This month at Across the Cafe Table over at the Travel Belles we’re discussing:
If you HAD to spend the holidays away somewhere, where would you go and what would you do?
Although I’m thrilled to have a small and quiet Christmas at home in Australia this year, if I absolutely HAD to go somewhere, I’d choose England.
After visiting England for the first time in October with my friends Katy and Kate, I was smitten.
I grew up reading Brambly Hedge and John Buchan, and every year looked eagerly for the England version of my beloved Victoria magazine. I loved it before I ever went there, and I would dearly love to spend Christmas there one day.
It would be such fun to rent a big ol’ manor house with all my dear ones, or just a cozy cottage. I’d spend my days going for country walks, perusing old book stores, and having good visits over mulled wine at a cozy pub.
It would be so nice to come home at the end of a long day and read by a roaring fire, a hearty meat pie for dinner.
I’d love to enjoy a Christmas concert in a cathedral and watch a live production of “A Christmas Carol”. I think it would be just splendid to have a full blown English Christmas dinner with roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding or perhaps roast goose with a big plum pudding at the end.
And, if I was very, very lucky, we’d get a light dusting of snow, perfect for late night rambles to see village Christmas lights.
After a walk in the snow, a hot cup of tea at a nearby pub would be just the ticket.
How about you, dear ones?
If you HAD to spend the holidays away somewhere, where would you go and what would you do?
For more inspiring ideas, click here.
Hi Krista, I’m pleased you came to have aloof and say hello! You seem to be loving living in Australia which is good to hear. I’ve never drenched goats (or any animal) but good on you for having a go at everything.
Your photos of England are wonderful. It would be quite an experience to have a winter Christmas, even better with a little snow!
Karen
Thank you so much, Karen! It’s lovely to meet you and I look forward to reading more of your posts soon. 🙂 I think a white Christmas sounds just heavenly. 🙂
I would love to go to Prague for Christmas. Every picture I have seen of it looks like it is from a storybook. What better place to spend the holidays?
I would love to go to Prague too, Deanna. I love that city so much and can only imagine how magical it is under a blanket of snow. 🙂
Krista, I LOVE this post. Your photos are gorgeous. I spent Christmas in England last year with my husband’s family. It was brilliant! We did some of things you mentioned. Our kids loved tobogganing down a snowy hill just outside a village with a really cosy, atmospheric pub where we had a lovely lunch together. We went to London and I loved the way the shops were decorated. Christmas Day itself was lovely, surrounded by my husband’s family.
Thank you so much, Cathy. 🙂 I loved hearing about your family’s Christmas adventures in England. It sounds like such a wonderful holiday!
My family are all British so to spend time in Britain over the holidays with a large group of people I have never met would be amazing. But I would love to spend Christmas on a cruise down the Rhone that I read about that stops at many different German villages. I want to see and shop in the stores where Advent calendars, Christmas trees and all the traditions we hold dear began:D
I’ve taken that cruise in the Fall and it was stunning, Val! It must be absolutely gorgeous in the winter, and the Christmas markets would be fantastic. What a splendid idea! 🙂
Krista, I’m so pleased you chose England! This makes me really happy that I’m spending my Christmas here. I definitely want to make the most of what my home country has to offer after reading this. I’m looking forward to reading about your Australian Christmas too!
Oh, I’m so glad it inspired you, Kate! You are so lucky to live in such a wonderful country. 🙂
You had me at Yorkshire pudding. 😉
Don’t you LOVE it, Cailin?!! YUM! YUM!!
A beautiful tribute to England! It’s been way too long since I visited London, but I really feel like it’s never left my heart…it’s such a comforting, sturdy place, isn’t it? I think it would be a lovely place to spend Christmas! 🙂
Comforting and sturdy – Faith, that is the BEST description. 🙂 It has such a wonderfully homey feel. 🙂
After reading this, I think England would top my list. Your photos are beautiful, I love how the black and white draws attention to the details. =)
Thank you, dear Breanne. 🙂 I love the black and white ones for that very reason. 🙂 And I thought they felt more wintry that way. 🙂
I would love to spend it in a cabin in Germany!
Oh, that would be SO cozy and wonderful, Andi! 🙂 Yes, I think Germany would be my next pick. 🙂
I have to agree with you. England is pretty much the perfect place for Christmas – if we’re not counting Paris! Happy Weekend!
Ahhh, Paris! Yes, dear Paradis, that would be an exquisite place for Christmas too. 🙂
krista, this post is beautiful ! i love the light dusting of snow 🙂 i’d like to go to london & christmas markets in europe …on my wishlist ! as always you weave magic in your posts. keep them coming. happy holidays ! xo, shruti
Thank you, Shruti – I love the bit of snow too. 🙂 Ooooh, Christmas markets sound marvelous!
Hi Krista,
What better place than Strasbourg in France for a magical Christmas , they have those gorgeous Christmas markets around the cathedral where you can drink hot spicy wine and munch Christmas cookies, the streets are all illuminated and there is such a wonderful festive atmosphere!
I’ve been hearing such wonderful things about Strasbourg, Alina! You’ve made it sound even MORE magical! 🙂
I think I would go to Italy for Christmas, but after reading this, England is definitely on the table as well!
Oh, Italy sounds blissful too, Joanne. 🙂
love love love every photo especially the look through the arch to the tall spire. and the one with delicate snowflakes…
Thank you so much, dear Susan! I love that one too – doesn’t it make you want to peer around the corner and see what else is there? 🙂
Krista, you know you’d be welcome to spend Christmas with me anytime you like! We have a log fire and even a cat to sit in front of it – makes the ultimate cozy scene 🙂 Snow is never guaranteed on Christmas Day, but we’ll do our best and we can certainly go rambling or a-caroling! Salisbury looks so pretty in your B&W photos – I’m looking forward to spending Christmas there 🙂
Oh Katy, I would LOVE to take you up on that!!! Perhaps in a year or two? Just thinking about it makes me grin like mad. 🙂 xo
This year we are in fact spending the holidays away, in Northern Virginia visiting my family and Hegui’s niece and her husband. But if I could pick anywhere, I think that I’d go to Rio de Janeiro. It’s hot at Christmastime, so you can lie on the beach and develop a suntan, the tropical fruit are all ripe and particularly delicious plus, there’s the people watching, the beauty of the city and Hegui’s family would visit us on the beach. Paradise on Earth, if you ask me.
I didn’t realize that you might be a Twilight fan, by the way. Do tell me more. I’ve been so blue with the short days that I’ve obsessively been seeing the movies over and over and re-read the entire series this past three weeks for probably the fifth or sixth time. It really helps my mood.
Ohhh, you make Rio sound absolutely wonderful, Stevie!! 🙂 I can picture every bit of it! I wasn’t a Twilight fan, but a friend of mine is manic! She made me promise that she would check out my beloved Harry Potter if I would screen her beloved Twilight. So I did and found it so fun and interesting. 🙂 I’m so glad it cheers you up!
I would march straight back to Prague. 🙂 xo
And I’d link my arm in yours and march right along with you! 🙂
I think spending a Christmas in England would be wonderful. Your photos that you have been sharing are inspiring.
Happy Holidays to you.
Velva
Thank you, dear Velva. 🙂 I’m so glad you like them! Merriest of Christmases to you!!
Charming! Love the black and white for this… captures that certain feeling that i think reminds us of this time of year… and a kind of Dickins era coziness which can only be found in England.:)