A Road Trip

I never realized how much I missed the English landscape. Thanks to my husband for convincing me to forego Zeeland or Friesland and instead we took a road trip back to England for our autumn break. Apparently it was a good decision to leave the Netherlands after hearing about the rainy and cold weather conditions here, while we unbelievably enjoyed a lot of sun and almost spring like weather in the United Kingdom. Who ever said that the English weather is the worst? In fact the temperature was too warm that the colors of the leaves hardly even changed, which should have been at its peak by this time of the year. We started our journey with a three hour car trip to Calais, France and from there took a ferry ride to cross the English Channel. The Hoverspeed is convenient and quick, and after only an hour you know that you have reached the English shores when you see the distinct White Cliffs of Dover. Ah definitely, I know I am out of the flatlands!

Normally, we would have headed straight to London but we did not drive all the way here just to be in the city. We decided to spend half of our vacation to explore the magnificent Cotswold, which is commonly described as an "area of outstanding beauty". If you want to experience the English countryside, the Cotswold is definitely the place to be. I discovered the beauty of the Cotswold two years ago when my family from the Philippines visited me in the UK, after informing them about my engagement. It was also a chance for my family to get to know better my future husband, who certainly took time off to drive us around. For this reason, the Cotswold will always be a memorable place for me and my family. Driving is the best way to explore the Cotswold. This time, my husband and I did not plan any particular route but more or less decided on the spot where our map would lead us. It was a good way to explore the countryside and discover some hidden surprises. The Cotswold is a limestone country which gives the houses and buildings in the area a very distinct character and colour from the rest of England. However, if it is your first time in the Cotswold, you should not miss Chipping Campden, Bibury, Bourton-on-the Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Castle Combe, Winchcombe and Cheltenham. The world famous Oxford and Bath (one of the few places with distinct Roman influence) are also within easy driving distance.

Hubby and I had a very relaxing time. It was also a good opportunity to bond with friends who drove to the Cotswolds to join us during our day trips, or simply have a relaxing dinner or drinks down the local pub. The English experience will also never be complete without a decent high tea.

Spending time in the countryside was both calming and energizing so after five days I was excited to move on to my favourite city of London.