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Then and Now Take Two – Where else, but Bristol Airport

So, I have taken this photograph lots of times, literally every time I visit Bristol Airport.

This is a regular series of blogs about photographs of the same place taken years apart. Over the years I have taken this view at Bristol Airport quite a few times, both unintentionally and now intentionally.

This was taken in March 2026 using an iPhone 13.

Bristol Airport

Here are the photographs from over the years taken of the same view.

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Madrid #50newplaces2026

Having really enjoyed my (mad) day trip to Venice, it’s no surprise that I had another planned another (extreme) day trip. This time the destination was Madrid, the capital of Spain.

I have been to Spain a few times over the last ten years for holidays, but this was my first visit to the Madrid.

It’s a two hour flight from Bristol and I arrived at lunchtime. It took a while to get through the EES and passport control, and then there was a bit of a hike to get to the Metro station, but I got there in the end. It was very easy to get a tourist travel ticket for all day unlimited travel for just €10.30.

I caught the metro to the centre of Madrid, I chose a route which meant changing twice, but that was part of the fun.

I arrived at Puerta del Sol which has the infamous El Oso y el Madroño, a bronze sculpture featuring a bear & a strawberry tree. It represents the heraldic arms of the city.

I then started walking around and exploring the city. I came across the Teatro Real and impressive theatre that hosts opera.

I then headed down some side roads towards Mercado de San Miguel to grab some lunch, well wine and tapas.

Wine was amazing value at €4 for a delicious glass of white wine and served in a real glass as well.

There was so much choice in the tapas, I had a number of dishes before heading out again to explore more of the city.

I saw the impressive Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena and then headed into the Plaza de la Armería and took some photographs of the Royal Palace.

I was able to get a last minute ticket to the Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid) and headed in. An amazing place with so much to look at.

After visiting the palace, I headed off to get a coffee, I sat outside and watched the world go by.

Feeling peckish I headed back to Mercado de San Miguel for more tapas and another glass of wine.

Fearing a possible delay with security and passport control at Madrid Airport, I headed back to the airport.

Once there, after six minutes I was through security and passport control… who knew it could be so speedy.

I then had a bit of a wait for my plane, but it wasn’t long before I headed back to Bristol.

I was pleased to have reached my fifty places in 2025 for my #50places2025 series of blog posts.

This year I am planning to do something similar with a new hashtag, #50newplaces2026 and it will be the same rules. Each time I visit a place I will post a blog post and some photographs. I can’t repeat places, and in an extra twist I can’t use the fifty places I visited in 2025 in the list as well (though I anticipate visiting some of those places again). 

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Killerton once more

It was lovely dry and sunny day, so I headed down to Devon to visit a couple of National Trust properties. I headed down the M5 first to Knightshayes and after visiting there I drove down to Killterton.

I have visited Killerton twice before, once in June 2023 and then again in May 2025.

It’s a lovely house which is dressed as a 1920s house, though the first floor is an exhibition area for the National Trust’s fashion collection.

Killerton

A family home and a great estate. Glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland with fine 18th-century house.

Current saving £74.50
One adult £17.00
Parking £4.80
Total saving £21.80
Cumulative saving £192.30
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £96.30

Upon arrival I headed to the Killerton Kitchen Cafe for some lunch.

After lunch I went into the house itself and enjoyed exploring the different rooms and chatting with the volunteers.

I did have a look at the fashion exhibition upstairs, mainly I think to walk up and down the staircase. I then did another tour of the house.

After enjoying my walk around the house, I went for a walk in the grounds.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places (as I did last year). Each time I visit a place I will post a blog post and some photographs. I can’t repeat places, and in an extra twist I can’t use the fifty places I visited in 2025 in the list as well which is why Killerton is not my on my #50places26 list.

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Back to Knightshayes

It was lovely dry and sunny day, so I headed down to Devon to visit a couple of National Trust properties. I headed down the M5 towards Tiverton and then to Knightshayes.

I have visited Knightshayes twice before, once in January 2023 and then again in May 2025.

Knightshayes

Explore vibrant post-war gardens, miles of 19th-century parkland and grand Gothic Revival architecture by Victorian visionary, William Burges.

Current saving £52.70
One adult £17.00
Parking £4.80
Total saving £21.80
Cumulative saving £170.50
Membership cost £96
Net cumulative saving £74.50

This is a place of splendour. There are some incredible rooms and delightful furniture in the house. This time the Burges bedroom was closed, but I had seen that before on my last visit.

As with most National Trust properties I visit, I walked around the house twice, you often miss things on that first wander, so I always appreciate the second look. After my tour of the house, I went for a walk in the woodland garden.

I did think about lunch, but the cafe was very busy and there was something of a queue. Collecting my car I headed off.

This year I have planned to visit fifty places (as I did last year). Each time I visit a place I will post a blog post and some photographs. I can’t repeat places, and in an extra twist I can’t use the fifty places I visited in 2025 in the list as well which is why Knightshayes is not my on my #50places26 list.