Jesmond Park Hotel

Little photo tour of Newcastle

by MDH

"Street Spirit (Fade Out)"

Here's a bus going through the heart of the city. I wanted to get this photo to show people that double-decker buses aren't just limited to London, but are everywhere in the UK.

"The Jesmond area"

The B&B I was at, the Jesmond Park Hotel (I recommend it, by the way) was located right at the very end of this street, called Queens St. This neighborhood was on the west side of town; a twenty minute walk to downtown or half that by the Metro.

I remember this day being icy cold and the pavement on the road made me slide across it like I was the worst skater ever in the Olympics. What really interested me were the line of connected houses and the cars, which is something you would never see in my part of the world. I loved it.

"The "Castle" of Newcastle..."

Again, something you'd never see back in my part of the world: a real castle. The Castle Keep of Newcastle isn't the largest castle in the world, but God was it ancient! To think that one of the sons of William the Conqueror ordered its construction was mind-blowing, as well as to think of the previous things that were on this site, like Anglo-Saxon and even Roman forts.

It was also really interesting to see how the city has grown all around it, and now basically dwarfs it.

"...And the city now around it..."

So while we're talking about being dwarfed, here's what the city looks like around the castle. These were taken on the roof (again more stone-icy-sliding-falling action here).

"...And more of it"

And here's looking out towards the River Tyne. All those bridges and construction cranes were amazing. It was so cosmopolitan.

"Inside the Castle"

This is inside the castle. Although a lot of these rooms weren't built until later, they're still fairly old. One can only imagine all the people who've been in this building over the last 1000 years, from knights and barons, to people huddling for cover during the Blitz.

I got the impression that castles weren't the most romantic or luxurios of places. They're damp and cold, especially in the deep wintertime during my visit there.

"And when you're in the city..."

You can't forget (or fail to notice) the bridges. Here's the Tyne Bridge, the largest out of the two and the one that sort of looks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is right at sunset.

I don't know how I got that halo around the bridge. Must have been due to the light.

Bessie Surtees' House

by steventilly

Bessie Surtees House stands on the Quayside and is an example of a 16th century Merchants house. Bessie Surtees was the daughter of a prominent and wealthy family in the city who fell in love with a man of poorer standing. The couple eloped to be married in Scotland and the window that Bessie climbed out of is marked with a blue pane of glass.
Photo coming later

'Chip Butties'

by keeweechic

'Chip Butties' are the official food of the English. To make them you need bread, butter and chips (like thick french fries) Butter the bread, cram a load of chips on one slice then place another slice on the top carefully, next place your hand on this top slice and squish it all down. Ketchup, Brown Sauce, or Mayonaisse is optional. 'Chip Stotties' are the same thing using big bread bun.

You also get bacon buttles, fish butties, jam butties... you get the idea.

Reflections

by sabsi

When you are on the viewing platform of BALTIC try to catch a good picture of the reflection of the bridges in the windows. I tried for quite a while and this is as good as it got. It looked much better in reality though!

Northumberland

by keeweechic

Northumberland county has the smallest amount residents in England. The National Park is also the most remote and well-preserved of all the English National Parks. There are more castles open to the public here than any other county.