Bath, Oxford and Banbury {British Adventure}

Following our travels through Wales, we found ourselves in Bath, in the Somerset region of England. Bath was first established as a spa (due to its natural springs) by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago. After a few phone calls, we found a very centrally located B&B called Elgin Villa, which allowed us to enjoy walks around town without having to worry about parking...

Bath Cathedral

 

 

We couldn't leave without indulging on some fish and chips from Seafoods... Boy, was it ever so worth the extra calories!!! My mouth still waters, just thinking about it!

We left Bath and made a stop in Oxford, home of the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Twenty five years ago I spent 3 months in Cambridge perfecting my English, and absolutely loved every minute of it! I expected Oxford to have the same feeling, and, while the majesty and age of the buildings is still quite impressive, it didn't feel as "cosy" as Cambridge... Nevertheless, we enjoyed our visit tremendously!

Bridge of Sighs, modeled after the famous Venetian bridge...

Radcliffe Camera

Christ Church Cathedral

(couldn't help taking a picture, how sweet!!)

While we didn't ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross, we found ourselves spending the night at a sweet B&B in Banbury, as we were making our way up to the Cotswolds...

Easington House in Banbury

The original Banbury Cross was destroyed by Puritans in the beginning of the 17th century, and it wasn't until 1859 that the current Banbury Cross was erected.

Our next stop will be the stunning Cotswolds; it is, by far, one of my favorite parts of the world!

Wales {British Adventure}

 I have been so anxious to show you pictures of our trip to England, I took over 500 and I hope I won't bore you through many of them.... Lisa and I visited so many beautiful places, I can't help but wanting you to tag along with us!!.

I left a day earlier (remember, the day of Barn House...?) as I had to check daughter #3 into the Manchester United Soccer School at Denstone College, Staffordshire. We rented a car (driver's seat on the right, shifting gears with the left hand and driving on the opposite side of the road... Not a small task, especially after being awake for so long!!) and headed south. My mouth dropped when we arrived... This beautiful old building is right out of Harry Potter... Unfortunately, I discovered, once there, that I had packed my camera without a memory card (ugh!!), so I had to rely on my phone to record the moment...

After spending the night near the Manchester airport, it was time to pick my trip buddy up and start our journey... We decided to head towards the Snowdonia National Park in the heart of North Wales. The gorgeous countryside views blew us away... Endless visions of lush landscapes, spots of sheep everywhere, and rows and rows of stone walls... 

After a quick stop at a farm shop and restaurant, to get a bite to eat (I had a delicious organic lamb burger!), we drove by a tiny quaint village called Dolwyddelan for a potty break - we loved the fact that most small villages have public toilets! - and were excited to find out they had a castle!

... The breathtaking view from the castle...

We then headed to the coastline and stopped at a quaint village called Harlech, where a majestic castle built in the 13th century oversees its entire surroundings, including an amazing beach...

We continued our journey south, through Barmouth (a quaint beach destination), Dolgellau and ending in Machynlleth, where after hitting 3 or 4 Bed and Breakfasts with no vacancies left, we found this little gem... An old mill house with a creek running behind it, in a quaint tiny village... We literally squealed with delight when we found out there was room for us!! Can we just move in?

I can't wait to share more, as our journey through England continues... Please come back, will you?

Barn House Country Marketplace

What can I say... The pictures say it all!! The Barn House Country Marketplace was absolutely magical, everyone did such an amazing job displaying their wares, it was warm and inviting and there were treasures to be found everywhere you turned!!! The yummy food and the live music made it even more special... The saddest thing about that day was that I did not have time to visit with all my sweet friends, vendors and customers alike, as I had to rush to the airport at midday... My girls (always with a smile on their face, I heard!) ran my booth in my absence and sold tons for me! Thanks to all all who stopped by and truly made our day, and a huge thanks to J&J, who always welcome me into their lives with open arms and warm hearts, I love you guys!!!

  

 

  

I will be back soon with pictures from my trip to England, Lisa and I had an amazing time and took lots of gorgeous pictures... Can't wait to tell you all about it!