chase the light

Yes! Today we achieved the goal of scone nirvana in the Cotswolds!

First back to Stratford. We got up, went to Costa coffee. Because it *Cost a* lot! Get it?!? Ha, I kill! Costa is the english version of *$ for those not having visited the England. We’re off to a little village called Stow-on-the-wold and to a hotel called Wyckhillhouse. It was a suggestion from Liza’s aunt Kala and I thought it sounded cool, like a place they would film a slasher flick. Wyckhillhouse. You’ll check in, but you’ll also check out… For good! Bwa ha ha ha… Anyway, we hopped in the mirrored car and fired up Emily our english GPS tour guide and made our way south into scone country. It only took about half an hour to get to the hotel so we’ll have plenty of time to head back out. We got checked in and Mom ran around the hotel taking pictures. A nice big staircase, chandeliers, a couple of Christmas trees, large fireplaces and brand new modern looking wing attached to it all. What? Well, we had a room in that new wing, which was fine. A nice big one that overlooked the parking lot. That’s good, just in case some rogue sheepies attack the car we’ll at least get a good look at them. Sheepchops for dinner.

After checking out the grounds of the hotel we got back in the car and had Emily take us to Bourton-on-the-water to have a look. When we drove into the village it was amazing. I really don’t think we’re going to beat Bourton for the quintessential Cotswold experience. It has it all. Little shops, nice trees, parks, bridges, a meandering river and… SCONES! We have scone! Big, fluffy, lovely scones with clotted cream and jams and and and tea! I think I saw my moms head spin around like the Exorcist at that very thought. So she got her scones. I had a taste of one. I found it to be like a Kentucky Fried Chicken biscuit. Oh horror!

Bourton even has their very own Father Christmas waving and greeting people. I pointed out to Mom that Santa is called father Christmas here. She went right up and said, Hello Father Christmas, and he was surprised because he was fully expecting to be called Santa. Ha! We showed him we Merkins can adapt. We took a little walk around the village and then down along the river Windrush. How cool is that name? Oh yeah, just having a nice stroll down the river Windrush… In the rollover above you can see an older couple we passed walking their dog along the pedestrian path that goes from village to village.

Also had a flapjack. Sticky goodness. Got back to the hotel later that evening and got online to to say hello to everyone. Tomorrow will be a day of village hopping and cruel judging of one village against another, so they better all have their best quaint village faces on. It’s a village smackdown!