July 8, 2014
End of June 2014 I did a tour together with 3 friends with the Greatrail Tours.. Our tour started in Torquay where we stayed for 4 days.
Torquay is set at the north end of Tor Bay and forms part of the English Riviera.
The town's economy, was initially based upon fishing and agriculture, but in the early 19th century the town began to develop into a fashionable seaside resort, initially frequented by members of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars while the Royal Navy anchored in the bay. Later, as the town's fame spread, it was popular with the crème de la crème of Victorian society. Renowned for its healthful climate, the town earned the nickname of the English Riviera. You can read more about it here.
Unfortunately when we were there, the weather was a rather typical English weather and not a Riviera weather at all. For that reason I couldn't take many pictures because it rained too much.
Torquay was the home of the writer Agatha Christie, who was born in this town and lived there during her early years. Therefore the town organized an "Agatha Christie Mile", a tour with plaques dedicated to her life and work. She is the most important attraction of the city.
We got the chance to stay in the Grand'Hotel where Agatha spent her honeymoon night with Archie Christie on Christmas Eve 1914. The hotel still retains an Agatha Christie Suite, but as I am not yet an important writer, my room was on another floor.
The hotel had a commemorative plaque of her at the entrance.
On the program of the first day was the "Agatha Christie walk". An rather old gentlemen who must have known her as a child, tried to walk us around on her traces, but the whole excursion literally dropped into the water and even the most courageous once from our group had to give up !
The tour started in the Torre Abbey Garden – Home of the Agatha Christie’s Potent Plants collection inspired by the poisons and potions in her books. Unfortunately we only had a glance on this garden and I coudn't get any recepes for poisoning naughty people and commit the perfect murder. There was also the church where Agatha married.
Our tour !
The cricket club where her husband used to play is still there and brave people played.
The next day we took a taxi to visit Torquay on our own. We had a free day.
Between showers we managed to see at least a bit of Torquay which seems to be a beautiful town.
There also were a big choice of pubs and different restaurants and we choose a very cozy one for a nice salad and dry our clothes !
The habour
and the city center
From the "Princess Garden" with a A bronze bust created to commemorate the Agatha Christie Centenary Year in 1990 by Dutch sculptor Carol Van Den Boom-Cairns, we also saw the "Torquay's eye" !
Just opposite of our hotel, was the station where some years ago the city had invited the most famous actors who were Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. It was the first time both heros were seen together.
Despite the lousy weather we enjoyed Torquay very much !
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
TORQUAY/DEVON UK
Posted by Gattina at Tuesday, July 08, 2014
travel, vacation, Jordan, Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Agatha Christie, Our World, Torquay
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8 comments:
That must have been a beautiful trip. I love everything about England. it is so beautiful.
Calling by today from Our World Tuesday,I am so glad you enjoyed Torquay despite the weather!
I enjoyed seeing your holiday destination. Never mind the showers, you picked up great shots! Carole, at snaphappyonline.blogspot.com
Great tour of the city. Wonderful shots.
Looks so green there. My future daughter in law just took a six week trip to Europe. She visit England and Ireland.
But I have a hang up over rain.
Coffee is on
Looks like such an interesting town, even in the rain. It is too bad we can't order up the weather we want when on a trip! (It's raining here in Alaska as I write...boo hiss).
Your outfit in that one picture makes me envious. I have been alternating the same three pairs of blue jeans the whole trip here (of course we are camping and having to use RV Park laundry facilities and would probably shrink anything else the first time I washed it.)
A shame about the weather in Torquay Gattina. My wife's sister lives there and assures us it doesn't rain all the time. You have some lovely photos from your trip
A shame about the weather in Torquay Gattina. My wife's sister lives there and assures us it doesn't rain all the time. You have some lovely photos from your trip
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