COUNTRY DAY TRAVEL, INC.



MYSTERY TOUR
to
GREAT
BRITAIN
1996






THE COTSWOLDS CAPER


A unique Mystery tour to England
WE HAD A GREAT TIME IN OCTOBER 1996!




Had a pint at an oxford Pub in the Honor of INSPECTOR MORSE and a MISS MARPLE Cup of Tea in a Tiny English Village! Explored the Hallowed Halls of the Bodleian Library, Retraced the steps of HARRIET VANE in the famous DOROTHY L. SAYERS Mystery GAUDY NIGHT, and the Murders Perpetrated by VERONICA STALLWOOD in the OXFORD EXIT. We looked for DICK FRANCIS Characters at a Cotswold Racetrack, Visited Ancient Castles by day and Slept in Haunted Inns by night!



7 days / 8 nights of MYSTERY in the PICTURESQUE VILLAGES of the COTSWOLDS, the COLLEGES of OXFORD and the CITY STREETS of LONDON.

ITINERARY:

OCT 5/SAT: DEPARTED USA

OCT 6/SUN: Arrived LONDON, our coach met us and took us to THE BEAR, our hotel in WOODSTOCK, a tiny village just outside of OXFORD. (Remember Inspector Morse in the Last Bus to Woodstock?) Next door to the hotel is BLENHEIM PALACE, the birthplace of CHURCHILL. The balance of the afternoon was free to relax, to visit the Palace, or roam the streets of Woodstock. There were several quaint little restaurants to try for dinner and we became acquainted with our fellow mystery buffs. (B)

OCT 7/MON BREAKFAST AT HOTEL This morning we were treated to a private tour of the BODLEIAN LIBRARY with a retired Associate Librarian as our guide. This Mystery Lover gave us the clues to the mysteries of SAYERS, HOLT, STALLWOOD & DEXTER, as well as the history of this 400 year old institution. After the tour, the CONVOCATION COFFEE HOUSE at the Bodleian, was the perfect spot for a quick and tasty lunch. This afternoon we did a walking tour of OXFORD. Again, our guide was a Mystery Lover that showed us all the things we wanted to see. Afterwards, there was a little free time in Oxford for book browsing, then it was back to the hotel to prepare for dinner.
*DINNER at the MARSTON INN, a small, local pub in a tiny village outside of Oxford, was a marvelous evening. CLAIRE, the Publican's wife, prepared for us, Shepherd's Pie and some similar English pub dishes. We were joined by special guest, Mystery author, VERONICA STALLWOOD. We all brought our books for her to SIGN! (BD)

OCT 8/TUE BREAKFAST AT HOTEL CHECKED OUT OF HOTEL Our coach took us through the COTSWOLDS to WARWICK CASTLE for a tour of the finest Medieval Castle in England (The site of the attempted murder of AGATHA RAISON, a lively character created by M.C. BEATON.)
* Lunch was at THE DIRTY DUCK, site of the famed MARTHA GRIMES mystery of the same name. There was a short time to visit STRATFORD-UPON-AVON and then it was on to see ANNE HATHAWAY'S Cottage which was wickedly aglow with Fall color. Our coach drove us through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cotswolds to CHELTENHAM and the HOTEL de la BERE, our English "COUNTRY MANOR" home for the next three nights.
* Dinner this evening was a SPECIAL EVENT prepared by the Hotel Chef, IAN BELL. Joining us for this devilishly delicious dinner, was a professional GHOST SIGHTER, CAROL. (First name only to protect the GUILTY!) She chilled us with stories of LOCAL GHOSTS, but the glowing fire in the fireplace will warmed us as we enjoyed famous Banoffee pie from Ian's kitchen. (BLD)

OCT 9/WED BREAKFAST AT HOTEL This morning we drove a few miles to the little town of WYNCHCOMB to visit SUDELEY CASTLE, once the home of QUEEN KATHERINE PARR, who is now buried in the Castle Church. HENRY VIII and several of his wives visited here, before they lost their heads. On we went to the quaint village of STOW-ON-THE-WOLD for shopping antique and SECOND HAND BOOK STORES and visiting the Old Church. There was time for lunch at the little tea rooms and village pubs. Stow-on-the-wold was the epitome of ST MARY'S MEAD, so we were on the watch for MISS MARPLE. On our way back to the hotel we stopped at FOSSE MANOR for a real ENGLISH TEA and a short walk through the pastures of the Cotswolds that come right up to the Manor. Our return to the hotel allowed a little time for relaxing and reading those new mysteries we bought in Stow.
* Dinner was at THE ROYAL OAK, a local pub that has ties with the worst serial killer in England's history. Our Publican, DI, served a great meal of fish and chips, along with some spine-tingling stories. (BD)

OCT 10/THURS BREAKFAST AT HOTEL DICK FRANCIS was on our minds as we took a private behind-the-scenes tour of the NICHOLSON STABLES. This working racing stable is nestled in the valleys of the Cotswolds, too beautiful for any dastardly deeds! After a morning with horses, we took a trip to BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER. this picturesque Cotswolds village was full of interesting things to see and do, plus some excellent shopping. Some wanted to have lunch on a bench along the stream that flows through town, but had to watch out. The ducks usually tried to join them. This afternoon we enjoyed the drive through the hills of the Cotswolds on the return to our hotel. Took some time to enjoy the ambiance of Hotel de la bere, a perfect place to read a good British Mystery. Or, some planned an evening at the Hotel that night, at their leisure. (BD)

OCT 11/FRI BREAKFAST AT HOTEL CHECK OUT OF HOTEL More fun for DICK FRANCIS fans as we went behind-the-scenes at the CHELTENHAM RACE TRACK, After our private tour we enjoyed a nice spot of tea at the local pub usually frequented by the jockeys. Mid-afternoon found us on the road to LONDON. More time for those MYSTERY QUIZZES! We arrived late afternoon and checked into our hotel. There was some time to walk around and to eat a little dinner. When the night fog rolled in, though, it was time to meet our RIPPER EXPERT for a JACK THE RIPPER WALK through the dark streets of WHITECHAPEL. We were sure not to get separated from the group that night! (BL)

OCT 12/SAT BREAKFAST AT HOTEL Today we had free to visit the sights of LONDON. Some wanted to see the TOWER OF LONDON, site of beheadings in the name of the King, or have lunch at the SHERLOCK HOLMES PUB. London is home to great BOOKSTORES, where many of our favorite authors sometimes sign. Tonight, our grand finale, was a visit to London's famed theater district to see THE MOUSETRAP, still the longest running play in London. No Mystery trip could be complete without seeing this AGATHA CHRISTIE tradition. (B)

OCT 13/SUN BREAKFAST AT HOTEL CHECK OUT OF HOTEL Our motorcoach picked us up this morning for our departure to London Gatwick for our return to the USA. (BL)

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