Our first visitors

Aug. 1, 2018

Part of the Walker crew arrived on August 1, 2018.  My sister, Kimberly, Isaac and Faith loaded onto the X26 double decker bus and headed to the flat.  So with the double decker ride they were already checking things off the “to do” list. We took the kids for a walk around Bushy Park, across from the flat, to try and wear them out.

The following day we took the train to London and went straight to the London Eye.  Then off to see Big Ben, Parliament and quickly got in queue for Westminster Abbey.  We then headed off to see Kensington Palace and enjoyed our walk through Hyde Park.

 

Aug 3rd began early with the 10 hour tour of Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Oxford.  The time at Windsor was shortened due to traffic congestion and therefore we headed to St. George’s Chapel first and saved the State Rooms for last and unfortunately we didn’t have time for the State Rooms.  However, St. George’s Chapel did not disappoint.

We then joined the bus and got a quick nap on our way to Stonehenge.  The weather was hot but did not ruin our visit.   Just mind boggling to think how this monument was even moved and built beginning approximately 5,000 years ago.  I can’t even visualize how these huge boulders were moved even by using the rivers.

Back on the bus and headed to our last destination, Oxford and making Faith and Isaac ecstatic.  Of course all the mystic of seeing the actual site of some filming of Harry Potter, was about all little Faith could handle.  I am sure I lost any coolness I had as an Aunt when I told them I had never watch the movies and had no real clue as to what they were talking about.  We made our way to a Harry Potter souvenir shop and they both chose something.  All I could think of was, what can I get Elora and would she like Harry Potter as well.  I grabbed a sweatshirt and then was able to connect with Audrie and was assured Elora knew and loved Harry Potter.  Whew!!!

Kimberly, the kids and I had a cup of tea when we got back to the flat.  None of us are hot tea drinkers.  Now iced tea and we are in!

Aug. 4th began with scones.  Which Faith was not a fan of and Isaac said, they taste and look like the biscuits we have in the US.  I agree with Isaac.  Just need to add white gravy and yum.  After scones, we headed off to see the musical, “Wicked”.  It was enjoyed by all.  Then we made our way to Piccadilly Circus.  The kids were super excited for a “circus”.  We tried to prepare them of the impending disappointment.  It was totally lost on the kids.  However, Kimberly and I totally enjoyed the famous square and of course took a photo on statue of Eros. Then back to Kingston square to meet Tio for Dinner at one of the nearby pubs, Druids Head.

 

Aug. 5th started off with Rick’s cousin Dave Farr giving us all a shout out on his Sunday Rewind radio show. (HCR 92.3FM)   We got to make a song request and hear our names.  The kids got a huge kick out of it once they realized it was all over the radio.  Then headed to  church at the nearby Methodist Church where we were welcomed by the small congregation.  Since it was such a small church it didn’t take a detective to notice us yanks.  We were asked to come to the back after and enjoy some cake and drinks.  Several people chatted us up and then we headed home to catch up on laundry and take it easy.

Aug. 6th began as a bus ride to Hampton Court Palace.  I knew this castle was close but didn’t realize totally within walking distance.  This is one of my favorites as it has a live garden maze that we all enjoyed finding the center and then our way out.  The first time I did the maze I didn’t even find the center as Rick and I were racing one another out.  The kids learned and I was refreshed on some of King Henry VIII history.  Couldn’t think of any better way to learn this part of history than to actually see it all in person.

Got on the tube and made our way to the Science Museum and their interactive area.  It was interesting to see all the old industrial age items: vehicles, space equipment, airplanes, locomotives, and medical equipment like the artificial kidney machine.  The favorite place was of course the interactive court.  They never had cool things like this when I was a kid.  We spent the rest of the time inside at every station.  I am sure I won’t remember them all, but the funniest one was the heat sensitive station.  It has been so hot over here and of course I think I was having a hot flash at the moment and my image was really red all over.  But all of us were showing red areas.  The rotation station had their attention for a little bit, because I think they have that in Denver, but always fun to play on.  The person holds onto the object in the center (basically giving this piece of equipment shaped like a skinny kick boxing bag) and the closer the person is to this equipment it spins faster.  The force holding them in as they spin is called centripetal force.  Then they got in line to do the Pulley Up.  They sat in a chair and used rope to pull themselves up.  They played with the floating magnet and then the electricity station.

Aug. 7th:  David arrived in the morning and we let him rest some and then that evening we all took the Caledonian sleeper train to Inverness, Scotland.

We were on a search to find Nessie.  We took a boat ride on Loch Ness and arrived at Urquhart Castle.  After we looked around the castle we returned to the bus for return ride.  We are sad to report Nessie was not spotted, much to Faith’s disappointment.

After a long train ride to Edinburgh, we checked into hotel and then went to a nearby pub, The Telford Arms.  George the owner let us in even though it was past the time children are suppose to be inside.  But he must have seen our tired and hungry look.  He sat us in an area far away from the pool tables and treated us like royalty.

 

Aug. 8th:  We got up and headed to train station.  Went to ticket machine and punched in the tickets we needed and as our luck would have it the machine was out of paper.  This caused us to miss the train to Dunbar, so we missed one of the things we had on our itinerary.  But we adjusted and then walked around until the time for the tour of Murray Field.  This is the Rugby stadium in Edinburgh.

We then got back onto the Scotrail and headed back to England.  We got a night of sleep and got up early to catch the Eurostar to Paris.

Aug. 10th: This was one of Isaac’s wish items to ride this train under the English Channel.  I think we both slept through it.  We did catch it on the return trip. We walked around the outside of the Louvre and admired the beauty.  We had a tour scheduled that included a boat ride on the Seine, a bus ride around the city and then the Eiffel Tower.  None of those disappointed.  The next day we simply enjoyed a delicious lunch at Les Favorites Brasserie which of course had to take part in some delicious wine and Cream Brulee.

 

Aug. 12th: Another Eurostar  ride back to London.  This time we all stayed awake to see the Chunnel.

Aug. 13th:  Began with watching the Change of the Guards at Buckingham Palace.

Then a tour of the Palace.  We got back on the tube and raced to Tower of London.  We waited in line to view The Crown Jewels and it was worth the wait.  We then headed off to our last destination for the trip, Trafalgar Square.

Aug. 14th:  Said our good bye’s to family and wished them safe travels and we went back to sleep.