Wednesday September 23, 2015
The Cotswolds, England
Interested in a Music and Markets Tour? We’d love to hear from you!
How about celebrating Mozart in the matchless city of Bath, England in November?
It’s one of those special birthdays…ending in a 5…and where in the world have I chosen to celebrate? In the peacefully gorgeous Cotswolds in England! And in one of the most beautiful places in which we’ve ever stayed, Lords of the Manor in the tiny hamlet of Upper Slaughter.
From the first glimpse of the golden stone mansion tucked into luxuriant gardens, I was absolutely delighted.
And then the gracious hostess walked us through the cushioney and inviting sitting areas, 
and down winding hallways to our room as the delight continued. 
If there were anything available to eat this late in the afternoon, we’d just stay right here! But getting out of Heathrow took too much time, as usual (longest passport control lanes we’ve EVER been in!) and with the nearly two hour drive on top of that, it’s waaaay past our lunchtime! The closest place to get a bite to eat at this time is Bourton-on-the-Water, not far from the Manor, so off we go. 
This area and our beloved Aix are both filled with buildings of a honey golden stone, its color shade-shifting as the light changes through the day. 
What could be more satisfying on a crisp fall afternoon than a cream tea? 
Oh how I love that dense clotted cream – there’s just nothing like it! Slathered on a raisin-studded buttery scone, topped with a smear of strawberry jam….just what I wanted on my birthday 😉
A stroll around Bourton-on-the-Water confirms the fact that we’re here at the most beautiful time of year, with fall hues
joining the lush flower-filled window-boxes
and gardens – heavenly! 
Have you ever seen so many colors of hydrangea on one bush?!
Winter’s coming…and this home is well-prepared with a hefty stack of firewood by the front door. 
Back to Lords of the Manor for a cozy nap to help us get over jetlag,
enjoying the fragrant lavender as we pass.
Then we’re off again
for a pub dinner in nearby Lower Swell (loving these names!), before returning for a good night’s sleep
– we’ve got lots of fun to pack in the next few days!
The best way to describe us (Kirk and Anne Woodyard) is that we're interested in the stories that make the places we visit come alive.
We've visited Europe more times than we can count, learned some entertaining stories there, and met some warm and helpful people who also enjoy the wonders of music and life in Europe. Between our music-related travels, we split our time between our homes near Washington DC and in the the south of France. We look forward to sharing these stories and friends and experiences with you.