Happy Independence Day America!

July 4th (sorry for the format, I was very tired)

All I can say is wow, Winsor Castle is truly a castle to marvel at and the items inside are priceless.  It is hard to even wrap your mind around how big this house is.  Then there is all of the fancy, beautiful artwork, furniture, dollhouse, and more.  I was very glad that we were able to go with my aunt uncle and cousins.  It was fun. 

Jet lag was a bit more noticeable this morning but we had to get up to meet Doug, Janet, the girls, and Emily at the Waterloo train station to go out to Winsor and Eaton.  Em met us at the train station, Doug bought tickets, we had a wonderful muffin, and it was too hot to have coffee so far this trip.

The train ride out went quickly and looked like Missouri if you can get past the hundred year old houses.  After about 50 minutes we were there and walked up the hill to the magnificent castle that was glowing on top of the hill.  Once inside we had our audio tour guide but first met a live tour guide who walked us around the grounds and gave us history.  Next we went to the staterooms with the audio tour and learned about the significance of each room.  There were artifacts, paintings, swords, badges, and so much more to take in.  It was ridiculous the history of the building.  And to even imagine that this is someone’s house is crazy.  PS the Queen was somewhere in the castle since it was the weekend and Winsor is where she spends the weekends. 

Around 1pm had some ice cream and went into the dollhouse and publications room, the dollhouse was neat and looked like an architects model today.  Everything was real, even plumbing and silver flatware.

I wonder about the ideas of spending the taxpayer’s money back in day and how they are just now starting to change.   Now the public doesn’t seem to like their money spent on lavish gifts that sit in other countries palaces.  Who knows.

The state room that had a huge fire was incredible, holds a table for 160 big room

Documents were very interesting and cool to see DaVinci’s sketches and letters written in the 1500

Went to St. Georges church….which is the home of the guarder knights.  Very cool, amazing, and luxurious.  The Queen still goes to church there.

After walked through the Winsor town and shops.  Very quant and would be a overnight trip just sampling food at the various restaurants.  We walked over to Eaton where we ate a great restaurant. Em and I split a brie and roasted vegetable wrap  & a goat cheese/feta, and artichoke sandwich.  It was great but hot in the sun when there were no clouds.  The weather went from hot to cold hot to cold, very bizarre.  Had 2 beers and was tipsy.

Went to the train station to catch train, Serena won Wimbledon, train ride home slept.

At Waterloo station we walked around the Thames on the river walk past the Tate modern and over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral.  We caught the tube back to our hotel and Em came with us

Just chilled, Ad napped I worked on my paper, Em freshened up

Around 930 caught the tube down the Piccadilly Circus to go to a bar for the 4th.  It was crowed, very very hot, and the Irish band played little American music for the 4th of July party.  It was fun but almost too crowded for me.  Would like to go back when it is less crowed.  There was a gay pride weekend and celebration of Michael Jackson.  Never seen so many men making out with each other, I guess I am sheltered.

Ride home my feet were killing me because I was in heels.  Bad idea.  We ended up stopping to get dinner at the Burger King by Paddington station since nothing was open and sitting on a generator outside for dinner.  Everywhere else was not serving food.  Tomorrow we will plan food better because when I get so hungry I don’t do well.  Very tired and going to sleep in tomorrow.  More later

Meg