Day 366 Part 2: The Green Dragon

From our Hobbit hole, we made our way to the Green Dragon for a proper pint of beer that is only made and served in Hobbiton. On the way, you walk over the bridge Gandalf rode his cart over and past the mill. We had a choice between a stout, amber ale, and cider.

As part of the Behind the Scenes Tour, we would be served a delicious buffet lunch and more beer. The tour guide pulled Mary aside and said she could flesh out her outfit with a vest from the wall and we were so grateful; she could finally compete with Doyle and received recognition from the fully dressed couple 😂

The lunch spread was incredible and truly felt like a shared meal between friends. There was lamb, chicken, pie, PO-TA-TOES, soup, beer, and smoked fish (as well as an Elvish salad). After lunch, we visited the workshop where employees build the props and original sketches are stored from the creative directors. We finish out the tour with sparkling wine and cheese overlooking the Shire.

As our bus drove back to the car park, they just had to play the scene in Return of the King when Sam describes the Shire to Frodo while on Mount Doom 😢 They played the music score while displaying film from the movie and then modern day videos of New Zealand in those locations. Mary of course teared up because at the end of the day, Lord of the Rings is about the horror Tolkien endured in World War I and how Frodo/Tolkien could never truly return to the Shire (the English countryside).

Doyle got one more beer before we drove 4 hours down to Palmerston for our next activities. It was a wonderful day and we thank Doyle for planning and booking it ahead of time.

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