We did manage to avoid most of the rain during our Muggle tour. Even though none of us are big Harry Potter fans, we had a good time. Our tour guide was very informative (and man she was a REAL Potter fan). She gave lots of fun facts. She took us around London showing us different sites where the movies were filmed. One being Diagon Alley which was where Harry shopped for his supplies for Hogwarts! My sis, Tracy would have really apprecitated the tour. She would have answered all the quiz questions correctly!
I will go again with you sis when you come to visit! Before we left London, we headed to Kings Cross Station to see Platform 9 3/4. This is the platform where Harry and his friends caught the Hogwarts Express! Fun day! Other adventures were a tour through Westminster Abbey (where Will and Kate married) and a stroll around Parliament Square. We (Angie, Shannon, and myself) went on a Jack the Ripper walking tour in London. It was at night and a very popular tour. I never really knew the story before, but the guide was really informative and told us all f the interesting facts. We actually visited some of the murder sites where we heard all of the gory details! It was a fun night!
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| Diagon Alley |
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| On way to Hogwarts |
Next, we took a day trip to Hever Castle which was the childhood home of Ann Boleyn. She was the 2nd wife of King Henry VIII. We all know what happened to her...Off with the head! These people take treason seriously! The castle was eventually bought by the Astor family from America and restored. In fact, when John Jacob Astor died he was the richest man in America. This is the same Astor family that was featured in the movie Titanic. Lots of history at the castle!
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| Hever Castle |
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| Hever Castle |
On New Year's Day, it was a beautiful, sunny day, but cold! We took full advantage and drove down to Brighton. In the 1800's it was a booming coastal resort town. The town became even more popular when Prince George IV began to frequent the town and eventually bought a small home. He later became the regent for the monarchy (while not the King he made decisions on his behalf due to the King's illness) and later became King when his father died. His home was called the Royal Pavilion. It was beautiful with Asian decor which is quite strange to see an Asian style castle in England! Once he died, it went to Queen Victoria, but she did not stay there. It was not private enough and not fit to raise a family. She sold the property and made her family home on the Isle of Wight (a place I would like to visit).We walked along the Brighton Pier which has eateries and carnival rides. We did have to ride a few to make the kids happy. It can't be all castles and museums!
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| Brighton Pier |
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| Royal Pavillion |
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| Beach in Brighton |
Lastly, the day before Angie left we went to Windsor Castle. We saw the Changing of the Guard which was really neat. The Queen was away at her castle in Scotland, so we rummaged through her closet! Just kidding, but the castle was still in its Christmas Victorian decorations and was beautiful. Avery is studying the Victorian age so she thought seeing the castle was cool.
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| Windsor Castle, Queen's home |
It was a great two weeks and we were sorry to see them leave. We will them. Now it is back to the daily grind of school and work. Yuk!!
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