#10 – If you have a passion for graphic design, illustration and typography like me and you’re visiting British pubs, you should watch out for some beautiful pub chalkboards (or »A-Boards«). Their skillful hand-drawn letterings and illustrations are true eye candy and a welcome change in our days of laser printer and cling film signage. There are even professional artists like Adrian Patrick, who have specialised in chalkboard design and are true masters of their art. As for my part, I really would appreciate this nice tradition to spread to pubs and bars in continental Europe. What do you think?
Autor: Thomas
At least 10 reasons to visit Great Britain (9)
#09 – The subtlety and expressiveness of the (British) English language. Remarkably enough, it was a toilet (!) where I read my all-time favourite English sentence. The restrooms of that particular holiday home – located in a rural area – weren’t connected to the public sewage system, so that waste water went into a soakaway beside the premises. Regarding this, there was a sign above the lavatory saying «You are kindly requested not to put anything down the toilet that hasn’t been eaten first«.
Nevermore did I encounter a sign with a more perfect combination of unambiguity, politeness and humour. And I believe that English is the perfect language for this to achieve.
If you like the sign, you can order a slightly different version of it here (German Online Shop).
Photo: © Leo Reynolds | Some rights reserved
At least 10 reasons to visit Great Britain (8)
#08 – Wonderful walks through almost unspoilt nature. Explore the lush woodlands of North Yorkshire, climb the green hills in the Cotswolds area, take a tour across the craggy Scottish Highlands or the pristine Welsh mountainscape – just to mention some places I’ve already visited – and you’ll get beautiful impressions of the local flora (and fauna, maybe). And it’s always worth to take a closer look – ’cause some of nature’s wonders are rather small.
Heart-shaped yellow lichen on a mountain rock (not photoshopped!)
A tiny Sundew (carnivorous plant), hidden in the moss by the wayside
Fotos: © formschub
At least 10 reasons to visit Great Britain (7)
#07 – Whisky. I know, nowadays any kind of Whisky is also available in countless online shops and thus could as well be sipped at home. But I just want to believe that this is not the same than having a glass of this amber delight in the land of its origin.
At least 10 reasons to visit Great Britain (6)
#06 – The ancient places. I love living and travelling in «Old Europe« – within a distance of a few hundred miles you can discover reams of historic monuments and buildings raised several hundred or even thousand years ago. The image below shows a part of Rievaulx Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey in the north, founded in 1132.
At least 10 reasons to visit Great Britain (5)
#05 – The view from the hills. Here: panoramic image from Sutton Bank on the Cleveland Way over Whitestone Cliff, capturing Roulston Scar (left), Hood Hill and the 20,000 year old Gormire Lake (right) that has neither a contributing stream nor an outlet and according to local folklore is bottomless.
www.northyorkmoors.org.uk · www.walkingenglishman.com
(Click on image to view a larger version)
Foto: © formschub
At least 10 reasons to visit Great Britain (4)
#04 – The British enthusiasm for flowers and gardening. Particularly in rural villages like my current holiday location (North Yorkshire), the gardens, streets and houses are bursting with beds, hanging baskets, boxes and pots full of flowers, plants and twiners. Call me bourgeois, but I like it.
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#03 – The incredible delicious variety of British sausages, e. g. Pork & Sweet Chili Sausages · Pork, Fresh Leek & Chive Sausages · Pork & Fresh Garlic Sausages · Tomato & Basil Pork Sausages · Pork & Apple Sausages with Thyme · Lamb & Redcurrant Sausages · Duck & Sour Cherry Sausages · Old Spot Breed Pork & Sage Sausages · Aberdeen Angus Beef & Black Pepper Chiploatas · Cider & Sage Sausages · Lamb & Coriander Sausages …
Try them from a local supermarket, but if you come across a good butcher, all the better.