Mondays won’t be the same for a while as I will really miss my travels down the Amazon with the intrepid, very cheerful Bruce Parry. What a superb program ‘Auntie Beeb’ it has been. Last evening Mr Parry reached the final stretch of his epic journey and here we really see the massive destruction that is taking place in the Brazilian Rain Forest. How savage it all looked, and shockingly close to the indigenous tribes. Bruce Parry’s journey took him seven months! but we were able to see his journey in a matter of weeks and as he has now been made a ‘son’ of a badly affected tribe in a very moving ceremony, we witnessed and felt their despair. Bruce Parry covered their story so completely – it was compelling viewing.
Category: Travel
How good it is to have the former Royal Marine Bruce Parry back for another great series. Often not one to watch, while having supper! but how very entertaining is “Amazon with Bruce Parry” showing on BBC2 at 9pm on Monday evening . This week as he treks along the route of the Amazon through parts of the remote Peruvian forest is quite sad in places. The disruption to the Achuar tribe is so badly threatened by the worlds oil companies showing the pollution they make to their very necessary water rivers spoiling this unique way of life. As always Parry was keen to integrate with the tribe and agreed to try ayahuasaca a hallucinogen that causes severe vomiting. It was painful viewing, but fearless Parry was not to be beaten. As always so educational and the scenery is just amazing. These are such great series and certainly not to be missed. There are four more episodes to go, catch it if you can.
It was with great delight that I watched this enchanting program on BBC1 on Sunday. The marvellous actress Joanna Lumley visited the Arctic Circle to view the mystic phenomenon of the Northern Lights. This had been her life long dream after reading of these wonders in her childhood story book. A tiny picture of the aurora borealis staying in her memory throughout her life and it was with a great passion that she embarked on this rather special journey hoping to see them. She started her journey in Trondheim, Norway, catching a northbound train towards the arctic circle and along the way Joanna meets some very interesting people in this fantastic wonderland. Joanna Lumley is a much loved and very beautiful British actress and with her wonderfully cultured voice, it simply made this delightful television viewing. It was such a very nice change from all the shouting and swearing of so many recent programs. How very alluring this journey was, how restful, delightful and visually breathtaking. Joanna charms all the very interesting people she meets along the way, looking simply wonderful in her array of stunning winter hats. A perfect program and I wont spoil the ending but just to say it’s well worth watching. I am sure it will be repeated again -do try to see it if you can.
Recently I started to cycle again. It is I might say a long time since I first learnt to ride and more than forty-five years since I last sat on a bike. My sister Jenny suggested that it might be a great way of getting some much needed exercise and a good way of exploring at close quarters, the lanes and fields that surround our homes. Oh! such fun and great excitement and with a pounding heart as I tucked my jeans into the bicycle clips so kindly lent by a friend we passed in the village, how kind as he took off his own clips to give to me “can’t have you getting caught in the chain on your first day dear” So off I ventured to this new delight in my sixty- first year!
The first day was a real success and returning home all in one piece I longed to cycle again. Now having been cycling for a few weeks the delights of this pursuit are astounding, to ride on a sunny day along the lanes and see the newly harvested fields of corn and wheat instead of whizzing by in my car. To smell the grass and earth, to see the different leaves and colours of our beautiful land. To look at closely again, the berry filled hedges, the different views as we stopped to admire this wonderful countryside, stretching our eyes as far as we can to see across these patchwork fields of green, browns and gold. To see the little cottages nestling in their valleys and the church steeples in the distance. To pass by the huge rusty red cows and to see the geese marching past. To breathe the wondrous air and feel the wind on your face and hair as you freewheel down the hills after the long slog up, is quite perfect. My sister and I wave to our friends as we pass them by and explore lanes as we have never seen them before. This pursuit has taken me back to my childhood and yes -I know what your thinking! – I have fallen off once, luckily on the edge of a field so the landing was soft and no damage done.
Everyday my confidence has grown, so now I feel proficient to ride without my first fear. What a lovely pastime to start again after all these years! how exhilarating this feeling of freedom and how I rejoice in it all, thank you for suggesting it dear Jenny, how I love this new adventure.
Francesco da Mosto ends his fabulous series tonight as he visits to pay his respects at the war cemeteries of Gallipoli. We also see Turkey’s largest Mosque. Then finally Mosto reaches Istanbul, city founded as the centrepiece of the former Ottoman Empire having completed his voyage. I shall feel a little sad as we leave the beautiful schooner the Black Swan and even sadder to end this wonderful enchanting series. A series that has shown us such special Mediterranean places. Please ‘Auntie Beeb’ can we have some more, or even some re-runs of his first series.
You can buy a copy in hardback of “Francesco’s Mediterranean Voyage” from www.amazon.co.uk released 18th August, I managed to get a brand new copy for £10 by scrolling down through new and used. It is beautifully illustrated throughout and a must for fans of Francesco everywhere.
I am really enjoying Italian architect Francesco’s da Mosto Mediterranean Voyage, now showing on BBC2 on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8.30. Sailing from Venice to Istanbul in the fabulously beautiful ” Black Swan” schooner, we follow the historical Venetian trading route, stopping at some of the most beautiful Mediterranean cities on the way. This program is delightful, it brings together the threads of history and culture. Da Mosta has a very attractive calming voice and is so passionate about the places he visits, that you find yourself caught up in his adventure. We have seen the enchanting church at Skriljinch and this week we stopped at the historic Mostar Bridge in Split and then between the Croatian islands of Hvar ad Korcula which were surprisingly beautiful. Then onto the historic city of Dubrovnik. A stop in Tirana the capital of Albania was interesting if not, a rather strange city. Francesco da Mosto unadulterated enthusiasm and wanderlust is truly appealing and I cannot wait until next week to continue this journey with this wonderful Venetian.