Bristol - Swans

Chinese New Year here is great. We certainly do not lack company of other Chinese or activities to keep ourselves occupied. In fact, the faculty organized a dinner gathering to celebrate it. While I do not have photos from the gathering, here are some photo taken these 2 days.

The Thekla at the quayside. The boat is a pub/bar by night. In the background you can see the majestic pinnacle belonging to the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe.

This is the meticulously crafted ceiling of St. Mary Redcliffe. Everything about the church is finely crafted with delicate details virtually filling every part of the building. From the stained glass panels with numerous depiction from Biblical stories, the lectern of an eagle on a globe with 3 lions beneath, the wooden pulpit with the embedded 12 apostles to even the floor tiles with different designs, the superb workmanship is crystal clear. No words or picture would do justice, you have to walk within it yourself to savor the breathtaking wonders. (Perhaps I may post more picture of the 14th century 'relic' after I learn how to take better pictures in such dark setting.)

Meet my other neighbor - the Swans.
The river here is teeming with seabirds and the swan is a rather bold species who have no qualms of swimming right up to where you stand by the river edge. I suppose when a human crouch down, they doesn't appear to be much bigger than the bird.

Today is the first time I see so many swans congregating. It is quite a sight to behold the graceful curves of their sinuous neck as they seemingly drifted effortlessly on the cool waters. Another interesting fact here is how feeding gulls and pigeons are outlawed (you can be fined up to 250 pounds for 'deliberately leaving food on the ground' for the birds) but feeding swans looks like a common pastimes.