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| welcome to wordworth's manor, friends! |
I went to bed last night praying, “Hey, God—can you just
give me the strength and stamina for a few more days? I’m in England—I should
be grateful and excited, but right now I’m just exhausted.”
Because, as my friend LucyRose put it: “We’ve been moving every
few days, living out of our suitcases for two months, have no clue when/where
our next meal will come from, have to adjust to culture while still doing
school-work, are around people we don’t know super well so we can’t necessarily
let our guard down, are rarely ever alone….It’s difficult.”
I guess I just didn’t realize how difficult it would be.
It’s been a good trip. Really. Please don’t think I’m complaining—I realize I’m
incredibly blessed/lucky to be able to do this…But it hasn’t been all roses and
butterflies.
Anyways, I woke up well-rested thanks to the Benadryl my
friend Jeff gave me. We boarded a bus at nine and headed out to Rydal Mount,
William and Mary Wordsworth’s home for 37 years (1813-1850).
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| entry-way to rydal mount |
It was in this home that
Wordsworth composed and published many of his poems, and the gardens
surrounding the home were designed by Wordsworth and are a wonderful
example of Romantic gardening. It’s nature seemingly run wild, yet carefully
maintained. Rock paths meander through wooded forest, stone pools collect
water, and long stretches of grassy fields glisten with morning dew.
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| garden path-way |
We toured the house (which is still owned by Wordsworth’s
descendants), checking out Wordsworth’s study, bedroom, living room, etc.
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| wordsworth's personal library |
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| wordy's favorite chair |
Several pieces of original furniture are still in the home, as well as original
paintings and manuscripts. It’s a beautiful country villa with incredible
views—if I was Wordsworth, I’d have enough inspiration to compose masterpieces
there too!
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| beds of wordy & mary |
The gardens were intricate mazes of greenery, and we spent a
bit of time tripping around in them. There were hidden glens of rose bushes and
green-houses full of delicate flowers.
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We sat in the tea garden for awhile,
enjoying the scenery before heading into Grasmere, the small town by
Wordsworth’s house.
We ate lunch at a local café before purchasing some
(apparently very famous) gingerbread from a small store—Sarah Nelson’sGingerbread. It was literally a tiny room with a counter and shelves; two
elderly ladies were packaging the ginger-bread and distributing it as fast as
they could. I’ve never had anything like it—a sandy, flat cookie/bar, served
warm and with small chunks of ginger hidden inside it. Fascinating and
surprisingly delicious. I bought several and hope to bring them home to the fam
(don’t worry, guys—you’re getting more than that. I bought some postcards for
you too…)
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| look at that scenery! views like this are on every side of the lake district |
After that, we explored the town for a bit, popping into
Wordsworth’s church where a Rushbearing ceremony was about to take place.
Apparently, this has been a tradition since 1680, where the public was promised
a pint of ale for bringing rushes to repair the church. We didn’t have time to
stay for it, though, as we had another spot to head to: Wordsworth’s Dove
Cottage.
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| dove cottage |
Wordsworth and his wife Mary lived in Dove Cottage for the
first few years of their marriage, and his three children were born there. It
was much smaller than his later home—dark and cramped too. Apparently, it had
been a pub in the 1700’s before being made into a house.
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| mary papered these walls to keep the room warm-- these are still her original newspapers! |
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| dove cottage living room |
There was a Wordsworth museum and I looked inside but I’m
honestly a bit museumed out at the moment and, as my friend Nathaniel put it:
“I don’t feel like looking at any more stuff.”
Took the bus back and am enjoying an empty hostel room to
myself before dinner, which I think will be Thai food with some friends.
Tomorrow, I’m planning on hiking a trail with the Galbraith
family and finishing the last few bits & pieces of my essays.
Feeling like I can make the final push! Cheers, folks!
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