Showers, not Thunders, if you please

okay, so this is a few days late, due to my lack of internet access.

WHOOP! sorry- just couldn't hold back. So I'm finally here, in beautiful, charming Bakewell in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire, England. I love the town, I love my B&B, and I love EVERYTHING!!! Getting here was quite an adventure, and I'll start from the beginning.

I got to Atlanta just fine, no problems, and boarded the flight to London, easy as pie. The girl I was seated next to was, coincidentally, a student at UT, and she was on her way to Edinburgh. She was going to be studying there, and then had an internship at the Scottish Parliament- how cool! I tried to sleep on the flight, but I just couldn't get comfortable. So, when we arrived in London at 6:30, I was exhausted. I waited in line at customs for over an hour, and then finally managed to get out of the airport. I took a train from Gatwick to London Bridge, and then the tube to the nearest stop to my easyHotel. I got to the Hotel by about 11 am, only to find out that they charge £15 extra to check in early—not happening! So I left my luggage there (an extra £5) and set out to explore London.

A quick note on the easyhotels- they are cheap cheap, but you get exactly what you pay for. My room was probably 6x10 feet, and contained a bed. That's all. The bathroom connected was probably 2x5 ft, and was one of those squished up ones, where the toilet is practically in the shower! (see pictures below). I have figured out though, that the way easyHotel makes money off you (the room itself was only £24.95) is through the extra charges. Arriving early, staying late, TV, window, internet, extra blanket, etc. All the things normal hotels give you for free, easyHotel charges for.

Back to London- I was staying in Paddington, which happens to be just north of Hyde park, so I walked through the park. It was beautiful, and had a very natural feel to it. It also wasn't too crowded, which was nice. If I lived in London, I'd love to picnic there every day at lunch! Then, I headed over to the National Portrait Gallery, the one thing I HAD to see in London. I love how you get such a great history lesson, and I love trying to figure out people's expressions.

After the Portrait Gallery, I walked down Whitehall towards Parliament, crossed Westminster bridge, took the obligatory photos of Big Ben and the London Eye, and grabbed a sandwich for lunch. I walked down to the Tate Modern (By this time, exhausted and just wasting time till my 3:00 check-in) and across the Millennium Bridge, around St. Pauls, and to the tube. I went back to the hotel, and crashed. I woke up at 10:30pm, because these annoying German girls were talking loudly just outside my room. They had really good english, too.

I set my alarm for 7 the next morning, only to awaken at 10:30 am by a knock on my door. Turns out check-out was at 10, and I had forgotten to actually turn my alarm on! I quickly gathered everything, rushed out of the hotel, and finally got to Victoria coach station 30 minutes after my bus had left! I bought another ticket for a later bus, and waited.

The title of this post actually comes from something funny the bus driver said as we were leaving London: “There's a toilet at the rear of the bus, on the driver's side, and it's much more suitable for showers than thunders- if you catch my meaning!”

Anyways, I arrived in Derby, barely managed to catch the bus to Bakewell, and then got here around 7pm. I walked for a long time the general direction of the B&B, with no luck finding it. I finally broke down and called to get directions. I had walked too far, so I backtracked, and eventually made it! Jean, the proprietress is so very nice, and she cooks a great breakfast! I walked back into town to have some dinner, and then crashed.

This morning, after breakfast, I started out on a 5 mile round trip walk to Chatsworth. That was quite a hike! I'm going to be in such good shape by the time I get back to the States, what with all this walking. The hike was lovely, but tiring; across lanes and open country, and through part of Sherwood forest (Robinhood's Forest). At Chatsworth, I explored the gardens first, got lost in the maze, and had lunch. Is it terribly cliché to say that I also read the chapter in Pride and Prejudice when Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy meet up at Pemberley? Oh well, I've said it! (Chatsworth is reportedly the house Jane Austen had invisioned for Mr. Darcy, in Pride and Prejudice, and Bakewell is the fictional Lambton. Jane Austen actually stayed at the Rutland Arms Hotel in central Bakewell)

After touring the gardens, I went through the house, which was built by Bess of Hardwick (the second richest woman in England besides Queen Elizabeth I at the time), and later remodeled by her grandson, the first Duke of Devonshire. The current Duke and Duchess reside there, and are having much of the house restored. The walls and ceilings were covered in ornate wood carvings, beautiful paintings, and filled with lavish furniture. It was rather difficult to imagine somebody actually calling it home.

I finished my tour, and walked back to Bakewell. As I was crossing through some open country where some sheep were grazing, one of them started bleating at me. I laughed, and baa-ed right back! Then, he and some of the others started following me, right up until I reached the next stile, and crossed over! I had my very own little flock.


Much love to everyone back home!

photos:
walking through Hyde Park, My little flock, The Maze at Chatsworth



EasyHotel room, View of Chatsworth, On the walk to Chatsworth