Remembering Bourton on the Water and Parsnip Soup

s     I have such wonderful memories of our trip to England and driving the Countryside to the Cottswolds region. We visited many villages with honey colored cottages and shops, that made me feel like I was back in time from a storybook I had read as a child. Bourton on the Water is known as the Venice of England with its many Bridges and Waterways.
​    One evening we walked from our Bed and Breakfast to the center in town and decided to try the local pub for a bowl of soup and a pint of good ale.  Being a helpless romantic I am fueled by detail whether in description of food, decor or life's simplest moments.  The evening we walked to town was one of those moments that will be forever locked in my heart. From the cool crisp air, to the beautiful lit porches of the homes and hearing our steps against the pavement was perfect. We were in the moment with all our senses enjoying the experience.
    Arriving at the Pub, we were seated near the fireplace and loved the bustle of the neighborhood crowd stopping on their way home from work. We enjoy going to local places to really experience the feel of the town.  Our table and chairs were wood and reflected the rich warm tones of the pub. We ordered our Ale and soup and sat back and declared at that moment we could stay here forever!  We spoke with several of the local people and enjoyed hearing the history of the Village.  I was thrilled with the steaming bowl of Parsnip soup that came out served in a simple white bowl with a few pieces of crusty bread. Simply Divine! No pretense, just a lovely pureed soup! It was delicious as was the bread and the perfect atmosphere for which to savor.
​   After dinner we walked through some of the shops and then made our way up the hill back to our B&B to visit with some of the other guests in the parlor.
​   A lovely day,, a simple meal, and a heartfelt memory.