Norwich continued...

Walking back to the City Centre, captivated by the repetition of elements which makes for great photos...

 ...the sky was rather threatening but no rain...the dark clouds helped to emphasize the contrast between the sky and the red roofs...

 I didn't have nearly enough time to explore the interesting pubs...

 ...I came back on another street so there was a different bridge over the River Wensum providing more photo opportunities...note the cathedral spire in the background...

 ...love the reflection in the river...

...some stores I wish I had more time for..."Out of Africa" Trading Post look like a great place to explore...(next time!)

 I had to walk past the cathedral again so couldn't resist taking just a few...

I hope these young students appreciate the beauty and history around them...

 

I would like to learn more about these two people and who created them - their faces, especially their eyes make them look so human...

 The cathedral has been built and rebuilt over many centuries, this portion of the ruins has been preserved...behind it there is access to a library and cafe and washrooms...

...a more modern interpretation of the Madonna and Child...

Admiral Nelson, one of my father's heroes...

 Another happy face on a wall...wish I knew the meaning of these fellows...

Love it! A store called Tickety-Boo!!

 The entrance to the very beautiful, very art nouveau Royal Arcade, designed by a local architect in 1899. (forerunner of our modern malls but designed with class and splendour)

Just breathtaking...

...couldn't resist his sad face...

 ...if you keep walking straight through the royal arcade you come to the outdoor market...which I'd like to think looks similar to what it was like back in medieval times when people gathered under the protection of the church to do their daily shopping...

 I didn't shop today but promised myself some time tomorrow...

 I'm back walking on the main street but there are lots of little alley ways connecting the main street to the outdoor market and the royal arcade...

 I looked for my bus stop and checked the time of the next bus to Mulbarton. I had time to go into STARBUCKS, have a hot drink and a snack and use their wifi (and bathroom!) It was right across from my bus stop and it was really nice to get off my feet for a bit!

 Now I'm on the bus and the sun is starting to go down...

 The bus took a slightly different route and I got a little confused so asked the driver to let me off near a spot I recognized. After asking a couple of people if I was headed in the right direction to get to Brick Kiln Rd. (no one knew!!!) I managed to get back on track. I was getting a bit nervous as it was getting dark.

 I followed the road that I knew but got distracted taking photos of the sunset (will I never learn??) and walked too far and nothing looked familiar anymore.  A fellow was walking his dog and he didn't recognize the name of the street I was looking for but directed me to a sign by a church that had a map on it. I used the flashlight on my iPhone to look on the map but Brick Kiln Rd. wasn't marked.

OK, now I'm getting panicky!! I turn around and start walking back looking for the turnoff that I must have missed while snapping happily away at the sunset. I eventually find myself back at the village green where I caught the bus in the morning berating myself for not bringing the address or phone number of the B&B with me. If I couldn't find the road myself I decided I'd have to knock on somebody's door and ask them to call me a cab!

I DID find my turnoff however, and sighed a HUGE sigh of relief!! As I walked along I recognized a few of the landmarks (the scarecrow in the garden of one house) and knew I was on the right track. I just had to keep walking (a mile!) down the road to a T junction, turn right and my B&B was a couple hundred metres down on the right.

Thank goodness for my iPhone! There were no street lights and it was pitch dark by the time I got back to the B&B. You can bet I was better prepared the next day!! Oh...and I had a huge blister on my left baby toe after my long day of walking in running shoes! I would have been better off in my hiking boots!