I love to travel. I love seeing new places, meeting new people, doing new things, eating new foods… it’s one of my favorite things to do. I also love coming home. By the last day of vacation, I am usually ready to be home. This trip was no exception. As much as I love to travel, looking out the window of the plane and seeing Cape Ann on our approach into Boston Friday night, I was reminded again that this part of the world is home. There is a flowering magnolia tree in front of my apartment building, and I returned home to see it in full bloom.
Author: Laura Irwin
England 2015 – Day 7: Homeward Bound
This morning, I was torn between wanting to lie in bed a while longer and wanting to go out to take some early morning pictures on my last day of vacation. Knowing I could catch up on sleep when I got home, I was out the door a little after 6 AM. If you’re not an early morning riser, become one! Even if it’s only once in a while. One of the things I love to do at home when it’s above freezing is get up early on a weekend morning and head to the beach for sunrise. There’s something entirely different about being out before most of the world wakes up. This morning I had the same feeling I get on those mornings at the beach. My first stop today was Ebrington. I wandered around the village for a few minutes taking pictures and then headed off to the field with the sheep near the church in Chipping Campden. I planned to just stop for a few pictures, but ended up leaving my car and going for another walk on one of the walking paths. This one crossed the sheep pasture and met up with the second part of the path I was on yesterday behind the church fields. There was dew on the grass and a low fog over some of the field, and it was just a perfect morning to be out enjoying it. I passed only two other walkers on my way.
England 2015 – Day 6: A Walk and A Garden Visit
I woke up this morning with absolutely no plans for the day. Sure, there were a few things I was considering, but I didn’t really have any idea where I would end up. I had wanted to spend a day exploring Wales (the Chepstow and Tintern areas), but decided I didn’t feel like driving 1.5 hours each way. The morning was grey and cloudy, so I took my time getting ready and headed over to breakfast around 9:00. The nice thing about staying in this old manor hotel is that breakfast is included every morning. Not just a few bagels and toast, but a full, cooked, English style breakfast. The bad thing about staying in this old manor hotel is that breakfast is included every morning. To be honest, I’m getting a little tired of the choices. There are delicious croissants, cereal, fruit, yogurt, etc. on the continental table, but I’m a pretty picky eater and the hot food choices that I will actually eat are pretty limited. As in eggs or eggs. I had eggs Benedict the first morning I was here, and will probably have it again tomorrow. I had just a cold breakfast on the second morning, scrambled eggs yesterday, and cold again today. On Tuesday when I said I didn’t want anything hot, I overheard the server saying to another waitress, “She doesn’t want a cooked breakfast!”, as though it were scandalous!
England 2015 – Day 5: Village Hopping
The highlight for today was clearly hitting a bird and then realizing that not only did I hit it, the dead bird somehow managed to lodge itself behind the grille on the front of the car. So now I’m driving around with bird feathers sticking out of the front of the car. Fortunately, it is in the lower front by the fog lights, so I don’t think it is doing any damage. Don’t ask me how it got there either. It must have gotten flung up through the wheel well when I hit it. I figure the worst that can happen is the rental car company will charge me to remove it. Goodness knows this isn’t nearly as bad as the time I had to exchange a rental car because I rear ended someone and the whole front end was destroyed. But that’s a whole different story…
England 2015 – Day 4: Castles and Villages
I’ll admit it. I was a bit nervous that I had built the Cotswolds up so much in my mind before this trip that the actual experience may not live up to my expectations. It has been exactly the opposite. Every time I turn a corner into another village, I think, “This is exactly what I pictured in my mind.” Now I understand why the British use words like “lovely” and “charming”. They are the only words that can begin to do justice to places like this.
England 2015 – Day 3: This is the Cotswolds
It would be impossible to explain in words how beautiful this area is. It is quintessential English countryside at its very best. About three miles down the road from Charingworth Manor is the village of Chipping Campden. I decided to begin my first full day of exploring by visiting the village. The Cotswolds are covered with public walking paths (literally over 100 miles of them), many passing through villages and across farmland. These are usually accessed by small gates along the side of the road marked by a sign indicating “public footpath”. My first stop on the way into town was a small footpath into a field of sheep at the side of the road. The field overlooks the old woolen church in Chipping Campden (St. James’), one of many built by wool merchants to “show off” their wealth. You can just wander through the field among the sheep (and plenty of cute baby lambs). After my stop at the field, I parked by the church and wandered around the town for a while. In the center of town, the market hall dates back to 1627, where it was originally used by produce merchants. One of the best parts of the day was the walk I took on one of the footpaths though some of the fields surrounding the village.
England 2015 – Day 2: From London to Chipping Campden (on the left)
Despite a solid 9 hours of sleep last night, I still woke up tired this morning. Blame it on my body thinking I was getting up at 1AM. I had a few hours to spend in London before heading to pick up the rental car, so I took advantage of the quiet streets and wound my way from my hotel in Westminster to Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park, and back.
London has a very different feel when you beat the crowds and can enjoy a walk without wall to wall people surrounding you. I took the obligatory pictures of Buckingham Palace (and the boatload of news vans camped out awaiting the Royal baby announcement!) and then headed back to my hotel via St. James’s Park. While there are plenty of other things to see and do in London that I skipped over this time, the Cotswolds were calling me.
England 2015 – Day 1: Boston to London
“There’s no rest for the weary.” Or so the saying goes. In this case, there’s no rest for the jet-lagged. After very little sleep (more like a few winks) on last night’s overnight flight from Boston, I arrived in London excited and ready to go. That lasted for about 10 minutes. Or the time it took to get from my gate to the “UK Border” sign at immigration (I love that sign!). Exhaustion set in hard and fast. Determined to beat it, I quickly made my way to the Underground ticket booth and discovered that my Oyster card from my visit two years ago was not only still active, it still had money on it! The 45 minute tube ride from Heathrow left me outside Pimlico station, where the cool air and crisp breeze perked me right back up. I made my way to my nearby hotel and took advantage of the Executive Lounge to grab a Diet Coke and some enormous marshmallows. Completely random, but coupled with the warm Doubletree cookie and hot shower, I was good to go.
Mystic, Connecticut – The Perfect Weekend Escape
Looking for a great weekend getaway that’s not too far, yet has plenty to offer for all ages? Look no further than Mystic, Connecticut. From the Aquarium to the Seaport, beaches to cafes, Mystic is the perfect place to spend a weekend!
America’s Finest City – San Diego, California
The city of San Diego conjures up visions of palm trees, long sand beaches, and endless sunny days. But San Diego is more than just iconic California sunshine. Filled with history and fortunate to have a year-round temperate climate, the city makes for a great, relaxing vacation destination in any season. With so much to do in San Diego, one could easily spend a couple of weeks and not see everything the area has to offer. San Diego has the unique appeal of having a little something for everyone. From beaches to theme parks to a vibrant downtown, everyone can find something to enjoy in the far southwest corner of the United States….
Traveling with Laura 