Plymouth Barbican UK

Hi and welcome. I've just been on a trip to the UK and Italy. I spent two weeks in Plymouth. This blog shows you shots of Plymouth Barbican. The old harbour of Plymouth that survived the blitz during the 2nd World War

The weather wasn't great. Grey, cloudy and rainy, just as I remember it from when I was a child, but it does add atmosphere! Hope you enjoy the photos. Next time Florence, Italy

The Barbican is home to many sailing boats. While I was there the Americas Cup World Series took place in Plymouth Sound. A big coup for Plymouth. You can see sunny photos of Plymouth Hoe here














A barbican is a fortified gate, and here the
name probably derives from the gate of the
'Castle Barbican'. It no longer exists






















Yachts but also old fishing boats
too. For centuries the Barbican
was home to Plymouth's fish
market and is still home to many
fishermen
















Walter Raleigh, Francis Drake, John Hawkins
and Captain Cook, all strolled through the
Barbican before setting off from this historic
area on their epic journeys around the world
















Boats in Sutton Harbour. Cute name for the
first boat on the left






















Many of the old buildings have
been renovated and turned into
pubs or restaurants






















Diversity of cuisine is also in
Plymouth. Good to see the
tradition of BYO is still alive
















One of the larger pubs and eating places. You
can get good real ale in these lovely pubs
















The Cornish were famous for smuggling. But I
bet their neighbouring Devonians weren't shy
of the practice!






















Classic scene
















An older and small drinking hole














You can see Plymouth also has a "London Eye".
It wasn't there the last time I looked! Plymouth’s
60 metre high big wheel has 42 air conditioned
capsules






















The Mayflower Steps from
whence the Pilgrim Fathers
set off to settle in America.
Convicts also left for Australia
from here. The flag and flowers
were left by Americas Cup competitors
to remember the victims of 9/11 on
the 10th anniversary of the tragedy
















Looking across to Mt Batten. There used to
be a marine station of the RAF there. My father
worked there for many years
















Atmospheric
















Captain Jasper's eating house. It all started
In 1978 when John Dudley, "The Cap'n" was
asked to help raise money for charity at
The Barbican Regatta. He built a small wooden
hut and sold BBQ'd food
















The weather may be drab, but the Barbican is
colourful






















Just luv Supertub!
















Discrimination against hippies, but aren't
they extinct?






















Typical old street in the Barbican






















The sign for the Plymouth aquarium

Do come again for photos of Florence, Italy

Plymouth Hoe & Barbican UK

Hello. Thanks for visiting.

Did you enjoy the photos of Beijing? Now we are moving west all the way to Plymouth in the southwest of England. I lived here from when I was 10 to when I left home to study at Liverpool University. My beloved parents, sister and brother-in-law, youngest niece, and two great nieces and one great nephew all live there now!

Plymouth is in a very beautiful part of the UK. It sits on the border between Devon and Cornwall. The Centre of Plymouth was pretty much destroyed during World War II. There is an old part called “the Barbican” which is what survived. The Pilgrim Fathers left from here to go to America. Then there is Plymouth Hoe, where its most famous landmark, Smeaton’s Tower, stands (see the first photo).

Don't forget you can click on the blue links to get more information.

I hope you enjoy your “visit”.

Love

Alan















View to the west from the Hoe
















Looking east
















Tinside Pool. An original 1930’s outdoor lido
swimming pool
















Great colours
















Beyond the pool you can see Drake's Island
















View of the pool and the lighthouse
















If only the weather was like this most
of the time.......
















The breakwater you see and the area at the
beginning of the breakwater is Mount Batten.
It used to be an RAF Marine Base.
My father worked there for many years.
He built and maintained the small, fast rescue
boats that would pick up pilots who ditched
into the sea.
















A rather empty pleasure boat!
















Mount Batten
















Longer view
















The lighthouse, Smeaton's Tower














The Promenade with hotels on the right
















First and Second World War Memorial
















Plymouth Guildhall, the place where I saw many
fantastic rock bands in the 70's including
King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull





















Elizabethan/Tudor Merchant House
















Street in the Barbican
















Barbican Waterfront



















Traditional Pub
















Great art work on Cap'n Jasper's eating place!
















Clubs and pub






















I guess this photo speaks for itself!
But click on GIN to find out more