The Texas Trio Tour England
Aug 3rd, 2016, 06:41 AM
#47
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Day 5: Wednesday June 29, 2016...And around we go!
DH & I packed our things and waited in the lobby while my Dad went to get the rental car. He arrived with a Kia Sportage which is what I drive at home. He looked funny on our passenger side of the car! He said it felt odd but so far it was okay.
We were using Google maps on my Dad's IPhone and we found our way to Windsor Castle with ease. We found a car park lot and walked a couple of blocks to the shops, eateries, and the entrance of the castle.
We ate lunch then made our way to the entrance of the castle for tickets. Again, another short line.
I thought the exterior of Windsor was amazing! It was overcast and drizzly so I told DH & Dad it was a perfect castle day! I could picture curling up by the fire to read a good book in one of the castle rooms!
We waited in another short line for Queen Mary's dollhouse and the state rooms. The dollhouse was really cool! So many intricate details! Every little girls dream!
The state rooms underwhelmed me. I say this because the rooms looked the same as the rooms I have seen in Versailles. To me, the sample offered by each castle seems the same. Of course, people couldn't be allowed to roam the castle. I was expecting something different though. I did enjoy one room that I believe was the great hall.
It was time to get back on the road. Our luck of ease with the car had already run it's course. Leaving Windsor turned into us being caught in a perpetual loop we could not escape from!
Our troubles were with the round abouts! When we approached a round about, we weren't understanding the exits, cars were coming at us from all directions, and it was all happening so fast!
We didn't have time to read the exits so we took wrong ones and got turned around many times! Frustrated, we were finally able to pull off and regroup. We made it back to a round about where we made the most critical mistake. Missing this one put us on the way back towards London and we lost a lot of time. Back at this round about, we took it slower and there was less traffic so we took the correct exit and we're finally on the right path to Winchester.
We arrived at the car park, in Winchester, at 4:35!! We walked over to the Great Hall that houses the King Arthur round table with 20 minutes to gawk!! The hall and the round table were amazing! I can't believe we made it right before closing! Before leaving, I noticed a door propped open. I walked over to discover a beautiful garden behind the hall! The wet day had a lovely effect on the plants and flowers!
Back on the road to reach our final destination of Salisbury. We were definitely in more of the countryside with a difference in the smaller roads and rolling hills. I knew I was going to love it! We did have a little trouble with one more round about when we reached Salisbury and the small roads near the b&b with cars parked on the street were testing our stress level! We finally parked in the b&b driveway and breathed a sigh of relief!!
The b&b was absolutely charming! The owner was so nice and welcoming! We were shown to our rooms and given details of all we would need to know. We chose our breakfast time and she gave us dinner recommendations. The room was absolutely lovely!! The bed...oh my gosh that bed!! Just heavenly!! We got settled and it was time to venture out for dinner.
The b&b was a 10 minute walk to the city centre. We found our way to the pub recommended by our b&b owner. The pub was called The Cloisters. There was an adorable table for three in the nook of a bay window! The wood beams, a small fireplace in the middle of the pub, a chill in the late June air made the pub experience amazing! A chill in June makes this Texan very happy! Icing on the cake...the food was delicious! Dad had fish and chips, DH had breakfast (they serve breakfast all day; DH loves breakfast), I had a roasted chicken breast with mashed potatoes covered in gravy! Delicious!
It was so nice to relax after our long and mostly stressful day! We walked back to the b&b and sunk into those heavenly beds!
DH & I packed our things and waited in the lobby while my Dad went to get the rental car. He arrived with a Kia Sportage which is what I drive at home. He looked funny on our passenger side of the car! He said it felt odd but so far it was okay.
We were using Google maps on my Dad's IPhone and we found our way to Windsor Castle with ease. We found a car park lot and walked a couple of blocks to the shops, eateries, and the entrance of the castle.
We ate lunch then made our way to the entrance of the castle for tickets. Again, another short line.
I thought the exterior of Windsor was amazing! It was overcast and drizzly so I told DH & Dad it was a perfect castle day! I could picture curling up by the fire to read a good book in one of the castle rooms!
We waited in another short line for Queen Mary's dollhouse and the state rooms. The dollhouse was really cool! So many intricate details! Every little girls dream!
The state rooms underwhelmed me. I say this because the rooms looked the same as the rooms I have seen in Versailles. To me, the sample offered by each castle seems the same. Of course, people couldn't be allowed to roam the castle. I was expecting something different though. I did enjoy one room that I believe was the great hall.
It was time to get back on the road. Our luck of ease with the car had already run it's course. Leaving Windsor turned into us being caught in a perpetual loop we could not escape from!
Our troubles were with the round abouts! When we approached a round about, we weren't understanding the exits, cars were coming at us from all directions, and it was all happening so fast!
We didn't have time to read the exits so we took wrong ones and got turned around many times! Frustrated, we were finally able to pull off and regroup. We made it back to a round about where we made the most critical mistake. Missing this one put us on the way back towards London and we lost a lot of time. Back at this round about, we took it slower and there was less traffic so we took the correct exit and we're finally on the right path to Winchester.
We arrived at the car park, in Winchester, at 4:35!! We walked over to the Great Hall that houses the King Arthur round table with 20 minutes to gawk!! The hall and the round table were amazing! I can't believe we made it right before closing! Before leaving, I noticed a door propped open. I walked over to discover a beautiful garden behind the hall! The wet day had a lovely effect on the plants and flowers!
Back on the road to reach our final destination of Salisbury. We were definitely in more of the countryside with a difference in the smaller roads and rolling hills. I knew I was going to love it! We did have a little trouble with one more round about when we reached Salisbury and the small roads near the b&b with cars parked on the street were testing our stress level! We finally parked in the b&b driveway and breathed a sigh of relief!!
The b&b was absolutely charming! The owner was so nice and welcoming! We were shown to our rooms and given details of all we would need to know. We chose our breakfast time and she gave us dinner recommendations. The room was absolutely lovely!! The bed...oh my gosh that bed!! Just heavenly!! We got settled and it was time to venture out for dinner.
The b&b was a 10 minute walk to the city centre. We found our way to the pub recommended by our b&b owner. The pub was called The Cloisters. There was an adorable table for three in the nook of a bay window! The wood beams, a small fireplace in the middle of the pub, a chill in the late June air made the pub experience amazing! A chill in June makes this Texan very happy! Icing on the cake...the food was delicious! Dad had fish and chips, DH had breakfast (they serve breakfast all day; DH loves breakfast), I had a roasted chicken breast with mashed potatoes covered in gravy! Delicious!
It was so nice to relax after our long and mostly stressful day! We walked back to the b&b and sunk into those heavenly beds!
Aug 3rd, 2016, 11:18 AM
#51
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Roundabouts can be scary even for the residents. I remember going round and round in Birmingham travelling too fast to read the exit signs... Hopeless. Can you not remember the name of your B&B :☺
Aug 3rd, 2016, 01:36 PM
#52
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Thank goodness, we got better at the round abouts! We finally got the hang of them with the help of the navigation system in the car.
We start using that one the next day and discover it worked so much better!
The b&b in Salisbury is: The Old Rectory B & B. Wonderful place!
theoldrectorybedandbreakfast-salisbury.co.uk
We start using that one the next day and discover it worked so much better!
The b&b in Salisbury is: The Old Rectory B & B. Wonderful place!
theoldrectorybedandbreakfast-salisbury.co.uk
Aug 5th, 2016, 08:52 AM
#53
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Day 6: Thursday June 30, 2016...Rocks in the ground!
We wake from our heavenly beds so we can get down to breakfast! The breakfast room was absolutely lovely with the view of the b&b garden! Assorted fruits, cereals, and yogurts were there for your choosing along with a menu to chose a hot breakfast. Dad & DH had the English breakfast while I chose the blueberry pancakes. The breakfast was absolutely delicious! Filled up and ready for our day, we set out for new adventures!
Stonehenge is our destination and off we go! We are well rested and we handle the drive with much more ease. I say, we, but Dad is driving. DH is in the passenger seat helping with navigation and I'm taking it all in from the backseat. I've got the easy part...
! I love seeing all the cottages along the way! Just adorable! I also love all the lanes and roads only big enough for one car! Some people, like Mom, would find that scary, but I loved it!
My Dad is a huge history buff and has waited his whole life to see Stonehenge. Today is a dream realized! Mom always teases my Dad, "what's the big deal about some rocks in the ground"! I am so happy my Dad gets to see Stonehenge and I took part in getting him there!
Short line, again, got our tickets and we started with the visitors center. We enter to a dark room with Stonehenge shown on big screens and sounds of a thunderstorm being played. We spent some time reading all the history and staring at the artifacts. We finished up at the visitors center then boarded the bus to take the short drive to the actual site of Stonehenge.
The bus parks and we walk the path...there it is...Stonehenge! Wow, what a sight! It was an amazing sight to see in person! More than just "rocks in the ground" Mom! We took so many pictures...it was a cloudy and slightly chilly day. Some dark clouds were hanging around which added to the allure. The dark clouds looming over the stones look great in the pictures! Time stood still while we were taking it all in! My Dad said he never thought he would see this and now he has!
We walked the path, eyeing each stone from every angle. Once in a lifetime moment!
We spent plenty of time and have some great pictures to last a lifetime so we decided to head back. We boarded the waiting bus and stopped in the gift shop before leaving. Dad got a hat and coffe cup. I got my niece and fur baby a stuffed sheep. I got myself a plaid wool scarf. I love plaid and wool so I'm happy!
Back to Salisbury, we park the car at the b&b then walk to the city centre. We walked the streets of Salisbury, enjoying the day and the shops. We stopped into a tea/ pastry shop for a piece of chocolate for me. Delicious!
We then walked to the Salisbury Cathedral. Amazing! Wow! I just can't get over the intricate design and architecture of these cathedrals! In the cathedral was the oldest working clock in the world! It was cool! We also saw another original coy of the Magna Carta. We saw one at the British Library so now we have seen two!
It was late afternoon and we were tired from all the exploring and walking. We decided to rest with a pub stop. We stepped into to The Haunch of Venison, the oldest pub in Salisbury and it dates back to the 1300s! Dad & DH had a couple of pints and I had some chips! We relaxed and enjoyed sitting in this pub surrounded by history!
We walked a bit more after our rest in the pub. Tonight for dinner we took a break from pub food and cleansed our palate with Italian food. We ate at Wildwood and it was good! DH didn't go Italian opting for a Philly cheesesteak, Dad had a penne pasta with a creamy sauce and a little spice to it, and I had lasagna. Too full for dessert, we headed back to the b&b after another full but great day!
We wake from our heavenly beds so we can get down to breakfast! The breakfast room was absolutely lovely with the view of the b&b garden! Assorted fruits, cereals, and yogurts were there for your choosing along with a menu to chose a hot breakfast. Dad & DH had the English breakfast while I chose the blueberry pancakes. The breakfast was absolutely delicious! Filled up and ready for our day, we set out for new adventures!
Stonehenge is our destination and off we go! We are well rested and we handle the drive with much more ease. I say, we, but Dad is driving. DH is in the passenger seat helping with navigation and I'm taking it all in from the backseat. I've got the easy part...
! I love seeing all the cottages along the way! Just adorable! I also love all the lanes and roads only big enough for one car! Some people, like Mom, would find that scary, but I loved it! My Dad is a huge history buff and has waited his whole life to see Stonehenge. Today is a dream realized! Mom always teases my Dad, "what's the big deal about some rocks in the ground"! I am so happy my Dad gets to see Stonehenge and I took part in getting him there!
Short line, again, got our tickets and we started with the visitors center. We enter to a dark room with Stonehenge shown on big screens and sounds of a thunderstorm being played. We spent some time reading all the history and staring at the artifacts. We finished up at the visitors center then boarded the bus to take the short drive to the actual site of Stonehenge.
The bus parks and we walk the path...there it is...Stonehenge! Wow, what a sight! It was an amazing sight to see in person! More than just "rocks in the ground" Mom! We took so many pictures...it was a cloudy and slightly chilly day. Some dark clouds were hanging around which added to the allure. The dark clouds looming over the stones look great in the pictures! Time stood still while we were taking it all in! My Dad said he never thought he would see this and now he has!
We walked the path, eyeing each stone from every angle. Once in a lifetime moment!
We spent plenty of time and have some great pictures to last a lifetime so we decided to head back. We boarded the waiting bus and stopped in the gift shop before leaving. Dad got a hat and coffe cup. I got my niece and fur baby a stuffed sheep. I got myself a plaid wool scarf. I love plaid and wool so I'm happy!
Back to Salisbury, we park the car at the b&b then walk to the city centre. We walked the streets of Salisbury, enjoying the day and the shops. We stopped into a tea/ pastry shop for a piece of chocolate for me. Delicious!
We then walked to the Salisbury Cathedral. Amazing! Wow! I just can't get over the intricate design and architecture of these cathedrals! In the cathedral was the oldest working clock in the world! It was cool! We also saw another original coy of the Magna Carta. We saw one at the British Library so now we have seen two!
It was late afternoon and we were tired from all the exploring and walking. We decided to rest with a pub stop. We stepped into to The Haunch of Venison, the oldest pub in Salisbury and it dates back to the 1300s! Dad & DH had a couple of pints and I had some chips! We relaxed and enjoyed sitting in this pub surrounded by history!
We walked a bit more after our rest in the pub. Tonight for dinner we took a break from pub food and cleansed our palate with Italian food. We ate at Wildwood and it was good! DH didn't go Italian opting for a Philly cheesesteak, Dad had a penne pasta with a creamy sauce and a little spice to it, and I had lasagna. Too full for dessert, we headed back to the b&b after another full but great day!
Aug 7th, 2016, 06:50 PM
#60
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Just now joining in, but I'm especially reading about your time after London - you visited some of my favorite places! How absolutely lovely that you got to share your Dad's pleasure in seeing places he'd always wanted to see. I got to do that with my mom, and the memories are absolutely priceless.
