London views - night and day

 Central London at high speed, hand held @ around 2am 1.11.16

(above and below)

 Glorious autumn colours: 2.11.16

 Glorious autumn colours: 2.11.16 looking 

towards Hither Green and Bexley Way 

 Air quality could be an issue in the City.....

Shows more in the photo than with the naked eye

London – autumn colours

 

Looking towards the Horniman Museum

(above and below)

Despite the gloom of Brexit, there were some compensations – one being the autumn colours from Forest Hill outwards.....

 Golden tree 

Central London in the late afternoon light

Visit to lovely Rila Monastery regaled by glorious autumn colours

Yesterday we took a day tour to Rila Monastery. We used Traventuria and we were so lucky with the weather with sunshine lighting up the glorious autumn colours. Chris was our excellent guide. 

The monastery itself is remarkable, although it is a pity that you apparently can't see some of monks' cells, especially as there are now only nine living in the monsatery which can accommodate many more.   

It is a little over a two hour drive from Sofia once you have got through the city's traffic. The monastery is at 1,147 m (3,763 ft) in the Rila Mountains, so although it was warm in the sun it was chilly in the shade.

The entrance 

Painting of Saint Simon Woolf slaying 

the International Grape Varieties

The rear entrance to the monastery 

from the restaurant and food outlet area

#2015Loire: autumnal Sancerre

 

Looking down on Verdigny

Golden vines with part of the hill of Sancerre in background 

Looking down on Chavignol 

with the village of Amigny beyond

Sancerre from Les Monts Damnés

Golden colours in Verdigny with a hint of 

Sancerre in the background

Autumn colours@SE23

1st November autumn colours in Forest Hill, London SE23 (above and below)

Latest updates

Reports from Monday 6 October: 'Central Vineyards – une année spéciale?' now complete.

More reports added to 'A fine day in Pouilly and Sancerre'. Recent additions: Serge Dagueneau et Filles, Landrat-Guyollot, Benjamin Dagueneau at Domaine Didier Dagueneau and Michell Redde.

Wonderful autumn day yesterday – clear blue sky most of the day. France Meteo this morning is predicting good weather until next Thursday, so looking good for the next part of the harvest.

The autumn colours are becoming increasingly magnificent:

Virginia creeper