Transportation in the United Kingdom has always amazed me – between the trains and busses one can truly have freedom to move from place to place with relative ease. Getting from London, Heathrow airport to Stroud was fairly effortless and the trains were on time and quite efficient. As the countryside whizzed past my window, I found myself marveling in the history of this country – imagining what it must have been like hundreds of years ago and the many influences that formed this country and it’s people – Romans, Normans, Celts, to name a few. It was so clear to me what a young nation the USA still is compared to most places in the world.
Arriving into Stroud was my first inkling life would be quite different from anywhere I had ever lived previously. The station was a small platform for each direction of train travel. Our first challenge was dragging several heavy suitcases up a stairway, across the walkway and down the other side – okay, that being done, We started on our way with Cindy, a friend, who met us at the station and being assured that the flat was not far we began walking through town wheeling our suitcases – and then I had my first real test.
Stroud is part of the region called the Cotswold area of England – it is well know far and wide for its amazing beauty, what I did not take into account was the contribution of the Jurrassic period of land formation to this area – hills – and a lot of them! The streets are built on slopes (some quite steep) and to get to my flat we were wheeling these large suitcases up a quite steep hill. Needless to say, since I am from Miami – flat, at sea level – this was going to be my first major hurdle! I was not going to be upstaged by the elderly people that were taking on these hills without having to stop and catch their breath! I do believe the people in the Cotswold are a different stock! This hill (which I can not avoid) has become my nemesis – and I am determined to over come!
The flat – I am living in what is known as a ‘cottage’ built around 1770 and was originally called the ‘Grange’. It is quite an amazing home and comes complete with much history. My flat is a two bedroom one up in the attic with views of the town that are spectacular!
Everything in Stroud is within walking distance and most people do not own a car. The town is quite suited to walking and the bus and train station are quite convenient. For me the bus station is simply down (thank goodness for gravity) the steep hill (recall nemesis) and across the street.
Stroud, and the majority of the Cotswold area were know for their wool (Cotswold sheep) and so there were (in the day) large mills for processing this wool and making cloth – Stroud cloth – of which this area became famous for. This area is also famous and well know for its cottage feel and the unique buildings with their limestone (yellowish to grey stone) walls and their slate roofs – and yes, their hills and slopes!
A Year in Stroud UK 