Friday, November 10, 2017

Beautiful England




When the Queen Mary 2 docked in Southampton sometime during the early morning hours we were excited about beginning our adventure.  We made sure we were all ready to step off the ship as soon as we could.  The evening before we had packed all of our suitcases, except one, and placed them outside of our stateroom door for the staff to take down to be picked up later.  All we had to do was walk off the ship and retrieve our bags.  UK Customs personnel was on board to check passports during our voyage, so there is no hassle upon arrival.  This makes it so easy and is so smart of Cunard to have this feature.


Southampton Port

I've mentioned that before we left home we planned what every day would entail.  We took a taxi to the rental car agency and picked up our car.  We were reminded we would be driving a brand new vehicle with only 9 miles on the odometer!  Oh dear!  Here we go....let's ride on the left side of the road again!

Grayden had set our GPS before we left home, with all of the places we are going to visit,  so all I had to do was put in our destination.  On our way to the Lake District (so excited) we are going to be making a couple of stops.  First up is the gorgeous town of Bibury!  It's in the Cotswolds so you know we are in for a treat.  Here's our exit.  Now I must say it takes some getting used to riding on the left, but so far, so good.



I've read so much about Bibury.  William Morris said it was " The most beautiful village in England."  Susan Branch wrote about her visit there in A Fine Romance ~ Falling in Love with the English Countryside.  If you are a serious Anglophile you must read her book.



The River Coln,  a tributary of the Thames, flows through the center of this quaint village. 


  
So let's find the car park and get out and do a little exploring in Bibury.



There were many swans and ducks to welcome us to Bibury.  I wished I had some bread to offer.  When they realized we didn't they paddled to folks that did.



This fellow was downright indignant at our lack of bread!







Let's walk over to Arlington Row.  These cottages were built in 1380 as monastic wool stores.  They were later weaver's cottages that lived and worked in Bibury in the 17th century.  Their cloth was sent to Arlington Mill on the other side of Rack Isle.  Rack Isle was the place where the wool was sent to be hung on racks to dry.  Today this marshy area is a National Trust Wildfowl Reserve.






It was such a beautiful fall day.  I'm so happy that there were still many flowers blooming. 




 The leaves were just beginning to turn.



Walking along the path we came to the beautiful Arlington Row cottages.  Henry Ford tried to buy these cottages and have them shipped back to Michigan to reconstruct in Greenfield Village!



It would be a shame if that had happened!



These cottages now belong to the National Trust.  You may rent one of these beauties if you wish!






How would you like to live in this charming village?










If you would like, you can catch your own trout for dinner at the Trout Farm on the right of the photo.  On the left, the very large building used to house the old Arlington Mill.


  


Arlington Mill now a private residence







Oh England, you are so beautiful!


We are now on our way from small little charming cottages to a grand palace.  I hope you will join us! ♥












24 comments:

  1. Could there be a more charming village?! It looks as if it belongs in a novel.

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  2. Oh my goodness...
    These photos are just amazing!
    Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey with us here.
    I feel as if I am right there!
    I could live forever in that cozy village. : )

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    1. Billie Jo, I could too! It was so peaceful there. I'm happy you are coming along with us. ♥

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  3. What cozy looking village! It looks so peaceful and beautiful! Have a great weekend!

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  4. I do think I would feel right at home here, living a simple life. Oh my. So much charm! (It's okay if I bring my whole family along to Bibury, right?)

    I will certainly join you on your next stop!

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    1. Of course, Cheryl, please bring your family. I can see your darling grands feeding the swans and ducks now! ♥

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  5. What fun {okay, maybe not so for Grayden driving on the 'right' side of the road, which is the left ~ confused yet?} and how considerate to get the formality of passport control done before docking! I have to say, if you hadn't said you docked at Southampton, I would have guessed somewhere in Sweden or Norway ~ it looks so incredibly Scandinavian!
    Can't wait until we get underway heading further north now! ~~~Deb in Wales xo

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    1. Deb, a Scottish friend of Grayden's said, "Americans may drive on the right side of the road, buy we drive on the correct side of the road." Right or correct it messes with my brain!
      I thought the same about Southampton, until we drove a little and we see the ancient gates of the old port. xoxo ♥

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  6. Well my heart is in that village! How charming and quaint. So glad that places like that are preserved for everyone to enjoy. Can’t wait to see more!

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    1. Liz, Bibury represents to me what I adore about England. So lovely and full of charm. Thanks for coming along on our adventure. ♥

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  7. Oh I love the houses. Such a cool looking place.

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  8. The Cotswold area and the Lakes are just two of my favourite UK regions - there are others too!

    I enjoyed seeing your photographs, and it looks like you were fortunate to enjoy good weather too!

    You are producing a wonderful journal of your anniversary trip - just lovely.
    Special memories indeed.

    Enjoy the remainder of this weekend, and looking forward to seeing your next post.

    My good wishes

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan, you live in a beautiful part of the world. Writing these posts helps me and my sweetie relive this wonderful adventure to your lovely country. Thank you for coming along with us. ♥

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  9. What a memorable trip, Martha Ellen. The stone cottages in England are so charming. Wow, some of them go back to 1380! I love that picture of the swans and the bridge. The river that flows through the center of the village is just lovely. The girls visited England many years ago and loved many things about it. Thanks for sharing your trip, Martha Ellen.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, England is full of ancient buildings. It's amazing to me that they are still standing. It speaks to the style of building vs. today's practices! Thank you for sharing our trip with me. ♥

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  10. You make me yearn to go back to England! I do have several trips planned next year and can't wait. Thank you for sharing your trip with us, XOXO

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    1. England has a way of grabbing hold our hearts, doesn't it? Have a great day, my friend. XOXO ♥

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  11. Beautiful, Martha Ellen! I think our husbands are so brave to drive on the wrong side of the road, driver's seat on the wrong side of the car and looking up and to the wrong side for the rear view mirror! The Cotswolds are beautiful. After watching several episodes of 'Escape to the Country' on Netflix, I'm convinced that there are many, many places in England I would enjoy living. :-)) Enjoying your travelogue!

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    1. Our husbands are brave, Judy! I'm so glad they are for we get to see so much more because of it. England certainly is a land of beauty that makes my heart happy. Have a great week. ♥

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  12. Martha, I'm so happy that you were able to make this trip. I'm eagerly awaiting each installment! I would love to rent one of those lovely stone dwellings from the National Trust. My husband bravely tackled the driving years ago, but I don't think he would relish doing it again. I remember our first roundabout - it's a wonder we're not still stuck on it, going round and round! :D

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    1. Jean, those roundabouts are something else! LOL We had to go around a time or two on a few of them! I'll be sharing more about the narrow roads we came upon in Devon---now they were really a challenge. Have a great Thanksgiving. I know you will be baking some yummy goodies. ♥

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