Finally, the Forest Side

May 26, 2018

We’ve just come in from the best meal either of us has ever eaten. Our travel agent booked our dinner reservation when she booked the hotel months ago. We are at The Forest Side Hotel which is a converted manor house in Grasmere in the Lake District. They have a Michelin star and are booked months in advance. We had very high expectations and it exceeded all of them. “Exceeded expectations” has been the theme of our trip, but tonight took the prize.  

The service team was like dancers In an elaborate stage production. Everyone played their role perfectly. They brought you the menu ahead of time. You could choose between a ten course, a six-course, and a three-course meal. We chose the three which was good because there were extras throughout. I can’t imagine having tried to tackle the ten-course meal. It was spectacular. 

This is the most beautiful hotel we’ve ever stayed in. I want to take pictures of the wallpaper and the fabrics.  

The Lake country is beautiful. We drove through one town that was obviously the Gatlinburg of England but then got to the quaint, quiet, beautiful part. I’m fascinated by the rock walls built high up on steep hills that have obviously been there for generations. I guess those are sheep pastures, but they must have been a bear to build. 

Tomorrow we do lots of touring and will take more photos. Today was a travel day highlighted by our little friends on the packed train ride. They were the perfect distraction because we got separated in the crowd trying to load the train. Evans had both big bags and the handle on mine broke leaving half stuck up. He was not best pleased when he finally managed to drag that monstrosity onto the train that was literally stacked with people. Happily, you can’t stay cross when you have entertaining 3, 4, and 6-year-olds sitting across from you. So famous people, cute kids, and amazing food is what we will remember from today.