Memories Rekindled And Batteries Recharged In Dorset

We had a few days away staying with friends in Dorset. This kindled some memories as we lived in the area before moving to Cornwall.

The weather was somewhat changeable but we seemed to dodge the showers and visited several places we knew. The photo above is Bournemouth, showing some of the beach and the pier. From there we walked to the Russell-Cotes art galley and museum.

There were many magnificent paintings on show including Anno Domini by Edwin Long. When the picture was first exhibited in London, in 1883, it caused a sensation. People queued around the block to see the gigantic painting which shows the Holy Family arriving in Egypt. It is also known as The Flight To Egypt.

The Sea Maidens by Evelyn De Morgan was part of a special exhibition: The Morgans and the Sea.

The story behind the painting is that The Little Sea Maid is distraught when the Prince declares he does not love her,

Her five older sisters, shown in the picture, sell their abundant hair to the Sea Witch in exchange for a knife. The Little Sea Maid can then kill her unrequited love, the Prince, and return to mermaid form. Instead the Sea Maid drowns herself rather than kill the man she loves.

In the painting the sisters’ cold eyes and inexpressive faces allude to their lack of an immortal soul. So there you go!

We also went into Poole where we had a trip on a boat from the harbour – the second largest natural harbour in the world – to the small town of Wareham.

In the harbour we passed Brownsea Island which is where the Boy Scout movement was first started by Baden-Powell.

Leaving the harbour the boat sailed up the River Frome …

… to Wareham and the sun came out!

And then it was back to Poole.

Another day we walked along the River Stour at Wimborne.

A lovely few days – batteries recharged!

Other Posts Featuring Dorset:
The Dancing Ghosts On The Jurassic Coast
River Piddle Makes The Trade Unions Smile
TE Lawrence And The Law Of Oppulence