The English countryside is where it’s at.
The origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant, the supposed giant fertility symbol drawn on a hillside, is apparently up for debate, but it was enticing enough for us to make the drive to the sleepy village.
Besides taking a short hike around the Giant’s “willy,” we had a pleasant afternoon that included a stroll through an old cemetery, a peek at the crumbling abbey and lunch at a very old pub. According to a sign hanging proudly above the entrance, The Royal Oak was built in 1540.
At this very old pub, I had my first ploughman’s lunch: a traditional English cold meal consisting of bread, cheese, butter, celery, apple slices, ham, a boiled egg, pickled onions and chutney. Call me uncultured, but I never realized cheese and apples go so well together. Also, couldn’t we just call this a fancy ham sandwich separated into its individual pieces? Regardless, I’m a fan.
All in all, it was a very lovely, English day.
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