By the time this post is published, I should be on my way home from a week’s vacation in a lakeside cottage. If all has gone well, I’m nice and relaxed, having done a lot of swimming, canoeing, and reading books by Loretta Chase, Judith Ivory, Laura Kinsale and our own Diane Perkins.
Still, wouldn’t it be exciting to have a time-travel machine and travel back to some exciting or beautiful British location during the Regency? Where would you go?
Would you like to dance at Vauxhall gardens with a devilishly handsome rake?
Or would you prefer the more sedate elegance of Bath? While we’re at it I have to say when I was there I tried the water and it really wasn’t half as bad as most Regency novels make it out to be.
Are you into nature? I am. One of the things I fantasize about is experiencing the countryside without hearing the hum of traffic, gazing into a sky full of stars without modern light pollution.
In one of my favorite Regency fantasies I would be hiking around the Lake District with a companion that looked remarkably like Colin Firth.
Perhaps I’d go even farther afield and explore the beauties of Scotland.
So tell me about your fantasy Regency vacation!
Elena
LADY DEARING’S MASQUERADE, RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Best Regency Romance of 2005
www.elenagreene.com
Hey, Elena. Welcome back.
What about Brighton? Or don’t you fancy a vacation at the sea. If I could post a photo, I would.
I’m reading a Beau Brummell bio that said Brighton was really decandent, but that was a little before “our” time.
Hey, anywhere, anyplace that I can “accidentally” bump into Jane Austen would be great! 🙂
Lois
Thanks, Diane. It’s nice to be back, though what a great vacation it was! Lots of canoeing, reading, wine, good conversation and pure relaxation. And I’m feeling pumped to get writing again.
Re Brighton, I think it held onto some of its decadence into the Regency. That whole thing about not having awnings over the bathing machines and dandies spying on lady bathers with telescopes was still in vogue, I think. (I hope, actually, because the hero of SAVING LORD VERWOOD gets accused of that among other more nefarious acts.)
Elena 🙂
Speaking of drinking the water at Bath… The first time I did, it tasted just like normal water…but afterwards, I seemed to get a light-headed, uplifted feeling. (Coincidence, I expect!)
The second time, it tasted absolutely dreadful. Sulfurous, IIRC, and metallic as well. I’ve had some since, with varied impressions.
So my theory is that the taste changes! I have no idea if some of this has anything to do with the modern decontamination process it goes through….though perhaps not. But maybe 200 years ago the taste also varied? (Due to — what? Time of year? Wetness of year? Something else???)
Cara
So — where would I go???
Boring, but — London. I want to see Carlton House. I want to see Almack’s. I want to see Regency Mayfair. I want to see all those buildings that existed during the Regency, but have sinced been torn down, burned down, or bombed into rubble by Hitler.
But I guess if I really wanted a relaxing vacation… Some gorgeous stately home. With nice servants. And huge grounds. And gorgeous fountains and shubberies (bring me one!) and gardens and everything just right for my own little Darcy fantasy…
Cara