Hart & Soul

Ginnie: I was wondering if someone would notice, Ray!

Ginnie: You would be in heaven there, Sue, if you love books! And yes, there were windows all over the place, giving lots of wonderful light to the place. Thanks.

Ginnie: Thanks, Jacquelyn, and NO. That was the surprising thing about the place! It was so well-organized in an unorganized way, if that makes sense!

Ginnie: Book clutter is one of the best kinds to have, Rem. Merci.

Ginnie: Thank you, Elizabeth. It was quite the place!!!

Ginnie: You were such a trooper that day (as Astrid would say), and we owe a lot to you for being able to step foot in there. THANK YOU again!

Ginnie: You would have been in heaven there, Philine. I was just asking Astrid about such a village here in the Netherlands and she's not sure. So please let us know!

Ginnie: I know, Lisl. I wish you could have been with us that day!

Ginnie: If you love books, Fokko, you really could have spent hours there! Bedankt.

Ginnie: The day was packed to the gills, for sure, all to put our feet inside another country! It worked and it all was wonderful, thanks to Chris!

Ginnie: You raise an interesting point, Vintage: will this bookstore even exist a few years from now?

Ginnie: HA! So I just Googled and this is what I found, Sir Phillips:

"Hay-on-Wye lies on the Welsh side of the Welsh/English Border in the County of POWYS, Wales. Although as far as the Royal Mail is concerned, it is better, apparently, to use the County of HEREFORDSHIRE, not to be confused with the county of HERTFORDSHIRE; a very popular mistake ! You will notice, after browsing our Hay site, that the majority of the postal addresses are either 'via Hereford' or 'Herefordshire'. It is purely for postal reasons!"

Ginnie: HAHAHA! Good one, Elaine.

Ginnie: Have Chris take you there one day, Chad....but it was a long trip back-n-forth. Totally worth it for us!

Ginnie: You would have really liked it, Marcie. It amazed us that it didn't smell musty at all. They obviously keep it aired out...even if a bit unorganized. HA!

Ginnie: How fun, Juan Carlos, to think of this as a landscape. I love it!

Ginnie: Merci, Richard. Any book lover's dream place!

Ginnie: I had no idea there would be a discussion about exactly where this place is, Alana, or which country, so once again I have learned something here on SC. I love it. Thanks.

Ginnie: HA! How cool would that be, Mary!

Ginnie: Thanks, Sheila, and I know exactly what you mean.

Ginnie: Aha! I will definitely let Astrid know. Bedankt, Philine!

Ginnie: Thanks, Laurette. You'd have a heyday here!

Ginnie: Exactly, Chantal.

Ginnie: Thanks, Ingrid, and that's a good way of putting it!

Ginnie: I'd go back in a New York minute, Janet. I'd love to see more of Wales! Thanks.

Ginnie: And surprisingly, Martin, it didn't have a musty smell. I think they kept the windows open! Thanks.

Ginnie: Well put, Fred! Thank you kindly.

Ginnie: If I went back, Brian, I would actually try to find something! Thank you.

Ginnie: The list keeps growing, Robin, doesn't it! Thank you.

Ginnie: You definitely have a life that keeps you hopping, Margaret! And yet you still have time for all your hobbies, blogs, horses, and children. I've never seen someone busier than you, doing so much! Enjoy Washington, D.C. My g'son was just there and was telling me on Skype everything he saw with his g'pa!

Believe it or not, we didn't buy one book between us! That's almost a sin!

Ginnie: Thanks as always, Antoine. Merci.

Ginnie: If we ever go back, Cherry, I'd love to spend more time actually LOOKING at the books! I'll never forget the place...and the journey we drove to get there! Thanks.

Ginnie: You'd love this one, LC. If you like BIG, you'd be in heaven. Nothing like a bookstore in a castle...unless it's in a church, like in Maastricht.

Ginnie: Oh yes, Linda. A book lover's haven, for sure. In this day and age of e-book gadgets, it's actually a delight to see. Thank you.

Ginnie: You sure know how to make my day, Louis. Thank you kindly.

Ginnie: Thank you kindly, Roland.

Ginnie: Thanks, Graeme. And are you serious about your "old Dad's books?" I just noticed the same last name. WOW!

Ginnie: Thank you kindly, Ayush.

Ginnie: Thanks, Rian. It made us "short of eyes!"

Ginnie: That's for sure, Michael. You could live on books alone in that scenario!

Ginnie: When I think about it, Tede, it's hard to believe there could possibly be that many books! You're so right. Merci.

Ginnie: Good question about the name Slingsby on the stool, Peter. I did a quick Google and it appears to be a site for office equipment: http://www.slingsby.com/

Ginnie: Thank you, Doug. It sounds like many of us could get lost in that place!

Ginnie: That would be the ultimate virtual reality, Beverly!!! Thanks.

Ginnie: I know exactly what you mean, Rob. What will happen to all those books in the years to come???

Ginnie: They used to say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Maybe it should now be a book a day! Merci, l'Angevine.

Ginnie: Interesting, Larry. I learn something on SC almost every day!

Ginnie: It's better than cool, Paule. It's downright outrageous. Thanks.

Ginnie: HA! Well, life is often stranger than fiction, Graeme! Thanks.

Ginnie: There's always room for one more book, Geoff. J

Ginnie: Something never change, George, it seems! Thank you.

Ginnie: Thank you, Oscar. Gracias.

Ginnie: Let's hope the love of reading never dies out like a vanishing breed, Aksel! Thanks.