Fountains Abbey

 

 

 

Fountains Abbey was even more breathtaking than Bolton Abbey.  It was much larger and had so many places for the kids to climb and explore.  We were there for a special children's performance of Treasure Island and they loved it.  It started to sprinkle during the show and it was funny how everyone just pulled out their rainjackets and simply watched during the shower.  It cleared up after a few minutes and was perfect for pictures.  It just takes sooo long here to upload that I can only get a couple to load at a sitting.

Bolton Abbey - Part Two

The remains of the Abbey chapel.

Playing in the stream that runs through the property.

Outside the tea house.

Emily!

 

 

Bolton Abbey

Bolton Abbey was so beautiful.  I can't imagine what it must have been like before it, as the British placard so politely puts it, "was dismantled." No mention of sacking, drawing, or quartering...hmmm, I wonder why they leave all that out? 
I am having trouble uploading tonight but I have dozens of fabulous pics I will try and post later.

Skipton

Saturday we toured Skipton Castle. The weather was fabulous.  We have heard the locals say that this is the best summer they have had in 20 years and we are so very grateful! We were also grateful to my wonderful hubby who made two trips to the castle (25 min each way) to get us all there and back!  We will be very happy when our van gets here and we have a vehicle that can hold all of us again!

Skipton Castle was the last northern stronghold during England's civil war.

It withstood 3 years of siege before surrendering.

It is over 900 years old.

This tree is over 700 years old!

 

Change of Command

 

Jody's change of command went off without a hitch.  The biggest potential hitch being we almost didn't make it!  Thankfully, after two delays due to visa issues, we arrived with a couple days to spare.  Good thing, because jet lag hit us all pretty hard!

We were one proud family, watching him take command of the 421st Air Base Group.

As Emily likes to say, "He's kind of a big deal."

 

The Military Tattoo

The Military Tattoo was fantastic! Military bands and performers from all over the world were there, entering the stadium (which had been set up around Edinburgh Castle) through the main entrance to the castle.  Of course, our favorites were the Scots with all the bagpipes! The pic of the kids shows the castle from the city.  It is on the left in the background.

 This is the view from our seats.  At one point, buglers came up into the stands and stood right next to us. The night ended with everyone returning to play together and enjoy the fireworks.

 

We were on a tight schedule and didn't really get to tour Edinburgh this trip, but we did have lunch at an historic pub before catching the train.  They had over 35 different beers on tap!  Emily bought two beers to take home for us to try, even though she hates the taste of beer.  Why? you may ask...well, the drinking age here is 18, so she can!

 

Charlie really enjoyed his burger!

 



Riding the Rails

Riding the "Rails" to Scotland was easier then we thought!  We made our connection from the commuter train we took in Harrogate to York, and took a passenger train to Edinburgh.  The views were spectacular and the ride was very smooth.  Definitely the was to travel across England!

The village of Darley

We spent today exploring the tiny village of Darley.  It is the nearest village to the base and was good practice for me, as this was the first time I drove off base by myself!  Our American van still hasn't arrived so we are driving a borrowed car along with the British one we just bought.  Not only is the car to British specs, it is a stick shift!  I was pretty proud of myself, shifting with your left hand isn't easy for a righty! We found an old mill that has been turned into a store/tea house and walked a couple miles of "public footpaths."  The views were amazing and the houses in town looked like they were straight out of a movie set.  I have to say, I am loving England so far!

Ripley Castle

Ripley Castle has been in the same family for over 700 years.  The family is still living there in a part of the castle that is closed to the public.  The grounds were beautiful, the kids tour was great, and the "tower" where the priest in the family hid from Elizabeth I's troops was so neat.  The priest has since been declared "blessed," he was eventually martyred though he did escape many times by hiding in the secret compartment in the tower.

York

Our next stop was York!  We spent most of the day and still only saw York Minster, a small part of the railway museum, and rode on the huge ferris wheel near the train station.  The "Minster" was amazing.  I have never been in anything with that kind of history.  There was a statue of Constantine in the spot where he was declared Holy Roman Emperor in the year 252 AD (If my memory is correct.) The stained glass window, which is the largest in the world, is being repaired, so there was a huge display showing the work that is being done.  It was very interesting.  We will definitely be going back to York soon.