Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Weekend in Wonderland

 Rupenzel,  Rupunzel  let  down  your  hair.......... and  Rupenzel  let  down  her  hair  so that  the  handsome  Prince  could  climb  up and  rescue  her from the  wicked  witch.....
This  weekend  I  spent  the  weekend  in  Rupenzels  castle  ..............  no  really,   I spent  two nights  fulfilling  one  of  the  101  things  that   I  want  to  do  with  my  life,  number  29   was  to stay  over  in  a  Castle and sleep  in  a  four  posted  bed like  a  true  princess.
I added  this  to my  list  about  4  years  ago,  I  was  in a  doctors  waiting  room............  waiting.........  and  was  reading  a  magazine  and  it  was all about The  Castle  in  Clarens................
We  left  home  at  about  2.30pm  on  Friday  and  after  a  couple  of hours  arrived  in Clarens  in  the  middle  of  a  storm,  the  mountains  were  shrouded  with  mist..........  and  we  were  going  further  and  further  away from  civilisation.........  we  started scaring  ourselves  to  death  with  ghost  stories  why  do we  always  do that............  and then  in the  distance  was  the  castle........ and  the  fantasy  began...........
The  lounge  was  like  something  from  King  Arther  and the  Knights  of  the  round table,  the  curtains  were  from the  roof  ,  in brown   with  red  insignia,  the fire place  was  surrounded  by  enormous"
"cherubs "  who after  the  ghost  stories we  had  been  scaring ourselves with,  we  were  convinced  were  going  to  come  alive  during  the  night......

the  staircases  looked  as  though there  was  ivy  growing  up  it, ..............  again  we  were  convinced it  was  going  to   take  over the  castle  in the  night,  my youngest  daughter  wanted  to  phone  someone  who  had  signed  the  visitors   book  just  to  make  sure  that  they  had actually  survived   the  castle............

The  bedrooms  were  amazing the  colours  rich  and  opulant   our  room  was  right  on  the 2nd  floor  right  at the  top  of  the  castle,  the   walls  were  done  with  maroon  and  gold  wall  paper  the   curtains  were  all  maroon  in  a  thick shiny   material  and  the  bed  was  in  white  linen,  with  a multi  coloured  quilt..........   absolutely  beautiful.

We  spent  the  first  night  in the  Chamber  of  Angels,  we  had  a  braai,  and  although  it  was  cold  it was  it  was  so  cosy  that  we  did  not  want  to  go  inside..........

And  then  morning  you  just  have  no  idea  how  beautiful it  was  to  wake  up  with  a  240  degree   view  of the  mountains..........  you  really  do  have  to  see  it  to  comprehend  its  beauty.  From  the  bath  you soaked, comtemplating life  and looked  out  on to  the  mountains....  no  curtains........  just  view........  we  did  discover  that  you  can  see inside ........  but  would  have  to have  binoculars  or  be  really  close........    the  only  problem  was  the  plug  right  in the  middle  of  the  bath........  try  lying  down............  ouch........
We  spent  Saturday  morning  in  Clarens,  full of  artist  studio's,  little  gift  shops,  designer  clothes  shops,  not  to  mention  the  coffee  shops and  the  restaurants,   the  brewery...........  there  just  wasn't  enough  time  to  take  it  all in..........
Then  back  to  the  castle,  a  roaring  fire,  marshmallows  and  melted  Bar One  chocolate  sauce........  what  can  I  say  it  was  a  taste  of  heaven...............
No  one  wanted  to  leave  on  Sunday,  but  all fairy  tales  come  to  an  end....  and  it  was  back  to the  real  world,  with  a  promise  that   Clarens  will see us  all again..................

9 comments:

  1. What an adventurer you are..that place looks amazing and I'm sooo jealous! What a fun weekend. I can just imagine how beautiful it was from your words describing it. I love that crazy huge bed! I do love a good ghost story and the chocolate, marshmellow thing..is it like our s'mores?? (hot marshmellow over a piece of chocolate smashed between 2 graham crackers??)

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  2. Wow. I so want to go there now. I need to make this list of things to do in my life and see them get checked off one by one. Have you ever posted this list?

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  3. Hi Heather, no never posted it, I started 5 years ago and have 56 things left to do........ number one seeing the Northern lights.........

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  4. Sounds like a great time! From Mom Loop

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  5. Stopping from Mom Loop to follow. This looks like a really special place to visit.

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  6. Wow! Sounds like a blast! Stopping in from Mom Loop.
    I bet you took enough photos to fill a whole album (I would have). :)

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  7. Wowness! I shall include that one on my bucket list too.=)

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  8. It looks wonderful ! I love that part of the Free State.I think it's one of those places that are better to visit in winter...and don't forget the red wine.:)

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  9. Wow, Karen. It sounds just like a dream and your dream came true. Thanks for sharing this interesting moment in your life. JB

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