Darlene Foster's Blog

I wrote about my recent visit to Winchester Cathedral here, the final resting place of Jane Austen and King Canute as well as other notables. I spent a couple of days in this enchanting part of the UK with friends who took me on drives full of pleasant surprises.
Winchester itself is an interesting city full of history and stories. It was made the capital of England during Saxon times by King Alfred The Great. Whether he let the cakes burn or not is debatable but when I read that story as a child, I was always intrigued by this man. In the center of town is a statue of one of my childhood heroes and the only monarch in England to be called Great.

Winchester is a perfect place to wander around, with many historic buildings and interesting shops, including many bookstores.

I love the boot above the Clark’s Shoe Shop

At the university sits a bench dedicated to Jane Austen and Phillis Wheatly displaying the importance of literature to this city. It was at the University of Winchester that I attended a writer’s festival that weekend.

Driving through the New Forest made me think of days of yore and those who would have traveled by horse and buggy down these same paths.

And then we came upon a thatched-roofed village – right out of a book!

The village of Wherwell

Can you imagine living in a house like this?

Later, on the way to a pub for dinner, we came upon a wonderful old church with an awesome graveyard. Since I have this fascination with cemeteries, I had to take a few pictures.

And to my delight, we passed through yet another thatched-roofed village. My friends were kind enough to stop so I could take pictures.

The charming village of Monxton

The following day we went to the seaside city of Bournemouth, a place I had not been to before. I loved the casual elegance of the place and the lovely gardens in the center of town.

Bournemouth seafront

A fabulous building housing a LUSH store

Lovely gardens in the middle of the city

A huge lilac bush with the cathedral in the background

I discovered that Mary Shelly, although she never lived there, is buried in Bournemouth.

St. Peter’s in Bournemouth where Mary Shelly is buried, along with her parents.

Yes, that Mary Shelly, the author of the novel, Frankenstein, and wife of Percy Shelly. Did she ever imagine there would be a pub named after her?

We stopped for an ice cream and had a stroll along the seafront before I was dropped off at the airport. A perfect couple of days with good friends.

Making memories with friends.