I haven't spoken a lot about my "In Search of Mr. Darcy" trip. To sum it up, I saw a lot of great places I would've missed on my own, but I would never travel with this organization again.
We were rushed everywhere. The van drivers often got lost and then would be adamant about us being prompt. They didn't allow us enough time to really experience the sites they took us to, which was sad because they had really planned a great itinerary.
If I were to do a critique (and you know I'll never pass up an opportunity to critique someone), I would suggest that they remember that even though they (the guides) have been there before and have seen it all, this is our first time and if there is going to be a place that closes early it should be left to see the following morning-- not cut everything else short to get there and rush through that place as well.
But I'm not doing a critique.
Before leaving for the trip, I received an email from a bloggy friend telling me I had to have a Sally Lunn bun while in Bath. So I researched it. I told the guides about it. I was very up front that I would skip what I had to to get to Sally Lunn's. I left a walking tour early to stand in the queue to get my buns.
By this time, about 9 other people wanted buns too.
The volunteer guide that I had grown to hate was his most annoying here. He kept pointing at his watch reminding us of the time.
I told him off. He had it coming.
I did sulk back to the van with my buns in tow.
They rushed us out of Bath to Steventon, Jane Austen's birthplace, to see the parish church where Jane's father was a minister.
The irony here was that an hour away from Steventon someone pointed out the name of the church. They had taken us to the wrong one!
Nevermind. I got some lovely photos of yet another beautiful church building in England, and some great jumping off points for a future trip with the whole family.
Now for that giveaway I spoke of...
I can't send you a Bun, sorry.
I can send you some little trinkets picked up just for my lucky reader while in the Jane Austen Center in Bath.
All you have to do is comment.
Tell me how much you love Jane Austen, or Mr. Darcy, or your favourite character/actor/book. Anything Jane Austen and you're entered.
Last comment considered will be 11.59 pm Sunday, April 11th (your time). Now go do something productive like read Emma again.
What a cool, if overly hurried, trip. My MIL makes the best rolls ever- not sure if Sally could compete but wish I could go there and sample one, just to be sure.
ReplyDeletewhat a great trip to be able to go on (and without kids....i have a lot of those "wanted" trips stored up in my dreams...do you think that one day, i'll be able to go on at least one?)
ReplyDeletesorry that the guides were horrific...but you got to see some great things...
y'know: i read my first austen book last year (pride and prejudice) i've always been a little intimidated by the lingo and all that....i tried reading that book when i was about 12 or so and got so terribly lost. it sooooo helped to have a movie to play in my head when the words were a little to challenging to follow.
but i will tell you just how much i love jane austen: she's awesome...such a realistic romantic..i love that her heroines aren't damsels in distress (gag me!)
Sounds like it was a good trip but could have been wonderful had the guides not rushed you guys so much.
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer a bun over a trinket. Those buns look awesome and I am really hungry right now.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry the guides were so stupid. Wish the trip would have been better for you.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Mr. Darcy will always be one of my favorites. I espeically like the Mr. Darcy for the 5 hour version of the Pride and Prejudice movie, I even got my husband to watch it with me once :)
I love Jane so much my daughter is Emma!!! When I come to visit, we will go on our own...
ReplyDeleteAnd because of you I have moved Jane Austin up on my 'must read' book list. Wish your tour had focused on you, the customer. I shy away from tour groups for this reason. Glad you were able to get the buns !! Enjoy !
ReplyDeleteSorry you did not find it, but sometimes the search can be a reward in itself.
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Elizabeth as my favorite character in P&P.
ReplyDeleteOh, found a recipe for Sally Lunn buns...do I get a point for that?
http://www.greenchronicle.com/recipes/sally_lunn_buns.htm
What a wonderful trip... I simply ADORE Jane Austen, and have read every book over and over... cant really beat Pride and Prejudice...
ReplyDeletefavourite character?? So many... for sheer giggle factor, Lady Catherine takes some knocking, love how everyone bows and scrapes around her (especially Mr Slimy Collins) but Elizabeth sees straight through her. Quite fancy Mr Wickham too... but of course am completely in love with Mr Darcy, because he is the ultimate hero. Would love a follow up to this book, seeing Elizabeth and Darcy ten years on... how would they be getting on then, I wonder!!
Lovely post. xx
Alas, I'm not a Jane fan. BUT I have a sister who is! AND she is married to a career Army man and moving again this summer. THUS, maybe I could share my prize with her. BESIDES, I am old enough to be a grandmother. UNFORTUNATELY, I don't have good buns.
ReplyDeleteI think I love Mr Darcy more than Edward Cullen! I just saw this really good movie called Lost in Austen about a girl that finds a secret door in her house that leads her into the world of Pride and Prejudice. It was like watching my dream come true on tv! Pride and Prejudice is my favorite Jane Austen book followed closely by Sense and Sensibility.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I DO love Jane Austen. I've read every one of her books that I could get my hands on, and I don't know how many times I've read "Pride and Prejudice." I agree with Meg Ryan's assessment of it in "You've Got Mail" - "Read it. I know you'll love it!"
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that your trip was so hurried. We traveled a lot when we were kids (being a military kid overseas pretty much guarantees you'll see everything in a many hundred-mile radius), and we never went with tour groups for that same reason. Granted, we might have gotten more info, but we got to experience things at our own pace. Hopefully you can go back and see the places more leisurely. I certainly envy you; unfortunately I'm NOT a military kid anymore and I am thoroughly landlocked in the heart of the Midwest.
I'm sorry the guides weren't better at their jobs--that really stinks.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to see all the lovely things you did. Tell us more when you feel like it--I love hearing about it.
Jane Austen? The thing I absolutely love the most, is that she brings my daughter so much joy. :)
I'm sorry you got rushed!! That sucks. You guys totally should have taken the guides hostage and threatened to lock them in the tour bus with the most obnoxious North American you could find while you leisurely enjoyed the sights. That'll learn 'em.
ReplyDeleteIt's just wrong to rush all things Jane Austen.
I would have a hard time choosing one story or character I loved more than the others... I think I just love the way Austen wrote. Love it. But ya... I'm a Mr.Darcy fan too.
First of all, I am really sorry you had such a terrible tour experience and I am so glad you gave them a piece of your mind! The pictures that you took are great, though...thank goodness they didn't whisk you off before you could get a photo or two :)
ReplyDeleteSecond...I love Jane Austen...haven't re-read any of those wonderful books for just ages. We're not home right now...we're housesitting...but there are many books here and I'm going to snoop the around to see if I can find any Austen books...preferably Emma. Thanks for the idea.
Mo didn't mention Sally's buns reside in the cutest (and oldest) house in Bath.
ReplyDeleteHad I known how much trouble it would be I would have NEVER suggested it. I feel a little guilty!
I love Jane's books. I also love the million hour dvd version of Pride and Prejudice. We quote Mrs. Bennett all the time, randomly, in unrelated conversation... "Oh my poor nerves!", "My head is sick today!", and my personal favorite: "MISTAH BENNETT!!!!!"
Oh, and one more thing. A twenty-something friend of ours was in a restaurant in England a couple years ago sipping tea and some OLD ladies were at the table beside her sipping tea and discussing how hot Mr. Darcy is. Mmm hmm.
LOVE me some good buns.
ReplyDeleteStop me if you've heard this one (or blogged about it and I didn't catch it or something...), but have you read Austenland by Shannon Hale? Because I loved it and I'm not nearly as in love with Mr. Darcy as some people I know (although I DO understand his appeal). If you haven't read it, you should.
Sorry your trip was so rushed.
ReplyDeleteNow, how could they have taken you to the wrong church?????? Crazy.
(not you, them).
hmmmmm, will you still talk to me if I tell you I've never read anything by Jane Austen? I'm going to though. I'm going to the library this week and checking out some books.
I am so sorry to hear the tour guides rushed you through those places, stressing you, pointing at their wrist watches... Aaargh...! That could be compared to someone standing right next to you shouting in your ear as you try to read poetry... I am truly sorry.
ReplyDeleteAs for Austen characters...What about that crazy woman in the attic...? Isn't she an Austen character? I always felt so sorry for her. I think she is a symbol of how women have suffered under all the pressure put upon them in the past, and how many still suffer.
I loved your post. Nice buns. :)
/Jo.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
ReplyDeletepossession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. It is also a truth that I would love to be in the running for your giveaway as I am half a world away from Bath and therefore living vicariously through you!
I have read Pride and Prejudice- everytime I do now, I think of Colin Firth. He is gorgeous, wish I could find a nice guy like him...!
ReplyDeleteAnd love Pride and Prejudice, think I've also read Mansfield Park. :p
Meanwhile, love your pics, feels like I get to travel vicariously.. I am dying to find a travel partner and get across to England...!
.... nice buns gramma. LOLOLOL!
ReplyDeleteYou are too good.
I remember your lovely give aways. I'll hope to win again, even though I should say: I've already won before so I'll let someone else have a shot at it. ha ha. Well ... if the universe doesn't want me to win it won't let me. Who am I to interfere with it's choice? hee heeeee.
I'm glad you told him off.
ReplyDeleteI know the giveaway is over. Does this prove that I'm not an opportunistic commentor? At least not this time. ;-)
Do you hate me for not having read Jane Austen yet?
HOpe not. Much love!