A thatched cottage in Chipping Camden

The First Trip
I think that Moreton-in-Marsh is a great spot, although not many Japanese visit the place.
We decided to go to Moreton-in-Marsh by train and make it our base. From Moreton-in-Marsh, you can go to Chipping Camden, Stow-on the-Wold, and Bourton-on-the Water easily.
We stayed at a small farm which we found in "GIO GLOBE TROTTER". The farm was a little far from the station. When we arrived at the station, we used a taxi because we had heavy luggage. On the other hand, when we went to the town, we asked the proprietor of the farm the way to the station because we wanted to save money.
However, because the proprietor told us a shortcut, we got lost. We had to walk in the middle of fields where we couldn't see anybody! We totally felt helpless. The station, which we were supposed to arrived at in a 20-minute walk, was nowhere in sight! "What shall we do if somebody scolds us for cutting across the land?", my friend said. Shortly after we arrived at Moreton-in-Marsh, we felt totally at a loss and felt irritated and exhausted.
If we couldn't change our feelings, I think that we would began to quarrel with each other.
Probably after around a 2-hour walk, we saw a restaurant.
It was well past noon. The reason why we got irritated may have been that we were hungry, I thought. "Let's eat something and ask the way to the station!"
At the restaurant, we found a wonderful lady, who was the proprietor. Although we were totally exhausted, we felt a great relief when we sat down a table in the beautiful garden.
Look! There are some hydrangea in full bloom! It is already July. They are beautiful, aren't they? We were completely relaxed.
Soon we felt at home ; then suddenly, our eyes caught the station in the distance. Hoo, We heaved a sigh of relief.
　
　

Fish&chips which my friend ordered. She said, "It is tasty. The coating of batter is crisp."

We stayed at Morton-in-Marsh for two nights and had lunch at the restaurant which I mentioned previously for 2 days. "Once we find a good thing, we always go back to it." Probably, this is our motto. This restaurant runs a B&B also. Because we really liked the atomosphere, my friend promised her to come back with her mother and I told her I would come with my future husband. However, both of us haven't carried out our promise yet!!

	During this trip, my friend, Taki, had been excited. Every morning, she woke up earlier than me and went for walking. Even though I see myself as a morning person The three photos except the one of the horses were taken by Taki early in the morning. I think every animal seems to be happy under the morning sunshine. They say, “The early bird catches the worm.” Yes, it’s true!

Moreover, although we went to the Cotswolds, we had dinner at the same Indian restaurant for two successive nights. It is true that the food was quite nice, but to be honest, there was a handsome waiter and I liked him very much, therefore, my friend went with me.
I wanted to take his picture, so I took some pictures inside. The owner asked me to send him the copies eagerly. Probably, he thought that he could use them for advertisements. I answered him "Surely!" However, as a matter of fact, I haven't send them yet. I did copy the pictures for him soon after I came back to Japan, but I was thinking that I had to write a letter and some months passed. Then, I lost their address. After 1 year, I found the paper, but I thought that he probably had forgotten us, so I didn't send them. Even now, I sometimes remember them and I feel guilty--such is life.

Every Tuesday, a market is held in front of the station.

Stow-on-the-wold
Because we got lost and were at a loss, we didn't have enough time to go sightseeing on the first day. Therefore, the only thing we could do was to take a bus and visit Stow-on-the wold. However, we really enjoyed seeing the hanging flower baskets which decorated the streets and the houses. We walked and saw them in the early summer air saying many times, "They are truly beautiful!"

People say, “Stow-on-the-wold, where the wind Blows Cold.”, because it is located at nearly 800 ft, 240 m, and is the highest town in the Cotswolds.

Bourton-on-the Water
　This is the main spot which we visited on the second day. Now, when I see the pictures again, I think how picturesque this place is--so beautiful--don't you agree?.

There is the Model Village which is 1/9 size of the actual village. When I visited it, I felt as if I were Guilliver.

The Model Village was made in 1037 and 1/9 size of the actual village.

We visited a Mortor museum too, because a man with dogs, who we had asked to take our picture, said to us repeatedly, "Visit there." and we couldn't refuse his requet. However, I thought that it was just a museum with many old items. I wondered if everything would become an exhibit for English people who love old things!

In this Mortor Museum, more than forty miniature trains were running.

Chipping Camden
The things which we really wanted to see were the cottages thatched. We thought that there were a lot of cottages like these, but we couldn't find them at first. Therefore, when I bought some cherries at a greengrocer's I asked where the cottages were. However, the shop keeper and some customers shook their heads saying, "I think I saw them somewhere...." Isn't it interesting that a Japanese guidebook shows us something, but the town people don't know about it?

Upper line : Thatched cottages. They undergo regular maintenance as shown in the right photo.
Lower line : a Market Hall.

(2002.1.29)

　The Cotswolds Introduction

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