Day 4. Warwick Castle

Jarett and Neta woke up at Nicole's Bicester Bed & Breakfast, and feasted upon the BEST biscuits and gravy we've ever had, complimented with a refreshing mimosa. When we bought the champagne for the mimosa, our conversation went a little like this:
     Jarett:  "Hmm, is this one okay? It says that it's extra dry. Should we get this one?"
     Neta:   "Well, I guess. It's going to be mixed with orange juice. It should be pretty wet."
The guy behind us chuckled.

This is what Jarett entertained us with this morning...

After breakfast, we headed to Warwick, pronounced WORR-ik, (thanks Kekoa!;) Castle and bathed in the splendor of medieval goodness. The castle was developed from an original built by William the Conqueror in 1068, and had lovely bits, and not so lovely bits. Most of the living quarters were modern (late 1800s), while the other creepy parts remained. We visited the dungeon where prisoners were kept, and it was just like the movies! Dark, dank, mildewy, cramped and creepy! It was interesting to see a small hole in the stone floor with a grate over it, where prisoners were thrown and kept for years to be punished. (Like the M16 hole in Scandal, but 10x smaller!)

We were lucky enough to be there at the same time as one million English school children. Neta was whacked by a little girl's swinging backpack, but how could she be mad when the girl looked up with such an innocent face, shocked to see her first Samoan, and apologized in a tiny English accent? hehe. As we were walking through the gates, two young school boys in uniform were laughing and walking like sumo wrestlers.
     "Why are you walking like that?" another boy asked.
     Laughing, the boy responded, "I've got poo in my pants!"
     As they walked by the 3 NiNJas, Neta asked in her finest English accent, "Do you need a tissue?"
The boys looked confused and laughed as they walked away. Ah, to be young again.
After watching an 18 lb. Sea Eagle attempt to fly, an African Buzzard walk like a dog, yummy fresh donuts, peacocks with missing tail feathers, and taking too many pictures, we headed to Merchants for a late lunch.

We kicked off our late lunch by ordering a pint of Stratford 4 and a pint of Cider, and started with appetizers of whitebait and black pudding with greens.

   The whitebait (left) was a delicious little fish, kind of like o'ama, but more delicate. They cook these little guys whole and served them with a cajun aioli and bread. 

The black pudding (right) was boudin's less flamboyant cousin, and was soft with little flavor--needless to say, it didn't taste like dinugaun! 

 

The bangers & mash stole the show, Jarett & Neta both ordered the pork/leek bangers and thought it was sent from heaven. At this point, they both began to believe Nicole when she told them that the alcohol content of most beers in England have a high alcohol content.