A short but busy weekend in Bristol with Barnaby and Coco …
We had plans but the weather did not quite cooperate.
We were suppose to have a cockapoo meet at Ashton Court – on the other side of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, but rain took over. Apparently, some did turn up but we London dogs were a bit precious. LOL!
The Clifton Suspension Bridge was opened in 1864 is built to a design by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw, based on an earlier design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. In the evening, it’s lit up in the evening and when we go out for a last walk, it is pretty to look at.
We can also see it from our hotel room.
We were suppose to walk over the bridge to Ashton Court this morning to meet up with other cockapoos but it promised rain, and the heavens delivered. 🙁 So we didn’t. Instead we went in search of Banksy art.
We walked along Princes Wharf – our Equafleeces brought much amusement to passersby. 
And we met a cockapoo who didn’t have one!
came across The Matthew – a replica of a the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497 from Bristol to Newfoundland, North America. 
Of course, we had to pose for a group pic!
We headed to M Shed, a museum that is all about Bristol. There’s a Banksy inside M Shed, which is a museum that is all about Bristol.
The museum’s name “M Shed” is derived from the way that the port identified each of its sheds. I guess it’s Shed M!
No doggies allowed, of course – so Loesje walked us outside 
While Julie and Mum went inside to find Grim Bear Reaper!
One Banksy for hoomans, none for us, we walked further along across the Blue Horn Bridge
To the Millennium Square 
Next stop, next Banksy. 
Oh, that Banksy’s “Well Hung Lover” is too scary to look at!!!
Walking back from Frogmore Street we saw this tree ablaze with yellow foliage and in the distance, the Bristol Cathedral
On the lawn, were poppies and crosses. Barnaby and I stopped for a moment to ponder about the immensity of the war and the lives that were lost.
We went inside to have a look. Apparently dogs maybe allowed inside if carried but because we were wearing the poppy colours, we were welcomed … 🙂
So much to look at – so many tributes – two of the many Tommies were inside the cathedral
We stopped to light a candle for all the lives that perished in the First Great War – as the nation and the world stops to remember the 100th anniversary of the end of the war.
Lunch at dog-friendly The Albion – lovely 17th century pub in Clifton Village with cobblestone courtyard serving good food
We were on our way back to the hotel when Julie told May about ANNA – a lovely cake shop.
And Mum had to have a Red Velvet cheesecake to go with a nice cuppa back at the hotel.
Back to our hotel – The Avon Gorge Hotel which is a Hotel du Vin.
It’s named after the gorge over which the suspension bridge spans. Will write up about it tomorrow!
May’s comment: It’s always a treat to see a Banksy stencil art. The anonymous street artist and political activist originates from Bristol. So of course when in Bristol, we had to see them.
I saw my first two Banksy art at the Chelsea Design Centre in London.
This one is titled “Donkey Documents” depicts a donkey having its papers checked by an armed soldier – was painted on a concrete barrier in Bethlehem.
This was one of a series of politically-aimed artworks along the concrete barrier separating the Palestinian West Bank and Israel.
And the other is called “Sperm Alarm” – showing 15 sperms swarming around a red fire alarm! They appear to impregnate the alarm.
The saw two today –
Grim Bear Reaper was inside M Shed, Bristol Museum
And Well Hung Lover, also called Naked Man Hanging From Window and simply Naked Man on a wall in Frogmore Street.
We were hoping to fit a few more in but time and weather didn’t allow us. We’ll have to come back another time to see the rest of them. How many Banksy pieces are there in the world?
