Wednesday 22nd – Thursday 23rd February

Wednesday 22nd February

A trip on a whim ignited by an item describing an art installation on the Life & Work of the artist, Frida Kahlo – she of the mono-brow. The exhibition was part of the Coventry UK City of Culture for 2021, extended to the end of February. I also wanted to visit Coventry’s dramatic cathedral.

We arrived at elevenses time and could only find a Caffè Nero in the ‘Lower Precinct Shopping Centre’; not an inspiring venue. But onwards to the Cathedral which was indeed inspiring.

The Cathedral’s website explains https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk:-

“The original Cathedral of St Michael was built between the late 14th and 15th centuries and was destroyed in the 1940 blitz on Coventry.

“The Ruins as a whole is a testament to the destruction of both the Cathedral and, on the same night in 1940, much of Coventry. Already that year, Coventry had suffered 17 bombing raids, causing 176 deaths. Then, on the night of 14th November, so many bombs were dropped during a single raid that over 4,300 Coventry homes were destroyed and 568 people lost their lives. The centre of Coventry was all but obliterated.

“Yet, from the very next day, the determination grew amongst the Cathedral and the people of Coventry to seek reconciliation, not revenge – and to express that determination in preserving their destroyed cathedral beside a new one, devoted to transforming attitudes.”

Coventry Cathedral website

It’s a heroic story of reconciliation in the face of death and devastation which is entirely amazing.

The ruin from the blitz in 1940:-

The ‘new’ cathedral consecrated in 1962:-

A really thought-provoking visit; the Baptistery Window by John Piper being my absolute highlight – 198 pieces of brightly coloured glass panels – 26 metres high.

Afterwards, a delicious soup lunch in the crypt of St. Mary’s Guildhall – defintely a place to return to for afternoon tea! https://www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk/cafes-in-coventry/

The Reel Cinema had its video installation of the works of Frida Kahlo http://www.fridakahlo.it/en/scheda-eventi.php?id=109 in a large L-shaped, underground room. Kahlo’s paintings and photos from her life were beamed on to the walls and floor with accompanying music/sound; a totally immersive experience.

We stayed overnight at the The Tilted Wig https://www.tiltedwigwarwick.co.uk in Warwick.

They had works taking place in their car park; a heads-up beforehand would’ve been helpful as we spun around the one way several times! After parking some distance away, we checked in and went to our room to find it wasn’t made up, the beds remaining just as the previous people had left them. Later there was an issue over the food at dinner. We may just have been unlucky, but we probably won’t make a return visit.

Thursday 23rd February

My favourite today – notsomuch for Husband(!) – a trip to the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC.

The February show is smaller than the October version, which tends to have more manufacturers exhibiting and new model launches, but still a pleasant morning stepping in and out of potential new motorhomes …….. it’s probably just as well, but no suitable model was found!