ITP 2013: August 31- Sibel Özgan

The day started with a really comfortable (one can tell how comfortable it was from the photos below) coach excursion with our favorite tour guide Tim Hudson.

Participants enjoying the coach

Participants enjoying the comfortable coach tour

 Thanks to Tim, we learned a lot not just about the sites we have visited but also about the sights from the bus we just passed during our journey. One can just be surprised and impressed by the endless knowledge and narrative art of Tim. The serious faces of the ITP team while Tim is doing his speeches are easily followed in the pictures above!

Our first target was the Windsor Castle, known as the favorite home of HM the Queen. In other words, the home of her hearth (Tim told us so!).

Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, has a rich history of almost 1000 years. Thus, it has survived many historical moments including the civil war and a quite new fire (in year 1992). The architectural structures and buildings were completed and renewed in different time periods. During our time in Windsor Castle, we had the opportunity to watch the changing of the guards, observe the unique gothic architecture of St. George’s Chapel and be fascinated by the unique paintings (including those of Brueghel’s and Rembrandt’s) in the State Apartments.

Views of Windsor Castle

Views of Windsor Castle

 Following the lunch break in Windsor; we got again onto the bus and head towards the famous cultural heritage site Stonehenge. After our lovely journey through the picturesque landscape and animal farms, we finally arrived at the mysterious Stonehenge. Thanks to Tim, we now know that Aliens had nothing to do with the construction of the site!

At Stonehenge

At Stonehenge

 All in all, it was one of the best days in the ITP schedule. Apart from the training and lectures in the BM, It is always good to see other museums and cultural heritage sites and the ways they are managed. So, thanks again to our lovely ITP team, who prepared such an amazing and full program for us!