This Post is For My Mum

Due to popular request (aka my mother in all her emails), I realized I have been talking more than I have been showing, so here's a post with pictures from some of the best moments over the past few weeks. (Warning: it's hard to narrow them down so there's a lot of pictures!)

These is the ruins of Kenilworth Castle, which was home to royals for five centuries; it was also the site of the wooing of Queen Elizabeth by her favored courtesan, Sir Robert Dudley.

The beautiful gardens at Kenilworth

A view from the balcony at the rural side of England

Jumping for joy because we're in jolly old England and standing on the site of amazing history

221B Baker Street--Hello Sherlock Holmes!

The man himself

The actual writing desk where Charles Dickens wrote my favorite novel, A Tale of Two Cities. His home at Doughty Street is right around the block from our hostel, and we got to walk the floors where he spent several years of his life. It was a wonderful experience to see so many of his belongings.

Another of my literary icons: Agatha Christie, author of And Then There Were None and other amazing detective novels. Fun fact: she's still the best selling novelist of all time, and has the longest running play in London, The Mousetrap.

This photo was taken at the Tower of London. Ravens have been kept at the Tower for centuries as good luck, and they remain there to this day. In the background is the classic Beefeater.

Rompers take London

My mom has been to London before, but she was great about not telling me what I had to do and letting me figure it out for myself. I knew it was important when the one thing she told me to do was take a picnic and eat it at Hyde Park. I am proud to say that I did, and this was the amazing view I had while doing so.

The Princess Diana memorial at Hyde Park, which is hard to see because it is so full of her admirers. It is an amazing tribute--a circle of running water, with different environments to represent each stage of her life (rapids, smooth pools, swiftly flowing, etc.). Everyone is allowed to interact and enjoy the fountain--from the youngest to the oldest, everyone gets their feet in the water at some point.

An "us-ie" off the bridge at Hyde Park

Our family tree... such a great group of people to have on this trip, and it's been exciting to get to know them better each day. Super thankful for these people here.

Hampton Court Palace is gorgeous!! It was home to many royals, most notable of which were William III and Henry VIII

The actual crest found while the royals resided at the Palace

We dress up everywhere we go, so here's an example. We go all out as the peasants that would be found roaming the courts of the kings.

The best reason you should be born a princess (or at least marry a prince)

Two checks on my bucket list: a double decker bus and the sight of Big Ben

The Roman Baths; we are here for our free days to visit the country and enjoy some time off from the fast pace of London

Part of the pediment from the Roman construction of the spas

A view from under the bridge, where we ate our ice cream cones and enjoyed the beautiful scenery

The view from our hotel room, where we feel like we are living in a castle

"You're a wizard, Harry"

WE WON LOTTERY TICKETS TO THE FOURTH ROW OF THIS AMAZING PLAY AND I WILL FOREVER BE SINGING THE SOUNDTRACK.

There was magic abroad in the air
There were angels dining at the ritz
And a nightingale sang in Berkley Square