Banking on Grafitti

 Last days of the school hols ... they took some time out in Bristol.  Staying at the not so grand Grand Hotel.

They swam, steamed and bubbled in the spa.

She relaxed with her book - the life story of Isabella Blow.  Fashion editor, muse, nurturer of young fashion talent.  A true English eccentric, famed for her extrovert dress sense.  A life sadly marred by tragedy and depression.

They walked.

Grafitti capital.  Street art abounds.

Home of Banksy, anonymous, unseen, ex butcher turned spray can and stencil artist.  Emerged from the Bristol underground scene in the late 80s and used the Bristol streets as a canvas for his anti-establishment, anti-war, satirical and political artworks.  Loved by some, hated by others.

A well known Banksy landmark on the side of the sexual health clinic on Park Street, sadly defaced now.   Originally, the council ordered it to be removed but following huge public support they allowed it to remain

Many young people have been inspired to exhibit their handiwork. 

Some beautiful, some weird, some undoubted talent.

Welcomed in some areas and illegal in others, grafitti provokes much controversy.

Art given freely.

 

The knitting ninjas have been getting in on the act too ...

A refuelling stop at Pizza Express ... site of the first bank in Bristol, preserved with lots of its original features, plus a few quirky extras.

They explored St Nicholas Markets at the Corn Exchange and all the interesting little stalls outside.

She treated herself to a vintage kilt and a mohair jacket.

The clock outside the Corn Exchange has two minute hands.  Dating from the Victorian age when Bristol was in two minds about the correct time.  Before 1880 no standard time existed in Britain.  Every city had its own local time, governed by the sun, confirmed by the church bells.

Bristol lies 2 degrees, 36 minutes west of the Greenwich Meridian and the sun reaches its peak 11 minutes later than in Greenwich.  Before the railways came this didn't cause a problem as there was no reason why people in Bristol should keep to the same time as people in London, and there was no practical way of communicating information about time over a distance.  However, when the telegraph arrived and made such communication possible, it became necessary for people to all keep to a time based on a standard meridian.

The clock remains as a relic of this change - the black minute hand shows Greenwich Mean Time and the red minute hand shows Bristol time!

Lloyds TSB bank is opposite, housed in the most beautiful building.

Amazing stonework.  Unfortunately, not very clear due to the protective netting in front.

The inside beautifully preserved.

The next day a walk along the harbour.  Rain couldn't dampen their spirits.  Escapism at the cinema.

 

The Bristol Eye

Supper carried home carefully in a brown paper bag.  Renowned Pieminster pies.  Chicken and tarragon for him, Kate and Sidney for her!

A big thank you to all new followers!

And ... thank you to Miss Simmonds Says  and The Folly Bird for bestowing VJ with the Versatile Blogger Award!   The rules will be fulfilled shortly.