Adventures in Jane Austen's World

When I first got here I was very enchanted. My first steps onto the street of London outside the airport was the smell of clove cigarettes, old fashion taxi cabs and smartly dressed people. I was romanced right then and there. The drive through the English countryside to Oxforshire was lovely and the leaves were just changing to meet the expectations of the coming Fall: bright reds, yellows, accompanied the very green. The flowers were in bloom everywhere. Hanging flower pots from the pubs' front doors. The ancient walls made from stone, as well as ivy growing on the homes, made me think of Jane Austin's novel Pride and Prejudice. It looked like Elizabeth Bennet's home. We then found that we live next to a 900 year old church with grave stones adorning it so beautifully. They have lovely benches there and huge swaying trees with the hughes of red and yellow and when the leaves fall, it makes a beautiful blanket of color on the ground. It is just like walking into a painting. It is nice to see a fit and well dressed society but it is hard to understand their very thick accent. I have yet to go and experience London. But that is my next destination. As I sit here with my glass of wine and hand full of peanuts in honor of my granny :) I can't stop thinking about this wonderful place I find myself in. I think about Jane Austen in this setting. Everything on Church Way is just as it was 300 years ago. The homes, street, and church exist as if they were all suspended in time somehow. How wonderful it would be to have beautiful gowns in my closet and my hair neatly done up just like Elizabeth Bennet. One can dream, and this is the place to do it in.