The Lights of Newcastle

Every year on the last Saturday in November, I go with my neighbours Christmas shopping in Newcastle upon Tyne. Generally I’m not good at shopping together with other people, I prefer doing it alone because otherwise it takes me ages. I do not write down Xmas lists as I’m a bit of an impulse buyer and I end up not to follow the list anyway. But our trip to Newcastle is a sort of excuse to spend a day out together bonding and having a laugh as well. We usually go to Newcastle because, apart from being a beautiful place, it’s got great shops, restaurants and pubs and above all it is only less than an hour by train from York. And as I’m a photo-addict, I decided to compete with Beth of Newcastle Upon Tyne Daily Photo and take some pictures of Newcastle. I have some problems with my digital camera so I take pictures with my faithful mobile photos and, although the quality is not as good, it is easier for me to use.

Arriving in Newcastle, the beautiful view from the train over the bridges.

Here we are in the centre of Newcastle, the Grey’s Monument is in the background. I really like this column, maybe because it is dedicated to Earl Charles Grey after whom my favourite tea, the Earl Grey, is named! He was a whig Prime Minister and lover of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (Chatsworth).

And again my favourite column with the Christmas decorations. Lovely blue sky but freezing cold!!!

Inside the Eldon Square Shopping Centre it was nice and warm but terribly busy. So I sneaked around to take some shots and left my companions to their hard shopping tasks!

I was suprised to see a beautiful life-size Nativity scene on the top floor of the shopping centre; maybe has materialism not totally taken over our lives?

The traditional Xmas display in the windows of the Fenwick store is dedicated to Oliver - The Musical. The characters are actually moving and the Oliver's soundtrack is played in the background.

After taking the pictures I realized that I kept cutting through a long queue of people coming from the opposite direction who were queuing to admire the display! Never mind, I'm Italian and we do not know the concept of queues!!!

Finally, after many teas and coffees, something decent to eat! My husband says it looks revolting but it was really very tasty. A vegetarian Japanese dish with miso soup...




And before leaving a last night view of "my" column....



...and of the Christmas lights of Newcastle!