Today was everything I wanted from our visit to England. The England of my dreams... the Cotswolds. I am in love with these beautiful hills, quaint villages, old pubs, thatched roofs, snapdragons... oh I could go on. But from the start of the day as usual...
This morning we had another lovely breakfast with Sharon and then took the tube (the strike is over!) to Paddington Station. Took a photo with the bear of the same name in statue form. We bought tickets for the next train to Moreton in Marsh and then took a brief stroll through Hyde Park before departure. Hyde Park is just beautiful, incredible fountains. I look forward to exploring it more thoroughly in the future.
Our ride to Moreton in Marsh went through Oxford, I would have loved to stop but we had to press on. Upon arrival in Moreton we stopped at the tourist information booth and found a flyer for bike rental. And so we rented bikes and cycled the countryside from little village to little village. The photos will do a better job than I can at descibing this stunning region.
We saw so many lovely towns, manor houses, estates, hedge rows, a horse farm complete with many foals, lovely old churches, long haired cows, many sheep, fields of grain... it was simply glorious. I kept imagining James Herriot would be off to check on the sheep or Elizabeth Bennet would pop out of a foot path. We made a big loop through Batsford, Ebrington, Aston Magna, Paxford, Chipping Campden, Broad Campden, Blockley, Draycott Village and back to Moreton.
In Chipping Campden we stopped for a picnic lunch in the park after visiting the local deli to buy sandwiches and Cranberry Wendlesdale Cheese. Yes indeed that town looks like a nice place for Wallace and Gromit.
Back in Moreton we had a few moments to walk through town and we were thrilled with what we found. A lovely historic village that includes a pub 'The Bell Inn' that was frequented by JRR Tolkien and said to be the inspiration for the Prancing Pony. So we shared a pint there just to say we had a pint in the Prancing Pony. Very cool. We clearly spent the day in the Shire.
Tomorrow is a long travel day to Paris. I do not expect you will hear from me, but when I am next able to post I hope to have shots of the cliffs of Dover and the English Channel.
10 comments:
Gorgeous pictures! Hope you and Bob are having a wonderful time!
Dawn
Today's blog was better than a PBS Masterpiece Theatre presentation. We so love a country dahnce. Pics were lovely. Keep it coming to us.
Sorry you didn't get to stop at Oxford. Peg & I took the "Oxford Tube" which was a bus, from London. From there we went to Blenham (splg?) Palace and got locked in the grounds & had to walk around thru the sheep stuff (always keep you eyes to the ground)to the town of Woodstock. I'll never think of sheep in the same way. Wish I was there!
Favorite Aunt C.
Breautiful photos and commentary. You have a future in travel brochure writing if you wish :-) Thanks, Judy. Brings back fond memories of our European honeymoon in '78. Paris was our first stop then. Can't wait to read and see your take on it
WOW! Really enjoying your narration! I am glad Enlgland was all you hoped it would be- i would move there in a heartbeat!
Watch your stuff in Paris- notorious pickpocket children- real Oliver Twist stuff going on in the subways!
jeannene
do your shirts match?
Enjoying your comments and photos. Glad you're having a good time. Pat & Sherry
Welcome to continental Europe. I am enjoying reading your blog. Dont forget to stand at 'point zero' and yell 'I am at the center of the world'
Ravi! Where is point zero? I thought the center of the world was wherever I am!
Point Zero is in front of the Notre Dame, a little metal deckel nailed to the ground, with Point Zero written in French. But I guess your logic will work too.
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