Heading (to our new) Home

   After a week and a half of traveling, sightseeing, walking, & living out of a suitcase we finally headed back to Cambridge on Friday, July 19th. As much as I loved visiting Oxford & the Cotswolds, I was so ready to be settled in our new home & not constantly be on the move. And to have my own room again. Yeah.

   On our drive back to Oxford we stopped at several more little villages, but none could compare to Bibury (said like bribery, but without the "r"). We weren't even planning on stopping there, so we only had about 20 minutes. We definitely want to go back. It's so picturesque it's almost like a little fairytale village. 

   Can we just take a moment to appreciate the fact that they had a river with a swan? 

Photo Credit: Dad

Photo Credit: Dad

   After we (reluctantly) left Bibury, we continued our drive back to Oxford. On the way we stopped and picked up some raspberries for a snack. I had this moment where I looked around and thought, "I'm riding around the British countryside eating raspberries!" I mean like, whaaat?

   We got to Oxford & caught a bus back to Cambridge. A very hot bus. The ride was over three & a half hours and the air conditioning didn't really work. Needless to say, it just made us even more excited to get to Cambridge. It was a long bus ride.

   When we got here we hurried up to finally see what our flat was like! It's rather small, but now that we're settled in we're loving it here. I'll take you on a detailed tour soon!

   Every Friday night the residents of Tyndale house get together and have a little cookout. We went & I met several 20 somethings who are here doing translation work. They were super nice & it felt great to finally meet some people over here. =)

Castle Combe (Cotswolds Part III)

   We continued on our journey driving through the Cotswolds on Thursday, July 18th. We stopped at several little villages on our way to our main destination, Castle Combe.

   Castle Combe is yet another little picturesque village. We had lunch & then went down to the stream to take pictures.

Anna approves of this lodge.

I had a mini adventure crossing this stream to get to the mysterious gateway on the other side! =)

   We enjoyed Castle Combe, but we visited our absolute favorite village the next day. Pictures of fairytale-esque Bibury to come! 

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.