Tea & Trains (York)

   Early Tuesday morning we left Cambridge for the city of York. Two of my four favorite experiences from the whole trip happened on this lovely day.
   The first of these favorite experiences was our train ride to York. It was about four hours long, so we were able to settle in and enjoy the ride. We got Yorkshire Gold tea & shortbread when the tea trolly came by. (I've always been partial to fruity herbal teas, but I've made myself acquire a taste for black tea since I am in England.) I knitted on my fingerless gloves & daydreamed most of the trip. Train travel is my favorite, it's like a relaxed version of flying. And you get to view pretty scenery.
 

Photo Credit: Dad

   Once we arrived in York we went to Bettys for tea! This was the other favorite experience of the day. Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms was established in 1919 & is world renowned. The food was excellent & the setting charming. If you ever get a chance to visit York you must visit Bettys!

I ate French Toast with bacon! The fluffy toast & savory bacon was a delicious combination.

Dad had a cheese & potato Rosti with eggs, bacon, & the best mushrooms ever (I know, I tried them). He hasn't quit talking about his Rosti for the past week . . .

Aunt Kim got the traditional Afternoon Tea, which must have been good since she ate almost all of it herself. =)

There was also a shop in Bettys, which was simply delightful to browse. Mum spent a good portion of her saved Birthday money on a tea book, a bag, a mug, & (of course) tea!

Their autumn window display was just too pretty not to attempt some pictures! If you can't tell, those are leaf & macaroon garlands hanging up. 

   The rest of the day we spent shopping & sightseeing around York. There is a really old section of the city called The Shambles which is now an ally of shops. Back in the medieval times it was the street where the butchers sold their meat. 

   We also admired the York Minster, a massive & intricate cathedral. In the evening, when we were walking around the medieval wall that still goes around part of the city, the Minster's bells started ringing. It was beautiful to listen to & the songs went on for a good hour.

This is a column that the Romans built when they occupied the area that is now York!

   Overall this first day in York was one of my favorites from the whole trip! A delightful blend of shopping, tea, rest, history, & delicious food!

P.S. I had the most shocking realization at the end of the day. I realized where New York got its name. 

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? 

Of Tea and Wanderings

   I can't believe we've only been gone for five days, it feels like so much longer. We've had a lovely time, but we can't wait to settle into Tyndale house next week. Until then I'll be visiting Oxford & the Cotswolds! (More on that tomorrow.)

   As far as these last two days are concerned, they have been filled with exploring Cambridge, resting, & drinking tea. Here are some random snapshots of Cambridge life.

We had tea (super) at Auntie's Tea Shop yesterday, which was delightful. 

We loved Auntie's last time we were here, so we were excited to go back!

Dad got a traditional English breakfast. This is about as British as it gets folks. 

A Traditional English Breakfast consists of:

• Toast
• Fried eggs
• British sausage 
• Grilled tomatoes 
• Baked beans
• Rashers (British bacon)
• Hashbrown squares 
• Various jams and butters

You might also have:

• Mushrooms
• Crumpets

And of course it always includes the extremely important:

• Tea

Lovely little flats (apartments). If our ivy did this I'd sure be happy. 

The whole city is made up of these lovely old buildings.

Bright flowers! 

I went for a walk yesterday in the park that is literally behind our hotel. And there's this big, beautiful, old building off to the side. 

Street view! Very narrow sidewalks & lots of old buildings.

My first bubble tea.

   I went out to the market by myself today (I feel so grown up) & had the best time. I just wandered around, browsing all the jewelry, scarves, cheese, purses, smoothies, & veg. The church bells were ringing, delicious smells floated around, & buskers (street performers) played lively music. I bought a beautiful blue floral scarf & my first bubble tea! I've been wanting to try bubble tea for a while and I really liked it. 

   What I enjoyed most was simply having the freedom to go where I wanted, when I wanted! And walking is so good for you, it gives you extra incentive to shop (like I need it)! =D