Dallas, TX and then off to the English Countryside

As my neighbor to the north (45 minute flight - 4 hour drive) I don't really feel like I'm traveling when I head to Dallas, "it's just right up the road" as they say here in Texas.  But the fact is sometimes it's just better to drive.  Some of the longest flights I've ever been on have been to Dallas and this trip was no different - scheduled arrival time 8 am, actual arrival time 12 noon.  I managed to salvage one meeting out of the day and then went through a similar ordeal getting home.  Makes for a long day.  Yet I like Big D and have had lots of good times there, but different vibe than Houston.

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Less than twenty-four hours later I was back at the airport and took off for my first ever trip to London.  I loved England in general, at least the parts I saw.  Upon landing at the airport I was escorted through the terminal and whisked off about an hour southwest to Hampshire - listening to my driver speak the "Kings English" and where upon arrival tea and biscuits awaited at the Four Seasons, served of all places, in the library :)

After touring a small part of the grounds and attending to some business I headed off to sleep, then  next day went to the town of Winchester and toured Chawton House (where Jane Austen's brother Edward had been the owner) and saw Winchester Cathedral (where the Austen's attended church), and also saw where Jane, her sister and Mother lived.  These photos will not do justice to the cathedral, every inch of it was gorgeous and the art amazing and of course the history of events that have taken place here, fascinating.

 After all the touring we worked up an appetite so went to a pub, The Wykeham Arms, and of course had fish and chips.

I couldn't resist taking photos of the toilet there, so English.  One of the original Thomas Crapper & Co. versions.

Then back to Four Seasons to freshen up before heading over to Highclere Castle to meet Countess Fiona Carnarvon who opened her home and gave us a behind the scenes tour of where Downton Abbey is filmed, and then, gave us a signed first edition of her 2nd book, Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey.  If that wasn't enough, none of us then expected the bonus of having a full tour of the King Tut archaeological dig that the former Earl had discovered that is in the basement of the house (no photos allowed).

Next day:  Tower of London, the ceramic flowers that are all around are a temporary art installation in honor of veterans, the red flowers indicative of the blood they shed.

and St Paul's Cathedral (where we climbed all 350 steps to the cupola)

& Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

and yes, an iconic London phone booth.

Next day:  Windsor Castle - really kind of cool to visit.  No pictures allowed inside.

I had on my "bucket list" while I was in London to go to Biblion Bookshop but never made it, so I was delighted that while in Eton I ran across the Eton Antique Bookshop and picked up a copy of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress".  First time I had ever heard about this book was when I read "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott and in the first chapter she describes the girls (Meg, Jo, Beth & Amy) reading this.  I've wanted it ever since.  So fun.

 

 

Then Runnymede (where the Magna Carta was signed - June 1215, seriously),

 

 

 

 and finally just some Gorgeous countryside before leaving England and the Four Seasons.

I'm ready to go back any time.