Once upon a time...

As the title of today's post states it is once upon a time that every fairy tale starts and 6 girls and 1 guy started out on this tale Saturday morning.

The Group at the top of the tower (Sara, Elke, Maria, Erica, Matt, Emma, Me)

Getting onto the bus to Warwick Castle we were all in excitement/ still very sleepy. Warwick Castle is the Disney Land of castles, costumed workers, themed activities, well done life like exhibits, and Peacocks! The sun was shinning and we were ready to go, as we walked up to the castle it was like a group of children on their way to Disney for the first time. The Castle is a real castle that they have just converted into a living exhibit, and as we walked in it was like we had been transported back in time.

This is the view from Guy's tower. The tower is as high as it looks and the only way up is spiral stairs that are very small and seem to go on for forever. To say we were all very happy to make it to the top to see the views from all around the city. And just to think that women would climb those stairs in a dress and not just a dress but the dresses that they had to wear! After a walk around the towers (yes there were two) and than down the stairs on the other side to the court yard. We than made our way through the Great Hall with living exhibits, Secrets and Scandals of the Royal Wedding (1898 with the Countess of Warwick, The Price of Wales, and the Young Churchill).

As we were on our way to Princess tower there was a sign, stating that the Tower was closed for maintenance! In my depressed state I was very sad, as I had looked forward to this portion of the castle, as I let out my sadness none other than a Knight in Shining armor walked by.... and of course since he saw a damsel in distress he came to my aide and offered a picture. 

As you can see his charming ways won me over and I forgot about the silly tower. My Knight had finally found me haha!


After my moment with KSA (Knight in Shining Armor) we headed over to the gardens were about a billion peacocks were walking around. and it was here that I decided that I wanted one as a pet!









These vain birds were very beautiful and not at all scared of the people all around them. After time spent in the gift shop we were headed to the hotel hungry for dinner and tired from our long day.



Chatsworth~
"I Cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."
For those of you who know where this quote is from it means that you have read one of the most read novels ever written! Pride and Prejudice! Chatsworth house is the home of none other than Mr Darcy that is used in the 2005 version of the movie. Pemberley, to be there I felt as though I did walk into the pages of my all time favorite book and movie.  Walking through the house which is actually the home of the Duke and Duchess of Derbyshire, if I was a duchess I don't know how much I would love to have people walking through my house everyday but I guess that is the price you pay when you let it be used for several movies and you open it up.  However we were able to see several of the statues that were used in the movie and many of the rooms that Elizabeth walked through on her tour of Pemberley. The highlight of the tour was seeing the bust that was made of Mr Darcy for the movie on display in the gift shop.

 It is fun to be able to see a piece of movie making, it makes the movie come alive, walking through the conservatory room with all the statues I felt (nerdy I know) just like Elizabeth. Yes it is just a book and all of you who are rolling your eyes I don't care because I was excited! 

After this we walked the gardens and took a look at the amazing building the house is, and now for the disappointing part of the trip. As with all old buildings Chastworth needs repairs and for the next two years will have scaffolding covering the most iconic portion of the house so I do not have the much sought after picture of me in front, the shot that you see in the movie. But I do have to picture in the other direction of the same fountain.... In my head I can just watch the movie to see the other iconic part.

 And that was the end of the trip, we took the bus back to reality and I will spend the rest of my week writing essays and studying for my classes waiting for my next adventure!