I am in love!
If I doubted the fact that I had absolutely and totally fallen in love with England there were no doubts after our day in the Cotswolds!
The Cotswolds is a hilly area in west-central England, sometimes called the “Heart of England.” The meaning of the word Cotswold is said to mean “sheep enclosure in rolling hillsides.” During the Middle Ages the area became very prosperous as a result of the sheep/wool industry. The area is famous and known for its lovely homes and shops built from Cotswold stone which is a yellow oolitic limestone.
Our tour took us to 3 Cotswold villages. Our first stop was Burford.
There is a lovely little church and cemetery in the village.
I think I mentioned before I have a bit of a thing about cemeteries. I love them! I think it must be those family history genes my mother gave me! I love reading the tombstones and imagining what the lives of those people must have been like.
OK, enough of the tombstones. Just one more!
The church in the cemetery was quite lovely.
While in Europe I also began quite a love affair with doors. Doors can be so mysterious. What’s behind them? Where do they lead?
From Burford we headed over to Bibury which was a very small but a VERY charming and picturesque village. Probably my favorite of the three we went to.
I would take one of these pretty little cottages over Buckingham Palace any day!
I loved the beautiful flowers and found many of the same flowers I have at home in my garden.
And then there were some lovely little doors too
.
We enjoyed lunch at a small little hotel in Bibury. The main local business in the village today is perch farming so we were served perch for lunch which I decided I don’t really care for. Besides the fact that it has a million bones it is a little too strong of a fish for me. But the rhubarb crisp with clotted cream ice cream was yummy!
Such a pretty place!
Our next stop on the tour was to Burton on the Water a larger Cotswold Village. There were lots of little shops and tea houses.
I found this darling little bakery and picked up a few goodies, including a jar of lemon curd and orange marmalade to bring home with me.
And then I found a few more doorways to take pictures of….
and fell in love with the streets.
Our final stop on the tour was Stratford Upon Avon which s the birthplace of Shakespeare,
Basically it is just one big tourist trap. It was full of loud tourists and after the loveliness of the Cotswold Villages I couldn’t wait to leave Stratford.
We arrived back in London in time to grab some fish and chips for dinner and head over to the West End to see Jersey Boys – a fun musical about the life and music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
We lived in England for 3 1/2 years in the early eighties. I loved the building in London but my favorites were the smaller towns, the little villages that were quiet and relaxed. I think my very favorite town was Bury St Edmunds.
Your pictures made me homesick. Wish I could go back and see our old haunts….
I agree the little villages with their cottages are more lovely than Buckingham Palace. I also like cemetaries, as did my Mom. I love the hinges on the church door!
Blessings,
Lorilee
Wonderful photos Leigh Anne! I’m up in your beautiful Oregon, enjoying family, the greenness, flowers and fresh fruit…and wearing a warm sweatshirt!
Imagine living back in the late 1700 or early to mid 1800′s. I am sure I’d fit right in.
I love the details that was built right into any structure made. We sure don’t see that now. The quaint villages are wonderful. Your pictures are beautiful. Thanks!
I never saw Cali not smile like in the cemetary shot she’s in. She’s a cutie! I would LOVE to hear her sing. Maybe she could do a few bars for your blog???
I love perusing your blog when I get the chance from time to time, I’m from England (Manchester) and right now its making me a little homesick! hopefully I’ll get to go back with my 2 girls in August for a few weeks. The pictures are beautiful and when reading about the doors I can’t help but think of The Secret Garden.
Leigh Anne,
I’m so glad you got to see some of the charming small villages of England! I too loved the little churches….most dating back hundreds of years and smelling musty. I was touched by the memorials to those who died in the “great war”
(WW I).
I also brought home some lemon curd. None has tasted as good since then!
wgat a beautiful vacation you are having! i enjoy your blog – thank you!
sorry, about that last comment it should have read “what a beautiful vacation you are having.”
How I wish I had gotten to go with you!!! I am so jealous! I have been to London but JUST London and it would have been soooo cool to visit the places you got to see. Even if I don’t care for fish
WOW!
who ever took these pictures is amazing..
I love them all!
Looking at your vacation pictures brought back so many lovely memories. I visited the Cotswolds some years ago and like you I fell in love with the place. I went during the winter, so no lovely flowers in bloom like in your pics, but I distinctly remember how beautiful it was despite the bitter cold. To warm up we stopped in a quaint tea house and had tea and scones, with real clotted cream and jam, oh so yummy! Now that I’m married and have a little kid, I should definitely put in on our places to visit together. Thanks for jogging those memories.
Love the history. I remember Tyler one time commenting when he was 7, “No. I will not wake up and go see another cemetery.” We were actually at Arlington. . . .I love cemeteries too and thinking of people, their lives, their JOYS, and how they overcame their struggles. THANKS for sharing your trip with us. Yur pictures are amazing!