One of the best life experiences I have ever had, has been the summer I lived in London and studied at The Globe Theatre. I can't even begin to explain how amazing or how restorative this was or how it changed me both as a teacher and as a person.
In the summer of 2007, my beloved sister Robin passed away from lung cancer. It was unexpected and I was shaken to the core. I almost declined the ESU scholarship to study at the Globe, and then I decided that maybe getting away from everything was exactly what I needed.
Rather than go directly to London, I flew into Manchester. I had a few free days at a Marriott hotel saved up and decided to cash in at the Marriott Preston. This gorgeous hotel is an old English manor house that was converted to a hotel. The grounds are beautiful and the hotel is a vacation in itself.
It was quite easy to get to Preston from the Manchester Airport. There is a train terminal right there. My only suggestion is that you be extra careful when purchasing a train ticket if you do so by the automatic machines. I accidentally pushed the button for first class and cost myself an extra 10 pounds. At this time, that was approximately $20. Traveling first class on the train means you get a muffin (pre-packaged), a short bottled water, extra luggage space and the chance to sit relatively alone.
It was more difficult to get to the hotel. There wasn't such a thing as a shuttle and the bus, although close to the station, was difficult to understand for a newcomer. I ended up taking a pretty expensive taxi ride. I was a bit early for check-in, but this didn't faze the wonderful desk clerk. Within minutes I was in one of their lovely king rooms, unpacking, and sipping some delicious complimentary cocoa. There were also ginger biscuits (cookies)that fast became a favorite.
Having mentioned that I wanted to travel to Kendal the next morning, to do some genealogical research, the concierge knocked on my door about fifteen minutes after arriving. He had a train schedule and some local interest information for me to peruse. He chatted for a few minutes, explaining that it would be less expensive to travel after peak hours and random advice such as this. It was the warmest welcome I have had in any hotel, anywhere.
I found the deep but short tub fascinating. I could easily have drowned in there! I decided to soak away the grime of travel and was pleasantly surprised to find a selection of soaps and lotions--all of which could be purchased in the spa and salon, I found out later. Another pleasurable discovery was that the towel rack was heated. I usually like thin towels that are more absorbent, but wrapped in this big fluffy bath sheet, all warm and cozy was wonderful after an all night flight. I took a quick nap, deciding to explore the hotel grounds and have a leisurely dinner.
The corridors themselves were long and winding and led to small gardens and a courtyard. As I passed by the exit into this area, I saw a wedding in progress. It was one of three that I "crashed" over the weekend.
The corridors led to the aforementioned spa/salon and a heated pool. My one embarrassing incident was that I walked into the men's locker room by mistake. It wasn't well labeled (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). I didn't want to go for a swim, but there was an enclosed snack bar that had a window from which you could watch the swimmer while sipping a drink or munching on some crisps (chips).
For dinner, I opted for the Lounge Bar and found myself a poorly dressed guest at my second wedding. This was a jovial crowd, so I didn't feel awkward although I sat alone. They had wonderful soups and sandwiches in combinations which were unusual for an American. I chose a beef with horseradish and cucumber on a hard roll and a lovely soup. The prices were reasonable and the food was delicious. I actually ate there three or four more times during my short stay.
Their main dining room was a bit pricey but elegant. You may recall that I said that this was an old manor house? Well, they had preserved the atmosphere completely in the restaurant, Broughton's. Now this was a little awkward for a solo traveler as this was not only for guests, but s quantity of locals were fine-dining here. Reservations were required and there was a business dinner going on next to me. Not much good for a people-watcher like me as it is an intimate, rather romantic spot. I went back to the Lounge after that and enjoyed it immensely.
I must say, that given the opportunity, I would go back to this hotel in a heartbeat. Transportation difficulties notwithstanding, it was a terrific experience. I actually spent an additional day relaxing on chairs strategically placed in pretty places on the grounds and just walking around. My third wedding was held in one of the banquet rooms towards the back. They were a lovely bunch, blasting old Beatles tunes and trying to get passersby to come in and dance. Of course, the cash bar might have had a little to do with that!
They had a dinky little TV, and this was my first experience with "real" British television. There were three accessible channels and nothing interesting was on. I ended up watching "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", munching another sandwich via room service, figuring out the bus line (which stops right outside the hotel by the way). The whole visit was a wonderful experience and it gave me a chance to begin the grieving process.
Now...Preston managed. On to Kendal and an exploration of my Britisth roots.
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