Day 13- More Cotswolds and Blenheim

Slept great at "The Chance" and had an amazing omelette and other goodies for breakfast from our host, Sally. Rick Steves gets Kudos for recommending this place, for sure. Our hostess even had a fun story about seeing him at the restaurant we ate at tonight. But before dinner...

We visited the church we walked around last night. It was lovely and I always enjoy seeing evidence of their "family ministries." On the front sign of this church the "Creche 0-3" (nursery) has been taken off. (No babies? Yikes!) But this church was typical in all the other ways-- dignitaries memorialized inside, a place to honor war heroes who made the "Supreme Sacrifice" and pretty windows and an interesting organ.

We also visited a silversmith shop in an old silken mill. It was like stepping back in time. It's been in that same location since the 1700's with many of the same tools. We saw an artisan at work and had fun visiting with him. Apparently they are quite famous-- Hart's Silversmith.

The big decision of the day was whether to do Blenheim Palace or go back to Stratford Upon Avon to see Shakespeare stuff. We decided we'd driven through Stratford and that was enough-- it looked very touristy and congested to us, and people we met tonight affirmed that. Not that Blenheim isn't touristy as well... oh my goodness, it is the Palace of Versailles of England. It's where Winston Churchill was born and it is quite a memorial to him. Another Churchill (John) was an English hero of the past but I won't bore you with the history. The grounds are truly amazing, that's for sure. They manage to share the story of the palace with some goofy animatronics and video (a "ghost maid" takes you through the centuries-- and it's quite saucy). But we enjoyed learning about it and walked quite a bit of the grounds which are like a national park in themselves-- lakes, gorgeous groves of trees, lovely rose gardens and manicured Italian hedges and such... only pix can tell and they certainly don't do it justice.

We wanted to get to a few more free "Heritage sites" (ruins, etc) but we spent a little more time at Blenheim than we thought! But we did a quick drive through the Cotswalds this evening where you can get lost and find adorable little village after another... we had heard about the Broadway Tower so checked it out-- great views (though the gray clouds had returned-- good for me!).... and though it was too late to climb it (closed at 5), we were welcomed by a trick biplane pilot who was doing that straight in the air and turn over to almost fall out of the sky trick right above us-- odd little treat.

We rested in our room a bit and then headed to a late dinner at The 8 Bells Pub, where we had more English fare: pork medallions stroganoff and Ken had a chicken "pie" with of course, lots of brown gravy. (It's all so heavy!) Most fun was to talk to a couple who sat next to us. I listened to them order and then said, "You talk like us." And the man said, "You're west coast." I said, "Seattle," and the woman said, "Bellingham!" It didn't take long for us to find people in common (Andy and Sarah Lewis)-- she teaches with Andy at Bellingham Christian. Such a small world! Nice visit.

Anyway, we have to be up and out quite early tomorrow to return our car to Bath, our next stay for 2 nights! Excited!!! But I can see why the Brits come to rest here in the Cotswalds-- so quaint (as a car goes screaming down the road...). Have to say, Ken is rocking the driving here, but it will be good to turn the car in, though we will miss it as a place to keep our stuff which seems to be multiplying! (Lois our neighbor was so right to send us with an extra bag!) I could tell lots of driving stories about how the oncoming cars just come at you as if they're playing chicken-- I guess they figure YOU will move over, but there's not really anywhere to go. Lots of eye-closing and praying they don't hit us-- such a weird perspective when you're on the other side of the steering wheel! Anyway-- another day, another several pounds (of both kinds).