Stow-on-the-Wold and Cotswold Wildlife Park

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After church last Sunday, we drove to Stow-on-the-Wold to explore and have a Sunday roast. We enjoyed the village so much that we returned on Saturday morning before visiting the nearby Cotswold Wildlife Park.

Matthew found the Stow visitor centre so we could learn where to explore.

Stow, like many English villages, has a cross in the Market Square.

This stone marks the last battle of the English Civil War  which was fought in Stow. The Parliamentarians kept their Royalist prisoners in St. Edwards Church, seen in the background.

The side door of the church was very old and small.

Lori and Matthew are outside the church gate in front of the men's store were I eventually bought a new winter coat.

 

After shopping, we enjoyed a local ice cream before Matthew tried out the medieval stocks in the market square. 

This pub claims to be England's oldest inn. 

This small but beautiful garden was along our walk back to the car park.

I have never seen red ivy before. Many of the stone buildings are covered by green vines.

On Saturday, we were able to see the inside of St. Edwards Church, named after the pious English king, Edward the Confessor. On one of our earlier London trips, we saw his tomb behind the altar at Westminster Abbey.

Our next stop was Cotswold Wildlife Park where Matthew acted as our tour guide. He had visited months earlier with his friend, Reuben.

http://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/

We rode the train around the perimeter of the park to learn the layout of the exhibits.

This bactrian camel, originally from the the Gobi desert, is now part of the local herd. 

The beautiful gardens allowed me to get some floral photography practice.

The Madagascar exhibit had double doors with a little room in between them at the  entrance.
This room was necessary to keep the lemurs inside the enclosure because they just run loose among the people.
We arrived at feeding time. 

They are kind of cute.

After eating, it was time to lounge and look at the people looking at the lemurs.

The wolves were eating too. We could tell which one was the alpha male.
The others ran away when he approached the raw meat on the ground.

Rhinos.

The train that we rode earlier passed by whilst we were approaching the giraffes.

Feeding time here, too. We could get close enough to touch them but we were not supposed to.

Giraffes smell a lot like horses.

The zebras were parading around their enclosure so everyone could take photos.

More floral photography. What kind of flower is this? Can you find the bee?

My favorite lemur photo.

We heard some roaring so we hurried to the lion exhibit. I don't believe that the noise was coming from this relaxed pair.
I think that these two lions are a couple...

...a kiss...

...and some snuggling.

The weather was perfect for this family adventure. We enjoy our time together. I am glad we live in the sunniest part of England.