The Village of Lacock (The Cotswolds Part I)

   I attempted to write a blog post about our whole first day in the Cotswolds, but I simply couldn't do it. To many good pictures. =) So I will write two posts about our first day, and quite possibly two more about our second. 

   On Wednesday, July 17th, we got up early & went to one last C. S. Lewis lecture (which was really a panel discussion). Then we got in our rental car and drove off to the Cotswolds! Yes, dad was driving & yes, mom was nervous. But they both did very well with their respective roles and we all ended up enjoying the drive. Hallelujah for the air conditioning in our car!

   We reached the lovely village of Lacock around midday. This is the village where BBC has filmed many of their period pieces: Cranford, Pride and Prejudice, etcetera . . . It was so fun to be like, "Look, that's the window the Bennet girls looked at in the village!"

Mom outside of Miss Mattie's house (from Cranford)!

Photo Credit: Dad

 

   At the end of the village road we came to King John's Hunting Lodge Tea Room. The building it's in literally used to be King John's hunting lodge, back in the 1200's. It's also the house of the sweet old lady who runs the tea room, so her house is 800 years old!

Our beautiful & refreshing lunch!

   When dad was buying some jelly after our lunch, he started talking with the lady who owns the tea room, Ms. Margret. Then she came out to talk with mom & me! She was so sweet & called everyone "dear" or "love". She told us about owning the tea shop & of the different people she's had tea with when they came to film in the village. Collin Firth & Daniel Radcliffe were just a few of them! Then she took us inside her house & signed a tea book, for mom, that she wrote. We chatted for several minutes & had the most delightful time. Mom was about to die from happiness, I think. And it turns out Margret is a believer, which is extra wonderful!

Photo Credit: Dad

   Our talk with Ms. Margret is one of our favorite parts of our trip so far! It was just lovely.

Great Halls & Gorgeous Parks (Oxford Part II)

   Our second day in Oxford (Tuesday, July 16th) was extremely full, but we saw so many beautiful places. In the morning we went to just one lecture at the C. S. Lewis conference & it was quite fascinating. Then we went traipsing around Oxford (again).

   First we went to Christ Church College.

   This hall was the inspiration for the Great Hall in the Harry Potter films! Nothing was actually filmed in here, but a set was built based on this hall.

Photo Credit: Dad

   These stairs are right outside the hall, & they were used for some of the filming. I was like, "I'm in Hogwarts!" =) But all the tourists walking around kind of diminished the magical effect.

   Then we stumbled upon a gem of an exhibit. We wandered into a stuffy hot room . . . & saw a map of Narnia drawn by C. S. Lewis himself. And a map of Middle Earth drawn by J. R. R. Tolkien. And a sketch of dufflepuds & beautiful illustrations of epic adventures drawn by the men who created them! And there were book cover design ideas, by both men for their books. It was so incredible! Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures, but I'll remember it for years.

   After that we went to refresh ourselves with tea & scones at St. Mary's. You might be asking, "But Anna, haven't you been saying how hot it's been over there? Did you get hot tea?" Yes & yes. You always get hot tea, no matter what the weather is. You can always depend on tea. =)

Photo Credit: Mom

   After tea dad & I climbed up a narrow winding staircase to the top of St. Mary's. The view from the top was spectacular, & you could go around three sides of the tower to take pictures. 

   Then we headed over to Magdelene College. We all agree that Magdelene was our favorite part of Oxford. It's the most beautiful college ever. The buildings, the grounds, the gardens! Pictures can't capture the grand beauty of it all, but here's a taste.

   P.S. Dad's camera died right when we got to Magdelene, so I let him use mine. All the following pictures were taken by him. 

Mom has decided this is where she's going to live (although she's chosen several houses on this trip already).

 

   What is your favorite picture from my second day in Oxford? 

Further Up & Further In (Oxford Part I)

   Well, I'm finally back in Cambridge! This last week we saw some wonderful things, but I'm so glad to be settling into our flat. No more living out of a suitcase for me! (At least for a few weeks...) 

   Sorry I haven't kept you updated. We did so much seeing, walking, & exploring last week that by the evenings the only thing I felt up to was Pinterest. =) But I'll get you caught up now!

   My next four posts will be rather large, with lots of pictures. The first two (including this one) will be of our two days in Oxford, & the last two will be of our two days in the Cotswalds. Once I've written those I'll do a three part miniseries about Tyndale house, where I'm living now. =)

   Our first full day in Oxford was this past Monday, July 15th. In the morning we went to hear two lectures at the C.S. Lewis conference, which was quite interesting. Then after lunch we went to explore the city.

All lampposts will forever remind me of the lamppost. =) 

The Radcliffe Camera, which means "room" in Latin. I don't know why Mr. Radcliffe named it that, seems rather unoriginal if you ask me.

This is actually where they filmed the hospital scenes in the Harry Potter films!

   In the evening the Ellis family had us over for supper. Mr. Nick & Ms. Laura Lee graduated from Union several years ago & now they have a family. They've been living in Oxford for the past three or so years as Mr. Nick finishes his Ph.D.

   On our way out to their house we got to visit J. R. R. Tolkien's grave. I feel so honored to have been able to visit. Many people have left tokens of gratitude to the man who created the Lord of the Rings.

   After a lovely supper & talk, we all went for a stroll. They live in the little village Wolvercote, just outside Oxford. It was so picturesque & I obsessively snapped pictures.

Little Grace

Photo Credit: Dad

   Thank you Ellises for a lovely evening!