(Santa is still our tour guide, so a bit light on facts).

Gentle rolling hills carpeted with lush green grass, bisected by hedgerows and low stone walls.

Honey colored limestone buildings that proclaim “you are in the Cotswolds” (There is a cozy mystery series set in the Cotswolds and the protagonist always describes herself as living in the ‘honey colored cottage my aunt left me’ so this is imprinted on my brain now.)

The area was settled by the Conqueror.  It is bucolic, prosperous and the site of a million British cozies.  (One of the sisters thinks I’m referring to tea cozies and I’m not going to correct her).

There are spare angular Norman buildings with implacable flat facades.

And beautifully curved arches and saints and noblemen gazing down.

At some point the Victorians moved in and decorated the place.

Artists, craftspeople, poets descended and drew inspiration from the beauty of the English countryside.  My soul is stretching and loosening under its aspect.

Such a beautiful corner of the world.

And dogs, so many dogs.

They outnumber children and shops offer dog incentives – a favorite seems to be a scoop of puppy ice cream.  The Brits love their dogs.

Chipping Camden, Broad Way and Stow-in-Wye – charming villages with little to see but so much to discover.

A restful day.  Tonight we do laundry and tomorrow…..Wales!