1st Day in Totnes

The Barrel House was the pub I went to last night for the Consciousness Cafe for the lecture on "Welling Up, How the body informs the mind" by one of the founders of Schumacher College. Very interesting and at least 100+ seekers mostly 50+.  I just love this place with so many interesting things to take part in.

                                  The Royal Seven Star Hotel in Totnes where I watched the ceremony

I woke at 5:00 this morning and turned on the tube to non stop coverage of Prince William and Kate's marriage.  What an ordeal and I'm surprised I enjoyed it so much.  I think I will spend some time in London on the way home and go to Westminster Abbey to experience it in person.  I especially liked when the Bishop of London said "all weddings are royal weddings with the groom and bride being the king and queen of creation bringing love into the world." Probably best if you hear him say it in the context of his speech.  And could you believe the hats the women were wearing?   Hard to believe they think they are attractive and I wonder how they managed to keep them on their heads.  Anyway,  I feel fortunate to have been here to experience it close up.  I'm sure I would have missed the whole thing if I was on Lopez.

I'm at the Albert Einstein Pub having the Friday night "Pot Pie & Pint" special.  Delightful but I can't figure out how you are suppose to eat the peas with out a spoon.  Makes me think of "I eat my peas with honey, I've done it all my life.  Makes my peas taste funny but it keeps them on my knife."  Looking over the catalogue for the Tagore Festival I was surprised to see that Tagore and Einstein were friends and one of the programs is about connecting Einstein and Tagore through Holistic Science and integrating our intuition with our reason.

Off to see some live music at the Barrel House.  No lack of things to do here in Totnes.  I looking forward to move over to Dartington Hall tomorrow.

                           I slept and dreamt that life was joy
                           I awoke and saw that life was service
                           I acted and behold, service was joy.


                                         ~Rabindranath Tagore ~

Finally on the road

Damn;  I just spend quite awhile with a post but didn't do something right and lost it.

Anyway, here I am in Totnes at a very cute brasserie having fish soup and a pint or two for dinner.  The trip here was seemless;  a lovely 1st class seat from DC to Heathrow (it's hard to believe how lucky I am to be able do this; thank you Sheila), a long walk to the Heathrow Connect Train to Paddington Station ( you can walk forever at Heathrow, bought my Senior Travel Card (35% discount) and the train ticket to Totnes on a train that left in 1/2 hour.

Arrived here by 3:00 in time to walk the town and find a nice inexpensive B&B for 30£ ($45+).

Totnes is a marvel of an old English Village that is a center for all things sustainable, organic, progressive,  green, spiritual ++++++.  If it's happening anywhere it's happening here. There is a tavern up the street that is sponsoring a lecture tonight on "Welling Up; How the Body Informs the Mind" by a Professor from Schumacher College.

I'm not going to the wedding but it is certainly a big thing for all of England.  I could have stayed in London on watched the trip from the Castle to the Church tomorrow but I'm glad I'm here.  The main hotel in town, The Royal Seven Stars, is projecting the event on a big screen in their ballroom so I will get to take part that way.

I have 2 days to explore Totnes before moving to Dartington Hall Saturday evening for the Tagore Festival.  Darting Hall is about 1 1/2 hour walk from Totnes following the River Dart.

It's been a great trip so far but I am feeling I wish I was sharing this adventure.  Traveling outside the country is different from the road trips I have done recently.

That's it for now; off to the lecture at the Consciousness Cafe at the pub up the street.

Getting started

Iris is helping me get set up with blogging so I can share my upcoming travels with all of you.  Thanks, Iris