It has almost been a year since we posted our first blog on our site. We’ve learned a lot since then and it is interesting to look back and see how things have changed. This week’s Discover Challenge is Origin, so that got us thinking about how we started down this interesting journey called blogging. We certainly had no idea what we were doing back then and we learn something new almost every week, so we know that we still have a long way to go. What we’ve enjoyed most is the interaction with everyone who’s taken the time to read what we’ve written as well reading the interesting stories from all of the blogs that we have followed over the past year. We are definitely amateur photographers at best, but we do like to share pictures of the places that we’ve seen and gone to, so we figured that for this post we would share the original photo that we shared in our introduction post. It is a picture of Warwick Castle from Warwickshire, England.
Warwick Castle
This is also the picture that we selected to use for our page header, which was from a pub in New York City.
For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Blue and White, we immediately thought of the photo we had taken of the Victoria Memorial in London. It is a monument dedicated to Queen Victoria that is located in the circle across from Buckingham Palace. We just happened to catch the shot with a surprising clear blue sky, especially considering that there gray clouds just before and after we took this picture.
We have plenty of wonderful memories from our trip to England, but one of our favorite memories is of Warwick Castle. Walking around the grounds of the castle is like walking back in time to England’s rich history when lords, ladies, and knights ruled the land. This was prior to the popularity of Downton Abby, so seeing how the wealthy from generations past lived was quite fascinating. One can only imagine what life was like for those fortunate enough to be born into such wealth.
Castle WallBanquet RoomThe ManorStunning Castle
The rooms have been preserved and are decorated to portray the ambiance of the time period. As you walk through the castle, each new room is more splendid than the next. You can almost hear the mannequins talking about the next glorious ball or what to do with the land. It is truly a window into the past that was very special to see.
An Evening Listening to MusicThe Men in the LibraryThe CastleLooking Up at the Castle Wall
The grounds are truly gorgeous and we could easily imagine dawning a riding outfit as we went fox hunting on the open fields. There is even a catapult next to a stunning river that runs through the castle’s property. Climbing up to the top of the castle walls, there are spectacular views of Warwickshire, where the castle is located. For just a moment, we imagined what it would be like to be the owners of all that we could see.
Us Walking the GroundsThe Fields Behind the CastleCatapultThe River
Obviously it is a tourist attraction and as such there are some things that take away from the overall experience. There is a haunted tour of the tower where costumed characters jump out at you around every corner. No trip to a castle is complete without a trip to the dungeon, but the haunted house theme was a little unnecessary. That being said, we really had a wonderful time seeing every part of the vast estate.
Entrance to the TowerDungeonGetting Ready for BattleWarwickshire Church
If you’re in England and have the opportunity to visit Warwick Castle, we would highly recommend it. Just to see the gorgeous countryside, the Tudor homes, and the grand mansion is definitely worth the trip. Warwickshire is located near Stratford-upon-Avon, which made it a perfect place to visit while also visiting the birthplace of Shakespeare. Walking the grounds of a true castle that is as well-kept as Warwick Castle allows you to truly understand how grand and opulent their lives truly were.
