Cotswolds Life

I'm slowly making my way through my photos from my trip.  There are a lot of them and there are a lot that are terrible.  Of course, there are a few really good ones, so now that Costco is back up and running (Woohoo!), I may actually get going on editing and printing. Of course, there are like 30 other craft projects in my head right now too, so it's been a little difficult to train my brain to think of only one at a time.  Anyway, here's what I've discovered in my photos of the Cotswolds and what I loved, adored and mostly just was mildly perturbed by...

Loved

~ The scenery - How can anyone not love rolling hills covered in green and cottages as far as the eye can see?  I'm a city girl by heart, but honestly, I could really get used to seeing that from my bedroom window each morning.

~ The Cotswold Cottage we stayed in - It was beautiful and old and still had plenty of space for both of us to finally spread out after a week of being stuffed into cramped hotel rooms.  It was spotless and the village of Northleach it was situated in, was perfectly quaint - pretty much like everything else in the Cotswolds.  I would gladly stay there again (though the novelty of the spiral stair case wore off pretty quick!)

Adored

~ The houses - I know they cost a fortune to maintain and they're probably terribly chilly in the winter, but I'd give my right arm to live in one of those quaint thatched-roof cottages that look like they've just materialised out of a fairy tale.  You see them all over post cards and in children's books, so they don't actually seem real when you're looking at them in person.  They're gorgeous!  Of course, if I were going to live in one, I'd want enough money to hire a gardener, landscaper and some extra heat for the winter.

~ The People - Everyone was so friendly and kind.  Good Morning really isn't a thing you see here in the states or even in the cities of Europe.  No one really makes eye contact.  They keep their heads down so they can get from Point A to Point B.  But in the villages, they actually speak to you and say good morning or good evening.  They smile when they make eye contact.  And they're more than willing to help if you're a bit lost.  Also, I have no issues walking through a quiet village in the dark.  I wasn't worried or afraid.  Like I said, I'm a city girl, but that's something I'd love to have (also, being able to walk instead of drive everywhere would be lovely!)

Mildly Perturbed By:

~ I'm not a night owl by any means.  It's currently 9:31 and I'm hoping to be finished this post quick so I can jet off to bed.  But the villages give even me a run for my money.  Pretty much the only thing that's still open after 6 is the Pub, which is great if you're looking for dinner.  However, the Pubs don't actually start serving food until 6:30.  So there's a bit of a 
"what do we do now?" kind of feeling.  At one point, we were seated in the Pub for dinner, for 40 minutes before we were allowed to order food.  And we were under strict instructions that we needed to be out by 8 so they could make room for a reservation they had coming in. No issues there, but if they really wanted the table, they could have just served us at 5:50 when we came in : )