Cheddar Makes Everything Better...Even Jet Lag

I’m here!! And it’s lovely!

My previous visit to England was a ten-day stay in London with day trips to Oxford and Cambridge. This time, I am based out of Taunton in Southwestern England. Um, it is quite the contrast to London. Very rural. In fact, it is as though someone picked up Northern Wisconsin and plopped it in the middle of England. I opened the window to my room last night and the fragrant scent of manure wafted in.

The view from the road leading to my Inn.

Hmm, I wonder if the corn will be "knee high by the Fourth of July" though that saying is probably not at all applicable for England, I guess. HA.

The area is dominated by farming and it is sooo refreshing to see all of the signs advertising free range eggs and organic vegetable. The scrambled eggs that I have been eating for breakfast every morning are fresh from the neighboring farm. There is even a little butcher shop right across the street.

But, it is quite beautiful. Very green and lots of rolling hills and countryside. And, much like Northern Wisconsin, people are unfailingly polite. Although, I have now been asked five times: “I cannot quite place your accent. Where are you from?” When I say the United States, it is inevitably followed by a hearty laugh and a good-natured (I hope) “Well, I won’t hold it against you” type comment. I may start testing out other countries as my residence since I apparently have an ambiguous accent. LOL!

Upon arrival, Saira and James met me at the Bristol airport (which is right next to a golf course…I found that amusing. As we taxied down the runway, the golfers were all waving at us from the greens) and promptly whisked me over to a coffee shop to get some much needed caffeine into my weary system.

I had a bit of time to kill before I could check into my inn so we headed to the village of Cheddar. Yep, it’s where Cheddar Cheese gets it name. Note the Beer Festival sign. See, it is like Wisconsin.

Okay, is it entirely wrong that I grew up in Cheese Country U.S.A., lived one town over from a major cheese factory, drove past at 27 cheese shops/factories between my hometown and college and NEVER actually knew how cheese was made until yesterday? I cannot believe we never had a school trip to one. Instead we visited the Peshtigo Fire Museum at least 15 times.

We toured the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Factory….

… and at the end of the tour, we sampled a few cheeses. I tried a hard goat cheese that was quite delicious.

Saira and James on the streets of Cheddar...aww….

Saira and I…

(In addition to Cheddar the Cheese, Cheddar is also known for Cheddar Gorge. Which was described to me as England’s (not so grand) Grand Canyon.)