Considering how much time and money it costs for folk in the USA to visit the Uk ( not forgetting how hard- won any vacation time is for you folk) i just have to say thanks so so much for giving my country your time to visit us .
Oh, Tracy - I nearly cried.. this was so heart warming.. I am so glad that you had a great time. I moved from Boston to the UK 9 years ago, and am never going back! I understood the wonder and contentment that ooozed out of you... I had that when I first visited - It is why I took the leap with my (British) husband and baby to relocate. It is just so lovely! I have never looked back - I am still discovering cute and pretty corners of the UK to this day. And my 2 kids are thriving here! Safe flight back!
Thank you for your lovely comment! Our son lives in the Boston area. Compared to Texas, it is much more British! I have such wonderful friends in Texas, and we have other reasons that keep us there. But I dearly love my time in Britain. I'm always very sad to leave😢. I'm so glad to hear that your family is happy here, and that it is a great place for your children! Have you become a British citizen, or do you have "indefinite leave to remain"?
Hi Dara! It was lovely to hear Tracy reflecting on her time in the UK. She was so genuinely enthusiastic and excited. It makes us Brits feel proud. Thank you ❤❤
So nice to see you enjoyed your trip to our quirky little country. Us Brits may moan about it now and then but it's really quite a nice place to live !
@@lizbignell7813 definitely! And what I love is that Ian and I can go explore new places and bring friends with us. So we aren't "tour guides" in the usual sense where we only do the same route over and over again. For example, we finally made it to Yorkminster this summer!
Oh, this was such a special video. I am bursting with pride knowing that Tracy enjoyed our country so much. Come back again soon please! xxxxx (that's British for lots of love) xxxx
Such a heart warming video, thank you both. You’re obviously extremely close friends, more akin to being family. Thank you Tracy for coming to visit our little country. I personally got quite emotional when you both cried. Come back soon. ❤
I have many close friends who are like family, which is a wonderful blessing! 🩷 I'm glad you enjoyed our little heartfelt video! Thanks so much for sharing your lovely comment. XX Dara
So much fun hearing Tracy's reactions and opinions about her Trip of a Lifetime to Britain!! Thanks to both of you ladies for doing this video. It was so genuine and up-front -- you could really feel Tracy's enthusiasm. I hope that she and her husband can return for another visit and get to some more of the things they would like to do!! 🥰👍✈
How nice to hear some positivity from a visitor from abroad and how ironic you should be sitting in front of the Albert memorial which has been linked with negative reporting recently. Thank you for reminding me what a great country it still is .
@@ccampbell1117 I actually had no idea about all the controversy regarding the memorial! I have just always loved the grandeur of it, and the devotion that Victoria had to Albert.💖 Thanks for watching this video and taking the time to leave a comment!
Looks you had an awesome time over here. So glad you enjoyed it so much.However the thing that comes through more than anything else, is the absolute joy you have in each others company. You obviously think so much of each other and are desperate to make sure the others have the best time ever. It's truly so lovely to see
Great to hear that you had such a wonderful time here in the UK. There are so many beautiful and very varied things to see and experience all over the four countries of the UK I think it's easy for us native Brits to forget how blessed we are to live here. Safe travels back to the USA for you and your husband, Tracy.
We were chatting with Postcard And A Pint and they said to come check you out. What a uplifting first video for us to fall upon! How brilliant that Blenheim came up trumps. Accessibility is so important!
Hello! I love Rach and Wills! They are FAB! Thanks so much for stopping by. This was a good video for you to see, despite the lousy sound quality (I have wonderful new lavalier mics now)... because it was so fun to share my favorite place in the world with my best friend and hear her thoughts! 🩷 Cheers! Dara (and Ian)
So pleased your BFF Tracy had a wonderful time in the UK, I hope Tracy will come back again and explore more. I Can't help but believe you make the UK special for everyone, because you put so much positive energy and effort in to your channel and life. Loved this video.
OMG, I love Tracy as much as I love you. Could have listened for hours at this. You both are naturals in front of the camera, and make a stonking duo. Lets hope they come again as soon as next year... x
Hi Dara! It was so nice to hear Tracy reflecting on her first trip to the UK. She was so enthusiastic, it was really endearing. It made us Brits feel proud. Thanks to you both ❤❤
@@The_Brit_Girls thanks for watching! Hopefully next summer we can come visit you in Norfolk. Then, you can sit down with me somewhere and we can film a video called "first impressions of Norfolk" 😂😂😂
So glad you had a lovely time in the UK. Next time you come to the cathedral in Gloucester come up to the top of the tower (we do tours in the Summer Season) - the view is worth it.
So glad Tracey had such a great time - worth the long wait it seems! You have certainly packed a lot in! It's great to hear about places with really good accessibility - something our family has to bear in mind. The choral tradition is a big part of the Church of England- so glad you got to hear a choir in the Cathedral.
Then last Saturday we went to Brecon Cathedral to hear a Welsh Male Voice Choir with some other American friends who were visiting. I love hearing choirs in cathedrals!!
What a wonderful pair of friends. I agree that there is something to see around ever corner in England. Every street in London has a story to tell. I remember when I left a rather nice part of Dublin nest the sea and the mountains when I was 18 and went to live on the Holloway Road in London. From the green rolling hills and blue sea to grey grime. The weather was so much better and I remember writing home that we hadn’t had rain for a whole week! I saw fireworks for the first time as banned in Ireland because of ‘the troubles’. I wet a boy who showed me Al around. my youngest son read music at Magdalen college Oxford, he was a lay clerk and then cor a job as a clerk in Windsor Castle. I saw so many beautiful uniforms a and 8:19 parades next time go to Douai Abbey in Berkshire and listen to the monks my sons went to school there. There is so much I could tell you.
Wow, you do have a lot of interesting stories! And your children as well! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment! Cheers, Dara
@@MisterStuzy thank you so much for watching! I'm glad that we have this video as a record of her trip and her feelings about it. It's a great video scrapbook! 💖
Nice vlog Dara , well can safely say England has left a lasting impression on Tracy and inspired her to come back sooner rather than later , nice to see the pair of you overwhelmed with the cathedral music , have a great weekend 👍
Hi Dara Thank you for having me It is such a gorgeous location to see you two front of the land mark. Thank you for the info I had no idea what it is hahah your friend is totally into this topic as if culture shock a little... at the end, that diversity makes us enjoying travel globally. Some may disappoint you, but hey you will laugh out and a little souvenir story to tell forever. hahah Did you totally agree with your friend's emotions? You seem to have fun listening to her Well done, Bravo! You nailed it again...I am not sure if you join my kind of adventure...shark dive hahahha
@@ms.kayak7seas oh no! I might be brave enough to bicycle to Buckingham Palace, but I am not brave enough to dive with sharks! But I am happy to watch a video about you doing it! Lol Yes, Tracy and I shared the same emotions when we were having this discussion! 💖💖
My wife and I visited London for the first time last November, all the way from Australia. We both got to tick off a bucket list item each. I wanted to do a Jack the Ripper tour, and she wanted to see Phantom of the Opera in the West End, which we both did. Of course, we did all the usual attractions, too, like The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and St. Paul's.
I loved watching this video. I have seen a small number of the Magenta Otter vids before and come to realise how much you, Dara love the UK so it was delightful to see how much you had managed to show Tracy in a short time and how much she and her husband had enjoyed the experiences. It was a pity you Tracy had the problems with walking sometimes and the allergies problem in Oxford and London, I am English and 82 years of age so I've had plenty of opportunity to become familiar with these places and most of the rest of the UK but never heard of this difficulty. I do hope you Tracy and your husband and maybe the remainder of your family manage to do another trip here before too long and then to explore Scotland and Wales as well as the numerous parts of England, the North, East Anglia, the Lake District, Cornwall and Devon etc, etc
@@tonywatson7988 it was Tracy's and her husband Brett's first trip to the UK, so I didn't want to overwhelm them with too much driving from one end of Britain to the other. It was a big priority for me to show her where we live in Cheltenham and a bit of the Cotswolds. And she had been wanting to see London ever since she was a teenager, so that was a priority as well! Next time, she will venture up north I'm sure. For context, though, we had five sets of American visitors this summer. With the second set, we went to Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Northumberland, and Yorkshire! With the fourth set we went to Yorkshire again and to Kent and Sussex. And with the fifth set we went to North Wales and South Wales! 🏴🏴🏴 Thanks so much for watching, and for your support of my channel. I will be posting videos about more travel adventures in the coming weeks and months. And there will be a few spicy conversations about British culture as well! Please stay tuned ...
@@gerrymccartney3561 that is undeniable! They really helped streamline our visit in a way that we were able to maximize our days and see as much as possible. Such a treat for us!
Well done Dara and Ian, it sounds like you really looked after your friends well and gave them a fantastic trip. Yes we really do desserts well here, and our independent bakeries are fab.
Thank goodness I eat a few salads in between all of those puddings! Lol Did you see the pudding club video I did a few weeks ago with my friend Christa? That was way too many puddings! 😳😳
The last time i was where you filmed this video it was to see my late mother perform Handels messiah. My father and i were sat up 'in the gods' and above the sound deflectors. Mother sang Soprano and hearing the massed choirs of the W.I. sing the ' hallelujah chorus ' was an epiphany for a young lad of 15
What a great recap of your trip and what a great friendship ! I loved watching you all enjoying each other and the great time's you had together! Sorry about the allergies...which I think everyone has been dealing with more allergies then ever! Great video! Loved it all!
@@ItsArtByDonna thanks so much, Donna ! I went to Maui and had terrible allergies. I think whenever we go someplace that has different kinds of plants we need to be prepared for our sinuses to have a fit! 😂 Thanks for watching!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Dara when I went to Hawaii I scraped my leg on a piece of coral which lead to an allergic reaction from hell...good thing I was going home in the following two days...I wound up with a wound and allergic to antibiotics that I have taken for years...I blew up where I couldn't open my eyes for two days and then I was on so many antibiotics we didn't know which one did it to me...I had to wrap my leg from ankle to knee for about 2 months and could barely walk on it...YIKES! One little dip in the ocean...we finally figured out, I am allergic to salt water...go figure...and the coral was a mishap! But the antibiotics were the icing on the cake😁
I liked Tracy's "cathedral moment." Your experience reminded me of a similar experience many years ago in Durham Cathedral when, strolling around within the cathedral itself, sublime and relaxing organ music suddenly started to float through the atmosphere. Like you, I thought it was 'piped' but when I turned a corner, there to my astonishment was the late Jon Lord of Deep Purple, playing the organ! And as if to remind us of his association with that band, he then proceeded (with a cheeky grin on his face) to briefly interrupt the piece he was playing with the opening bars from "Smoke on the Water" before going back to the music on the sheet. Great stuff! [btw, nice to see most of it went well for Tracy and her husband's vacation in England (e.g., thinking of the allergy issue, etc)]
I absolutely adore Durham Cathedral, and that story is fantastic! What a unique and memorable moment! Have you seen my video of the cathedral? It really is the most special place 🩷
Nice to hear Tracy enthusiasm for Old England, and I hope she achieves her ambition to be a second Glasgow in Scotland 😉. I think you enjoyed the company of your Bestie too, and you loved being the hostess and tour guide
@@elizabethcutrofello2572 an added bonus to filming a video like this is that now Tracy has a video scrapbook recapping her trip and capturing her feelings in the moment! 💖
Funny you should mention the cow parsley lining the roads; it’s something that I love too. When I go down south to visit one of my sisters in Dorset, the hedges are thick with it and it looks absolutely spectacular. They have more drystone walls up here in Cheshire and Derbyshire, but they are pretty too, especially when they are covered in thick green moss, providing a background for foxgloves and other wild flowers.
Oh, Dara and Tracy, listening to your mutual accounts was like listening to two teenagers going to their first ever concert!! Such yummy fun with experiencing new places and faces. Thank you both for sharing your excursions. Dara, I'm certain that Tracy will be revisiting in 2025...at least I hope so. Would love to hear more exciting stories and adventures!! XXxx
Thanks so much! She might not make it back next year, because with four children there are always a lot of priorities! And one is going off to university next summer! But hopefully 2026...🤞
Just love you guys i am so glad you came over here to enjoy the things that we take for granted i know we shouldn’t but we unfortunately do please come back.
Wow! What a trip! First of all, I love the Albert monument! Queen Victoria is one of my favorite historical leaders and I love Albert for his love and support to her. I think Tracy is very good at describing why she likes certain things. That helps pique my interest to try certain things as well like the Garden Center and fish and chips. I do like seafood but fried foods have been hard for me the past couple of years. However, knowing that fried cod was not heavy made me so happy. I would love to try fresh cod from the British shores AND that pistachio ice cream! I’m so happy for Tracy and Brett to have such an amazing trip!
Yes, when you come to London, in addition to visiting the Churchill War rooms, we have to go to the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Albert Memorial! They are all near each other (and very close to the Hyde Park ward 😉). If you are willing to ride bicycles in London , Ian would love to take you to get that pistachio gelato! 🍨 I hope your trip to Idaho is going well!
I live in Gloucester & by chance was drawn to the cathedral the day after my father passed away. Fortunately for me the choir were practicing & it sounded like the voices were rising all the way to heaven … I’m not religious in any way, but this moment will stay with me the rest of my life. Your story at the cathedral resonated deeply ❤
Awesome vid, glad Tracy had such a great time, shows !! cool... Cheltenham is a fabulous place and Cotswold, not places the usual American tourist would get to go..sounds Luke a fabulous holiday ... not seen Les Mis or Hamilton, jealous
Les Mis is one of the best musicals EVER. Try to go see it anywhere you can if you get the chance. Hamilton is amazing if you like American history and rap music... if not, then I'd give it a miss.
So good to hear Tracy's reflections on their visit to Britain - full of enthusiasm and genuine delight! I'm delighted you all enjoyed *everything*... oh, apart from the air quality. But that's something a lot of Brits have issues with. Come back soon - we'll keep the grass cut! Thanks, Dara, for such an interesting and well-edited vlog - full of energy! Hoping you have an enjoyable European tour.
I'm so glad to hear. I love it as well! is your visit connected with Veterans Day? Are you going with other people? I enjoy taking people there for the first time, because it's fun to see the wonder and amazement in their eyes! Have a great visit.
Hello Tracy 👋 love the Albert Memorial. That was an amazing garden centre. Ive never seen Hamilton! Interesting that they change it for different areas! 15/10 for Blenheim Palace. Look forward to the pub review! Ah what a lovely trip! Great tour of the Harry Potter locations. Very daring riding bikes around London 😱 Gas Station toilets!? 😵💫 it is annoying to be forced to touch any part of the toilet after washing your hands, although we always carry sanitizer. Interesting food differences. Notting Hill is lovely. Great shot of the fish and chips! It is very polluted in some of our cities. Sounds like a great trip 👍
Being the Americanophiles you are, you definitely should go see Hamilton! But first listen to the soundtrack so you are familiar with the lyrics. It's much more enjoyable to know what's going on and be able to focus on the talented performances 😉. Literally my favourite play/musical! Sorry, I don't know why RUclips hid this comment from me for five days! 🙄
Dara. Great video, seems Tracy & her other half enjoyed the trip. There’s so much to see in England, next ask them to extend their trip and try Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If Tracy loves the theatre then given good weather you can’t beat the Minack Theatre near Porthcurno in Cornwall. I’ve not been but it’s on my bucket list. PS A trip on the Jacobite heritage steam train from Fort William to Mallaig is the Harry Potter experience, the Scot Rail option is more accessible and cheaper. Both pass over the Glenfinnan viaduct. Even non Harry Potter fans will love the experience & beauty of Scotland in a short railway trip.
On a visit to Gloucester cathedral many years ago we were lucky enough to be there when the choir was practicing for a benefit evening and they had a soprano soloist it was electrifying ❤ my grandson sings in his school choir and sings in Latin I'm always in tears ❤
Lovely vid - so glad your friend enjoyed her trip to England. When she returns next to the UK, you must introduce her to other parts of England, e.g., Cornwall, Yorkshire, Lake District (to name just a few).worth exploring. Then of course Wales and Scotland are breathtakingly beautiful and well worth a visit - (as a Scot, I would naturally recommend spending some time in Scotland 😁)
Definitely! Edinburgh and Glasgow are high on her list for next trip! Speaking of Edinburgh... we took other friends to Scotland this summer and stayed in a castle hotel near Roxburgh that was AMAZING! Pretty much the nicest hotel we've stayed at. Video forthcoming, so please stay tuned ;-) Cheers! Dara
Can’t believe you saw Lucy Worsley!!! When Tracy comes back to see Glasgow I hope you all can go to the Kelvingrove as they have an incredible organ. So glad the magic of Britain did its work 😊
Is that Lucy Worsley? I "did" Kiftsgate and Hidcote a couple of weeks ago as well, with my friend who now lives in Australia. We have often met there when she comes over to visit here family. Having lived near Gloucester for 40 years now, it is so easy to take things for granted and can be quite humbling to hear from visitors their reactions. We don't always appreciate how lucky we are. I am glad you had such a lovely time.
Thank you for commenting about my Lucy sighting! I was so excited! Yes, it was definitely her! We were cycling in front of Kensington Palace, and I noticed a person standing by herself on the pavement waiting for her cue... and there was a whole film crew on the other side of her waiting to start filming her in front of the palace. The director yelled "action" and then she turned to the camera and started speaking! It was thrilling! I'm so glad that you were able to take your friend to Kiftsgate and Hidcote. They are both spectacular locations, especially in the summer!💖💖
@@MagentaOtterTravels It's so thrilling to spot a famous face. I replied to the post about the gelati and mentioned an old job in Liberty's. David Bowie was a customer!
@@davidcoan4899 my only regret is that we can't show everyone everything! But between the five sets of visitors we had this summer, we sure made it around to a lot of different parts of Britain!❤️🇬🇧 Videos forthcoming 😉
Go North like Lancashire or York in North Yorkshire. There is in the South West Devon or Cornwall nice beaches in Cornwall. South East Portsmouth, Portchester Castle, Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings.
@@Uppey12345 we are excited to have Tracy discover more of England in the future! My friend Christa has been in several videos with me, and this summer she was able to stay with us for several weeks. We have made videos about our visits to Devon and Cornwall and Yorkshire Dales video is in the works. We have also done videos on our own of Hastings and South Devon. 🩷 Thanks for your comment! Dara
Weather in Cornwall is cloudy but it’s not cold, more like sort of cool. Even a hint of the sun’s rays piercing through the clouds, you can feel the heat.
Hiya Dara and Tracy, I'm glad Tracy and Brett enjoyed their time in England and enjoying Fish and Chips, I had fish and chips yesterday and I gave a little piece to my Dad and he said over and over this is Beautiful, next time Tracy and Brett comes you'll have to take them to where Sticky Toffee Pudding was invented, this is Choppy
Welcome back!Despite being subscribed and clicking the notification bell i received no notifications!Anyway you haven't missed much sunshine this year as you've probably already been told by us weather obsessed English.
@@davidedwards504 I'm sorry to hear that RUclips is not telling you about my videos! They only thing I can suggest is that you click the bell icon and make sure that "all" is checked. Regardless, I'm glad you were able to see this fun video with Tracy! If you watch the previous two videos with Tracy, you will see more sunny weather! She was here 10 days and I don't think it rained once! Lol #Lucky
The Albert Memorial is in Kensington Gardens, not Hyde Park. It is difficult to tell unless you know that the wider road that runs through directly from Kensington Gore/Knightsbridge Road is the dividing line God knew you were visiting the Cathedral, so he put on a show for you 🤪 I always enjoy listening to the music in Salisbury Cathedral near me. I am so happy that you all had such a wonderful time together. Please come back again to visit your friends, who are now 'part of us', you are all a joy to listen to 🙋♀️🏴🇬🇧🇺🇲🤗💖
Thanks so much! Yes I've now learnt the dividing line between Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park 😬. I actually saw Lucy Worsley doing her filming right in front of Kensington Palace! That was fun. 🤩
I hate to correct people, but I thought that you would want to know 😊 How lucky to see Lucy, I always enjoy her programmes. Take care, from Dorset 🙋♀️🇬🇧🤗
Next time you are over, check the website for Westminster Cathedral and find out when services are. The cathedral is relatively new - first stone was laid in 1895. And while fancy on the outside isn’t fully carried over inside - the ceiling is brick and dark, it is supposed to be covered in mosaic eventually. What sets the cathedral apart is that it is Roman Catholic, which means they still sing mostly Gregorian Chant and Plainsong. There is a boarding school attached to the cathedral. Gregorian/Plainsong is a medieval style of singing, Westminster cathedral choir is one of the few choirs who still sing this way, and regarded as one of the best choirs in the world. Most days there is a 'high mass' with the choir singing in the morning and a few evenings a week, they sing vespers. Vespers is more singing than high mass and can be a bit more atmospheric, but if you want really hear that medieval sound, Westminster is up there with St Paul’s in Rome - the school has actual been to Rome in the past to perform there. Don’t get confused with Westminster Abby, the Cathedral is what you want
You are both sitting in Kensington Gardens that is adjacent to Hyde Park. The road that runs between Kensington gardens and Hyde Park helps identify where you are.
It was interesting to hear your friend comment on the cleanliness of public toilets. My late mother spent her whole lifetime complaining about them. In her home city she would only use the toilets in M&S and, on finding them unsatisfactory on one occasion, summoned the manager to complain. The Albert Memorial may look spectacular nowadays but for most of the Twentieth century it looked very different, with Albert’s statue and much of the canopy being black. In the 90s when it was restored with its original gold leaf, it came as a surprise to us how magnificent it now looks.
Yes, I found Tracy's comment about the toilets amusing as well! I had another friend visit who found most of the toilets pretty yucky. She even called one a "prison toilet" 😂 I think with her we visited several public conveniences in small towns or busy tourist places. Those can be pretty gross! Tracy, however, had the luxury of visiting castles and Manor houses! Lol. Although we did stop at one petrol station and Gloucestershire that she thought was surprisingly clean!
@@Jonnie-Falafel yes, we just got back from Wales! ❤️🏴 We took the final of our FIVE sets of American visitors to North and South Wales... we showed them castles, waterfalls, Snowdonia, coastal resort towns, cathedrals, and we even attended a Welsh male voice choir concert. It was a good trip 👍. We are constantly running around visiting places, and I'm always filming. It just takes quite a while for me to catch up with all the content and eventually publish it. Not only because there's such a vast quantity, but also because editing takes a long time and I can't edit while I'm running around the countryside ... so please stay tuned.😉 thanks for watching! Cheers! Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Well I love the insanity of it all Dara and it was worth it to have such a fantastic story/memory!! That's why so many of us love your channel, the love and commitment you show the UK is on another level and we salute you for that!! 🏴🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸
@@shawnyates aw, bless you! We just got back from four days in Wales! We visited both North and South Wales. It was great fun! Thanks so much for your support! XX
Next visit to London you should watch a play and do the tour/museum at Shakespear’e Globe Theatre. It really is an expirience. Can also recomend the Swan restaurant which is part of the Globe overlooking the city and the Thames. Relly glad you enjoyed your visit.
Great video, ladies. Tracy, should you ever have the opportunity, try to coincide another visit with the Three Choirs Festival (Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford). You would love it.
Well, so nice to hear such lovely comments. HOWEVER, you were not in Hyde Park. You were in Kensington Gardens. But fear not, lots of people make the same error (like getting afternoon and high teas mixed up, London & Tower bridges mixed up and lots of other stuff!!! LOL).
@@TripsandFeasts1 definitely! I knew they were both there... I actually saw Lucy Worsley in front of Kensington Palace!... I just forgot where the dividing line was 🥺
SO refreshing to see an American tourist that visits such a wide variety of places both rural and city, a good selection of local and traditional activities/events that we British enjoy, also tasting real British food, Non-London orientated tourism and most of all not an American fast food outlet in sight. So very refreshing! If I visited America I would look for traditional home cooked fare, in smaller neighbourhoods, local cafes and independent restaurants - absolutely no fast food joints. You are my type of tourist😊❤
@@craftyclaira yes, one of my favourite parts of travelling is eating local foods! Depending on where you visited in the United States, it would be fun for you to eat the local cuisine. We are leaving on Tuesday for Belgium and the Netherlands and Germany. Even though I'm not really a chocoholic or a carnivore, I will be eating Belgian chocolate, schnitzel, wurst, and lots of local cheeses! Even before we owned a Flat in Cheltenham, I used to travel with American friends in Britain. We would always make sure to spend lots of time outside London. It is a fantastic city, but you don't really get to know Britain unless you explore rural areas as well! we took our second set of visitors this summer up to Northumberland, and it was wonderful to see how much they loved it. So few Americans make it that far north. And when they do, they are usually just going to Edinburgh without stopping anywhere in between! Lol
@MagentaOtterTravels Couldn't agree more! Enjoy Brugges, the chocolate, waffles and LOTS of European cheeses for sure! We're so lucky just a quick hop, skip and a jump over to the Continent!
Glad you guys had a good time. I recently went to the US and enjoyed it, visited New York and DC. We share a language but it's still notable how different the countries actually are.
I lived in the DC area for several years and really enjoyed my time there. I have been to New York twice, and it's always a fun place to visit. I'm glad you enjoyed them as well.
Hello Tracie depending on where your antecedents come from ,if the uk,? then it makes some sense to say you are catching up with your history ,absense ,as they say, makes the heart grow fonder ,I don't want you to see any bad parts while you are here , love to see that wide smile ,keep safe .
I grew up in the US calling it Queen Anne's lace. I always assumed that was a British name! So imagine my surprise to come here and discover that people in England called it cow parsley!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Cow parsley is sometimes confused with Queen Anne's Lace - they're not the same but they do belong to the same family of plants. Other plants in the family include carrots and parsley. Cow Parsley is actually edible but - and it's a big BUT - the plant is often confused with Poison Hemlock, another plant in the same family that looks similar only that one is deadly. Seriously it can kill you deadly. So please take care - we may not have many nasty critters in the UK but the plants may get you!
Another important note for Gloucester cathedral is that the US national anthem was created by John Stafford Smith on that organ too. A lot of Americans don't know that. So you were at the birthplace of your nations national anthem and didn't even know it.
I grow Cow Parsley in my garden , I just love that and any wild flowers. I use my sleeve to open toilet doors too, if I dont have a sleeve I use a tissue.
This has been an awful year for hayfever, presumably due to the weather. I had never had it in my life until this year! Cheltenham is also in something of a bowl, where the air in the summer can get a bit tasty.
Remember England will be your home ..always!! ...oh and you haven't seen anything yet 😂 .when Tracy returns ...Wales ..Scotland...Wil sooth her soul for ever ! X
We have had a horrible year for allergies. I don't normally suffer, but this year, I've had the itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose. Hopefully, when we get some rain it'll calm down a bit.
I would say it depends on one's limitations. My biggest limitation is that I cannot stand for long periods of time, and that gets worse as the day goes on if it's a travel day. The spaces at Tower of London are tight, but there are many places where one can sit. The audio tour was perfect for me. I have a portable stool that I used regularly. I would just sit and listen to parts of the audio tour. My husband stood in the long queue at the Crown Jewels for me, and then I joined. It would definitely be harder in a situation where it is wheelchair only. If that is the case, I would contact them to see if they somehow have different access points that are wheelchair accessible.
@@tracyglasgow5571 many thanks, I think our mobility issues are similar re standing (though I also have problems with stairs), I'll give the Tower another go. Maybe a portable stool is necessary for me as well if they don't have lots of seats, but unfortunately those fabric-camping-folding ones don't work for me, but something solid (like a shower stool) might. Really appreciate your answer... And very pleased that you seemed to have a good time in our green and pleasant island.
Having recently been to the Tower of London I'd say it's not very accessible. Most of the areas mean climbing stairs (the White tower has 204 steps alone), add cobble stones into the mix as well, it's not wheelchair or pushchair friendly! As an English person who has visited many palaces and castles over the year I'd head a little out of London on the train from Waterloo and go to Hampton court instead. The Tower of London isn't one of my favourites places at all.
@juliebennett248 thanks for the update. I've visited multiple times in the past, but not since my mobility got much worse circa 15 years ago, so I was hoping it had miraculously become more accessible (which it evidently hasn't). It's actually my favourite 'old place' in London to recommend to foreign friends who have come over (in the good old days I'd visit with them).
There are so many places still left for you to see. You’d love York and the shambles and it’s magnificent Cathedral, but we also have some very beautiful beaches that look like you’re in the Caribbean because of the colour of the sea which is so blue and white sandy beaches down in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK. Carbis bay in St Ives, Porthcurno, Kynance cove, to name but a few.
Considering how much time and money it costs for folk in the USA to visit the Uk ( not forgetting how hard- won any vacation time is for you folk) i just have to say thanks so so much for giving my country your time to visit us .
@@NathanEllisBodi thank you for your kind comment 💖
It's probably cheap now because they have crazy inflation over there.
Never been to Australia hey. It costs MINIMUM $1300 return, Perth, Australia to London. More typically $1900 to $2200.
@@danellis-jones1591 yes, that is a major investment!
That is a very measured and considerate thought
Oh, Tracy - I nearly cried.. this was so heart warming.. I am so glad that you had a great time. I moved from Boston to the UK 9 years ago, and am never going back! I understood the wonder and contentment that ooozed out of you... I had that when I first visited - It is why I took the leap with my (British) husband and baby to relocate.
It is just so lovely! I have never looked back - I am still discovering cute and pretty corners of the UK to this day. And my 2 kids are thriving here!
Safe flight back!
Thank you for your lovely comment! Our son lives in the Boston area. Compared to Texas, it is much more British! I have such wonderful friends in Texas, and we have other reasons that keep us there. But I dearly love my time in Britain. I'm always very sad to leave😢. I'm so glad to hear that your family is happy here, and that it is a great place for your children! Have you become a British citizen, or do you have "indefinite leave to remain"?
I love hearing that you your kids are thriving in the UK. That's a big relocation, but it sounds like it has been wonderful! So happy for you.
So glad to hear such a positive comment about Britain
It was lovely to hear that Tracy and her husband had such a good trip. Thank you for sharing it with us.
@@JJ-of1ir thanks for watching and leaving a lovely comment!
Hi Dara! It was lovely to hear Tracy reflecting on her time in the UK. She was so genuinely enthusiastic and excited. It makes us Brits feel proud. Thank you ❤❤
So nice to see you enjoyed your trip to our quirky little country. Us Brits may moan about it now and then but it's really quite a nice place to live !
Indeed! 🩷🇬🇧
I am so glad Tracy enjoyed her stay. It must be nice to have friends as tour guides.
@@lizbignell7813 definitely! And what I love is that Ian and I can go explore new places and bring friends with us. So we aren't "tour guides" in the usual sense where we only do the same route over and over again. For example, we finally made it to Yorkminster this summer!
It makes for a very special vacation to have friends as tour guides!
Oh, this was such a special video. I am bursting with pride knowing that Tracy enjoyed our country so much. Come back again soon please! xxxxx (that's British for lots of love) xxxx
Thanks Alison! XX
Such a heart warming video, thank you both. You’re obviously extremely close friends, more akin to being family. Thank you Tracy for coming to visit our little country. I personally got quite emotional when you both cried. Come back soon. ❤
I have many close friends who are like family, which is a wonderful blessing! 🩷 I'm glad you enjoyed our little heartfelt video! Thanks so much for sharing your lovely comment. XX Dara
So much fun hearing Tracy's reactions and opinions about her Trip of a Lifetime to Britain!! Thanks to both of you ladies for doing this video. It was so genuine and up-front -- you could really feel Tracy's enthusiasm. I hope that she and her husband can return for another visit and get to some more of the things they would like to do!! 🥰👍✈
@@bobbyxhilone9953 yes, hopefully they can come back in a couple years and go to Glasgow Scotland!
It was so nice to hear your enthusiasm about our country, particularly on a day when there are less than pleasant things in the news.
@@Lily-Bravo that is how the news seems to be most days. It's nice to have a place to escape for a minute and think happy thoughts 💖
How nice to hear some positivity from a visitor from abroad and how ironic you should be sitting in front of the Albert memorial which has been linked with negative reporting recently. Thank you for reminding me what a great country it still is .
@@ccampbell1117 I actually had no idea about all the controversy regarding the memorial! I have just always loved the grandeur of it, and the devotion that Victoria had to Albert.💖
Thanks for watching this video and taking the time to leave a comment!
I am just learning this about the Albert memorial. I was unaware.
Looks you had an awesome time over here. So glad you enjoyed it so much.However the thing that comes through more than anything else, is the absolute joy you have in each others company. You obviously think so much of each other and are desperate to make sure the others have the best time ever. It's truly so lovely to see
@@neildaniels3540 oh, that is very kind of you to say. It was lovely to be together in England... finally!
Great to hear that you had such a wonderful time here in the UK. There are so many beautiful and very varied things to see and experience all over the four countries of the UK I think it's easy for us native Brits to forget how blessed we are to live here. Safe travels back to the USA for you and your husband, Tracy.
Thanks so much for your comment! I'm excited for Tracy to see more of the UK on future visits! 🩷🙌
So much love between you two BFFs. I cried along with you in the Cathedral xx
Awww bless you! The music, the setting, the acoustics... was just perfect for that ethereal performance!
We were chatting with Postcard And A Pint and they said to come check you out. What a uplifting first video for us to fall upon!
How brilliant that Blenheim came up trumps. Accessibility is so important!
Hello! I love Rach and Wills! They are FAB! Thanks so much for stopping by. This was a good video for you to see, despite the lousy sound quality (I have wonderful new lavalier mics now)... because it was so fun to share my favorite place in the world with my best friend and hear her thoughts! 🩷
Cheers! Dara (and Ian)
@@MagentaOtterTravels 👍 we shall check in with you again on your future adventures. Travel channels stick together!
So pleased your BFF Tracy had a wonderful time in the UK, I hope Tracy will come back again and explore more. I Can't help but believe you make the UK special for everyone, because you put so much positive energy and effort in to your channel and life. Loved this video.
@@forthedisenfranchised4366 thank you so much! After talking up things for a decade, I'm glad that the reality lived up to her expectations! Phew 😅
@@MagentaOtterTravels haha. It more than lived up to it. Now we get to think about the next trip.
N'aaw this video made my heart swell, bless you all. I'm so happy she had such a good time. Great video. Put a smile on my face. 💖😊
@@CowmanUK I'm so glad to hear! That's why I make videos 💖!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment! Dara
I am relating to Tracy's reaction to the Cathedral music....choral and organ music in this kind of venue is so deeply powerful.❤
@@elizabethcutrofello2572 definitely! And when you are in a place with amazing acoustics like a cathedral, it's the best!
OMG, I love Tracy as much as I love you. Could have listened for hours at this. You both are naturals in front of the camera, and make a stonking duo.
Lets hope they come again as soon as next year... x
That's such a nice comment. Thank you!
@@topguydave awwww bless your little cotton socks! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave such a lovely comment! Dara
That was such a nice video, you were like two exited school girls, in a nice way and so enthusiastic, glad you liked the place we call home.
@@kevinwhite981 thank you 😊
That was actually quite moving when you both choked up. My eyes started filling up. Glad you enjoyed it here. All the best for the future.
Aww, bless you!🙏 thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment!
Lovely to hear about your moving trip to the cathedral in my home city of Gloucester. We love our cathedral!
@@risteardconchuir4065 it is a favourite of mine! If you watch my video about the cathedral, you can hear me gush all about it 😉
Hi Dara! It was so nice to hear Tracy reflecting on her first trip to the UK. She was so enthusiastic, it was really endearing. It made us Brits feel proud. Thanks to you both ❤❤
@@The_Brit_Girls thanks for watching! Hopefully next summer we can come visit you in Norfolk. Then, you can sit down with me somewhere and we can film a video called "first impressions of Norfolk" 😂😂😂
@@MagentaOtterTravels That would be awesome! 👍😀
@@The_Brit_Girls we must make this happen!!!
So glad you had a lovely time in the UK. Next time you come to the cathedral in Gloucester come up to the top of the tower (we do tours in the Summer Season) - the view is worth it.
So glad Tracey had such a great time - worth the long wait it seems!
You have certainly packed a lot in!
It's great to hear about places with really good accessibility - something our family has to bear in mind.
The choral tradition is a big part of the Church of England- so glad you got to hear a choir in the Cathedral.
Then last Saturday we went to Brecon Cathedral to hear a Welsh Male Voice Choir with some other American friends who were visiting. I love hearing choirs in cathedrals!!
What a wonderful pair of friends. I agree that there is something to see around ever corner in England. Every street in London has a story to tell. I remember when I left a rather nice part of Dublin nest the sea and the mountains when I was 18 and went to live on the Holloway Road in London. From the green rolling hills and blue sea to grey grime. The weather was so much better and I remember writing home that we hadn’t had rain for a whole week! I saw fireworks for the first time as banned in Ireland because of ‘the troubles’. I wet a boy who showed me Al around. my youngest son read music at Magdalen college Oxford, he was a lay clerk and then cor a job as a clerk in Windsor Castle. I saw so many beautiful uniforms a and 8:19 parades next time go to Douai Abbey in Berkshire and listen to the monks my sons went to school there. There is so much I could tell you.
Wow, you do have a lot of interesting stories! And your children as well! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to leave a comment! Cheers, Dara
You've been brilliant hosts, Dara. Great to see Tracey (and her husband) enjoyed their trip, and will return. 😊👍
Oh yes, Tracy and Brett will definitely be back! 🏴🏴
That was really touching, glad she enjoyed it ☺️
@@MisterStuzy thank you so much for watching! I'm glad that we have this video as a record of her trip and her feelings about it. It's a great video scrapbook! 💖
Nice vlog Dara , well can safely say England has left a lasting impression on Tracy and inspired her to come back sooner rather than later , nice to see the pair of you overwhelmed with the cathedral music , have a great weekend 👍
Thank you! 🙏 🩷
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed your visit here. You are always welcome to come back. There is still a vast amount to see and do.
There is so much to see and do! We can't wait to see more.
So glad You and Tracey had a smashing time exploring the UK . The cathedral part had me moved also .
Thank you! 🙏 🩷
Thank you. So pleased you like our small island! Hope Texas isn't too hot!
It's definitely too hot! 🥵
Hi Dara
Thank you for having me
It is such a gorgeous location to see you two front of the land mark. Thank you for the info I had no idea what it is
hahah your friend is totally into this topic as if culture shock a little...
at the end, that diversity makes us enjoying travel globally.
Some may disappoint you, but hey you will laugh out and a little souvenir story to tell forever. hahah
Did you totally agree with your friend's emotions? You seem to have fun listening to her
Well done, Bravo! You nailed it again...I am not sure if you join my kind of adventure...shark dive hahahha
@@ms.kayak7seas oh no! I might be brave enough to bicycle to Buckingham Palace, but I am not brave enough to dive with sharks! But I am happy to watch a video about you doing it! Lol
Yes, Tracy and I shared the same emotions when we were having this discussion! 💖💖
What a love;y summing up of your BFF's first ( and possibly not last) visit to the UK. Glad you had such a great time. 🩷🇳🇱🙋♀🥝🌺
My wife and I visited London for the first time last November, all the way from Australia. We both got to tick off a bucket list item each. I wanted to do a Jack the Ripper tour, and she wanted to see Phantom of the Opera in the West End, which we both did. Of course, we did all the usual attractions, too, like The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and St. Paul's.
@@quicksilver2510 sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm glad you got to do the things you had been wanting to do for so long!🩷
I loved watching this video. I have seen a small number of the Magenta Otter vids before and come to realise how much you, Dara love the UK so it was delightful to see how much you had managed to show Tracy in a short time and how much she and her husband had enjoyed the experiences. It was a pity you Tracy had the problems with walking sometimes and the allergies problem in Oxford and London, I am English and 82 years of age so I've had plenty of opportunity to become familiar with these places and most of the rest of the UK but never heard of this difficulty. I do hope you Tracy and your husband and maybe the remainder of your family manage to do another trip here before too long and then to explore Scotland and Wales as well as the numerous parts of England, the North, East Anglia, the Lake District, Cornwall and Devon etc, etc
@@tonywatson7988 it was Tracy's and her husband Brett's first trip to the UK, so I didn't want to overwhelm them with too much driving from one end of Britain to the other. It was a big priority for me to show her where we live in Cheltenham and a bit of the Cotswolds. And she had been wanting to see London ever since she was a teenager, so that was a priority as well! Next time, she will venture up north I'm sure. For context, though, we had five sets of American visitors this summer. With the second set, we went to Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Northumberland, and Yorkshire! With the fourth set we went to Yorkshire again and to Kent and Sussex. And with the fifth set we went to North Wales and South Wales! 🏴🏴🏴
Thanks so much for watching, and for your support of my channel. I will be posting videos about more travel adventures in the coming weeks and months. And there will be a few spicy conversations about British culture as well! Please stay tuned ...
We are definitely making Wales and Scotland a priority for the next trip. I am hearing such lovely things about both places.
Thank you for a great review Tracy. You are welcome to come back any time.
@@gerrymccartney3561 💖💖
@@MagentaOtterTravels I should have added that Tracy had the advantage of having two of the best guides in th UK.
@@gerrymccartney3561 that is undeniable! They really helped streamline our visit in a way that we were able to maximize our days and see as much as possible. Such a treat for us!
@@gerrymccartney3561 💖💖 I need to give Ian most of the credit there. He does all the driving, and most of the travel planning. He is amazing!
@@MagentaOtterTravels A gold star is hereby awarded to Ian and another one to Dara.
That was great! I love the photo of your son's next the sign... brilliant.❤😂🎉
Thank you! That's one of my favourite photos ever 💖
Well done Dara and Ian, it sounds like you really looked after your friends well and gave them a fantastic trip.
Yes we really do desserts well here, and our independent bakeries are fab.
Thank goodness I eat a few salads in between all of those puddings! Lol
Did you see the pudding club video I did a few weeks ago with my friend Christa? That was way too many puddings! 😳😳
Hello Tracy 🌹hope you had a wonderful time over here in the UK 🌹
The last time i was where you filmed this video it was to see my late mother perform Handels messiah. My father and i were sat up 'in the gods' and above the sound deflectors. Mother sang Soprano and hearing the massed choirs of the W.I. sing the ' hallelujah chorus ' was an epiphany for a young lad of 15
@@-NemoMeImpuneLacessit oh my goodness, what an amazing, cherished memory!
What a great recap of your trip and what a great friendship ! I loved watching you all enjoying each other and the great time's you had together! Sorry about the allergies...which I think everyone has been dealing with more allergies then ever! Great video! Loved it all!
@@ItsArtByDonna thanks so much, Donna ! I went to Maui and had terrible allergies. I think whenever we go someplace that has different kinds of plants we need to be prepared for our sinuses to have a fit! 😂 Thanks for watching!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Dara when I went to Hawaii I scraped my leg on a piece of coral which lead to an allergic reaction from hell...good thing I was going home in the following two days...I wound up with a wound and allergic to antibiotics that I have taken for years...I blew up where I couldn't open my eyes for two days and then I was on so many antibiotics we didn't know which one did it to me...I had to wrap my leg from ankle to knee for about 2 months and could barely walk on it...YIKES! One little dip in the ocean...we finally figured out, I am allergic to salt water...go figure...and the coral was a mishap! But the antibiotics were the icing on the cake😁
@@ItsArtByDonna oh my heavens, Donna! What a shocking and horrible story! I bet you're not anxious to go back to Hawaii!
@@MagentaOtterTravels 🤣not really! But do want to get to UK and Italy 🥰
@@ItsArtByDonna oh yes, you definitely need to visit those places! April and October are great times to visit Italy
I liked Tracy's "cathedral moment." Your experience reminded me of a similar experience many years ago in Durham Cathedral when, strolling around within the cathedral itself, sublime and relaxing organ music suddenly started to float through the atmosphere. Like you, I thought it was 'piped' but when I turned a corner, there to my astonishment was the late Jon Lord of Deep Purple, playing the organ! And as if to remind us of his association with that band, he then proceeded (with a cheeky grin on his face) to briefly interrupt the piece he was playing with the opening bars from "Smoke on the Water" before going back to the music on the sheet. Great stuff!
[btw, nice to see most of it went well for Tracy and her husband's vacation in England (e.g., thinking of the allergy issue, etc)]
Loved reading your experience in Durham Cathedral.
I absolutely adore Durham Cathedral, and that story is fantastic! What a unique and memorable moment! Have you seen my video of the cathedral? It really is the most special place 🩷
@@MagentaOtterTravels I think I may have but I'll look it out, anyway. No harm in watching it again! 😄
@@DH.2016 amen 🙏 to that! 😂
Nice to hear Tracy enthusiasm for Old England, and I hope she achieves her ambition to be a second Glasgow in Scotland 😉. I think you enjoyed the company of your Bestie too, and you loved being the hostess and tour guide
Yes indeed! Sorry for the late reply. I have no idea why RUclips hid this comment from me for five days! 🙄
This was great! I enjoyed hearing all about your visit🎉❤
@@elizabethcutrofello2572 an added bonus to filming a video like this is that now Tracy has a video scrapbook recapping her trip and capturing her feelings in the moment! 💖
So glad you're friend loves the UK 👍🏼
🤗🩷🇺🇸🇬🇧
I feel so proud of how much you enjoy(ed) England!
@@johnnygreen1376 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸
Great video! Really glad your friend enjoyed her visit.
Thank you so much!
Wonderful to hear that so many Americans are visiting London, I did a trip to New York & loved it
@@jacquelinehecht7256 when did you go? I went late in 2023, and I didn't like it as well as I had on previous visits
Funny you should mention the cow parsley lining the roads; it’s something that I love too. When I go down south to visit one of my sisters in Dorset, the hedges are thick with it and it looks absolutely spectacular.
They have more drystone walls up here in Cheshire and Derbyshire, but they are pretty too, especially when they are covered in thick green moss, providing a background for foxgloves and other wild flowers.
@@MsCheesemonster13 oh yes, I agree! I particularly love the foxgloves because of their lovely purply magenta color 🩷
Oh, Dara and Tracy, listening to your mutual accounts was like listening to two teenagers going to their first ever concert!! Such yummy fun with experiencing new places and faces. Thank you both for sharing your excursions. Dara, I'm certain that Tracy will be revisiting in 2025...at least I hope so. Would love to hear more exciting stories and adventures!! XXxx
Thanks so much! She might not make it back next year, because with four children there are always a lot of priorities! And one is going off to university next summer! But hopefully 2026...🤞
Just love you guys i am so glad you came over here to enjoy the things that we take for granted i know we shouldn’t but we unfortunately do please come back.
Thank you so much! Our flight is booked for next May 🩷.
Cheers! Dara
Wow! What a trip! First of all, I love the Albert monument! Queen Victoria is one of my favorite historical leaders and I love Albert for his love and support to her.
I think Tracy is very good at describing why she likes certain things. That helps pique my interest to try certain things as well like the Garden Center and fish and chips. I do like seafood but fried foods have been hard for me the past couple of years. However, knowing that fried cod was not heavy made me so happy. I would love to try fresh cod from the British shores AND that pistachio ice cream! I’m so happy for Tracy and Brett to have such an amazing trip!
Yes, when you come to London, in addition to visiting the Churchill War rooms, we have to go to the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Albert Memorial! They are all near each other (and very close to the Hyde Park ward 😉).
If you are willing to ride bicycles in London , Ian would love to take you to get that pistachio gelato! 🍨
I hope your trip to Idaho is going well!
@@MagentaOtterTravels you better believe I will ride bikes in London! I want the full Ian Bike Tour!
Hilary you need to try all of the pistachio things when you come.
I live in Gloucester & by chance was drawn to the cathedral the day after my father passed away. Fortunately for me the choir were practicing & it sounded like the voices were rising all the way to heaven … I’m not religious in any way, but this moment will stay with me the rest of my life. Your story at the cathedral resonated deeply ❤
@@ruudboys oh, that is a very sweet story! I'm glad that you were able to feel peace and comfort there at such a tender time in your life! 🩷
Thank you for sharing this. That is a touching story.
Awesome vid, glad Tracy had such a great time, shows !! cool... Cheltenham is a fabulous place and Cotswold, not places the usual American tourist would get to go..sounds Luke a fabulous holiday ... not seen Les Mis or Hamilton, jealous
Les Mis is one of the best musicals EVER. Try to go see it anywhere you can if you get the chance.
Hamilton is amazing if you like American history and rap music... if not, then I'd give it a miss.
So good to hear Tracy's reflections on their visit to Britain - full of enthusiasm and genuine delight! I'm delighted you all enjoyed *everything*... oh, apart from the air quality. But that's something a lot of Brits have issues with. Come back soon - we'll keep the grass cut!
Thanks, Dara, for such an interesting and well-edited vlog - full of energy! Hoping you have an enjoyable European tour.
@@RichardWells1 thanks so much, Richard!
I adore Gloucester Cathedral... been so many times and I'm going again on Monday... woohoo, can't wait.
I'm so glad to hear. I love it as well! is your visit connected with Veterans Day? Are you going with other people? I enjoy taking people there for the first time, because it's fun to see the wonder and amazement in their eyes! Have a great visit.
Hello Tracy 👋 love the Albert Memorial. That was an amazing garden centre. Ive never seen Hamilton! Interesting that they change it for different areas! 15/10 for Blenheim Palace. Look forward to the pub review! Ah what a lovely trip! Great tour of the Harry Potter locations. Very daring riding bikes around London 😱 Gas Station toilets!? 😵💫 it is annoying to be forced to touch any part of the toilet after washing your hands, although we always carry sanitizer. Interesting food differences. Notting Hill is lovely. Great shot of the fish and chips! It is very polluted in some of our cities. Sounds like a great trip 👍
Being the Americanophiles you are, you definitely should go see Hamilton! But first listen to the soundtrack so you are familiar with the lyrics. It's much more enjoyable to know what's going on and be able to focus on the talented performances 😉. Literally my favourite play/musical!
Sorry, I don't know why RUclips hid this comment from me for five days! 🙄
Howdy @Magenta Otter Travels your travel vlogs are the stuff of youtube legends.
Bless you! I really appreciate your kind support! Cheers, Dara
Dara. Great video, seems Tracy & her other half enjoyed the trip. There’s so much to see in England, next ask them to extend their trip and try Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If Tracy loves the theatre then given good weather you can’t beat the Minack Theatre near Porthcurno in Cornwall. I’ve not been but it’s on my bucket list.
PS A trip on the Jacobite heritage steam train from Fort William to Mallaig is the Harry Potter experience, the Scot Rail option is more accessible and cheaper. Both pass over the Glenfinnan viaduct. Even non Harry Potter fans will love the experience & beauty of Scotland in a short railway trip.
what a great list of suggestions. Thank you! We definitely plan on making it to Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
It's on my bucket list to attend to performance at the Minack theatre as well!
On a visit to Gloucester cathedral many years ago we were lucky enough to be there when the choir was practicing for a benefit evening and they had a soprano soloist it was electrifying ❤ my grandson sings in his school choir and sings in Latin I'm always in tears ❤
@@hellsbells145 ooooh how beautiful!😍
There was a soprano soloist at the concert we attended as well. It was divine!
Lovely vid - so glad your friend enjoyed her trip to England. When she returns next to the UK, you must introduce her to other parts of England, e.g., Cornwall, Yorkshire, Lake District (to name just a few).worth exploring. Then of course Wales and Scotland are breathtakingly beautiful and well worth a visit - (as a Scot, I would naturally recommend spending some time in Scotland 😁)
Definitely! Edinburgh and Glasgow are high on her list for next trip! Speaking of Edinburgh... we took other friends to Scotland this summer and stayed in a castle hotel near Roxburgh that was AMAZING! Pretty much the nicest hotel we've stayed at. Video forthcoming, so please stay tuned ;-) Cheers! Dara
Significant 'otter'. Love it!
Can’t believe you saw Lucy Worsley!!!
When Tracy comes back to see Glasgow I hope you all can go to the Kelvingrove as they have an incredible organ.
So glad the magic of Britain did its work 😊
@@britainonabudget THANK YOU for being as excited about Lucy as I was! 😂
And thanks for the wonderful Glasgow recommendation! XX
Is that Lucy Worsley? I "did" Kiftsgate and Hidcote a couple of weeks ago as well, with my friend who now lives in Australia. We have often met there when she comes over to visit here family. Having lived near Gloucester for 40 years now, it is so easy to take things for granted and can be quite humbling to hear from visitors their reactions. We don't always appreciate how lucky we are. I am glad you had such a lovely time.
Thank you for commenting about my Lucy sighting! I was so excited! Yes, it was definitely her! We were cycling in front of Kensington Palace, and I noticed a person standing by herself on the pavement waiting for her cue... and there was a whole film crew on the other side of her waiting to start filming her in front of the palace. The director yelled "action" and then she turned to the camera and started speaking! It was thrilling!
I'm so glad that you were able to take your friend to Kiftsgate and Hidcote. They are both spectacular locations, especially in the summer!💖💖
@@MagentaOtterTravels It's so thrilling to spot a famous face. I replied to the post about the gelati and mentioned an old job in Liberty's. David Bowie was a customer!
@@Lily-Bravo how fun!
Looks like u did a great hosting and tour guide job, your years of uk trips meant they were almost guaranteed a top experience. Well done
@@davidcoan4899 my only regret is that we can't show everyone everything! But between the five sets of visitors we had this summer, we sure made it around to a lot of different parts of Britain!❤️🇬🇧 Videos forthcoming 😉
Go North like Lancashire or York in North Yorkshire. There is in the South West Devon or Cornwall nice beaches in Cornwall. South East Portsmouth, Portchester Castle, Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings.
@@Uppey12345 we are excited to have Tracy discover more of England in the future! My friend Christa has been in several videos with me, and this summer she was able to stay with us for several weeks. We have made videos about our visits to Devon and Cornwall and Yorkshire Dales video is in the works. We have also done videos on our own of Hastings and South Devon. 🩷
Thanks for your comment! Dara
Weather in Cornwall is cloudy but it’s not cold, more like sort of cool. Even a hint of the sun’s rays piercing through the clouds, you can feel the heat.
@@155stw enjoy your time there! And wear your sunscreen😎
Hiya Dara and Tracy, I'm glad Tracy and Brett enjoyed their time in England and enjoying Fish and Chips, I had fish and chips yesterday and I gave a little piece to my Dad and he said over and over this is Beautiful, next time Tracy and Brett comes you'll have to take them to where Sticky Toffee Pudding was invented, this is Choppy
Yes! I want to visit the birthplace of STP! Just didn't have time on our trip this summer...
Lovely to watch 👍 got to get fish n chips guys so glad you enjoyed visiting us here
Tracy definitely needs more fish and chips!
Welcome back!Despite being subscribed and clicking the notification bell i received no notifications!Anyway you haven't missed much sunshine this year as you've probably already been told by us weather obsessed English.
@@davidedwards504 I'm sorry to hear that RUclips is not telling you about my videos! They only thing I can suggest is that you click the bell icon and make sure that "all" is checked. Regardless, I'm glad you were able to see this fun video with Tracy! If you watch the previous two videos with Tracy, you will see more sunny weather! She was here 10 days and I don't think it rained once! Lol #Lucky
Lovely people, they had me tearing up at one point!!
Aww, thanks so much for watching our video and taking the time to leave a comment 🩷. Cheers! Dara
The Albert Memorial is in Kensington Gardens, not Hyde Park.
It is difficult to tell unless you know that the wider road that runs through directly from Kensington Gore/Knightsbridge Road is the dividing line
God knew you were visiting the Cathedral, so he put on a show for you 🤪 I always enjoy listening to the music in Salisbury Cathedral near me.
I am so happy that you all had such a wonderful time together.
Please come back again to visit your friends, who are now 'part of us', you are all a joy to listen to
🙋♀️🏴🇬🇧🇺🇲🤗💖
Thanks so much! Yes I've now learnt the dividing line between Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park 😬. I actually saw Lucy Worsley doing her filming right in front of Kensington Palace! That was fun. 🤩
I hate to correct people, but I thought that you would want to know 😊 How lucky to see Lucy, I always enjoy her programmes.
Take care, from Dorset 🙋♀️🇬🇧🤗
@@JenniferRussell-qw2co thanks very much for watching and taking the time to comment! I look forward to properly exploring Dorset one day!🩷
💖
Sounds like a stellar holiday. I'm jealous.
Love that you've had a great time all together.
@@collywobbles1163 it was a great trip 🩷
So glad you enjoyed our country. Haste ye back.
Next time you are over, check the website for Westminster Cathedral and find out when services are. The cathedral is relatively new - first stone was laid in 1895. And while fancy on the outside isn’t fully carried over inside - the ceiling is brick and dark, it is supposed to be covered in mosaic eventually.
What sets the cathedral apart is that it is Roman Catholic, which means they still sing mostly Gregorian Chant and Plainsong. There is a boarding school attached to the cathedral. Gregorian/Plainsong is a medieval style of singing, Westminster cathedral choir is one of the few choirs who still sing this way, and regarded as one of the best choirs in the world. Most days there is a 'high mass' with the choir singing in the morning and a few evenings a week, they sing vespers. Vespers is more singing than high mass and can be a bit more atmospheric, but if you want really hear that medieval sound, Westminster is up there with St Paul’s in Rome - the school has actual been to Rome in the past to perform there. Don’t get confused with Westminster Abby, the Cathedral is what you want
That sounds wonderful! I would love to experience that! Thanks for the suggestion.
You are both sitting in Kensington Gardens that is adjacent to Hyde Park. The road that runs between Kensington gardens and Hyde Park helps identify where you are.
@@keithgrant351 yes, sorry about that!
It was interesting to hear your friend comment on the cleanliness of public toilets. My late mother spent her whole lifetime complaining about them. In her home city she would only use the toilets in M&S and, on finding them unsatisfactory on one occasion, summoned the manager to complain.
The Albert Memorial may look spectacular nowadays but for most of the Twentieth century it looked very different, with Albert’s statue and much of the canopy being black. In the 90s when it was restored with its original gold leaf, it came as a surprise to us how magnificent it now looks.
Yes, I found Tracy's comment about the toilets amusing as well! I had another friend visit who found most of the toilets pretty yucky. She even called one a "prison toilet" 😂 I think with her we visited several public conveniences in small towns or busy tourist places. Those can be pretty gross! Tracy, however, had the luxury of visiting castles and Manor houses! Lol. Although we did stop at one petrol station and Gloucestershire that she thought was surprisingly clean!
Next time take Tracy out into rural & coastal Wales. Another country, another language, beautiful scenery.
@@Jonnie-Falafel yes, we just got back from Wales! ❤️🏴 We took the final of our FIVE sets of American visitors to North and South Wales... we showed them castles, waterfalls, Snowdonia, coastal resort towns, cathedrals, and we even attended a Welsh male voice choir concert. It was a good trip 👍. We are constantly running around visiting places, and I'm always filming. It just takes quite a while for me to catch up with all the content and eventually publish it. Not only because there's such a vast quantity, but also because editing takes a long time and I can't edit while I'm running around the countryside ... so please stay tuned.😉 thanks for watching! Cheers! Dara
I adore the Weston upon Trent photograph with your sons, I never knew that story and thought it was awesome!! ❤
LOL, thanks so much! Yes, that is an insane level of commitment to give birth to 2 sons and wait 12 years to get that amazing photo!!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Well I love the insanity of it all Dara and it was worth it to have such a fantastic story/memory!! That's why so many of us love your channel, the love and commitment you show the UK is on another level and we salute you for that!! 🏴🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸
@@shawnyates aw, bless you! We just got back from four days in Wales! We visited both North and South Wales. It was great fun!
Thanks so much for your support! XX
Imagine calling your daughter Texas ?
We’ve visited Treaddur and Tyddewi so far this year…and Ynyslas….
Next visit to London you should watch a play and do the tour/museum at Shakespear’e Globe Theatre. It really is an expirience. Can also recomend the Swan restaurant which is part of the Globe overlooking the city and the Thames. Relly glad you enjoyed your visit.
I have heard really great things about that Theatre! I would love to go there next time. Thanks for the recommendation.
Great video, ladies. Tracy, should you ever have the opportunity, try to coincide another visit with the Three Choirs Festival (Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford). You would love it.
Thank you for the idea! I'll add it to my notes for the future. Sounds amazing.
Well, so nice to hear such lovely comments. HOWEVER, you were not in Hyde Park. You were in Kensington Gardens. But fear not, lots of people make the same error (like getting afternoon and high teas mixed up, London & Tower bridges mixed up and lots of other stuff!!! LOL).
@@TripsandFeasts1 definitely! I knew they were both there... I actually saw Lucy Worsley in front of Kensington Palace!... I just forgot where the dividing line was 🥺
SO refreshing to see an American tourist that visits such a wide variety of places both rural and city,
a good selection of local and traditional activities/events that we British enjoy, also tasting real British food, Non-London orientated tourism and most of all not an American fast food outlet in sight. So very refreshing! If I visited America I would look for traditional home cooked fare, in smaller neighbourhoods, local cafes and independent restaurants - absolutely no fast food joints. You are my type of tourist😊❤
@@craftyclaira yes, one of my favourite parts of travelling is eating local foods! Depending on where you visited in the United States, it would be fun for you to eat the local cuisine. We are leaving on Tuesday for Belgium and the Netherlands and Germany. Even though I'm not really a chocoholic or a carnivore, I will be eating Belgian chocolate, schnitzel, wurst, and lots of local cheeses!
Even before we owned a Flat in Cheltenham, I used to travel with American friends in Britain. We would always make sure to spend lots of time outside London. It is a fantastic city, but you don't really get to know Britain unless you explore rural areas as well! we took our second set of visitors this summer up to Northumberland, and it was wonderful to see how much they loved it. So few Americans make it that far north. And when they do, they are usually just going to Edinburgh without stopping anywhere in between! Lol
@MagentaOtterTravels Couldn't agree more! Enjoy Brugges, the chocolate, waffles and LOTS of European cheeses for sure! We're so lucky just a quick hop, skip and a jump over to the Continent!
Glad you guys had a good time. I recently went to the US and enjoyed it, visited New York and DC. We share a language but it's still notable how different the countries actually are.
Definitely! Glad you enjoyed your visit. 🇺🇸🇬🇧
I lived in the DC area for several years and really enjoyed my time there. I have been to New York twice, and it's always a fun place to visit. I'm glad you enjoyed them as well.
Hello Tracie depending on where your antecedents come from ,if the uk,? then it makes some sense to say you are catching up with your history ,absense ,as they say, makes the heart grow fonder ,I don't want you to see any bad parts while you are here , love to see that wide smile ,keep safe .
Yes, I think Tracy was getting in touch with her British roots, and on the next visit we will go to Glasgow, since that is Brett and Tracy's surname!
The musical performance in Gloucester Cathedral was Matthew Coleridge's Requiem.
So beautiful! And a great experience to see him direct the choir singing it!
Such a nice happy video and so glad she enjoyed it! You will have such fun showing her the things you have discoverd.
@@johnadey9464 yes, I do enjoy sharing my favourite things with my friends!
Cow parsley is also known as Queen Anne's lace and has a heavenly scent.
I grew up in the US calling it Queen Anne's lace. I always assumed that was a British name! So imagine my surprise to come here and discover that people in England called it cow parsley!
Yarrow which is often found in meadows and verges, from a distance could be mistaken for Cow Parsley, the flower shape is very similar.
@@Nick_r so what is cow parsley? And is it the same thing that Americans call Queen Anne's lace?
@@MagentaOtterTravels Cow parsley is sometimes confused with Queen Anne's Lace - they're not the same but they do belong to the same family of plants. Other plants in the family include carrots and parsley. Cow Parsley is actually edible but - and it's a big BUT - the plant is often confused with Poison Hemlock, another plant in the same family that looks similar only that one is deadly. Seriously it can kill you deadly. So please take care - we may not have many nasty critters in the UK but the plants may get you!
@@carolineb3527 I will be careful to not eat any roadside clippings! Or to nibble on any yew trees in the churchyards!
Another important note for Gloucester cathedral is that the US national anthem was created by John Stafford Smith on that organ too. A lot of Americans don't know that. So you were at the birthplace of your nations national anthem and didn't even know it.
Very similar to our National Anthem.
Yes, we discussed that fun fact in the cathedral... in front of the plaque and the American flag ;-)
her spoken English is amazingly well already 🎉
lol 😂
I grow Cow Parsley in my garden , I just love that and any wild flowers.
I use my sleeve to open toilet doors too, if I dont have a sleeve I use a tissue.
Cow parsley also has the much prettier name of Queen Anne's Lace.
@@missharry5727 much nicer name
Much more British sounding! Lol
This has been an awful year for hayfever, presumably due to the weather. I had never had it in my life until this year! Cheltenham is also in something of a bowl, where the air in the summer can get a bit tasty.
I guess I'm lucky that I haven't had terrible hayfever this summer!
Remember England will be your home ..always!! ...oh and you haven't seen anything yet 😂 .when Tracy returns ...Wales ..Scotland...Wil sooth her soul for ever ! X
Don't forget our beautiful Cornwall! ❤❤
We have had a horrible year for allergies. I don't normally suffer, but this year, I've had the itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose. Hopefully, when we get some rain it'll calm down a bit.
👍
Quick question if I may... how did you find the Tower of London on an accessibility/mobility basis?
I would say it depends on one's limitations. My biggest limitation is that I cannot stand for long periods of time, and that gets worse as the day goes on if it's a travel day. The spaces at Tower of London are tight, but there are many places where one can sit. The audio tour was perfect for me. I have a portable stool that I used regularly. I would just sit and listen to parts of the audio tour. My husband stood in the long queue at the Crown Jewels for me, and then I joined. It would definitely be harder in a situation where it is wheelchair only. If that is the case, I would contact them to see if they somehow have different access points that are wheelchair accessible.
@@tracyglasgow5571 many thanks, I think our mobility issues are similar re standing (though I also have problems with stairs), I'll give the Tower another go.
Maybe a portable stool is necessary for me as well if they don't have lots of seats, but unfortunately those fabric-camping-folding ones don't work for me, but something solid (like a shower stool) might.
Really appreciate your answer... And very pleased that you seemed to have a good time in our green and pleasant island.
Having recently been to the Tower of London I'd say it's not very accessible. Most of the areas mean climbing stairs (the White tower has 204 steps alone), add cobble stones into the mix as well, it's not wheelchair or pushchair friendly! As an English person who has visited many palaces and castles over the year I'd head a little out of London on the train from Waterloo and go to Hampton court instead. The Tower of London isn't one of my favourites places at all.
@juliebennett248 thanks for the update. I've visited multiple times in the past, but not since my mobility got much worse circa 15 years ago, so I was hoping it had miraculously become more accessible (which it evidently hasn't).
It's actually my favourite 'old place' in London to recommend to foreign friends who have come over (in the good old days I'd visit with them).
There are so many places still left for you to see. You’d love York and the shambles and it’s magnificent Cathedral, but we also have some very beautiful beaches that look like you’re in the Caribbean because of the colour of the sea which is so blue and white sandy beaches down in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK. Carbis bay in St Ives, Porthcurno, Kynance cove, to name but a few.
Yes, so many places yet to explore for dear Tracy!
Go to Cornwall, stunning