reflections in the baptistery at Salisbury

Salisbury cathedral reflections (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all right reserved

Salisbury Cathedral has long been on my bucket list. One of the world's outstanding examples of Gothic architecture, the cathedral has the tallest church spire in the UK (404 feet), the largest cloister, and one of four existing copies of the Magna Carta.

On entering the cathedral, one's eyes are drawn skyward by the strong vertical lines of the columns and arches. Unlike Westminster Abbey which stations priests throughout the sanctuary who sternly warn tourists not to take photograph, the priest with whom I briefly spoke had a quite friendly demeanor. Photography is permitted, and I was able to capture the composition above — a reflection of the church's arches in the large dove-shaped baptistery inside the entrance.

Along with Winchester Cathedral, yesterday was a day to visit Gothic churches as well as the stone circle at Avebury.

copyright  (c)  2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit our website.

English pub dog | Hampshire County

The English countryside is overlooked as a destination by many upscale travelers, but there are many reasons to consider England, especially in the busy summer travel months. Here are my top five reasons to visit the English countryside:

1. Pleasant summer weather.
2. Uncrowded.
3. Easy to reach, a short non-stop flight from the U.S. east coast to London, with non-stop flights from hundreds of international destinations.
4. Lots to do. I saw Winchester and the famous Winchester Cathedral before (I spent the night in Hampshire before flying to Venice the next morning). There's also Stonehenge, Avebury, the Cotswolds, Bath, and dozens of other fascinating towns and villages.
5. Save money. Luxurious hotels are less expensive than city hotels. I spent the night at Four Seasons Hampshire, a traditional manor house that has been converted into a family-friendly resort — a great value when you consider the free daily breakfast for two and the $100 food and beverage credit you receive when you book through your Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultant.

And where else will you find charming country inns like The Gamekeepers with Guinness on tap, gourmet pub grub, and a dog behind the bar? I had a great dinner there.


English countryside (search here on Google) 

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.