Ambience is the Daily Post Photo Challenge for the current week.
Many of the places we visited on our trip to United Kingdom in December had oodles of it. However, it is difficult to beat venerable churches when it comes to sheer atmosphere, and Romsey Abbey is certainly no exception. 
And for a totally different ambience, a view out across to where one takes the ferry as an Isle of Purbeck shortcut. Actually, there was a bit of hilarity attached to that. We instructed ‘James’, our trusty Garmin voice, to direct us to Corfe Castle. After we had followed all the ‘enter roundabout and take third exit’ etc directions, he said in a smug voice, ‘Take ferry.’
There were universal gasps. ‘We don’t want to go to Isle of Wight or France,’ we protested, and stopped to investigate. We were advised by the ferry office that a hop across a short strip of water led to the scenic route to our destination, and he suggested we join the queue of cars. This went back a considerable distance, but it turned out that the ferry took over forty vehicles at a time, so the wait was not too long and the views were worth it.
Colonialist's Blog 
So elegant and intriguing.
There’s so much tearing down and construction around here, if you don’t go down a street for a few weeks, you may not recognize it the next time you travel there. A real shame the old solid buildings are always at risk here. Historical groups and architects try, but it’s a tough battle.
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When bank notes are dangled in front of the eyes, it is amazing how quickly they can blind many individuals to beauty and true value.
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I wonder why some people go to see/hear choirs and spoil the experience for everyone around them by talking (or even whispering) throughout!
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Well, in their defence, they were there to see the building and the choir happened to be practicing. The sound was so exquisite in that setting, though, that to ignore it seemed the height of insensitivity.
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I take it you enjoyed your UK trip. Despite the cold? 🙂
Are you back yet to the warmth of Africa?
Happy new year my friend.
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It was all a wonderful experience, and more than the value of the weight of our luggage in gold to the kids.
Surprisingly, Africa hasn’t been all that warm yet.
And to you!
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Glad you enjoyed it. Now technically, in SA, you should be deep into summer now. Global (un)warming? 🙂
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Durban is a funny place. It only gets into the mood of summer round February/March, when it produces a good imitation of a steam cooker. From April to July the weather is generally delightful, which is why our beaches swarm during July holidays.
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July being technically winter… Anyway, I still envy you for living so close to the beach. Beaches are marvelous inventions. 🙂
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They are, even if they do regularly bump off some of the population!
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You got a sunny day too by the look of it 😀
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The look of it was lovely. The feel of it, to our African-trained skins, was really chilly! However, for the best part of our visit I dressed like an Arctic explorer complete with hooded ski jacket, so that made it tolerable.
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Hi Col, if you’re doing the trip that way again, the 50 bus from Bournemouth goes on the ferry (open top in the summer) and it has a separate route so goes to front of car queue http://www.purbeckbreezer.co.uk/
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That is a handy tip, and seeing those views from an added height is an idea that really appeals to me.
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What a beautiful Abbey, great photos.
You can’t always trust the Garmin 😉
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Thanks! No, ‘James’ led us astray more than once!
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Spesiaal…
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Dit is so!
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Yes, Col, churches do have their own, and very definite, feel.
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Some American tourists seem immune, though. I recall a bunch of them gabbling inanely while the choir was singing exquisitely at Yorkminster.
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Perhaps they didn’t like the song 😉 – at least they didn’t walk out!
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I was wishing they would, preferably falling on their noses going down the steps on the way.
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Pingback: Ambiance: Fireworks | What's (in) the picture?
I like old!
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South Africa and Australia have a shortage of really old buildings. In the UK, despite the population eagerly destroying any number of them during little differences of opinion, a good many really old and impressive ones survive.
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