Friday, June 23, 2017

London, The End.

This was a trip of a lifetime. It was so much fun to plan and decide where we were going to go. Lena's months of relentless studying of Tudor history.
Our flight didn't leave until the afternoon, so we had a few hours until we had to check out. So we headed over to Hyde Park to do some exploring. The only thing that is stronger than Lena's love of history, is nature. Such a pretty place. Enjoy the pictures below.





















Paddington Station. And our flight home. 

Until next time!


London Day 7

Our final day in London.

With Lena's love of all things Tudor we had to include this place in our tour of London. We are actually heading outside of London to Hampton Court Palace! Home to King Henry VIII.

This trip took a little bit of traveling, a tube ride to Waterloo Station, then an above ground train to Hampton Court. It took about an hour travel time.

Hampton Court is just a few minutes walk away from the train station, so super easy to get to. It was amazing to imagine hundreds of years ago the royal barge floating down the Thames and reaching the Palace. I honestly didn't know what to expect. We watched documentaries on HCP, but it's never the same as going and exploring it yourself.

When you arrive, you get directed to the ticket sales. The line was fairly quick. The clerk informed us that today they were filming on location a period piece staring.... Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Nicholas Hoult. The movie is The Favourite . I nearly lost my mind. I was so excited and really hoped to see one of my favorite movie stars while we were there.




 When we entered we were greeted by this wonderful man Sir Thomas Seymour, who began to weave a tale of love. His love of Catherine Parr, and her subsequent engagement to King Henry VIII.


There she is up in the window!

And here is her sister Anne.

We have been brought into the great hall.

Amazing ceilings.

Here is Catherine Parr, she has just been told that the King wants to marry her. 

She must decide between marrying King Henry VIII or Sir Thomas Seymour.


The man himself!

Lena kept waiting for the ghost of Queen Catherine Howard to come running past.


Look at the size of that fireplace!



Queen Caroline's bathing closet.


In the kitchen turning the spit.








One last picture. It had really warmed up that day, the sun was in Lena's face, screaming take the picture! I can't seeeeeee!

After some sad goodbyes, we headed back to the train station.




Tomorrow we will leave this great city and leave with a lifetime of memories, and not one celebrity sighting!





Thursday, June 22, 2017

London Day 6

The Tower of London!! This is one place that Lena knows inside out from her research. So for her to be stepping foot here was a dream come true!




"I can't believe I am here!"



The best thing to do when visiting the tower is to wait for the Beefeater tour. These guys know their stuff and will give you a great insight into the Tower. Of course we were a little impatient to wait and started on our own. We did catch up later and Lena wished we could go back and take the full tour. However, by the end we had been there for 4 hours and I was more than ready to leave.



The famous Ravens of the Tower






Lena, imagining what it must have been like to be Anne Boleyn on the day of her execution.

No need to have seen the Changing of the Guard, it happens here too!




The Crown Jewels!

Wild Staircases!

Traitors Gate!




When we finished inside the Tower of London, we took a stroll along the Thames to get a better look at the Tower Bridge.




I had read about this place online. It's Called St. Dunstan in the East








Nice Juxtaposition between the two buildings.

Classic!

We swung by St. Paul's Cathedral

Then called it a night and went to the hotel.