Europe Adventure: Day Four- Part Three- Jane Austen's Home in Chawton

After leaving Winchester we drove about a half an hour to the small town of Chawton. 

It was a lovely little town. 

It took us a few minutes to figure out where to park. 

There was a small parking lot right across the street from her house but it was full and parking on the street was pretty full too (and a lot of it was reserved for people living there).

But we did find a spot on the road down the street. 

It was a bit rainy but beautiful!

This is looking down the road toward her home as we walked from the car...

I have an obsession with thatched cottages. I LOVE them. 

So I had to take a picture of one of them that we passed. 

So freaking cute. 

At Jane Austen's house you enter through the gift shop where you buy your tickets. 

Then you go way in back to watch a little video. I took this shot of the back of the house from the area by the gift shop.

Looking over to the garden area...

As we were walking through the garden area I noticed some people trying to pet a cat but it kept running away from them. I told my mom I bet I can get that cat to come to me. 

I walked about halfway to it, put out my hand, and said, "here kitty".

It came right over. 

Apparently the cat's name is Marmite. 

Such a cutie. I have such a fondness for black and white cats after this trip because I kept running into them everywhere. 

Jane's House:

This was Jane Austen's last home. 

She lived here with her mother and her sister Cassandra from 1809 until 1817. 

It was here that she revised Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Northanger Abbey and where she wrote Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion.

We entered through the door on the right and then got to explore her house. 

It was beautiful and so cool to be there. 

My favorite thing was being able to see her writing desk.

There were flowers in all of the windows.

Her room was so pretty.

If you heard about the ring that Kelly Clarkson bought a few years ago that was bought back to keep it in England, the ring was at her home.

So pretty....

So glad to be able to take my mom to her favorite author's home...

When we left the house we entered the door on the left where there were activities that you could do. We didn't do much of it but we did try on the bonnets. 

I quite liked it!

Such a fun place to visit.

After visiting her home, we were hungry and ready for lunch.
We walked across the street to the little cafe, Cassandra's Cup.
It has the perfect location.

I loved the way this place was decorated. There were tea cups hanging everywhere and polka dot tablecloths. So cute. 

And the view of Jane Austen's house was fantastic.

My mom got a sandwich with chips and diet coke. 

I got an omelette that came with toast and a bit of salad with a diet coke. 

It was delicious!

I heard that Victoria Sponge Cake was something I should try so we ordered a slice to share when we saw that it was one of their available cakes. 

I forgot to take a picture of it before so I got one during our destruction of the cake. 

This was so good it became my favorite treat of our whole trip. 

I don't know if everyone will feel that way but I loved it. 

After eating lunch we needed to get going to our destination for the night. 

We really enjoyed our time in Chawton.

I got a few souvenirs at the gift shop at Jane Austen's home. I bought Lady Susan and Other Works because I have heard so much about Lady Susan and have really wanted to read it. I also bought Northanger Abbey as I haven't read it yet. I bought the bookmark of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett but then the other bookmarks and cards were given to us free. 

Next up: Canterbury