Aloha Everyone,
J.J. and I have stayed in at least a couple of dozen B&B's in Europe. Castlebank Hotel* is definitely among the best of the best.
(*Not to be confused with Castle Hotel located within the walled city.)
The owners, Henrik and Jo have been running their B&B for 15 years. Youthful, warm and enthusiastic, Henrik’s outgoing personality makes every guest feel special and welcome. Originally from Portugal, his love of humanity comes through in every little gesture. A self-taught photographer, many of Henrik’s work decorate the walls of the hotel.
Henrik and Jo have a 10 years old daughter and we were told that this is the last week of school before the summer break. Thus Jo was busy with their daughter and we saw very little of her. This morning, Jo kindly joined Henrik for a photograph before she took their daughter to school.
Compared to guests in regular hotels, those who stay in B&B tend to be much more outgoing and curious about the world we live in. We met Viv and Brian one morning during breakfast.
What a joy to make their acquaintance while we enjoyed a delicious and hearty Welsh breakfast!
Viv, a gracious lady, was curious about J.J. and my lifestyle and we in turn learned about her interesting life experiences. It was truly a chance encounter as the two of them live in a town about 1 1/2 hours drive.
Today the 2 of us took three train rides that lasted nearly 5 hours to Windermere, in the Lake District in northwest England. This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and we will have many interesting experiences to share in the coming days.
Aloha -- Cathi
