Quote Originally Posted by Blu (Ontario)
Things in N.America are so young by comparision. I suppose if one is always surrounded by history, you get used to it!
Whilst we greatly appreciate the beauty of our older buildings, Blu, I think what you suggest is probably, to some extent, true. Most of our village churches and city cathedrals date from the 12th and 13th Centuries and they are always worth stopping off for a few minutes to see. I often visit our 12th Century village church (two miles from the village and set in a farm-yard!) for quiet contemplation and reflection. All one can hear is the distant bleating of the Southdown hill-sheep and the calling of the Peacocks in the gardens of the nearby Manor House! There is certainly a special sense not only of history but also of spirituality in such buildings, which modern churches so sadly lack. Fortunately, the latter only seem to exist in town and cities, far from where I live, where they often replace the Victorian churches now converted into trendy eateries and Wine Bars!

There is a very pretty half-timbered, thatched cottage just a few hundred yards from my home. I believe it dates from about 1540, but we all pass it by without giving a second glance. So, yes, we do take many of these beautiful, old buildings around us for granted when going about our daily business.