Newcastle I

Playlist
It Bites – The Tall Ships
Laura Pausini – E Ritorno da te
Peter Gabriel – Hits

Up early and loaded some net-sourced pics of the destinations on our North of England Tour (which started today) to appear on the blog while we are away...

Left the house at 9:20 with the sun shining...



Managed to get as far as Haddington before stopping for breakfast – tasty bacon rolls and coffees...



..at "The Pantry"...



Lost for a while in East Lothian (no Sat Nav of course) before we finally rejoined the A1 at Dunbar and continued without further incident on the road to Newcastle, where we found our hotel easily...



We checked in around 11:30 and immediately walked into the town centre past St James’s Park, through China Town...



...and on to the main thoroughfare of Dean Street/Grey Street...

We lunched at the nearby Café Royale...





...then, after checking out Reflex Record shop (no purchases), we walked down the hill to the Crown Posada, a great wee traditional pub with scratchy old records being played on a dansette...



When we emerged, we were met with rain and got soaked on the trek back up into town to the Central Arcade, where your correspondent purchased a 3DVD set by Paul McCartney at J.G. Windows...



While the Exex Producer perused shoes in the shop opposite...

A little way down the street, we found a great coffee shop called Kaffecinos and enjoyed a warming coffee/best hot chocolate in the world...



Then, some separate shopping found me in HMV where an 8CD set of ancient Spanish music by Jordi Savall and his Hesperion XX was secured...

We walked back down the hill again, this time via Bigg Market, and made our way out along the Quay to the Pitcher and Piano, opposite the Baltic, close to the Sage and alongside the milennium Bridge...







...and, after a couple of drinks...



...we doubled back to the Indian restaurant Saffron, as recommended by the barman at the Crown Posada...



...for a very tasty meal indeed, before walking up the hill once again and taking the bus home...

“Mock the Week” ended the evening perfectly...

Highlight of the Day : On holiday!!