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Portishead-Visit 2011
At July 28th 2011, in the last week of summer holidays, the members of the association Schweich-Portishead travelled to their
English sister city.
During the ferry crossing from Calais to Dover, the weather changed from rain to marvellous sunshine and that’s how the party reached Portishead. At the pub “The Ship” the guests were cordially
received by their English hosts.
At Friday morning, the well-prepared program began with the departure to Weston-Super-Mare. After a fire in 2008, the fully destroyed Grand-Pier was reconstructed and reopened in October
2010. After a conducted tour through the spacious plot, Fish and Chips was handed. After lunch, there was time to take a look at the different gambling dens or to go for a walk at the beach. In the afternoon, the program
proceeded with an interesting and ample conducted tour through the helicopter museum, which is also situated in Weston-Super-Mare. Besides big and small international helicopter types, there was even the possibility to visit an
old DDR-airplane.
As usual, the weekend program took place in the host families, but on Sunday afternoon – quintessentially for Great Britain – Cream Tea was handed in Walton Park Hotel in Portishead. This was a good
occasion for Michaela, Wine Queen of Römische Weinstraße (Roman Wine Street), and her princesses Katharina and Martina, to welcome the attendees.
Agenda highlight on Monday was the journey to Bristol-Clifton with a
conducted tour over the historical Suspension-Bridge, which was built in 1819 by master-builder Brunel. Unfortunately, after many troubles in 1864, he didn’t undergo its dedication anymore. Since that time, the bridge has
been in use without cease, a monument for the great engineer!
Afterwards, there was time for tea and coffee with pastry at the terrace of Avon Gorge Hotel with great look-out at Avon River, Suspension Brigde and Clifton. The
meanwhile traditional picnic took place at the roomy grassed area on a hill over Bristol. A visit of Bristol’s catholic cathedral St. Peter & Paul completed the program.
The evening entertainment was arranged by The Mendip Morris Men, a get-together with old friends.
After the goodbye from the English host families at Tuesday morning, the journey kept moving to London by coach. After a
short city tour, everyone had the chance to discover the city on his own. On the late evening of August 3rd, the party arrived back in Schweich, with lots of new impressions.
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