Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire England

This is it. And I've saved the best for last!!! This abbey is beyond anything we were expecting to see. Adam had this crazy idea to venture out of the city and off our path on the way home. Sure! Being married to a man with some adventure sure has it's perks! We drove for a while, entered dirt roads, veered off on one lane paths, and around the corner from the bridge lay this AMAZING piece of stone artwork.




Rievaulx Abbey (pronounce Ree-Voh) was the first Cistercian Abbey in Northern England and played an important role in establishing one of the wealthiest monastaries in England.





It was founded in 1132 and at one point it housed 150 monks and 500 lay brethren! They farmed sheep but only used them for bartering and selling the wool (until later dates anyway).





The monks were dedicated to privation and prayer, living their lives fully dedicated to God and away from anything worldly. It was so serene and tranquil...a truly AMAZING place. Can you see why it is one of our favorite places EVER?










Soooo....
My very last post on our trip to Scotland. I feel sad about it, I guess because posting about our adventures was so. much. fun. (for us anyway!) We have created amazing memories and can't wait to go back to visit our friends, eat yummy food, play in the best golf courses (for Adam), and show the kids a special part of the world. Oh the places you'll go....