Our last day in the Cotswolds!

Monday, 25 February, 2013

Hello!

Cirencester

Cirencester

Roman Mosaic - Cirencester

Our last night in Bibury!  We have NO idea where the time has gone – and way too fast!  Up this morning and out about 9:30 a.m. for the lovely market town of Cirencester, about 8 miles away.  We had only gone in once so far – last Tuesday, to the grocery store, and we’ve always enjoyed Ciren, so thought we would spend some time there today.  It was still cold out, but the bitter wind blowing in from Scandinavia had abated somewhat, and it was lightly misting, which also helped moderate the weather somewhat.  Drove into Ciren and found a place to park in the center of town.  Unfortunately, it was only one-hour parking…so we knew a move would be imminent!

Corinium Museum - Cirencester

Roman family scene - Corinium Museum

The first thing that we noticed was that part of the Ciren Cathedral had been cleaned!  It was just glowing!  I’m hoping that they will next start on the main part of the building next – it makes such a difference – and if the sun EVER shines here again, one will need sunglasses to see it!  The museum of Corinium was just a few blocks away, and boy, has it changed since our last visit!  Rather like the Ashmolean in Oxford – quite a new look!  An entire top floor balcony was added, and someone with a really creative sense of humor has added many activities for children and the entire family!  (My own particular favorite was the jig-saw puzzle of a mosaic – not terribly easy, but I did it!  Robert keeps telling me that Leo Sillis would have put it together much quicker than me; I’m sure he’s right!)  The museum basically followed the Cirencester area from prehistoric to current times.  They had specific rooms for pre-history, Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxons, and up to the present day. 

Roman Mosaic

Roman Mosaic

The very best part for us was the collection of mosaics – all found from houses and temples in the immediate Ciren area, which started life as the Roman town of Corinium.  They were just beautiful.  In fact, there apparently may be a great deal more to be found – except that it has now been covered over by buildings and the city!  (Have to admit that we couldn’t help wonder what it would be like to get a house in town – and then dig in the backyard!  Imagine what you might find!)  

At any rate, we very much enjoyed the museum.  We had it to ourselves for the most part, until a school group came in.  They were mostly interested in the Anglo-Saxon relics – including, of course, some very interesting (to school agers) reproductions of skeletons and grave sites.  Everyone to their own thing!

At some point, I had to head back and buy another hour of parking – don’t want to flaunt the law!  Finally finished with the museum and headed to the carpark to change locations – just a couple of blocks away, and this time we were able to get three hours!  Now lunch!!

Saxon Jewelry

We decided on The Bear, a pub just off the main street in Ciren.  Lovely and warm, and as it was just noon, we were able to choose our table location.  Robert selected the table nearest the radiator – nice and comfy cozy!  They had a very nice menu, and we decided to split both a sandwich (ham, cheddar and mustard pickle (?) on a wonderful grain bread) and a chicken, bacon, tomato, onion salad, that also came with chips!  The kitchen was terrific and split both orders for us – we even each got our own small container of home-made chips!  A really excellent lunch; just what we needed!

Cirencester street scene

Cirencester street scene

From The Bear, we decided to walk a bit through town.  Years ago we had purchased our green willies here, and I always go back to see if I can find the store.  We did, but the little bookstore next door to it had closed.  But, we found a real surprise!  POUNDLAND!  The equivalent of the Dollar Store!  Amazing!  We had a nice browse around a lovely kitchen/cooking store, as well as a saunter through their covered Corn Market art fair – where I was able to pick up a lovely red scarf!  (Robert says I have now officially replaced the purchase of tea towels with the purchase of scarves…and it’s true!)

There had been a really lovely area in town for craft workers – and this time when we walked in, we found ourselves in a glass blowing studio!  It was amazing!  Some of their glass was just exquisite!  (And, as it is not possible for us to walk by art glass…we are now the new owners of really lovely (and heavy!) new bowl!  Great…more weight for the airplane!)  

Lunch at The Bear

Lunch at The Bear

Lunch at The Bear

By this time, it was raining a bit harder, and we were both tired.  Robert has pulled a muscle in his leg, and is trying not to limp, so figure that Advil and a rest will prove efficacious.  We’re going back one last time to the Catherine Wheel for dinner tonight – Robert needs to officially eat a Bibury trout before we leave!  I took a walk when we got back – down past the Bibury Court hotel, then followed the river Coln to the church – St. Mary’s of Bibury; quite lovely.  Then got down to the packing issue.  Fortunately, our flight tomorrow from Luton to Berlin will be the last flight we’ll have prior to coming back to the states; we’ll be taking trains everywhere else and a rental car between Vienna and Bolzano.  So, everything now in, we’re pretty much organized – I’m going to do a load of wash as soon as we get in from dinner tonight, so that we’ll actually have all clean clothes to take to Europe!  Yea!!

So – more later, after dinner!

m

At Bibury Court

River Coln at Bibury Court

 Back from dinner, and boy, the Catherine Wheel was a zoo!  Apparently there is a wake going on there this evening, and the place was literally overflowing with people!  We were able to get dinner in one of the other dining rooms, a bit off the beaten track.  It wasn’t as nice, but the food was definitely just fine!

We both had tomato soup with wonderful grain bread for starters.  Then Robert got his long-awaited Bibury trout with roast potatoes and rocket, orange and fennel salad.  My main course was a pizza!  And it was great!  I had it with ham and mushrooms.  Then, for dessert, Robert had a strawberry frangipane cake (and I got his vanilla ice cream) and I got their vanilla cheesecake with lemon curd – we are really going to miss pub food in England, that’s for sure!

Bibury Court

Mute Swan on the River Coln

Back home now with last laundry load going; then to bed.  We want to be up at 6 and out the door by 8, as we have no idea how long it will take to get to Luton.  So!  More tomorrow!

m

Tomato Soup at the Catherine Wheel

Filet of trout at the Catherine Wheel

Pizza at the Catherine Wheel

Cheese cake at the Catherine Wheel

Strawberry tart at the Catherine Wheel

xxx