I hear what you're saying hun... However, I'm compelled to disagree sternly (as I know my beloved reads these boards... )

I shall be content just knowing the sneaky seed of an idea has been planted

Though in my defence I still say that beautiful people should be flaunted

Oh, I couldn't agree more...

Thanx for the info, girls! Whitby WGW seems like a lot of fun to visit, although outside of WGW I won't turn down a visit either, as it looks really nice.

Minnie, you were lucky that it was so quiet that day (as I see nobody in the photographs), to be able to see and photograph everything very well! Your partner did a very good job taking the photos, btw, you should tell her.

What surprises me is that she was able to get so many photographs without many people finding their way into them - Churtch Street was crowded, and there were a lot of people heading up the 199 Steps to St Mary's and the Abbey.

And, believe me, I have certainly told her how well her photos have been received!

Your pictures are two beautiful for words Minnie. I would love to go there one day!

Thank you! I'm gratified... But can take no credit! The pictures are my partner's work!

It's very interesting, again, that this is attracting comment mostly from members who have alternative spiritual beliefs. And, as previous posts have suggested, I believe, rightly so. Whitby isn't a large town by any means, but even so, it is able to support the presence of a number of new-agey shops, and also "Keridwen's Kauldron" - unashamedly pagan, it's a wonderful supplier of anything you may wish for as a wiccan or pagan. It's on two levels; at street level, you can purchase tarot decks, incense, candles, crushed velvet clothing, and jewelry made from refreshingly unpolished Whitby jet, among many, many other things; however, the proprietors will point you in the direction of the downstairs "gallery", which supplies more expensive, but truly gorgeous, sculptures and works of art. It will be suggested that you take a look at the "interactive" piece; I will say no more as otherwise it will spoil the surprise...

Now it is settle; I MUST go there.

I think Whitby is a place anyone could fall in love with. Unfortunately, it's not the easiest place to get to, but I think that anybody in the goth community - and particularly those who are interested in the broader gothic culture - would find it worth the effort, whether for the Goth Weekend or not.

Which brings me to my next post...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4817913743_4dc6b62565_z.jpg

Inevitably, because of the fame brought by Bram Stoker's novel, you'd expect Whitby to be a "Dracula" theme park.

In fact, it's very far from it. You really have to work at it if you want to go for the "Dracula experience"; effectively, finding the "locations" mentioned. Yes, there are guides to the Whitby Stoker describes, but to my mind, the novel itself is the best guide you could want to follow.

That said, if you head out along the north bank of the Esk, away from the town centre, eventually, you come to this:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4818596872_2239250766.jpg

The frontage is enticing, and it would be nice to think that it effectively houses a museum paying homage to the novel and its author.

However, a sign just inside the front entrance paints a slightly less academic picture:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4817986503_f6d86de714.jpg

The dent to the credibility of the establishment is compounded by:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4817996291_e884ebfbd9.jpg

The impression - rightly or wrongly - given is that it's effectively a fairground ghost train without the train. If that sounds disparaging, actually, it's not; I think, given a little more time than I had available to me, I'd take a look at it for the sheer campness of it, and - as those who know me will know - that's an element I think is important to goth, if not gothic culture as a whole. So, something I'll save for another day.

It's interesting, however, that right next door is a shop with no name; just a plain black panel, edged in red, above the vitrine. A mystery, perhaps... However, it doesn't take much perusal to realise that this is the real-world presence of "Gothic Crafts of Whitby" (http://www.gothiccrafts.co.uk/); a positive Aladdin's cave of things goth (and steampunk), and far more varied than the website suggests. While I thought it had an excellent selection of really nice items, however, I think that they're priced rather high - mainly, because they have pretty much a monopoly on goth items. It's definitely worth a look, though.

It has a lovely selection of Alchemy Gothic items; however, for the more adventurous, it's worth remembering that Whitby is famous for its jet. As mentioned, pendants of unpolished jet can be obtained from Keridwen's Kauldron; however, there are numerous jewellers along church street specialising in polished Whitby jet, and many - recognising that there's a market for such things - set the stones in silver items of a somewhat esoteric nature, and these are often more reasonably priced than you may expect.

Sod it. I'm going up this Saturday. Anybody want a lift?

Sure, just stop by Jax Fl and pick me up...I'll be waiting

Oh, LS, I would so take you up on that, except I have other commitments (another research trip on the cards... ). However, if you go, I hope that this thread proves useful to you, and above all, I hope you enjoy yourself.

And, as an afterthought: If you take photos, please post here!

Thank you Minnie for reminding me about the camera! I nearly forgot. Only two hours to go before I set off...

Florida? Is that near Ipswich?

Closer to Hell, I believe. So if Ipswich is just another name for hell..then you have my location exactly!

Actually, having lived not that far from Ipswich, you could be right, Midi!