England, in a word, was FANTASTIC! It got out to a rough start with jet lag and a hidden pole in an alley in Bath, but Steve and I got to spend some great quality time together and I found everything and more that I was looking to shop for.
We explored Bath the first full day after arriving. We forced ourselves to get up and visited the Roman Baths first thing in the morning to avoid the rush. I was so glad we did because we were able to linger and truly appreciate the beauty and the engineering. I can't imagine how amazing it looked at its best. Afterwards, we took a bus tour around the town of Bath and spent the day learning the history of the city - including visiting museums and gardens. The gardens were absolutely splendid...Bath is renowned for its displays throughout the city during the annual flower show.
The next day we drove out of Bath and visited the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and Avebury. Avebury is similar to Stonehenge (which I saw in 2007 during a speed trip to England on my way to Ireland), but is definitely larger and is unique in the fact that a small town built itself among the stone circle. The town is so charming, a population just under 500 residents. It consists of a single road, a manor house with a beautiful garden, a splendid church and small houses and cottages with thatched roofs and charm up to their chimneys.
We tried to make the most of our time and traveled to smaller castles and sites during the days where we were driving between bed and breakfasts. One castle was Chepstow castle which has a stunning view over the River Wye.
We spent an entire day at Blenheim Palace. This palace is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill (kind of a big deal in England) and is still home to the Dukes of Marlborough. The 11th Duke of Marlborough resides in the house during parts of the year and occupies the same rooms as the 1st Duke and Duchess. The house itself is gorgeous, but the grounds are stunning - water gardens, a rose garden, a lake and miles of paths to meander the grounds. After a tour of the house, we spent a good portion of the day walking the grounds, enjoying the views.
London was by far my favorite - and not just because I was extremely successful in my shopping endeavors. Despite the unusual heat and very blistered feet, we had a blast visiting the British Museum, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the Parliament Building, Westminster Abbey and so much more. I think my favorite day was after taking a bus tour of the city (such a nice rest for my footsies), we explored Harrod's and grabbed lunch from the gourmet foods department. After a short walk to Hyde Park, we spent a while just snacking on quiche, panini and Laduree macaroons for dessert while we people watched and took a short nap in the shade. It was amazing how far from the city we felt despite being right across the street from a construction site.
Another thing that struck me was the sheer number of people out enjoying a Thursday afternoon - and many were not tourists. I think Europeans in general know how to work hard but also play hard...it's a priority to them. Despite my work having picnic tables scattered around buildings, I never see anyone using them - myself included. Steve tried to rain on my parade by suggesting that they were escaping their offices because many do not have air conditioning and they were suffering with temperatures reaching the high eighties.
And lastly, the shopping. I must say I'm very glad I had a mental list of things I wanted to look for before arriving, because I can see myself spending us into bankruptcy will all the cute stores we visited in England. From fabric to crafts to housewares, all the small towns we visited were made up of small cafes and small personal shops oozing with character and charm. I returned with my carry-on full and my pockets semi-empty (really - I didn't spend THAT much). I still haven't put away my purchases because I like to look at them on the dining room table and
So, I have returned. I'm extremely late in posting Stampin' Up! news and an update on my 52 Things, which I promise will be coming soon. I've signed up for a second craft fair in about a month and a half, so I hopefully will be posting more with holiday cards and gifts I'm preparing for family and friends. I hope you have stuck with me during my absence.
