is that all i said?

After a tour around the city of Paris, passing the Notre Dame, Siene River , Arch de Triumph,  the famous designer shops such as Chanel.Christian Dior.

We stopped at the Eiffel Tower just enough time to take photographs.

 Off to visit Montmarte and the Basilica  Sacr`e Coeur. The ladies had to cover their heads .

 We light a candle in the church and say a prayer for our safe journey.

 Below the steps , the local artist displayed their paintings  for sale. Then back to the train station, it was time to catch the over night train to Nice.

 We was on our way to Nice.

 We walked down the platform to the coach.

 The train coach was different to the english ones , because of the hot weather in the South of France.

 it was possible to open half the windows to let the cooler air in as the travelled on towards  the sun.

 My sister and i had the top couchettes. They was suspended by a large webbing strap from the ceiling of the coach.

We was to get intermittent sleep as the train seem to stop at lots of stations on the way. as the morning sun appeared

so we began to rise. From a dull Paris that we  had left the night before, to a bright warm sunlight day. This was like another world. one that we didnt dare to dream we would evr be privileged to visit. Getting off the train in Nice a town i thought only the rich an famous people could visit. here we was just a ordinary hard working class people seeing how the other half live. Outside the station was a coach to take us to Menton. our journey took us on roads up the mountain edge and round hair pin bends, winding down to Monaco , by the casino and the palace where Prince Rainer and Princess Grace lived. A fairy tale castle looking out to a beautiful blue sea.

As we appoached Menton, the streets were lined with trees, full of fruit. lemoms ready for picking. we ahd only seen lemons for sale at the local market before. here they was growing on the trees in the street. a wonderful aroma of citrus all around us. bright sunlight that i ahd never seen before, so warm, yet fresh sea breezes coming off the sea,

 The man in charge was a gentleman from Scotland.His job was to make sure we were alright and didnt get lost. Most days after breakfast we would go to the beach and sit in the sun and go for a swim.In the evenings go for a walk passing by the orange and lemon trees at the side of the roads.






ALASSIO

 At the market stalls their stall was ladened with peaches freshly picked from the trees and quite cheap.This would be our mid day snack. For evening meal we all dress up and afterwards would walk along the narrow lanes[ IlBudello] full of small shops selling everything you could possibly want.Alassio is a very special place . Lots of well off British people used to make their holiday there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEIGNMOUTH, DEVON, ENGLAND . An English seaside.

 A day out on the train to Teignmouth passed by some amazing scenery as the train sped onways from Exeter.

The train line kept close to the coast.

 WEYMOUTH. ENGLAND.

A seaside that is worth visiting, beautiful soft white sands

 and good sea front and harbour.

 A town i have visited many times.

I have stayed in a caravan at West bay and Weymouth.

 Stayed in a flat near sea front.

Travelled from Weymouth to Guernsey and back by ferry and back

 through the town by train from the harbour to the main line station.

The year was 1969. I had found a stray dog in Guernsey that had been hit by a bus.

 Nobody cared for him.

 We phoned the RSPCA and they slung him in the van and said they would let him go it the town.

 I pleaded with them and talked to the Captain of the ship

  He agreed that i could bring him back on the ship  for free

if i put him in the kennels on deck.

 I did, but he wined  for me to be there.

 So we sat on deck the whole journey.

 I put a belt around his neck and a piece of string  for a lead.

 On reaching Weymouth i asked the guard of the train

 if i could bring the dog on the train to London

 He agreed.

 I carried him across London on the underground for free.

 It wasnt until i reached Euston Station that i was challenged for a ticket.

 I didnt have the fare for the dog.

The ticket collector had to phone my father to verify i was his daughter

  He would make the payment for me .

 My father worked on the railway all his life and this was accepted.

 We was to keep Patch the dog for many years.

LLANDUDNO NORTH SHORE 

Many times we have sat on this beach and paddled in the sea.

 There are jelly fish swimming in the sea, so swimmers should be aware.

 HAPPY VALLEY OUTDOOR THEATRE. LLANDUDNO.

At the age of 5-6years old i appeared in a talent show .

 I stood in front of a large audience and read a poem.

 My prize was a little story book.

 The  show was managed by Alex Munro

 This where the Pier Pavillion Theatre stood until it was burnt down.

Photos. David Roberts photography. 

 

 

 LLANDUDNO.NORTH WALES a family favourite resort.we have been visiting Llandudno since 1949.

 Not much seems to have changed.

  Our holiday always included a visit to the Pier Pavilion Theatre.

It was built in 1881 near to the beginning of the pier.

 Sadly it was closed down and was burnt out in 1994.

 Many famous people performed on the stage,including Arthur Askey ,

 Russ Conway ,Beverley Sisters, whom we met at the stage door.

HOLYHEAD. The new bridge from the port to the town.

  A ferry port to Ireland.

 The train starts at Euston Station London to Holyhead train station for passengers to catch the ferry to Dublin.

I had always wanted to travel to Holyhead , on the train with passengers going to catch the ferry to Ireland and to feel the excitment they felt.

 My journey had started at Milton Keynes Station on a Virgin train. It was a most enjoyable journey and  from outside Chester the train ran by the coast for a great part of the journey.

 

ABERDOVEY. MID WALES 

A holiday in a friends caravan situated near this wonderful sandy beach.

A place to unwind and chill out .

 In the back ground the local train goes by.

CALAIS .FRANCE

 A busy port for passengers and cars

LONDON . ENGLAND

 A visit to the House of Lords in 2008 for a celebration of Relate 70th s birthday

 Birmingham Markets.

A good place for a bargain

Folkestone Harbour 

FOLKESTONE HARBOUR . ENGLAND.  photo. www.urban75.org

 

There was a train station near the harbour.

 It made it easier for passengers to step of the train and on to the ferry to cross the channel..

The station closed in 2001

   DOVER HARBOUR                                                                                          

    BOULOGNE. FRANCE.

The HOVERCRAFT used to run from FOLKSTONE HARBOUR to BOULOGNE

An old town with lots of interesting buildings to see .

 A good selection of shops.

VENTIMIGLIA. ITALY.

A famous market held every friday

MENTON SOUTH OF FRANCE.

 The town where orange and lemon trees grow in the streets.

 LILLE

 This town can be reached  for a day out via the Eurostar train from St Pancras London

ALCUDIA MALLORCA

 

                                                                                                                                 OLD ALCUDIA MALLORCA

 ST HELIER .JERSEY

VENICE 

PARIS. FRANCE

 DUBLIN , HALF PENNY BRIDGE over THE RIVER LIFFEY

Stowe Gardens Buckingham

Hunstanton , Norfolk  England

As a large family with not much money to spare , we managed to save enough for a few days on Searles Caravan park at Hunstanton.There was plenty to do for the children and it was a dog friendly resort in 1970s.usually a sea breeze was there and this made it feel colder than inland. Good entertainment and shops for food. Plenty of space on the long beaches


 
 
 
 
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