Buxton, Old Trafford and finally London {British Adventure}

At the end of our week traveling the English countryside, we found ourselves heading back up to Manchester to pick up my daughter from her soccer camp. We had time for one more stop, so we landed in Buxton, a spa town at the edge of the beautiful Peak District National Park.

Then, after a loooong couple of hours trying to negotiate the streets of Manchester, we finally found our way to The Old Trafford stadium, where my daughter and many other kids were waiting after an amazing week of soccer training.

Shortly after, it was off to the airport so we could return the rental car (I was so happy not to have to drive anymore!) and take a train to London, where we were planing to spend a couple of days before returning home. Our first day in London (a Saturday) found us heading straight to busy Portobello Road.

(I love the look of this store, called All Saints! All the windows, even around the corner, were covered in old sewing machines, and there were more inside!)

Gorgeous antiques, but too expensive!!

Lots of creative photo ops...

Then we made our way to visit other landmarks...

Piccadilly Circus

Liberty

Carnaby Street (so different than it was 30 years ago, when our high school senior class traveled to London...!!)

Green Park

Look who we stumbled upon! Recognize him? It's none other than travel host Rick Steves!!

A view from the London Eye

Westminster Abbey (where William and Kate recently got married)

London Eye (with Big Ben in the background)

Tower Bridge

Tower of London

Covent Garden

I love Paella!!!

Buckingham Palace

No, this is not a famous landmark... But this chain of healthy fast food quickly became a favorite replenishing spot for our tiring bodies...!!! The salads were delicious, the sandwiches appetizing, and there were lots of healthy fruits, snacks and pastries, along with hot or cold drinks!

I hope you have enjoyed this voyage with me, it was a memorable trip and one I will hold close to my heart forever...!!!

Latest creations and off to Camas!

Tomorrow I am setting up booth at the Camas Vintage Street Faire... This is the third year that I have been a part of it, it is a delightful street faire in a quaint little town, hosted by two of my favorite girls, Laurie and Debbie, from Worthy Goods!

Here are some of my latest creations...

I hope to see you there!!

The Cotswolds {British Adventure}

I was really looking forward to this part of the trip... I had visited the Cotswolds years ago, when we lived in London, and I was beyond excited to come back and see more...!! It is, truly, the epitome of English country and a place I could see myself moving to without skipping a beat!! We found ourselves first in Stow-on-the-Wold, a charming medieval market village with delightfully rustic stone buildings...

  

I looked at my checkbook, but, alas, couldn't afford this little beauty...!!

There were lots of antique stores to browse through, but the prices were too high for us thrifty girls!!

I think I have found my next dream vacation spot... You can rent this little beauty weekly, I couldn't resist looking online, it looks absolutely dreamy inside (here's the link)!!

But this sweet cottage was, by far my favorite... Straight out of a storybook...!!!

The entryways... Oh, the entryways!!!

The Royalist Hotel is the oldest hotel in England, it dates from 947 AD!!

Just a few minutes drive from Stow is Broadway, a charming village often referred to as "the jewel of the Cotswolds". The name comes from their "broad way" (called High Street), lined by red chestnut trees and gorgeous ancient honey-colored limestone buildings.

A local man told us about this church just a few minutes up the hill... He said they had filmed parts of  "Four Weddings and a Funeral" there. That's how we ended up in Snowshill, a tiny village with a beautiful church and breathtaking curb appeal... 

I think on my next visit I will follow this "Cotswolds Romantic Road" route, it sounds absolutely wonderful!!

Finally, we made our way to Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare (and one of the most important tourist destinations in England)

The gorgeous Avon river

Shakespeare's birth home

I know, this was a really long post (and I left much more out!)... It was all soooo pretty, I just couldn't help myself!!! I feel like the neighbor who invites you over for dinner then sits you down for an hour-long slide show of their latest travels...!!

My last post will include snapshots of our weekend stay in London (with a quick previous stop in Buxton and the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester - to pick up my daughter...). I hope you will visit me again soon!