London: Windsor Castle and The Eton School

Queen Victoria's statute heralds the entrance of Windsor Castle. The history of Windsor Castle includes two stages following the signing of the Magna Carta (amazes me how old England is and how NEW the US is). Elizabeth I used this castle as her primary residence. It has survived bombings of WWI and WWII and also survived a fire in 1992 which began in the private chapel. It was repaired and hosted the marriage of Charles and Camilla in 2005.

The prestigious Eton School was founded in 1440 by Henry VI. Eighteen prime ministers as well as Princes William and Harry are famous Etonians. Even Thomas More and George Orwell are graduates. The school uniform is a black tailcoat and pinstriped pants - like our formal tuxedos!

London Hampton Court

What can I say about this picturesque palace that belies the naughtiness of Henry VIII's? It was the first of the palaces and gardens I saw - near Thames Ditton where my niece resides - so it remains the grandest in my mind's eye. You can actually see the mistletoe growing as balls in the tree at the front entrance - who knew? The architecture is distinctive with its chimneys and gargoyles and statues and gates - wonderfully crafted iron gates painted gold. This was the only place (including the museum) which would not allow photos taken inside the palace. I did manage to get a photo of the art in one corner of the queen's room.

Ghosts are said to haunt the place. Guess Henry's influence permeates all eras. Henry took over the palace from Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York, and favorite of King Henry VIII, who lavishly transformed Hampton Court into a splendid work of art. Over the centuries, with various owners, the Palace grew. The red bricks bring a harmony to all the forms of architecture prevalent in the buildings. It is truly a place you can spend a full day to visit.

The gardens - oh the gardens - are masterfully sculptured pieces of art. To a gardener, it was a delightful day strolling around beauty. But, the gardens will be a separate post as I'm having difficulty widdling down photos in this post about the palace.

London

Many heartfelt thanks for your warm welcome back! Funny how the super-electronic blogging highway can seem so vast yet simultaneously provide wonderfully cheerful, friendly relationships. Mahalo.

This trip to London provided an older sister and me a continuation of our travels together, something began in 2004 when we first traveled together to Spain visiting my daughter who was studying abroad. This second grand adventure was additionally special for me because it gave me the opportunity to spend time in a fun and sisterly way with someone dear who has experienced many health issues over the past few years.

Just as Churchill orchestrated England's march of troops in the war, we diligently set out to see as much as we could in 8 days. I was the greenhorn to London; she had been there numerous times. So, calculating which tube stops and which sites were in strategic proximity to assure maximum London coverage, we were determined to 'take' London and see all we could within that time frame. And, still leave time to visit a niece, see a play (Lion King - exceptionally done), and even get to Windsor Castle and the Eton School. Oh, even squeezed in a high tea too. A fete accompli!

My observations: The city is super clean, the people are refreshingly polite (they like 'order'), the tubes are easy to get around in and are clearly marked (got a tube map that became my 'bible'). We bought a three-day pass on the tube line - not sure if it's cheaper but it's a lot more convenient. We also bought online prior to the trip a London Pass, which provided a bit of a discount but, more importantly, saved time in lines. The only downside to London is that it is so darn expensive! I mean $75 for entrance for 3 adults into Windsor Palace? The best bargain is live theatre. We paid $65 for an equivalent of 'orchestra' seats. That's about 1/2 of NYC and Boston prices.

Hint: Fortnum & Mason (near Piccadilly) for tea one afternoon at my sister's suggestion - not as exorbitantly priced as other places - many locals and businessmen there - was a refreshing respite from 'touring'.

Even spent time in Harrod's - didn't buy a thing! Caroused the ares of Mayfair, Shepherd's Market, Covent Gardens and Leicester Square. Ate at a few pubs, but truthfully I'm more a wine drinker than a beer drinker (see Gratitude Friday post). Spent time in Surrey, where a niece lives so was afforded the opportunity of somewhat 'living like a local'. It certainly gave you a perspective of a resident - more later on Thames Ditton, the area of Surrey we stayed.

I think it's best to photo essay some of the highlights of our trip in separate posts. In the meantime, a sampling of our itinerary included the palaces and gardens of Hampton (Henry the VIII's summer playground - always intriguing), Kensington, Windsor and the changing of the guard at Buckingham; Eton school, Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, British Museum, St. Pauls, and the Churchill Museum.

The grandeur of the palaces, stateliness of the statues and monuments, and the respect for a monarchy that seems a little fairytale to me certainly left an indelible mark.

Not Your Usual London

Getting my photos in order but thought I'd share with you some out-of-the-ordinary ones. The lady with the wide brimmed hat is sitting in a garden at Kensington Palace feeding the birds. Appropriately, she is in the middle of a rose garden at the previous home of Princess Diana. The balls were a piece of sculpture in downtown London near Piccadilly Square, and of course I probably don't have to note that one is the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. More this weekend, promise. London seems like a dream and only one day back to work....how goes vacations.