The Magic of Majorca with Nick, Marguerite & Isobel

 The Magic of Majorca 

The sun was shining and we couldn't wait to make a splash in the fabulous pool! There was a great aqua aerobic class that we joined in with every morning. 

An ice cream treat is always a must....we are on holiday after all! 

It was down tot he harbour where our boat was waiting for us. Heading up to the top deck for the best views we were soon speeding off along the rocky coastline of Santa Ponsa. The views were breathtaking and to our amazement we were able to catch sight of dolphins just a short distance away from us. We were absolutely delighted and couldn't believe our luck; it was such a beautiful sight. The music on board was fantastic and got us all in the party mood, we sang and clapped along with some of the other passengers making it a fabulous atmosphere. 

There were so many great activities for us to participate in and we proved to be great Robin Hood impersonators down at the archery range. 

Beach days are favourite days! The local beach had crystal clear water and was so warm! Relaxing on the sunbed was a tough job.....but someone had to do it! 

A sightseeing day was the plan for today and we caught a bus to Palma, the capital city of Majorca. It is famous for its rich history as well as a vibrant culture that attracts numerous tourists from all over the world. There was a small market and many boutique shops to explore as we walked down the cobbled streets taking in the sheer beauty of it all. In the heart of the city stands the magnificent 14th century cathedral known as La Seu and, as the most emblematic building in the capital. It was impossible to miss this imposing golden sandstone building and is one of Europe's tallest Gothic structures. It is perched above Parc de la Mar and a superb sight for those arriving by sea. We enjoyed lunch in a delightful café before exploring the old street, spotting old buildings. 

The evening entertainment at the hotel was 1st class. From quizzes and games to traditional Spanish flamenco dancing. We were always the first on the dance floor showing off our disco moves.  

Yorkshire Dales, TV Soap Country with Debbie, Jamie & Russell

 Yorkshire Dales, TV Soap Country 

We were in Soap heaven as we visited the iconic Woolpack pub in the heart of the Dales. The friendly landlady even let us behind the bar to pull a pint! 

Next on our soap tour was in the village of Goathland where the police TV drama Heartbeat was filmed. We posed for photos outside Scripps Garage, The Aidensfield Arms pub and popped in the gift shop to buy souvenirs to take home.

 

As we made our way to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway we had to stop for sheep that were walking across the road. The railway is one of the world’s greatest heritage railways for steam and diesel trains and we were lucky to see both coming in and out of this amazing train station. It also doubles up as the famous Hogsmeade Station in the famous Harry Potter films. One of the train drivers stopped shovelling coal into the steam boiler to pose for a photo with us and again we bought gifts and souvenirs from the on-site shop.

We visited Holmfirth in West Yorkshire famous for the filming location of Last of the Summer Wine. Once we had arrived it was straight into Sid’s Café for refreshments which was filled with fabulous memorabilia. After buying a few souvenirs we headed outside to board the Summer Wine Magic Tour bus. This small, old fashioned charabanc style coach was driven by the knowledgeable Colin, who for nearly 20 years was the owner of Sid’s Café and was regularly involved with the cast and crew. He even appeared in one episode with the late, great Sir Norman Wisdom. Colin drove us around the streets, past Nora Batty’s house and through the beautiful hills whilst relaying tales and stories about the characters

Yummy! We headed to Wensleydale, famous for its cheese. We walked around the village of Hawes then returned to the factory to watch a demonstration of cheese being made from 8 pints of milk and learned the history of the cheese. True original Wensleydale cheese is made from milk obtained from farms within a 30-mile radius of the factory. 

 We toured the factory sampling the many cheeses they make and met the cheese loving duo Wallace and Gromit for some great pictures.

How lucky were we to have our very own hot tub to relax in after our days out!

What a great find! Eden Camp near York, is a large Second World War Museum housed within 33 huts that used to house up to 250 Italian prisoners of war between 1942 and 1948. After the prisoners left, the camp was used for storage before being abandoned. One of its buildings contained three Human Torpedoes and a "Sleeping Beauty" motorised submersible canoe which fascinated both Peter and Nathan. The museum has many tanks and half-track vehicles among many other military vehicles which are now on display. Chris was amazed by their size as he had only ever seen them on TV and in films. We posed for a group photo next to a fully restored American Super Sherman (M50) Tank.