I was able to tour more of the London area today because this would have been my travel day had I so chosen. After this post I will need to work a bit since the US is still enjoying business hours.
I decided to purchase a coach tour for today. We began our tour driving around Central London to get to the highway. This was fortunate for me because we took a pass around some of the areas I had missed the day before. We then drove out the straight road (I can't not remember the name because it was only used once) where it is obvious that it requires a lot of money to shop and live. Lots of wonderful old buildings and some fun new ones. We drove past a glass office building in the shape of a bus, yes located on the shore of the river. The unimaginatively call it The Ark. I would have taken a photo, but it was on the other side of the coach.
Our first stop was the town of Windsor and Windsor Castle. Compared with the castles presented by Disney, Windsor is quite plain. It looks like it would do a good job keeping the inhabitant safe. It was a huge place. The interior is an ornate as you would expect plus they were busy adding the final touches to Christmas decorations. Because we visited in the winter we were allowed to visit some of the semi-state rooms that overlook the private gardens. There was representation from all of England’s colonies in the furnishings of the castle. Many of the rooms were staged for visitors instead of entertaining, which looks a little odd. However, they did have photos of the rooms in use. This makes it looks much grander.
I took off from the castle pretty quickly to explore the town of Windsor. The queen employees 371 people and many live either live in the castle or the surrounding lands and buildings owned by the Queen. The other people in town appear to work the tourist and rail trade. With that being said it is a wonder quaint place. I stopped in one of the gift shops and fell in love with a tiny little vase from Moor Pottery. Before looking at the price tag I thought it would be the perfect keepsake from my trip. However, it was 195 pounds. Ouch. I was told they were collectible. I was not able to find them on the internets and was unable to photograph the vase. The shop owner was kind enough to recommend a pub for lunch. I had just 30 minutes before I had to be back at the coach at 11:45a so I was hopeful. It was called Two Brewers (could sign) but was not open until noon. Dang. Instead I dined at Eat. Very fresh, very local food. None of the food was complicated but was really good. I had a sandwich on great bread and a dessert of oats, fruit & seeds tossed in caramel. The dessert's texture reminded me of the soft granola/energy bars that Lisa makes. Yet it was extremely decadent.
Next stop was Stonehenge. No one told me it was beside a highway in the middle of someone's farm. You can no longer get very close to the structure. Apparently in the 1970s you could touch the rocks and even take a bit of it away. Our guide had some amusing stories about the origins of Stonehenge. During the 2008 summer solstice 40,000 people visited Stonehenge. I am very glad I visited during the slow season. The surrounding area was very beautiful. I also got to see a patch a blue sky.
We continued on to Bath and the Roman Baths. The ride between Stonehenge and Bath was story book quality. Our guide seemed to be quite the intellectual and a great story teller. She amused us for much of the trip and never did I think she was babbling. Bath is so beautiful. I took a quick tour of the Roman Baths. This left me wanting bath salts. This is something hard to find in Bath. Of course given the name of the town it first appears bath salts are available in every shop. As I was touring the city my camera battery began to lose power. Some of my shots are quick and sloppy because I was turning the camera off and on to try to take just one more photo. It finally died altogether. Around 4pm it began to get dark and it seemed everyone in Bath decided to head downtown for shopping. Great people watching. The shops were lovely. The town is decorated so nicely for Christmas. As I walked to meet the coach it was dark and I decided Bath may be even more beautiful at night.
It was a two hour drive back to London from Bath. We did not see much out our windows because 1, it was dark and b, a fog descended. By the time we arrived in London the fog had lifted. From the vantage point of the high coach the Christmas decoration around the city were so beautiful. Although, it did make me miss home and my own funny little decorated house.
I decided to purchase a coach tour for today. We began our tour driving around Central London to get to the highway. This was fortunate for me because we took a pass around some of the areas I had missed the day before. We then drove out the straight road (I can't not remember the name because it was only used once) where it is obvious that it requires a lot of money to shop and live. Lots of wonderful old buildings and some fun new ones. We drove past a glass office building in the shape of a bus, yes located on the shore of the river. The unimaginatively call it The Ark. I would have taken a photo, but it was on the other side of the coach.
Our first stop was the town of Windsor and Windsor Castle. Compared with the castles presented by Disney, Windsor is quite plain. It looks like it would do a good job keeping the inhabitant safe. It was a huge place. The interior is an ornate as you would expect plus they were busy adding the final touches to Christmas decorations. Because we visited in the winter we were allowed to visit some of the semi-state rooms that overlook the private gardens. There was representation from all of England’s colonies in the furnishings of the castle. Many of the rooms were staged for visitors instead of entertaining, which looks a little odd. However, they did have photos of the rooms in use. This makes it looks much grander.
I took off from the castle pretty quickly to explore the town of Windsor. The queen employees 371 people and many live either live in the castle or the surrounding lands and buildings owned by the Queen. The other people in town appear to work the tourist and rail trade. With that being said it is a wonder quaint place. I stopped in one of the gift shops and fell in love with a tiny little vase from Moor Pottery. Before looking at the price tag I thought it would be the perfect keepsake from my trip. However, it was 195 pounds. Ouch. I was told they were collectible. I was not able to find them on the internets and was unable to photograph the vase. The shop owner was kind enough to recommend a pub for lunch. I had just 30 minutes before I had to be back at the coach at 11:45a so I was hopeful. It was called Two Brewers (could sign) but was not open until noon. Dang. Instead I dined at Eat. Very fresh, very local food. None of the food was complicated but was really good. I had a sandwich on great bread and a dessert of oats, fruit & seeds tossed in caramel. The dessert's texture reminded me of the soft granola/energy bars that Lisa makes. Yet it was extremely decadent.
Next stop was Stonehenge. No one told me it was beside a highway in the middle of someone's farm. You can no longer get very close to the structure. Apparently in the 1970s you could touch the rocks and even take a bit of it away. Our guide had some amusing stories about the origins of Stonehenge. During the 2008 summer solstice 40,000 people visited Stonehenge. I am very glad I visited during the slow season. The surrounding area was very beautiful. I also got to see a patch a blue sky.
We continued on to Bath and the Roman Baths. The ride between Stonehenge and Bath was story book quality. Our guide seemed to be quite the intellectual and a great story teller. She amused us for much of the trip and never did I think she was babbling. Bath is so beautiful. I took a quick tour of the Roman Baths. This left me wanting bath salts. This is something hard to find in Bath. Of course given the name of the town it first appears bath salts are available in every shop. As I was touring the city my camera battery began to lose power. Some of my shots are quick and sloppy because I was turning the camera off and on to try to take just one more photo. It finally died altogether. Around 4pm it began to get dark and it seemed everyone in Bath decided to head downtown for shopping. Great people watching. The shops were lovely. The town is decorated so nicely for Christmas. As I walked to meet the coach it was dark and I decided Bath may be even more beautiful at night.
It was a two hour drive back to London from Bath. We did not see much out our windows because 1, it was dark and b, a fog descended. By the time we arrived in London the fog had lifted. From the vantage point of the high coach the Christmas decoration around the city were so beautiful. Although, it did make me miss home and my own funny little decorated house.
3 comments:
Joy's England Vacation To-Do List:
1: Visit Stonehenge. Done - it is in fact miniature, just as Spinal Tap suggested (see photo). Would have enjoyed a pint, though... some one could make a killing off a touristy, Stonehenge-themed brew pub here (Space Alien Ale, Solstice Summerbrew...)
2: See the English countryside. Done - lovely, very England-y and picturesque. Not as many pubs as I expected...
3: Do Windsor Castle. Done - nice, I guess, but nothing like the one at Wally World... got bored, went looking for a pub instead.
and D: Visit Bath. Done - Very beautiful town, but surprisingly, unable to locate Ye Old Bath Supply Shoppe... gave up and hung out at the pub. Nice people, learned lots from them about the town history and the Roman baths - they should consider doing guided tours...
I have some lovely salts hanging around just dying to be used for a new concoction of bath salts. Perhaps I'll make you some in an attempt to make up for England's shortcomings...
LMP, you can make bath salts that can make up for an entire county's shortcomings!? Wow. Very impressive powers you have - could have been burned at the stake for that in England. Make up for THAT.
And while you're making up for country's shortcomings, please mix up a big batch for those of our own US of A.
Thanks.
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