Raechel A.
Yelp
My first taste of UK history: Tintern Abbey. Just, wow. Floored is the word that comes to mind. As an American, it's hard to see past Hollywood's tainted view of history, but when you are standing in front of it, feeling so profoundly small, it really takes your breath away.
Rob's parents live near Bristol, so Tintern wasn't too far away. We drove over the hills and through the woods, on tiny roads canopied by trees. Gorgeous countryside. This pile of stones flaunts its 900 year history with some epic flair. For you history buffs, this was one of the abbeys destroyed during the Reformation. Geekin' out, hardcore. Gah! So cool.
After we parked for £3 (yikes!), we stopped in this tea room before our jaunt to the abbey. Some cream teas, sponge cake, AND tea? Don't mind if we do! Talk about indulgence. Oh, but if you haven't experienced desserts in the UK, it is definitely worth going over your calorie limit. The tea room is very old world - rock walls inside and out, dark candlelit lighting in the tea room, quaint little tables, original fixtures still on the walls, and a cozy fireplace in the corner. It looked like they set up shop in an ancient living room. Seriously, can I live here?
After tea, we trekked down to the abbey, but entrance fee was £4.50/adult, so we decided to admire it from a distance and walk around town a bit. So many little shops, cafes, galleries, hotels, cottages, and lots of Kodak moments to capture! You could spend hours just taking in the peaceful landscape. It was quite magical.
Despite it being a bit expensive, I still can't wait to go back and get a look inside the ancient abbey on my next visit!