For some travels happen in a very well planned fashion. First comes the thought, next – research of possibilities, then – perfect arrangements…later in my life my travels tend to happened to me spontaneously. Not that I do not plan or arrange, just today I might not even think of going somewhere and tomorrow I’d find myself on my way…No I haven’t been that far away this weekend. In fact, I haven’t left the island at all. I’ve just been out of my place for a while.
On Friday coming back from work I packed my in laws in a car and drove them 200 miles to East, to the sunny Essex. We’ve been visiting Colchester this weekend…
You know how sometimes when you arrive somewhere and the first thing you see or hear stays with you as a strong association with the place?.. When you drive into Colchester, the road signs say “Colchester. The Oldest Recorded Town”. And this is imprinted in my mind like a secret code, a memory label. There are few facts about Colchester, that some might find fascinating:
• It was the capital of Roman Britain when London was just a trading post
• Colchester Castle pre-dates the Tower of London and was in fact the blueprint for it.
• It has the largest surviving Roman gateway in Britain.
The town was established around 43AD, when Romans conquest Britain and served as a first Roman capital of Britain. Eventually it was destroyed in rebellion somewhere in 61AD, after which London has become a capital. Officially Colchester became a “city” when Richard Lionheart granted his Royal Charter to the place. (some kind of permission for legalising commerce - the only way to establish a city in medieval Europe) Anyway, I think, you’ve got the general idea that Colchester is The Town With History.
To me this is also a special place –it was the first town I saw when moved in England and I lived there for 5 years then. So…my travel was a bit nostalgic. I do love Colchester. I found it to have that warm feeling of simple comfort. Nice peaceful town without any pretence of being important. You can walk in town and feel relaxed as if you are in countryside.
The town has a castle, an old Norman build from 11 century:
There are also some ruins of an Augustinian’s priory dated from 1103:
The general impression from Colchester will always be – the town of flowers. Flowers are everywhere. Bright flowerbeds, luxurious hanging baskets and even works of flower art:
I was going to tell about my weekend…something like “I went to Colchester and it was nice”…but somehow to say it like this felt wrong. The town surely deserves at least a thought of appreciation. Besides, if I won’t tell you, you might never know such place exists at all. And I’m not saying you should know, but how else we discover something new if not through another’s eyes? So that’s my Colchester, the town I know and love. A sentimental corner in my heart.
On Friday coming back from work I packed my in laws in a car and drove them 200 miles to East, to the sunny Essex. We’ve been visiting Colchester this weekend…
You know how sometimes when you arrive somewhere and the first thing you see or hear stays with you as a strong association with the place?.. When you drive into Colchester, the road signs say “Colchester. The Oldest Recorded Town”. And this is imprinted in my mind like a secret code, a memory label. There are few facts about Colchester, that some might find fascinating:
• It was the capital of Roman Britain when London was just a trading post
• Colchester Castle pre-dates the Tower of London and was in fact the blueprint for it.
• It has the largest surviving Roman gateway in Britain.
The town was established around 43AD, when Romans conquest Britain and served as a first Roman capital of Britain. Eventually it was destroyed in rebellion somewhere in 61AD, after which London has become a capital. Officially Colchester became a “city” when Richard Lionheart granted his Royal Charter to the place. (some kind of permission for legalising commerce - the only way to establish a city in medieval Europe) Anyway, I think, you’ve got the general idea that Colchester is The Town With History.
To me this is also a special place –it was the first town I saw when moved in England and I lived there for 5 years then. So…my travel was a bit nostalgic. I do love Colchester. I found it to have that warm feeling of simple comfort. Nice peaceful town without any pretence of being important. You can walk in town and feel relaxed as if you are in countryside.
The town has a castle, an old Norman build from 11 century:
There are also some ruins of an Augustinian’s priory dated from 1103:
The general impression from Colchester will always be – the town of flowers. Flowers are everywhere. Bright flowerbeds, luxurious hanging baskets and even works of flower art:
I was going to tell about my weekend…something like “I went to Colchester and it was nice”…but somehow to say it like this felt wrong. The town surely deserves at least a thought of appreciation. Besides, if I won’t tell you, you might never know such place exists at all. And I’m not saying you should know, but how else we discover something new if not through another’s eyes? So that’s my Colchester, the town I know and love. A sentimental corner in my heart.
