Some of our friends mentioned wanting to find a music festival and it just happens that Keswick is known for the “Keswick Jazz Festival”. It was on the way to Edinburgh. Given our schedule, we knew would only have one night there, hopefully enough time to catch an evening show at one of the Keswick venues in the Lake district.
Because we wanted to get to Keswick, we drove straight through, past Liverpool and Blackpool (two more places on our list). We also found that with the festival, our choices of lodging was limited. We found parking to be limited too.
Keswick
There is considerable evidence of prehistoric occupation of the Keswick area, but the first recorded mention of the town dates from the 13th century, when Edward I of England granted a charter for Keswick’s market, which has maintained a continuous 700-year existence. In Tudor times the town was an important mining area, and from the 18th century onwards it has increasingly been known as a holiday centre; tourism has been its principal industry for more than 150 years. Its features include the Moot Hall; a modern theatre, the Theatre by the Lake; one of Britain’s oldest surviving cinemas, the Alhambra; and the Keswick Museum and Art Gallery in the town’s largest open space, Fitz Park. Among the town’s annual events is the Keswick Convention, an Evangelical gathering attracting visitors from many countries.
Richmond House
We found ourselves at the Richmond house, a quaint little BnB. The rooms were nice and after the drive, I was tired. It was also threatening rain. We had rain gear and went out.
In the second week of May there is the four-day Keswick Jazz Festival, with more than 100 jazz events at a dozen local venues. Participants include British and international exponents of mainstream and traditional jazz.
Keswick Jazz Festival
The pub we found was packed, so we moved on. We tried a few more and it was the same. Several places needed tickets or passes as well. We probably should have researched the Keswick jazz festival a little more. Though in our defense, the friends who wanted music were still back in Indianapolis. We talked to a few people and learned there was to be a parade in the morning. We retired back to the Bed and Breakfast.
That night, Teresa fell asleep. Before we had left, I had been talking to some people. We had shared interests, including reading. I had always enjoyed reading and my favorite genres has been “Sci-Fi” like ‘Star Trek’ and “Fantasy” like ‘Dragonlance’. However, recently I had several books I had started and stopped just a few chapters in. It was not something I did (often). I usually gave even the worst books a chance. Well someone told me that perhaps I needed something different, that maybe my brain had changed and needed different stimulation. They also suggested to read a chapter or two without other stimulation, like music.
Before we left, I had picked up “The DaVinci Code” by Dan Brown. I was a good deal in when Robert Langdon went to seek the mysteries at Rosslyn Chapel and that was near Edinburgh! The chapel was not on our itinerary, but I knew we had to see it. I love seeing places in books, TV shows and movies and this one had a mystery. I had to read more, and more and …. it’s 3am and I just finished the book. On top of that, I enjoyed it (but was going to pay for it in the morning).
We got up (after just a few short hours for me), packed and went down for breakfast. I was telling Teresa and Daryl about the book (without spoiling it) and Rosslyn Chapel. They agreed and we headed to downtown and got into the crowd to watch the parade and listen to some good jazz.
Geocaching in the Lake District
Of course, we had a few travel bugs we wanted to place (geocaching.com) and decided to give the Lake District a try. It was raining again but we got out anyway. Daryl was getting better at getting out.
Edinburgh
Recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century, Edinburgh is the seat of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament and the supreme courts of Scotland. The city’s Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the Monarchy in Scotland. The city has long been a centre of education, particularly in the fields of medicine, Scots law, literature, the sciences and engineering. It is the second largest financial centre in the United Kingdom (after London) and the city’s historical and cultural attractions have made it the United Kingdom’s second most popular tourist destination, attracting over one million overseas visitors each year.
Million Dollar Mile
Edinburgh has a lot of history, much more than I would add here. We took the city bus up to the Million Dollar Mile, a shopping and tourist district. Monuments and plaques were to be seen all about.
A monument viewed through an alley
Daryl not look happy to be walking again
Castle of Edinburgh
Teresa, waiting for her Doctor
