Friday, February 28, 2014

sit with a book

Naunton (Gloucestershire), England

This looks like a nice place to sit with a good book and get lost in another world...

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Entre Dos Aguas

Tarifa (Cádiz - Andalucía), Spain

Entre Dos Aguas - Descansa en paz, maestro.  Francisco Sánchez Gómez, Paco de Lucía.

Monday, February 24, 2014

oldest town in England

Malmesbury (Wiltshire), England

Malmesbury is considered the oldest continually inhabited town in England as archaeologists found remnants of Neolithic and Iron Age defense walls and forts.  It is located in the southern part of the Cotswolds.
 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

the Castle Inn

Castle Combe (Wiltshire), England

Anyone care to escape to the Castle Inn for a few days?
 

Saturday, February 22, 2014

give sorrow words

Castle Combe (Wiltshire), England

"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er fraught heart and bids its break."
    
                                                                                -William Shakespeare, Macbeth
 

Friday, February 21, 2014

English charm

Castle Combe (Wiltshire), England

I would love to see what's inside too, wouldn't you?
 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

enchanting

Castle Combe (Wiltshire), England

Its amazing the number of enchanting villages that can be found throughout the English countryside.  This is just one example of many.  Its population numbers a mere 350 people.  This tiny town has been used more than once as a backdrop for films, one of which was Steven Spielberg's Warhorse.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Monday, February 17, 2014

the Mad Hatter

Winchcombe (Gloucestershire), England

Many people come to Winchcombe to see St. Peter's Church (late 15th century) and its so called gargoyles.  They are actually just grotesque carvings since a true gargoyle has a water spout passing through it.  

Forty of these carvings surround the church, twenty of which represent demonic creatures while the other twenty appear to be caricatures of locally important people who donated money to the church.  The curious figure in this photo is said to be the model for the Mad Hatter in Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland Story.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Saturday, February 15, 2014

quaint living

Stanton (Gloucestershire), England

Another perfect example of quaint Cotswold living...

Friday, February 14, 2014

picture perfect setting

between Broadway and Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

One wonderful thing about driving around the Cotswolds is seeing all the beautiful cottages dotting the countryside.  The view facing this house was a long-stretching field of sheep.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

decorative doors

Stanton (Gloucestershire), England

This town, completely built with Cotswold stone, is a treat for the eyes by all standards, but if you like doors, you will love the visit.  Every house offers something unique.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

wooly creatures

between Snowshill and Broadway (Gloucestershire), England

The Cotswolds DO have many long-wooled sheep!  Cotswold wool has been given the name "poor man's mohair" due to its fine quality.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

English cottages

Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

Spend a few days in the countryside and you'll feel as good as new!

Monday, February 10, 2014

slow down...

Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

Slow down and enjoy the special moments life has to offer...

Sunday, February 9, 2014

perfect harmony

Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

You can't help but feel perfect harmony when walking around this stone village of the Cotswolds.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

a perfect get away

Snowshill (Gloucestershire), England

This was, by far, one of my favorite villages I visited in the Cotswolds.  The whole town is full of picturesque cottages and, of course, the blue doors and moss growing everywhere added a special charm for me!

Friday, February 7, 2014

Broadway tower

Broadway (Worcestershire), England

Broadway tower was built in the late 18th century on Broadway hill, the second highest point in the Cotswolds.  It was originally built for decorative purposes, but took the appearance of a castle.  Over the centuries, it has been used for a variety of purposes, from things such as home to the printing press of Sir Thomas Phillips, a country retreat for artists to a unique vantage point to spot enemy planes during the wars.  Today you can visit this tower and see for yourself what they have used it for and at the same time enjoy the delightful views all around you.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Anne Hathaway

Shottery (Warwickshire), England

This timber framed cottage was once the childhood home of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare's wife.  Today this cottage is open to the public and acts as a major tourist attraction for Shottery, a village just outside of Statford-Upon-Avon.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

The Garrick Inn

Stratford-Upon-Avon (Warwickshire), England

Perhaps the oldest pub in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birth town of William Shakespeare, parts of this timber building date back to the 1400s.  Its original name was The Greyhound, but was later renamed after the Shakespearean actor, Sir David Garrick, who did a great deal to popularize Shakespeare in this town.  It has been an Inn since the year 1718.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

decorative backdrop

Warwick (Warwickshire), England

The Great Fire of Warwick (1694) destroyed many of the medieval buildings it had in the town center.  Fortunately, many older timber framed buildings, like the ones seen in this picture, survived and can be found around the edges of the town center.