Carlisle, England

Located in Cumbria, Carlisle was originally a Roman settlement.  Carlisle has been known as a border town, which may seem odd considering its central location in the island of Great Britain.  But, one must remember that British citizens do not always find their primary identity in “Britishness.”  Carlisle is a border town between England proper and Scotland.  This is a very important divide if one desires to understand, with any amount of depth, British history.  Through the process of devolution, Scotland and even Wales are slowly gaining more and more independence from Parliament in London.

Carlisle itself has many interesting sites.  I would suggest stopping by the visitor’s center that is located in the towncenter to pick up brochures and maps.  Also, near the visitor’s center, was a VERY good, reasonably priced Italian restaurant.  Two other “must sees”:  Carlisle Cathedral and Carlisle castle.  There are some beautiful fields around Carlisle castle, which a friend and I enjoyed with a jog.  Carlisle Cathedral has a beautiful ceiling with sparkling, golden stars set on a deep blue background.  The towncenter is full of shops, restaurants, and a mixture of architecture.  Some of the old walls, echoing days when being a border town meant violence, still remain and add more charm to this city.

The pictures below feature the streets of Carlisle and the awe-inspiring ceiling of the cathedral.

Windermere, Lake District

Windermere is the perfect starting point to launch adventures into the Lake District’s natural beauty.  The quaint hotels, local restaurants, and tempting shops made our two hour tour seem unsatisfying.  I hope the pictures below make you desire to travel to this area as badly as I hope to return.  Very Soon!

The Poets of the Lake District

William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge were two of the Lake District’s most famous inhabitants.  I visited both of their homes and enjoyed seeing the sights that inspired their poetry.  An excerpt from Wordsworth’s “Ode to the Daffodils” is below: 

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

The pictures display Wordsworth’s home, some fields surrounding his home, and the garden and home of Coleridge (in that order).

The Lake District, England

The Lake District in England is located in the Cumbria region and is a popular holiday spot for hiking and outdoor activities.  The Lake District has been inspiring visitors for almost 200 years as demonstrated by the works of Wordsworth and Coleridge, British poets who called this area home.  I visited both of their homes and discovered how this area can inspire such emotions and poetic expression.  

My next several posts will highlight this region of England.  It is a photographer’s paradise.  The three pictures below are from our hike to the summitt of Mt. Helvelyn, the third highest peak in England.  This was a very intense hike.  We started in mild weather and finished in frigid cold with gusting winds.  

Cambridge, England

Students began to study at Cambridge in 1209.  One of the most impressive buildings in Cambridge, King’s College Chapel, was commissioned by Henry VI in 1446.  It is the largest building in the picture below.  I thoroughly enjoyed walking the streets of Cambridge.  Traditions are respected there;  I hope this remains the case.  History has a home at Cambridge, and I enjoyed being a guest.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Built from 1506 to 1626, St. Peter’s Basilica is a massive church located in Rome, Italy.  I was in awe and wonder at the perfection of craftmanship on display inside the basilica.  The interior is decorated with a tapestry of perfectly carved Italian marble.  I had never seen anything on such a grand scale.  We visited on All Saints Day in November, 2007.  We were fortunate enough to hear the Pope speak just before we toured St. Peter’s.  I included 3 pictures from that day below.  The first is of the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, the second is the beautiful Pieta by Michelangelo, and the third is from the dome of the basilica.

England

If you have not been to England, go quickly.  There is just something about seeing objects that are 1,000 years old.  I returned from England with a place in history.  So often in the fast current of modernity and progress we are so mobile that we lose our roots.  I discovered these roots in England and felt healthier than I have felt for a long time.  These objects of permanence do not constrain us, but provide much needed depth and order to our lives.  If you have not been to England, go quickly.

I have a new website

I now have a website that enables me to post full resolution pictures for back up purposes and so everyone can purchase fine art prints if interested.  The website is through a service called Zenfolio.  Zenfolio is a web hosting service associated with MPix, a professional print lab that does great work.  Go check out my new website:

www.nathanguinn.com

It’s Been a While

I am going to begin posting pictures again regularly and hopefully include a bit more commentary so that anyone interested in learning how to take pictures can learn with me as we go along.

This picture was photographed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia.  I was in Philly for a conference through the Intercollegiate Studies Institute discussing the rise and decline of civilizations.  Is Western Civilization in decline?  I don’t know, but it certainly was neat experiencing what many of our founders knew as the capital of the United States.