August 22, 2013

The Cotswolds and Stratford Upon Avon

These old English towns located in the central Western part of England that have been recognized for their extreme beauty and quaintness are fun to drive through and enjoy.  The summer was amazing with all the hanging flower baskets and green every where the eye could see.  We started in Chipping Camden:
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We really enjoyed walking around the old town church and looking at the head stones.  The cemeteries are all around the church everywhere.  Jared told the kids that if they found his birthday on any headstone that he would buy that kid ice-cream.  We never officially found it, but somehow ended up making a pit stop for ice-cream later in the day! 
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We were also on the hunt for “thatched roofs” all day! 
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This house is huge and amazing…..
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Next stop was Stow on the Wold:
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This church is said to be the inspiration for the “Mine’s of Moria” Gate in Lord of the Rings….the boys thought that was pretty cool!
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All the cottages have names above them….. anyway they used to and that’s how the post man knew how to find the house.  Now its more of a tradition. 
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Next stop along the way….. STRATFORD UPON AVON.  Home to William Shakespeare! 
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We went through the William Shakespeare museum as well as one of the houses he lived in.
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Pit stop for ICE-CREAM!
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We ended with a tour of the Birthplace house of Shakespeare.  They were so cute here with the kids.  They had treasure maps to find things all over the house as they went along and the lady outside shared real Mulberries off the tree.  I never knew what a mulberry was before! 
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They look like large black berries and taste delicious! 
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Our hotel below was one of the neatest places we have stayed at in Europe!  It was just like an old English PUB. 
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