2.22.2006

England, ho!
Among my most recent Amazon/Borders order was the 2006 edition of Let's Go Britain. It's time to get serious about planning for our May trip to England. Plane tickets have been purchased and childcare preliminarily arranged. There are some duller details to take care of, like renewing my passport. But I've begun dreaming some of our itinerary.

Friends of Joel's have invited us to stay, and they're in Durham. We hope to give a day or two to exploring London, most likely when we first arrive. Durham should be a good hub point for exploring the far northeast, one area of England I'm least familiar with. I studied abroad in the southwest--Glouchestershire--and only got as far north as Ripon and Masham during my months there. In the mid-90s I did a whirlwind England/Wales/Scotland bus tour with my mom, and we saw very little of any one place. We got just one afternoon in Edinburgh as I recall. Pretty inadequate. We drove through the northeast but didn't stop till Leeds.

Some guidebooks I've perused say the northeast has some of the best preserved ancient sites, so that will be cool to check out. My landlord from my study-abroad days recommended the seaside town of Whitby as worth seeing. I'd love other suggestions.

Let's Go was my favorite guide from previous trips because it's so budget conscious. What can I say? I love a bargain. It also gave the insider story on best times to visit places. It was especially helpful in finding the little, out-of-the-way cafes and eateries that the locals love.

.:laurel 17:19 2 comments:

I am so excited for you guys to take this trip! I hope you will take lots of pictures and come back with fun stories. I have never been to England but I'm pretty sure I should have been born there. :) Someday we will do what you're doing and just go.

I don't know if you know Sam and Sue Logan well, but they are in Cambridge this semester on Dr. Logan's sabbatical ...

By Ruth Rachel Vendsel, at 12:01 PM

slowly dying of jealousy . . .

By jenniferq, at 11:03 PM