Bank Holiday in Bath

We arrived in Bath on a Bank Holiday, so shops were either closed for the day, or closed early.

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford Upon Avon. We didn't pay for the tour. It sure looks like a grand house to me.

Portsmouth - Home of Sherlock Holmes

This shingle beach is in Portsmouth. It was a town I wanted to visit because of its prominence in literature - the home of Sherlock Holmes. And it's the site of a lot of maritime history. It was a tough visit, though. We got there late in the day. It was very hot, and our non-air conditioned hotel put us on their top floor facing the sun. And the window would only open 1 inch - I guess they wanted to keep people from leaping out of the window. In the morning, we found a large and nasty-looking bug in our daughter's bed. Shudder. But, hey, the beach was interesting.

The Brighton Coast

We stayed in Brighton two nights and what an interesting place. It's on my list of places I want to see again someday. It was HOT when we were there. We stayed in a boutique hotel in one of the happiest neighborhoods in Brighton and would do it again. Great characters at the hotel, generous, kind, helpful, charming and fun! Can't believe all the niche shops that go on and on in Brighton.

Copper Scarecrow Thingy

Another street performer along the Thames. We were making are way to the Tate Modern when we met this one.

Well, it's Something That Can't be Resisted

I was afraid we wouldn't find any of these in our day and age of cell phones. They weren't "everywhere" - but still scattered about London.

The Weir at the Old Mill Inn - Bath

This is the weir at the Old Mill Inn - and you can take a boat between this weir and the one in downtown Bath. That's something we did. It was great. We were the only ones on the boat. And we saw a kingfisher. They're so small!

Old Mill Inn Riverside

This is right out the restaurant at the Old Mill Inn in Bath. The river is called Avon, but it's not because it's THE River Avon, it's just a general term for rivers. The setting was perfectly pastoral. Across the river, sheep were grazing.

Off to Bath - the Old Mill Inn

This is the water wheel at the Old Mill Inn in Bath, England. A delightful place and the restaurant there was one of the best meals we had during our trip to England. We heard some story about how the wheel was going to turn the restaurant for a "revolving restaurant" attraction - but that since the river sometimes flows fast, the turning would have made diners nauseous. I don't know if that's true, but it is true that the wheel squeaks.

This is One Wisteria Vine

This is one wisteria vine, and how lucky we were to be at Hampton Court Palace when it was blooming. Made my wisteria vine at home look really wimpy!

Hampton Court Maze

Here is the middle of the Hampton Court Maze, which is listed as the biggest, or oldest, in the world - I can't remember which. We let our daughter lead for part of the way, but she kept taking us in circles. It was fun. The maze was built as a place for contemplation. The big compass arrow swings around every once in a while to further confuse. This is the maze featured in the Jerome K. Jerome classic, "Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)."

Covered Walkway at Hampton Court Palace

This is another feature in the massive palace gardens. My daughter ran though it several times, even though it was a hot day. When we visited England in May of this year, it was their hottest May since some time in the 1700s.

One of the Many Gardens at Hampton Court Palace

The gardens at Hampton Court Palace go on and on. The Palace is home to the longest herbaceous border in the world, 1/2 mile - mostly tended by volunteers.

Hampton Court Palace - We Were Wowed

Walking into Hampton Court Place - near London. Lots of history here, and a lot of it ugly stuff - and examples of decadence and over-the-top-ness like I've never seen before. More info here. This is actually a modest entrance, I think, compared to the buildings, grounds, art, gardens, "royal rooms," and kitchens inside. There were several groups of uniformed school children, my daughter mixed in with one group while touring inside.