Is it The Shire? No, just lovely Grantchester, England!

[gwendolyn]

Since Delster mentioned wanting to see a few more photos and KTF and a few others wanted to go visit, I thought I''d post a few more photos of J''s and my lovely afternoon in charming Grantchester.

Photography is one of my loves, and I just got a FABULOUS camera for my birthday, so I was really happy to be able to use it on such pretty landscapes.

Here is the first one. J and I had an AMAZING cream tea outside at this lovely tea room, and then saw a sign that read "To the river." So off we went!

 

[gwendolyn]

Here''s what we found...

 

[gwendolyn]

I think it looks almost like an impressionist painting. So soft and gentle...

 

[gwendolyn]

Here is the path we walked...

 

[gwendolyn]

So serene.

 

[gwendolyn]

This one was in the other thread, but it''s probably my favourite. It''s currently the wallpaper on my computer. I sigh with contentment every time I see it.

 

[gwendolyn]

Some of the lovely houses in Grantchester. There is a little squirrel in that picture, sitting on one of those pieces of wood. Can you see him?

 

[Ms.Dreamy]

wow

such a beautiful place! I am sure you guys had a great time there!

 

[gwendolyn]

There he is!

 

[gwendolyn]

We did indeed, Ms. Dreamy!

Thanks for looking, everyone!

 

[Bia]

Love them! I love taking romantic walks with my honey, don't you?

As for The Shire, BF and I regularly run along the paths at the Rockerfeller reservation upstate from where we live. It is so beautiful and serene, much like the pictures. Often, when we go there, it feels like we are in England or Scotland...from photos or TV anyway (I've never been to either place). Its the greenery and rolling hills...so beautiful but actually not uncommon outside the City. I was very surprised how beautiful NY State really is, actually. Whenever I used to think of NY, I'd think skyscrapers and yellow cabs lol...

 

[Rhea]

I feel so relaxed looking at photos like these. England''s countryside is so lovely.

 

[gwendolyn]

I find them really relaxing too. They let me stop and breathe.

Oh, and in case anyone doesn't get the title of the thread, Bia said in the other thread that this place looked like The Shire.

 

[Bia]

Hehehe...it really does! Even your BF said so! I am such a geek Gwen...

 

[Pandora II]

Gorgeous photos Gwen!

Nice to see a bit of the UK they haven''t concreted over yet!

You and your BF ought to try and go to Shropshire sometime - you''d love the countryside there!

 

[Just_Me]

So gorgeous!!!! I have always wanted to visit Englad. Hopefully soon!

 

[iheartscience]

It''s beautiful! It looks like a postcard!

I''ve been to England but only to Dover and London. I would love to go back to see the countryside, though. Maybe if the U.S. dollar is ever worth something again I''ll go back!

 

[absolut_blonde]

That is so beautiful! I would love to explore England one day. Sadly, I''ve only been to London and that was for a total of something like 16 hours (including sleep).

 

[Deelight]

OMG that is beautiful Gwen I almost expect to see a little leprechaun jumping out from behind a bush (I know wrong country

)

Just out of curiosity how far is Grantchester from London? I think we will be spending a couple of days in London before our contiki tour and it looks like a beautiful place to drive out to is that possible for a day trip?

 

[gwendolyn]

Yay, I''m so glad you guys like my pictures! Honestly I usually pride myself on my camera skills, but I think it''d be absolutely impossible for ANYONE (chimps included) to take a bad picture of this place. It''s just too gorgeous!

Date: 5/27/2008 9:48:04 PM
Author: Deelight
OMG that is beautiful Gwen I almost expect to see a little leprechaun jumping out from behind a bush (I know wrong country

)


Just out of curiosity how far is Grantchester from London? I think we will be spending a couple of days in London before our contiki tour and it looks like a beautiful place to drive out to is that possible for a day trip?

It should definitely be possible to drive out to Grantchester from London! I''ve never driven from London, only taken the train, but from Kings Cross station to the Cambridge station, the express train is about 50 minutes. Grantchester is about 3 miles southwest of Cambridge (if you go to www.maps.google.co.uk and type in Grantchester it''ll come up to give you a good idea). It''s not too far off the M11 so it looks like you''d be able to get there without too much difficulty (assuming the London traffic isn''t bad when you set off). It would be a great change of pace from all the touristy sites, which I''ve also done and which are great--it''s just a different kind of experience, and I highly recommend it if you can manage to work it into your schedule. I know it''s hard, because there''s also so much to see and do in London.

I might post a few more pics of our afternoon there (and the delicious tea we got at The Orchard!), just to see if I can entice you further.

 

[Deelight]

Train sounds even better I don''t know how I would be driving on the other side of the road .

OMG Gwen I am so into tea at the moment (probably because it is like a freakishly cold winter for QLD) and if it is Devonshire tea I AM SO THERE

I will have to show the BF but I love places that are lush like that I get all these wild romantic notions floating through my head, hmmmmm *glazy eyes*. I could easily spend the day lounging around .

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 5/28/2008 4:00:36 AM
Author: Deelight
Train sounds even better I don''t know how I would be driving on the other side of the road .

I think there is a bus that runs from Cam to Grantchester, but I will have to ask around amongst my friends to find out which one is it. Some people I know walk there, but you might not want to spend time doing that (it would be 6 miles round-trip) if you have a tight schedule. But I will get you more info!

OMG Gwen I am so into tea at the moment (probably because it is like a freakishly cold winter for QLD) and if it is Devonshire tea I AM SO THERE

You know it is.

I will have to show the BF but I love places that are lush like that I get all these wild romantic notions floating through my head, hmmmmm *glazy eyes*. I could easily spend the day lounging around .

Heehee! I know, that''s how I was--I felt drunk with the romance of the place!

Ok, so here are a few more pics for you. Here''s the sign for The Orchard (that we drove past--ended up parking on the other side of the village (which was a lovely walk so that was fine).

 

[claireabelle]

Beautiful photographs, Gwendolyn!

I esp. love the one with the tree and the path.... it''s so peaceful.

How romantic - I bet you find a lot of comfort looking at those pictures and thinking of your lovely weekend together!

...when you''re ready to get engaged, you should conveniently take J back there... that''s a proposal spot if I ever saw one!!

 

[gwendolyn]

Walking in what we later figured out was the back entrance to The Orchard. If you look down the path J is on, you can see a few of the tables spread out in amongst the trees.

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 5/28/2008 4:00:36 AM
Author: Deelight



(probably because it is like a freakishly cold winter for QLD)

Deelight, I''m from QLD!!

where are you at?

 

[gwendolyn]

More tables and a cool tree...

 

[gwendolyn]

A hint of what our tea looks like...

 

[gwendolyn]

And here is our delicious spread! Tea for two, along with two giant current scones the size of a softball (oh so good!), two tubs of clotted cream (heaven!), two small jars of strawberry jam, a giant oatmeal cookie and a slice of Snickers pie. It was FABULOUS.

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 5/28/2008 4:48:05 AM
Author: gwendolyn
And here is our delicious spread! Tea for two, along with two giant current scones the size of a softball (oh so good!), two tubs of clotted cream (heaven!), two small jars of strawberry jam, a giant oatmeal cookie and a slice of Snickers pie. It was FABULOUS.

drooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!!

you tease!

 

[claireabelle]

...wait....wait a second....


SNICKERS PIE?????!?!

are you kidding me??

*faints*