Our next stop along the journey is the English town of York. We arrived in York on Friday evening with reservations at a bed and breakfast, Heidi's Bed and Breakfast to be specific. We take a taxi there and it is the cutest room ever -- it's purple!! Which is so fitting due to the title and I didn't even realize that until writin
g this...but it was adorable. That evening we decided we were going to do a Ghost tour in town after getting some dinner at The Punch Bowl, a pub restaurant that our cab driver recommended for cheap and cheerful eating! Our ghost tour started at Kings Arms Pub where our tour guide introduced himself to the large group. He was quite a character. We basically had a walking tour of the cute and quaint town of York with some added ghost stories here and there. One thing we distinctly remember is him making the loudest knocking noise ever by knocking on his head! It was disturbing. Must not have been much inside---sounded hollow! We were so glad we went on this tour because the next day we knew exactly where we were going. Everything in York was in walking distance and it was one of the cutest towns ever. 
Saturday morning started with a delicious traditional English breakfast made by Heidi, our York Mom, complete with her to-die-for homemade blackberry jam! After that we ventured into town, over the River Ouse (pr
onounced ooze), passing by Hartley's deli and rounding our way up to the spectacular York Cathedral. We were really able to appreciate the details of the cathedral after taking British studies, yes, I just admitted that. Next we walked down The 
Shambles. This is the most colorful and old street in the town and was once the 'street of the butchers'. Now it is the cutest street ever lined with shops, chocolate stores, and restaurants. On this particular weekend, because we have su
ch wonderful luck, it was the Food Festival! We walked around from booth to booth sampling free items and buying a few things along the way. I got a spicy chicken wrap, Shelby got a giant hamburger, and Stephanie got a hot dog! We finished the day off with some shopping..where I probably spent a little more money than I should have buying a winter coat, but hey, I will need it! It's very European...you will inevitably see pictures down the road when it gets colder. We finished the day off by hopping on a train from the cute town of York, to Birmingham.Our only plans for Birmingham were to go to Cadbury World, the famous world of delicious chocolate. We arrived Saturday night at our next Bed and Breakfast where our new M
om, Marlene, took great care of us! We have met some great locals by staying at Bed and Breakfasts...it's really the way to go! Sunday we started with yet another yummy English breakfast and headed out to catch a bus to Bourneville, home of Cadbury World. Before entering into the world of chocolate, Stephanie and Shelby were unaware of my true love for it! I was so excited. We fina
lly get there for our tour, that they suggest will take a couple of hours, but we spend the entire day there! They started by giving us a candy bar and a bag of chocolate buttons. Those don't last long...afterall, you have to get in the chocolate spirit.
om, Marlene, took great care of us! We have met some great locals by staying at Bed and Breakfasts...it's really the way to go! Sunday we started with yet another yummy English breakfast and headed out to catch a bus to Bourneville, home of Cadbury World. Before entering into the world of chocolate, Stephanie and Shelby were unaware of my true love for it! I was so excited. We fina
lly get there for our tour, that they suggest will take a couple of hours, but we spend the entire day there! They started by giving us a candy bar and a bag of chocolate buttons. Those don't last long...afterall, you have to get in the chocolate spirit. 
We learned the origins of the cocoa beans, how the first chocolate was made, and what makes Cadbury's dairy milk chocolate so delactable-- 1 and 1/2 cups of fresh dairy milk! Or as Shelby put it, basically the first Cadbury chocolate was made with backwash- cause they showed the video of two men having a glass of milk, and one drinks half before pouring it into the chocolate...and therefore, 1 and 1/2. We saw the conveyor belts where the chocolate was packaged, enjoyed a Cadabara ride, and even wrote our names in chocolate, after receiving another chocolate bar of course! We finished our tour inside and made our way into Cadbury's largest chocolate store! We all bought so much chocolate!
Next we went out to the Spots vs. Stripe
s game area where they were promoting since they are the sponsor of treats for the London Olympics. We played a couple rounds of shoe golf, which I won..and we all won another chocolate bar! Yes! Next we did a tour of what is called, Essence, another part of Cadbury world, where were were able to 'create our own treat'. We could choose anything behind the counter including popcorn, gummies, krispies, marshmellows, and what I chose, biscuits (aka..English cookies) to mix into our delicious, creamy, melted, warm chocolate that they poured into a cup and we literally ate with a spoon. It was the best thing ever! I was licking up every bit. My two friends on the other hand, couldn't handle the sugar! haha. Overall we had a great day at Cadbury World complete with loads of chocolate to show for it! We made our way back to Grantham for another week at Harlaxton that night. Another fantastic weekend under our belts.
s game area where they were promoting since they are the sponsor of treats for the London Olympics. We played a couple rounds of shoe golf, which I won..and we all won another chocolate bar! Yes! Next we did a tour of what is called, Essence, another part of Cadbury world, where were were able to 'create our own treat'. We could choose anything behind the counter including popcorn, gummies, krispies, marshmellows, and what I chose, biscuits (aka..English cookies) to mix into our delicious, creamy, melted, warm chocolate that they poured into a cup and we literally ate with a spoon. It was the best thing ever! I was licking up every bit. My two friends on the other hand, couldn't handle the sugar! haha. Overall we had a great day at Cadbury World complete with loads of chocolate to show for it! We made our way back to Grantham for another week at Harlaxton that night. Another fantastic weekend under our belts. At this time I would like to make a special shout our to some of my awesome followers, the Moms of the Three Amigos -- Sus, Robin and Nancy! We love and miss you all :)
More to come!
Loving these posts mamas! Keep them up! Looks like you are having a fabulous time! :) So excited for you! xo
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