Saturday, May 29, 2010

Bath or Bust

Monday we went on a wild ride to the city of Bath in England. This is where the Roman Baths are that are made from the natural spring and still flow hot and steamy today. This place was also were Jane Austin lived and wrote several of her books. We had a great time, wish we had a little more time there the shopping was great and the town was beautiful. It only rained off and on during the day, only lost one side view mirror heading out of town and I of course got bad stomach issues when we were heading home.
 The Abby in town.
Side view of the Roman Baths
Front
Top view, it was a bank holiday so things closed early this day and it took us longer to drive out there than we though (that was the theme for the whole trip) so we did not get to go inside the baths. Hopefully mom and dad can go back out and check it out.
A little street entertainment
On the double decker bus tour.
one of the first cottages built there
Random head and bird hanging out on top of the building
Entrance to the Jane Austin museum, they have a festival in September that everyone who attends dresses up. 

Exploring England Sunday Style

Sunday we went to church so mom and dad could show us off to their friends :) This was us walking to the train station 2 trains and about 45 min later we were walking some more to the church. Gotta hand it to mom and dad I think if it was raining/snowing I would say maybe next week.
A view of the street heading to the church, could not help but start singing, Chim Chiminey chim chim cher-ee while holding my umbrella! Mary Poppins songs sprung in my head quite often looking at the scenery.
After church we went on an adventure in the rental cars to Richmond Park about 20 min outside of Kingston. Cherlyn was a brave soul for driving in the crazy streets of England. People drive crazier than New Yorkers and the roads are full of round abouts .
A super cuter cottage in the middle of the park.
Ah such a cute niece I have, Marissa.It was fun having her on the trip with us.
These deer were everywhere it was a hunters paradise. This park was a Kings at one point that he had to keep the deer in so that he could hunt them with his friends.
This was inside the park a gorgeous place to walk amongst the flowers and trees. 
Mom and Dad have become Monks since living in England.
Once again amazing but so much better in person.
Ah Purple so Pretty!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Cheri'O London

Saturday we did not get as early of a start as we should have to tour London, but we had fun and saw a ton anyways. 2 trains and about 30min we were in London.
Something historic along our double decker bus tour around the city. I will have to go back and look this one up.
 These were everywhere in the park across from Buckingham Palace. So fun you can just sit and enjoy the sunshine and the beauty of the park.
Buckingham Palace we got there just in time to see the Changing of the Guards. I pushed my way to the front to get pictures of course the family made fun of me, but it was pretty cool to see and they will want my pictures.
 These guys would walk to the fences turn around walk back and repeat several times then meet other guards and do some sword changing thing. So many little details and as a spectator you have no idea why they are doing these things.
Same thing lots of walking back and forth.
After the ceremony they walk the streets and head back to the guard house.
The front of the Palace. So glad we were there when tourists season just started could not imagine being in London at the peak of tourists it was crowded enough.
Super Nanny
Notice the gates to the park behind me almost all the entrances are with gold, very detailed and amazing to see.
Ah the sisters.
The statues, buildings, artwork, scenery is all so amazing. The beauty of everywhere we went was so unreal and hard to capture on camera. We tried so many different ways to capture things and always felt that it does not look the same as in person.
Spring tulips were out everywhere, we just missed all the daffodils.
I had never seen so many different colored tulips before and so tall.
These signs in the street are quite helpful since for the tourist. Since you drive on the opposite side you have to change the way you look. Melinda and Mom almost got ran over not paying attention to this sign.
School next to the Westminster Abby
The Westminster Abby we took a tour, it is beautiful inside there are a lot of dead saints in this church.
The Parliament, there was some crazy police action going on there. We think maybe a bomb or something they had police (Bobbi's) everywhere and dogs going crazy.
Big Ben, pretty but not as big as you would think.
Where the London Bridge that is now in Havasu, AZ used to be. This one is much prettier.
Tower of London from the outside
A church in the Tower of London. There was a wedding there that day it was so neat they brought the bride in a white taxi and she had a little white top hat on the side of her head with the vail coming down. ALways fun to see weddings.
More changing of the guards. The poor guards in the booths just walk back and forth swinging one arm all day.
A little history museum about knights and there armor. This armor was made for a King that thought very highly of his man parts. Somehow I think his "johnson" is not like this in battle. haha.
Other side of the Tower of London, there is a lot of history here. The Queens jewels are here and all the artifacts they use during different ceremonies. There was also lots of killings done her in the Bloody tower, interesting place to go.
And the rain came.....we were all pretty wet by the time we made it to the bus. We were lucky and glad it rained at the end of our day.