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Talbot
House
Talbot House is a
home from home. It is very welcoming and easy to relax in comfortable surroundings.
The bedrooms are comfortable, very clean, and with a hand basin. Good showers/WC
are on every landing. The chapel at the top of the house is very quiet and a good
place to reflect in solitude. The garden is beautiful with lots of benches and
quiet spots. It is an easy place to get cheap good food if eating out. There are
a variety of shops and a market if buying food in. TH has a large kitchen with
lots of fridge/cupboard space for guests. It was never crowded or a problem to
use the facilities while I was there. Poperinge itself is easy to navigate round on foot. Public transport is good if wanting to explore further, the train station is only 15mins stroll away, with regular trains into Ypres, which is a beautiful city. It is also easy to cycle round the area ( hire from hotel 5 mins away 8euros per day) with excellent cycle routes. There are wardens at TH 24hrs every day. I expect it is pot-luck, but while I was there they were extremely nice and eager to extend hospitality. There was a steady flux of people staying/going every day, so there was always company if wanted. It you wanted solitude the chapel or garden are available. I also went out a couple of days into the surrounding countryside, where there are loads of well sign-posted walks with benches, and very few people around. I did not go to Poperinge to write about the first world war, but it is difficult to escape the weight of history in that area. It has a strange spirituality and constant reminders are scattered throughout the region of the enormous loss to humanity, not least in the many memorial graves. It is not a sad place, but very emotionally jerking; you are made aware of what it is to be human, and what it is to be inhuman. The people of Poperinge speak good English. They are all very helpful and friendly. I was able to join in a tour of Poperinge with a local guide. As a writer TH was a good base. I had a project I was working on and this progressed well. There is company if you need a break, but solitude if preferred. The journey is simple, I flew from Newcastle (Brussels SN airline) and then caught the train from the airport to Poperinge. The train journey takes 2hrs 20mins with a couple of changes but they all speak good English and I was directed to the right platform.
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