Ascot, Salisbury and a visitor from Canada already!

20.06.2008 - 23.06.2008

Ascot - Drove into the town of Ascot where a big horse racetrack, Ascot Racecourse, and a huger race Royal Ascot, was being held that weekend. Let's just say, everyone was dressed up - ladies in their fancy, elegant hats and men in their suits with or without tails, windsor ties (of course) and walking, or should i say staggering around town. As we drove the main thoroughfare, all of these nicely dressed people were staggering about, queueing up at a few pubs, ladies removing their shoes, and it was about 9pm only! haha, i guess beyond the nice wear and classiness, even the rich like to get drunk and booze it up.....all in the streets.
Belvedere Arms - met up with our friend Lucy, who was coincidentally in town for training. Yep, travelled from Canada to Frimley for her specialized training! Found a place, called the Belvedere Arms which was in Ascot and in Sunninghill on the edge of Windsor Great Park, near to Blacknest Gate, and just a short drive from Wentworth Golf Club and Guards Polo Club (got that from the official website).
Caught up with Lucy and surprised she made the drive from Heathrow to Frimley every morning (approx 20-30 mins) and as usual, first time driving on the wrong side of the road. She wants to move here and work and i think the experience of checking out the non-city-like environment of England and scenery of where we were might have made her closer to sealing the deal..lol. I wouldn't blame her, so 'cmon Jeff! Get that transfer to the UK from your work!'. Also our waiter was a chap from South Africa who gave up his teaching job to do a 5-yr plan of touring around the world. Each year is a different continent ...unreal eh?
Arrived at Wilton House (after getting turned away from Stonehenge due to the aftermath of the summer solstice celebration - good one, we had no idea) which is the home of the Earl of Pembroke for the past 400 years. It was cloudy and slightly raining on and off and we were the only ones walking the grounds. Let me just say, being royalty, definitely has it's perks. I mean, here was a castle-like home built on acres on land with finely cut grass, huge oak (i assume) trees with a rose garden, water garden and beautiful Palladian bridge which we weren't allowed to cross. How much space does this guy really need? Unfortunately the state rooms were also closed but just wandering around the grounds and imagining what it would be like to live in this country home was incredible.
Salisbury - this town contains England's tallest spire atop Salisbury Cathedral. We walked through a town that still had it's medieval setting and architecture and this made it seem like we were walking through history....well certain parts of it. The North gate led into the Close (again, largest in England), which was an area that contained the Salibury cathedral and a number of preserved medieval houses. The houses all faced the cathedral which was situated in the middle and a huge area of turf sat between them...very, very cool for people to take a seat and chill on the 'lawn'. Unfortunately most places were closed for us to actually go in and the cathedral had a service going on, so it was more 'window shopping'.