Travel

Well the rain certainly stopped today! Perfect blue skies and a visit to the roof of the Duomo allowed this view of the snow-capped Alpine mountains.

When we took the funicular from Como up to Brunate the sun was setting over the lake and Alps. Looking northwest Monte Rosa on the Swiss-Italian border is the highest peak left of centre. Brunate is located at a height of 2436 ft (715m) above sea level while Como is at 659 ft (201m).

Taken from the Rue Voltaire overbridge the support crew are pulling coal forward while 140C231 takes water at the platform end in Troyes station. Starting at the Gare de l'Est in Paris we ran via Melun, Montereau and Flamboin-Gouaix.

On the return flight from Milan Malpensa.

Light and shade in the Museo del Ferrocarril - the former Madrid Delicias railway station.

South African Railways 4-8-2 19D 2759 vigourously shunts goods wagons out of the yard at Grahamstown. A total of 268 19Ds were built, initially in Germany; 2759 was delivered in 1945 by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns (RSH) of Darlington.

Inside Bar La Venencia. The bar’s menu offers Manzanilla, Fino, Oloroso, Amontillado and Palo cortado – five Spanish sherries. That's it. Nothing fancy and don't expect small talk from the barman. Our tab is written on the counter in chalk: 3,80 Euro + 4,40 Euro + 2,00 Euro. That's 2 Manzanilla sherries, 2 Amonttillado sherries and a bowl of manchego cheese & some nuts then. I'm actually not a sherry drinker but these were good and I can recommend the place.

Designed by John Roberts Tyrone House was built in 1779 for Christopher French St. George, part of an old Co. Galway family with Norman Irish roots. Empty since 1905, the house was torched by the IRA during the War of Independence in 1921 when the house was rumoured to be a base for the Black & Tan army during the War of Independence. An elderly and bed-bound caretaker was reputed to be inside at the time, but the IRA carried his bed, bedding and furniture downstairs, put him in one of the out-offices and then set the place alight. It has lain derelict since but many of the valuable architectural features have been removed. It is a very atmospheric and melancholy sight especially at sunset.

HSB narrow gauge 2-6-2T 99 6001 enters Alexisbad from Gernrode on the Selketalbahn past a beautiful wooden building which houses the Elysium Cafe & Restaurant. Just visible on the right is the River Selke from which the railway takes its name.