Nothing much has happened though since, so I suppose there isn't much to tell :) We went to a party and Matt and Jenn's where too much liquor was consumed and Hani stepped on my ankle, but other than bruising that's lasted 2 1/2 weeks, we're pretty lowkey.
Last Thursday we went to London for the weekend! Hurray!!! It's our second trip to London and it was far better this time.
We flew out of Belfast City Airport Thursday night, landed in Heathrow about 10:30, took a taxi to our hotel, and tried to check in.
That's right. We TRIED to check in. Hotel was paid for in full along with our flights, and the travel engine that we used, didn't send our hotel reservation OR payment to the hotel. Luckily it was a Thursday night and they had an room for us. So finally, about 1 am, we were all in bed.
Morning came quick, though. We got up, had breakfast, and set out on our day! I really wanted to go to Buckingham Palace, but we weren't sure how Hazel would do on the tour, so I went to the palace and Brett took H to the London Aquarium. I was at the palace so early that I made one of the first tours, had no wait to buy a ticket and was in the palace in no time. No cameras were allowed, so I can only pass on stories....
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to actually live in Buckingham as a palace. It was originally a grande house or mansion that was added to and expanded upon by George IV.It was beautiful, and amazing, and mindblowing that I was even there. But it was also really sad. I mean, this is a place of residence, and it LOOKED like a museum. There was no warmth, no "homey" feel. I ached to place an old beaten up lazy boy somewhere. A couch that appeared to have years of lazy Sundays, flu-ridden children camped out, movie nights on it. But everything was pristeen, playing out just a little more of the illusion that we want when we think of when we imagine being king, queen, princess, or prince.
Meanwhile at the aquarium.....
They had a great time. I guess Hazel wasn't so sure about it at first and REALLY didn't like the sharks, but after a few minutes, she warmed up to the idea and ended up loving all the fish.We met up afterwards, I caught the guards' precessional down the road called the Mall, to the changing of the guard at Buckingham, on my way to Westminster Abbey. We attempted to walk through Westminster Abbey with the nut, but A) it was PACKED with people, so moving about with a stroller was rough, and B) you had to be quiet (it's an Abbey after all) and our 2 yr old is less than ok with being silent...so we saw the cool tombs, like Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary and quickly retreated...
and I can't remember what this is, I'll have to ask him...
On Saturday, I headed off early to IKnit day while Brett and the nut headed to The Natural History Museum. There were lots of things to see,
But hazel's favorite part was the Butterfly exhibit....
Daddy bought her a magnifying glass so she could do some detective work...
Did lots of coloring at the table...
Got the kid's activity pack with her dinnner, and had to try on everything...
But wasn't sure about Mama wearing it....
Had the world's biggest Ice cream sundae...
Sunday we spent the day at The Tour of London. It's soooo cool. It's where many people, including Anne Boleyn were beheaded, and acts as a residence to the monarchy at times and it's a whole city inside itself! We're entering the oldest entrance here, and behind us is the Moat that has been long since filled in...
This is the first thing we say upon entering the ToL. This just begins to show you how BIG this place is....
King Edward's bedroom...original beams and brick...
Royal bedroom recreated next to the orginal bed chamber
The White Towe that takes up a majority of the center of the fort...
Hazel and I walking along the inner wall...
Cromwell, telling all how Queen Anne had done wrong...
A pic with Queen Anne (I know, I'm a dork)
The hospital ward, this portion sustained pretty heavy damage during the bombing of London in WWII...
The Chapel where Anne Boleyn was buried....
This is the Queen's House...There's a Beefeater standing guard in front...
Sir Walter Raleigh's room in the Bloody Tower...
This is the tower that houses the crown jewels. Definitely cool to see. There's a lot more to the crown jewels than I realized!!! No pics allowed inside, though!
Finally, on our way out of the ToL, Brett in front of the Tower Bridge. Pretty cool to see in person.
After that we headed back to the hotel, got our belongings and headed to the airport to come home!
It was a great trip!
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