We have arrived!

    If you ever want to see Steeple Morden and the surrounding area, I suggest hiring Lynda and Felice Bragoli to help you tour the country side. Felice crosses between a doting grandpa and a mischievious school boy- he speaks slowyly with an italian accent and keeps an emmaculate garden , but is always in the mood for an ice cream and looks like he might play a trick on you should you give him the opportunity. Lynda, Felice's sweet wife from wales, offers a cup of tea/coffee in one hand and warm conversation in the other for the weary traveler. Rebekah and I could not avoid their audacious hospitality- we've been fed and watered (tea-d?) since the moment we stepped in the house. We reckon we'll gain a good amount of weight in the three days we're here.

  After a long plane ride, complete with movies, not much sleep, a honeymooning Irish couple and a few laughs later, Rebekah and I were ready to force our eyelids open with a tour of the English country side. Lynda and felice took us to a historic American air force memorial dropped in the middle of a wheat field-fulfilling all expectations of an English countryside.

We saw some alpaca’s cruising around and then enjoyed a “shandy bitter”, (half beer, half lemonade) at the quaintly named pub, “bushel and strike.” (don’t worry mom, it was only half ‘a pint).

Driving around the different small towns gave us a feel for English architecture. Despite the small populations, each town has its own ancient church. Lynda told us that there is one “vicar” for the area, who goes around on Sundays and performs a service for each congregation. Brilliant, eh?

Our cultural experience today happened to be a kite festival, which cost one pound and consisted of kites, carnival food and a silly announcer in striped pajama-ish trousers. ( a kite circus announcer?). Of course, Felice asked if we wanted ice cream, not caring about our protestations and quickly procured an ice cream that far surpassed any 2 dollar ice cream we’ve ever enjoyed in the states.

By the time four o clock rolled around, beck and I hit our “we’ve been awake for over 24hrs mark” and promptly fell asleep in the car, without noticing we were asleep until the car arrived and our next destination. A little disoriented we flopped out of the car, walked around some fun gift shops and were overjoyed to find felice napping in the drivers seat. Rebekah and I felt right at home.

We finished off the day with more unmet food protestations, and a nice dinner with Mariuccia and Neil’s family in Royston.
So far, so good.