It's a Wrap on the Cotswolds and Other Things

Okay, so it is time to finish up these entries because I don’t think writing about the trip should take more time than actually taking the trip. Before we get moving onto the next towns, I wanted to include a picture of a thatched roof cottage. I was amazed at how many of these cottages are around, that we saw on this trip and are in use. They are very cute but I imagine the upkeep is pretty tough. Very picturesque.


Chipping Campden

Chipping Campden is another one of the Cotswolds’ wool towns, which were
founded on the ancient wool trade years, years ago. Specifically Chipping Campden was founded in 1185. The town buildings are like a time line, there are structures that date back from every century since the 14th. As usual there is a beautiful church. Since it was Sunday and they had services ongoing, we couldn’t traipse around in the church, church traipsing being our specialty. So we walked all throughout the town, much to the delight of the teenaged people in our group. Chipping reminds me a bit of Carmel. There are no house numbers on the houses. Most of
the houses are either named or have some other identifying mark, such as the blue shutters or green door. This is the market that has been in the town center since it was built in 1627. It looks pretty good for being almost 400 years old, huh?


These crosses are in just about every town we have been in. They honor the local citizens who died in one of the wars or conflicts that Britain has been involved in. The red wreaths are made of paper or a plastic version and are supposed to represent poppies. The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day (the UK version of Veteran’s Day).







Stratford-Upon-Avon



Well, for most of you Stratford-upon-Avon (remember Avon, like haven without the h) needs no introduction. I guess that was kind of an introduction. Birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare. We managed to see his house, you can actually walk in, see where he lived, etc. It was interesting but…… okay – you knew there was but. Stratford is probably one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Cotswolds. It has been “Disneyfied” in a way. Not because there is a Shakespeare information center and there are no Shakespeare or Anne Hathaways walking around signing autographs in a “sold only in Stratford” autograph book. No I think it was interesting to learn about his life, his past, his family. But the area immediately surrounding his house is an outdoor mall, with dress shops, gift shops, candy shops. I noticed this same phenomena at Canterbury Cathedral. Once of the most historic places in all of England and it surrounded by Top Shops, Wetherspoons restaurants and Monsoons. I am not one of those ‘keep everything exactly the same, no modernization,” but I think the areas around certain sites could be kept a little more historic and a little less commercial. Maybe its just me.

So we got a really good feel of the English countryside. It is beautiful and I could drive (or be driven as the case may be) around for hours just watching it. It is always interesting and something historic is just around the corner. (Okay, cue smaltzy Disney music, …… Noooooooooo!) Good Trip.