Ickworth

Well the new year has sprung! Last weekend was glorious, a little chilly but glorious blue skies so I went for a wander around the Ickworth estate.

The rotunda is currently under scaffold as the National Trust restores the roof.

This part of the house has a squash court, tea room etc.

This wing of the house is now a hotel.

Hatfield Broad Oak Church

One of the closest of Simon Jenkins 1000 best parish churches to me is Hatfield Broad Oak. At one time it was considerably bigger when it was attached to the priory church of  Hatfield Regis. Nothing remains of priory part of the church.

Today Hatfield Broad Oak is a pretty village and the church a decent one but oh to see it in its pomp

Southwold

I went to the seaside town of Southwold recently. Southwold is a bit of a throwback as seaside towns go as it has a range of specialist shops and a lack of chains (Costa Coffee closed) and it seems to be thriving,

Some find it a bit pretentious (or the people in it according to friends and a colleague) but I rather like it.

It has a brewery and a fine church.

The pier is thriving and is equally old fashioned.

The reason for being in Southwold was nearby Pieathlon at Dunwich Heath. These were from the beach

Viareggio in black & white

Viareggio is a small city in Northern Coast  of Tuscany by the Tyrrenhian sea it has been home to a carnival since 1873 and its papier-mâché floats, which (since 1925), parade along the promenade known as "Passeggiata a mare", in the weeks of Carnival.

A lot of the beaches you have to pay to use.

I stopped for a  coffee. Whereas in Venice and Florence I had noticed coffee had really gone up in price here it was very reasonable.

 the Fossa dell'Abate

 it was a relaxing day