England
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Ladies For A Day
Downton Abbeyphoto via Fabsugar.comWritten by Elaine G. FloresDon’t you just swoon over “Downton Abbey” on Sunday nights? I certainly do. In these Big Gulp, plastic days, it’s wonderful to imagine a world so passionate about style and indulgence. I recently took a jaunt to London with some fellow Abbey addicts to see how much luxury we we could fit into a single day.Downtown Abbey Season 3Photo via CBS.orgOne can’t picture Lady Mary doing anything without glamour, so my group was determined that even the least glamorous of activities–a trip to the, um, loo, if you must know–would be done with some flair. Yes, we headed to the Ritz-Carlton to use the facilities. The hotel famously regards jeans and sports shoes the way the Dowager Countess looks at Americans, the middle class and electricity, so we made sure our outfits were up to snuff. (No word on what they think of the kind of people who make field trips to their powder room.)Obviously, afternoon tea, had to be a part of this experience. The Crawleys demand the very best, and so did we. We headed to the award-winning Athenaeum, where our biggest concern was whether to finish off with the lemon drizzle cake or Elderflower Jelly. The correct answer? Both.While we’re not sure if Lord Grantham would approve of us willingly entering a kitchen, we did pay a visit to a cooking school to learn about the sort of French cuisine Mrs. Patmore would have served. Those of us who are tragically without a live-in staff should still be able to have a gourmet meal at home from time to time.After a long day of leisure, it was time for an adult beverage, so we headed to the Terrace Bar at the Chesterfield Mayfair for cocktails. As we were on our way out, Chris, the velvet-voiced concierge fussed over us, insisted that we sample old-fashioned English candy (And really, who doesn’t love a man who insists that you eat candy?), ushered us out and then gave us a gallant bow. It was as if we’d found our very own Mr. Carson.
The lesson we learned is that somebody has to be pampered, it might as well be us, and hopefully, you too.
The Crawleys from Downton AbbeyCourtesy of © Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for Masterpiece TheaterPhoto via Vanity FairDownton Abbey Tea Party CookiesPhoto via Cookie PixieAfternoon Tea at the Ritz Carltonphoto via http://downtonabbeycooks.comKensington High Street, LondonThe Athenaeum HotelPhoto credit Jonathan Player for The New York TimesChesterfield Mayfair, LondonPhoto via Chesterfield MayfairThe Athenaeum, LondonAbove photos via CNN TravelerThe Athenaeum, Londonphoto via CNN TravelerA room with a view: The Athenaeum, Londonphoto via http://www.everettpotter.comLondon Sotheby’s International RealtyPhoto via Sotheby’s RealtyThe simple pleasure of Afternoon Tea (photo ITV)Photo via Downton Abbey CooksBest afternoon teas in LondonPhoto via CNN TravellerPhoto via AZ life and StyleElaine G. Flores blogs for Sterling Silver Tours, which offers, “Downton Abbey” themed tours to London.
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Contemplating the Genius of Place & The Places of Geniuses
Midlands, EnglandAfter our marathon visit to Liverpool, prudence dictated that we sleep until respectably late hours, and then spend the remainder of Friday a bit closer to home. We gathered at Anne and David’s, and inspected Anne’s exquisite back garden (all photos of which were taken by Anne)……and then proceeded to Julia and Roger Aldridge’s for tea, where Julia and her cats Tim and Henry gave us a tour of her yard (photos of which are also Anne’s).As you can see, my British friends make sublime gardens!Our plan for the afternoon was a visit to the ruins at Witley Court,Great Witley, Worcestershire. Inevitably, since the buildings we’d bewandering through are roof-less, the skies, which had been reticent all morning, finally unleashed drenching rains: the afternoon would be soggy.Rather than rewrite what has already been well-stated, I quote from the English Heritage guidebook, “Witley Court” :“Once one of England’s great country houses, Witley Court was largely gutted by fire in 1937. The owner, Sir Herbert Smith, decided not to rebuild, but to put the estate up for sale. Witley was never lived in again and was subsequently stripped and abandoned. Yet, as a ruin, it remains deeply evocative. Today it offers a rare opportunity to see the bones of a mansion that has grown over the centuries, from a substantial Jacobean house, based upon a medieval manor house, through expansion under the first Baron Foley and his son in the 1720’s and 1730’s to the addition of two massive porticos by Regency architect John Nash. It finally reached its peak of grandeur in the 1850’s with the extensive remodeling commissioned by the first earl of Dudley from the architectSamuel Daukes. Lord Dudley’s immense wealth, generated largely by his industrial enterprises in the West Midlands, enabled his family to live an extraordinarily opulent life. It also funded the creation of an ornate formal garden at Witley designed by William Andrews Nesfield, the leading garden designer of his day. An army of servants was involved in servicing the property and family, further swollen during the lavish house parties attended by the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and his circle.”Witley Court in its heydayToday’s ruins and restored gardensWe first popped inside the Witley Parish Church, a still-functioning place of worship that’s attached to the manor house ruins. The Church is a rarity in England: the baroque style of its interior is more typical of Italy and southern Germany.A fine Rococo InteriorLeaving the Church, we approached the magnificent ruinsRuins of Manor House to the left; Parish Church to the rightArchway leading to the West WingThe Conservatory, also known as The Orangery, was one of the largest in England. AGSouth Parterre Gazebo. AGFountain in ACTION. Perseus and his winged steed Pegasus are riding to Andromeda’s rescue. Sea monsters snap at their heels, but the hero and his lady fly off, in a spray of water! How’s THAT for watery entertainment. The fountains are activated, once every hour, and run for 20 minutes. AGA Dog-Walker’s Paradise. AGAnne and Janet strolling by Cupid, who is riding a dolphinThese photos of Witley’s ruins say it all: rarely have I been to a place that so exemplifies
the concept of sweet melancholy. - Andre Agassi, Anna Wintour, England, Great Britain, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Sports, Steffi Graf, Tennis
Anyone For Tennis?
She’s Grand!Serena Williams after winning her 5th Women Title at Wimbledon 2012Can you believe that the genesis of tennis was such that players use to hit the ball with their hands? Soon after leather gloves follow, and eventually (four hundred years later – the 16th century to be exact) those gloves were replaced with an adaptive handle for effective hitting and serving of the ball. Oh my.Photo via Getty ImagesIf the first technique was still true today, there’s no doubt that Anna Wintour would be the most efficient female player when it comes to serving with her back hand. Agreed? But I’m not here today to talk about the history of tennis. Instead, let’s talk about four of the greatest players around.Center CourtFashionista Central: Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour made a show of support for Serena during the women’s final matchPhoto via EPAVogue magazine contributing editor Andre Leon Talley, Serena Williams, Vogue magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at Rodarte – Front Row – Spring 2011Photo via ZimbioShe is unstoppable. And that’s a good thing. How wonderful it is to see that Serena Williams has fully checked in, after two long years of illness. Over the weekend at Wimbledon, she silenced her critics, and defeated her opponents by winning her 5th Wimbledon Title. Her career report card goes something like this: 14 Grand Slam singles titles. She is the sixth on the all-time list. Serena now ranks fourth in Grand Slam women’s singles titles, which she won during the open era, behind Steffi Graf (22 titles) and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 titles each). Among active players, male or female, she holds the most Major titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Welcome back Serena!Five times Wimbledon winner Serena Williams at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners BallSource: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images Europe), via ZimbioRAFAWidely regarding as one of the greatest players of all time, for me, Rafa IS the greatest player ever. At 26 years of age, Nadal has the records to prove it. He has won eleven Grand Slam singles titles, including a record seven French Open titles, the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles, a record 21 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, and was also part of the Spain Davis Cup team that won the finals in 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011. And so on, and so forth. Rafael Nadal was sorely missed at Wimbledon the last couple of days.The King Of Clay, Rafael NadalThe Big Guns: Rafael Nadal showing his toned, athletic body while playing atthe beach of his native country, Majorca, SpainThe Perfectionist: Rafael NadalAll images via Getty Images EuropeSTEFFISteffi GrafSteffi Graf was the reason why I became interested in tennis. I remembered the first time I saw her on the court. I was mesmerized. Her game was flawless, and she was very much in charge. During her years as a tennis star, Steffi Graf accumulated a total of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court’s 24. HIGH NOTE: In 1988, Steffi became the first and only tennis player (male or female) to achieve the Calendar Year Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. How swashing!Picture PerfectEx Tennis Star, Steffi GrafA New GameSteffi Graf and her husband, eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre AgassiPhoto via Sports IllustratedROGERLeading Man7th time Wimbledon winner, and 17th Grand Slam title winner, Roger Federer lifts the coveted trophy.Photo via Getty Images“You’re the reason we love it!” That’s what someone shouted at the champ during yesterday’s match. And how true that was. Roger Federer continues to break all kinds of records. As the world already knows by now, he took home the big gun on Sunday, his 7th Wimbledon Grand Slam title, by digging deeper and deeper into his game as he terribly upset the people of Great Britain when he defeating their favorite son, Andy Murray. Roger, or as he is sometimes called, the Federer Express, has had a stellar career. He has amassed a staggering numbers of trophies and countless of accolades.Roger Federer, 2011The King Is BackRoger Federer at the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners BallSource: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe) via Zimbio
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