Our first group trip of 2022! Due to covid-19 cases Increasing in January we have not had the opportunity to get together and travel as a group in a while but for the first time in 2022 we had the chance to get on a bus for a couple hours and arrive in a brand new city.
The first stop on this weekend journey was Hadrian's Wall. This is a former defence fortification of the Roman province in Britain and it is one of the largest remaining remnants of their reign. It was built in 122AD and spans across the width of the island. Hadrian’s wall is a significant landmark and there is a large portion of the wall that is intact against all odds.
We stayed at a conveniently located hostel right by the wall so we were ready for our hike bright and early. Unfortunately, it is mid February and the wind and rain was unkind to say the least. While the view was absolutely gorgeous the high wind speeds only made for a more difficult experience. The path was muddy and slippery and made the hills that much more of a challenge.
A challenge that definitely got the best of me from time to time. After several slips I fell twice and had mud caked all over me for half of the walk. Surprisingly the falls didn’t break my spirit at all. I was focussed on the gorgeous landscape ahead and by the end I was just glad to be out of the cold but even more excited to scrape the mud off. Note to future travellers: bring extra shoes if you plan on hiking just in case a seemingly regular patch of grass turns out to be a well disguised puddle. The hike was cut short due to weather conditions but we got to experience the wall, its rich history and gaze upon the incredible countryside.
After a well deserved meal we geared up to visit The Angel of the North. The magnitude of the sculpture served as a reminder of the meaning behind it. At 66 x 177 ft the sculpture is one of Britain’s largest and is meant to be a tribute to Gateshead and its prosperous history during the industrial era. It was a controversial sculpture in the beginning but it has grown into an iconic work of public art.
We eventually made our way to New Castle and our first stop was the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. This semester one of our classes is about understanding contemporary art, the shifting definition of art and its impact on communities. The Baltic is a really important site for this subject matter because it functions very differently from traditional museums. The centre strives to serve its community by being a space that prioritises experimental contemporary art. With this in mind, all of the exhibitions are temporary, they do not collect art. This means that they are constantly showcasing new artists and their collections stay up to date with the evolution of contemporary art.
We spent the rest of the afternoon split up and exploring the city. For most of us that meant time to rest and eat. After popping into a few stores, taking cute pictures by Gateshead Millennium Bridge and a fantastic meal our time in Newcastle had come to an end.
Our final stop for the weekend was the town of Barnard Castle. We visited the ruins of Barnard Castle and the Bowes museum. Both have a rich history and are magnificent. The Bowes museum is a manor that houses a large collection of art that was started in the 18th century by John and Josephine Bowes. I got lost in the endless rooms with art ranging from an automaton Silver Swan to fine china. It truly was a worthwhile visit.
This trip was a great reintroduction to the schedule of travelling as a group. Next we will be heading over to Yorkshire and I am excited to tell you all about it.
Cheers,
Tala
