After breakfast, I headed to Arnos Vale Cemetery located on Bath Road. It was one of those cross your fingers walking trips (i.e. will I be able to walk along the road). The answer was yes. Upon arriving, I was stunned how early it still was. It was around about 9.30am when I arrived. I wandered around the Victorian cemetery, captivated as ever by the symbolism on the graves such as the anchors and the veiled urns. I was also saddened by the state of many of the graves. Stones and tombs lay broken and beyond the possibility of repair. One of the most potent images I saw today was the root of a tree effectively holding up a gravestone.
As I walked around, I began to feel quite sad. I guess the loss of Dad, started to creep up on me as I read the inscriptions on the gravestones and saw people laying flowers (the cemetery is fortunately still in active use).
I popped into the Atrium Cafe and was greeted by two pleasant ladies who pushed a tea bag onto me like dealers but in a good way. Their carrot cake probably got me through the rest of the day. The tea and cake were money well spent! There was also a great little exhibition downstairs describing the cemetery's temporary foray into cremation (it didn't last).
Shortly after my cafe experience, which was doubly pleasant thanks to the Radiohead soundtrack playing in the background, I left and decided to continue my long walk.
For reasons my brain has yet to divulge, it decided to send me off in search of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Now this entailed walking miles. In fact, just when I thought I wouldn't have to walk any further, I then had to walk up a cliff face to get to Clifton. The bridge was mightily impressive. It is currently free to pedestrians, although I believe that motorists have to pay a toll to use it. I decided to walk across it and was slightly unnerved by the wind as it blew up. As I crossed, the bridge felt as though it was moving. I was shocked by the Samaritans' advert I saw on the other side, as the thought of throwing myself off the bridge really wouldn't be an option were I so inclined. Too high and that drop. Ouch!
After leaving the bridge, I entered a toilet and I was intrigued by a phrase and drawing under the window, 'Foals Forever', which was accompanied by a pyramid surmounted by an eye. Some cult affiliation or Illuminati aficionado perhaps?
I then decided to try to find the zoo when I realised that it was in the same neck of the woods. The zoo was an interesting experience. As I get older, I start to spot the problems of zoos. For example, in certain cases, the animals just seem unhappy. They are in captivity for their own good to preserve their species quite a bit of the time but they just seem restrained. There are definitely exceptions to this. The Meerkats for example are just posers. Give them a pretty big space and they will shine like cabaret singers. The other thing I noticed was how many sections of the zoo were closed for refurbishment and I also spotted the never-ending posters advising you to become a 'friend of the zoo'. My friendship was sorely tested when I just about got change from £20 to get in.
I did see some captivating sights. The Giant Leaf Insect was fascinating, clinging onto a leaf which is heavily resembled (the clue is in its name!). Also I was unaware how playful and aggressive seals are. Noisy too, they have a tendency to growl.
Upon leaving the zoo, I cheated and got a bus back to Temple Meads Station returning to the hotel briefly, My last trip of the day was to a restaurant called Don Giovanni's just up the road from Bristol Temple Meads Station, where I was advised to sit on the other side of the table because it was lighter over there. The food was superb and I got out of there prior to the arrival of the huge dinner party, so a winning outcome for me for a change.
Barry Watt - 11th September 2015.
Photos.
Angel in Arnos Vale Cemetery.
One of the many inscriptions in Arnos Vale Cemetery that made me nearly cry.
Nature seemingly holding up the gravestone.
Trees in Arnos Vale Cemetery.
Life in Arnos Vale Cemetery.
Clifton Suspension Bridge from below.
A view of Clifton Suspension Bridge.
A view from Clifton Suspension Bridge. Phew, was it high up!
Cute wee seals in the Bristol Zoo.
Bat in Bristol Zoo.
Afterword.
Arnos Vale Cemetery is an amazing cemetery. The staff were lovely there and were especially helpful when it came to choosing a guide book to purchase. The Atrium Cafe is well worth a visit too! Please see the link below for the cemetery and its many events:
https://arnosvale.org.uk/
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is a must see if you visit Bristol but be warned, it's quite high!
http://www.cliftonbridge.org.uk/
The Samaritans are a registered charity and are a lifeline for people who need to talk.
http://www.samaritans.org/branches?gclid=CLvvk4j9gsgCFcRAGwodbNgIDw
The Illuminati can be explored below on Wikipedia. Any of a number of real or imagined organisations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati
Bristol Zoo is worth a visit despite my comments about how much it cost to get in.
http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/
Don Giovanni's Restaurant was and is well worth visiting.
http://www.dongiovannisbristol.co.uk/
BW
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