Monday 5 August 2019, Day 2, to Durham

In the Market Square, Durham

We had a nice breakfast at our Novotel., before heading to Durham via the M1/A1. We stopped at Wetherby services for a Costa Coffee - a nice flat white. We listened to Radio 3 playing music from the Edinburgh Festival. The temperature was 21C - a bit cooler here than in Switzerland.


We arrived at the Radisson Blu at 12.30, just in time for a fire alarm! We always like staying at this hotel. After checking in our bags, we strolled into the town over the River Wear. We had lunch at The Library, a new bar (or newly renamed). I hoped for fish and chips but had to settle for vegan chilli and rice - quite tasty. We watched the cricket on TV - England v Australia in the First Test - sadly England lost. Then back to the Radisson for a rest.

Richard with Paul in the bar of the Radisson

Me with Carole - an old friend from Aidan's

We had planned to meet my old Durham University friend Carole in the bar. She arrived with her husband Paul, also a former Durham student. We enjoyed a drink in the bar - dry white wine and soda - before walking along Back Silver Street (recommended by Laura)  and into Saddler Street to Shakeen's Indian restaurant. I enjoyed my chicken balti with cauliflower and a pint of Kingfisher beer. We had a lovely evening reminiscing over old and new times.



Then Richard and I said goodbye to Carole and Paul, and we enjoyed a glass of dry Malbec in the hotel bar. I slept well but was worried about my phone for some reason.