It was the fifth time I'd visited Blackpool; this time staying at Cala Gran holiday park up the road, seven miles away in Fleetwood. It was quite a compact, clean site and easily accessible, being ten minutes walk away from two tram stops and having a bus stop- the bus deposited me by Blackpool Tower within half an hour- right outside its gates. That's very important for those of us who don't drive!
Standing on the North Pier, watching the waves of the Irish Sea lash against the shore and waiting for the sun to disappear, so that the show could begin...
Dusk approaching as we walked towards the entrance to the pier, and it was quite pleasant for late September. I didn't even need a jacket...
Every year the Big Switch On occurs; when a celebrity flicks the switch to the lights. They usually run from late August until early November.
The circle in the distance is Blackpool Central Pier Big Wheel. To the left the light-up heart is at the base of Blackpool Tower.
The Illuminations are 6.2 miles (10km) long and use over one million bulbs, running from Starr Gate at the south end of the town to Bispham in the north.
The Blackpool Tower. The lights are often changing and dancing in patterns, but on this night, the switch appeared to be stuck on blue!
The Illuminations were founded and first switched on in 1879. They originally consisted of just eight arc lamps setting the promenade aglow.
The Spiro Light Tunnel was over 25 metres in length...
It was a fantastic piece of interactive "art," and here's the SuperDean in the tunnel...
Only I could find the Blackpool Tower phallic!
...And here is one of my my favourite characters; the Cheshire Cat...
Light-up train tram. I've never actually been on it (although I have been on a heritage tram) and I do think that it's better to be an observer, as you can't get to appreciate its delights from inside.
The next night couldn't have been more different weather-wise, and was wet and squally. Lets just say I'm glad I had my jacket on and had a hat with me! It was already dark by the time we reached North Pier, and here I'm standing in the same position I was in when I took the first photo of this blog, about 25 hours before...
We wandered up from the North Pier and caught the tram to Bispham, sheltering whilst we waited all of five minutes for the lights to come on.
The first of the tableaux was one of my favourites- Alice In Wonderland...
Egyptian tabloid, with a mummy waking up...
The mummy going back to sleep, with a sarcophagus (which also opens up) guarding procedures.😆
The Haunted Hotel with its flickering, spooky faces.
It used to play Michael Jackson's Thriller, but I can't remember if it was doing so on this night or not- I have heard that there were some kind of copyright issues.
As you can see, the door at the front is closed...
...But at the command, the "Open Sesame" door slides away to reveal sparkling treasure...💜💛
Dr Who installation, including the Tardis and Daleks.
This has been known to grace the lone roundabout of Gynn Square, but more about that later...
Who was the Doctor of your childhood? Mine was Tom Baker (my favourite- my nickname as a child was Dr Who as I wore an extra-long scarf, just like his character, and scared the hell out of the boys as a six-year-old!😁) followed by Peter Davidson.
The Isle of Man is just over the water behind these illuminations, but I could barely make out its lights due to the grotty weather.
Star installation, in various stages of incarnation...
...You have to be quick off the draw with your camera- you can see how many attempts it took me to get the photo I wanted!
...et voila!
This was a canopy of lights gracing the main road. The SuperDean said he'd like them round his bed!
Swan Lake ballerinas...
Red Indians as part of a Wild West section, and topless, hula-skirted South Sea Island dancers.
I originally thought this was variations of the sun, plus an accompanying moon...
...But it's actually the sun in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
It's one of my favourites (maybe because astronomy has always fascinated me, although this is a tad basic as an introduction to the delights of the solar system!)
Coral Island, with its pirate ship. At this point the tram tracks were between me and the installation. You really need to click on these photographs whilst viewing them on your computer to see them at their best.
This is actually the back end of an illuminated ship, which is another of Blackpool's light-up trams.
To the left is Jesus stating, "I am the resurrection and the life." I'll probably go to hell for saying this, but in this instance Jesus's bulky loincloth is making him look the shape of a woman!
Gynn Square, and the roundabout housed a full-sized RAF Spitfire which, in association with the town's aviation museum, Hangar 42, had been put there to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day- when World War II ended in Europe. It also paid tribute to Blackpool's veterans- during this time Blackpool was one of the world's largest military training centres.
In previous years this space has housed giant, sparkling tiaras and the aforementioned Dr Who installation.
The Illuminations were halted after the outbreak of WWI, in 1914, and not switched on again until 1925. They were also interrupted in 1939, by WWII, but post war austerity meant that they weren't switched on again until 1949.
I am a total chav- I always refer to the Blackpool Illuminations as the "Northern Lights!"
This one takes the prize for being my favourite installation- I'd love a pair of earrings like that.💓
Later on in the week we ventured into Blackpool Tower's iconic Tower Ballroom. The floor measures 120ft² and is comprised of 30,602 blocks of mahogany, oak and walnut.
Looking up at the elegantly decorated ceiling with its chandeliers, whilst having a cup of coffee on the sidelines.
We didn't dance. There were some couples on the floor who really knew their stuff, and it was lovely to see the ladies all dressed up in their finery and heels. I'm no fan of casual dressing!
Even the lights hark back to a different; decadent, dreamier era.
The Ballroom was originally a smaller pavilion which opened in 1894, until the present Ballroom opened in 1899.
We walked right down to the end of the North Pier (well, as far as we could). An ugly bouncy castle had been marring our view a few days before, but now it was deflated.
The inside of the Sunset Lounge & Carousel Bar gave us an unspoilt view over the Irish Sea. The outdoor sun lounge is classified as "the largest beer garden in Blackpool," but this was more of an indoors kind of day!
Attractions on the pier include this bar and a theatre. At the entrance there is a very lovely cafe called North Perk, an amusement arcade, an Italian ice cream parlour and a Gypsy palm reader.
The Venetian Carousel. I've been on this two-tier carousel before, but didn't bother on this day.
A daytime view of the tower. In contrast to the start of the week, the temperature had dropped and the wind was whipping up...
...Which meant that health and safety dictated that we couldn't go up the Blackpool Tower.
Oh well, we weren't too disappointed as we'd done it before, and here are my photos from a previous trip.
This is a photo of the Comedy Carpet, which was unveiled by comedian Ken Dodd in 2011, taken from the Blackpool Tower Eye. 850 writers and comedians are represented on the comedy carpet; which includes some well-known jokes, songs and catchphrases.
You can get a 360° view from the Tower Eye. Here you can see the Winter Gardens, which are behind the Tower.
Going up to the next level, and the North Pier is to the right. It opened in 1863 and is my favourite of Blackpool's three piers as it's understated and elegant; retaining its Victorian charm..
Up to the third and final accessible level, and the Central Pier and South Pier are to the left.
The Tower Eye experience also includes a 3D film celebrating Blackpool's history. You even get a donkey farting at you!😁😁😁
The long drop down (380ft), as viewed through the Skywalk, which is their glass floor.
There is a lot more to see in Blackpool, such as:-
* Blackpool Pleasure Beach
* Sandcastle Waterpark
* Blackpool Tower Dungeon
* Madame Tussauds Blackpool
* Sealife Blackpool Aquarium
Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
* Blackpool Zoo
* Central Pier
* South Pier
...And they're just the attractions we have done! They also have the Winter Gardens, the Grand Theatre and many, many pubs and cabaret bars for you to visit.
You really have to see the lights yourself to appreciate them- my photographs only offer up a portion of the Illuminations. I didn't venture as far as the South Pier on this trip and didn't take any photos of the light show that's projected onto the Tower.
Blackpool, I'm sure I will return (I'd happily give Cala Gran a go again...)
Until then,
TTFN
The Miss Elaineous
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