Bakewell, Day 3

I went to see Chatsworth House yesterday afternoon. It was a really pleasent walk, and the house and gardens definitely live up to their reputation as being both grand and beautiful. I'm afraid I may have had a little bit of an idealized expectation however. I've only seen the estate in 19th century period films...so to see it with roads, cars, tourists, and scaffolding was a little odd. It was also filled with modern sculpture pieces, which seems a little out of place.

The gardens were some of the best I've seen so far in England. They are massive, just like at Hampton Court, with large fountains and a maze. The inside rooms are similar to the ones I saw at the Villa D'Este in Italy, with huge murals painted on the ceilings and walls.

I love the small town feeling of Bakewell. People are more than polite, they are friendly in a way that puts the midwest to shame. Everyone says "Hello and Good Afternoon" when you walk past, and some even stop to ask you how you are doing. The guy that sells me my diet coke in the corner store wants to know my name so he can greet me properly when I walk in the store. A kid that rides his bike at sunset when I take my walks befriended me the instant we crossed paths.

It's really charming and wonderful. I would not mind to live in a place like this when I get old. Judging from the average age of people in this town, I'm not the only person who has had that thought.