Amazing Montacute House

Somerset, England.  Today we disembarked our ship in Southampton, and picked up a rental car which will be our "ship" for the next two weeks.  We started out the day with meeting some treasured old friends from cruises past for coffee -- they were boarding the ship as we were disembarking, so we made plans (ahead of time) to have a quick visit before we each went in opposite directions!

Then we drove on to Somerset, where we visited Montacute House -- an incredible Elizabethan Renaissance mansion that just took our breath away.  It was built by Sir Edward Phelips, a wealthy lawyer and member of Elizabeth I's Parliament. An influential man, as Speaker of the House of Commons Phelips was involved in the trial of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plotters.  Fascinating and truly impressive!

We are now luxuriously ensconced in gorgeous Lympstone Manor in Exmouth, Devon.  We have just had the most amazingly perfect, delicious, flawless, beautiful tasting menu dinner complete with wine pairings, and I don't think I have ever in my life had such a magnificent feast.  Life is good!