Pies and Paddington

April 7, 2010

My time with Mom and Grandma is just flying by! Our week is almost up and they think they are leaving me on Saturday… Ha. Ha. We’ve done so much these past few days. Rode across the country on trains, visited too many churches, ate way too much pub food, and walked everywhere. I don’t know how Grandma is still going, I’m dead tired after every day! And we have a few last things planned for Friday and Saturday. They are going out with a bang!

I met Grandma and Mom at Gloucester Tube Station early on Monday morning and we got on the tube bound for Paddington Station. Once at the rail station, we bought our tickets to Oxford (we got the group rate!) and headed for our platform (number 4). After a bit of searching up and down the train for an empty car, we settled down for our hour trip out of London. It was quite a nice ride and we were in Oxford before we knew it. From there, we took a taxi to Grandma’s friend Cate’s home. And Cate was a great hostess. We sat around to chat for a bit, ate lunch, and then headed out to see the town and Oxford College. Cate knew so much about the town, the college, and its history. She was witty and very proud of her home. She should be a tour guide! Now, if I’m still going that strong by the time I’m 90, it will be a miracle. She was great. In the middle of this busy paved street there is a small patch of very old cobblestone. Cate told us that this marks the exact spot where martyrs were burned at the stake so long ago. We also saw a memorial to these people and a grand old church that once held a platform for trials and such, I think. I couldn’t stop looking at the beautiful stained-glass windows decorations and taking pictures. Finally, a church that allows visitors to take photos inside. Now, I’ll have exactly one church interior in my London photo album!

But churches and martyrs were not the only treat. We paid a pound to see inside this great old hall that used to be a library. All the windows were warped and it made the greenery outside look kind of magical. And conveniently, they filmed the infirmary scene from the first Harry Potter movie there. From HP we moved on to Cardinal Wosley, who we’ve heard so much about this week. Henry VIII’s wingman built Hampton Court and also started Christ Church, one of the many colleges that make up Oxford. We walked around the lawns surrounding the college and then walked down a very busy and tempting shopping street. And from about that point, we all got pretty tired. Another long day of walking and sightseeing.

We said goodbye and thanks to Cate and hopped on the train at around five. From Paddington, we took the tube to High Street Kensington and ate supper at the Prince of Wales Pub. And, of course, the food was great. Mom got another apple pie dessert. Conveniently, most of the pubs in London have the same menu and, therefore, they all have the same desserts. Hence, Mom’s apple pie parade through all the pubs we’ve visited. They are all a bit different, but comparable. We’ll see which one is the best by week’s end after about 50 more pub dinners. Yum!

Tuesday, Tuesday was a busy busy day. We got up early and met at Gloucester Station yet again. So nice to walk around the corner and see Mom and Grandma standing there smiling, waiting for me! I never want them or this nice weather to leave! We got going and arrived at Victoria station via tube a few minutes later. First stop was Westminster Cathedral, my favorite church in London. I’m not too sure why I love it so much, but there is something just really special and magical about the huge cathedral. The sparkly ceiling. The grand alter area. The many colorful mosaics. Oh, I love it.

Second, we walked to a rather stately home located on the west end of Westminster – Buckingham Palace. Have you heard of it? We joined the massive crowds surrounding the road in front of the palace to watch the changing of the guard. Basically, this ceremony is a bunch of guys in red coats marching to a cadence in and out of the palace gates. I’ve been putting off going to see the guard because they’ve been wearing these ugly gray coats all winter and we wanted the red coats. Well, we got them. Two whole groups/troops of guards in red marched by and we were happy.

Third, we walked around the side of Buckingham Palace to the Queen’s Gallery. This space holds works from the Royal Family’s personal art collection on season exhibitions. We saw a lovely show about Prince Albert and Queen Victoria. You need to watch “The Young Victoria”. I’ve watched it three times since I’ve been here. I’m in love. We all loved the gallery and the gift shop was good. Pounds well spent.

Fourth, I took Mom and Grandma to one of my favorite pubs – The Albert. I just love that place. Mom had the apple pie again. Her least favorite so far, I think. And from here, we split. I had class at the Tate Britain while Mom and Grandma headed toward Westminster to see the Abbey, Big Ben, and Parliament. About an hour later, I raced out of class and met up with them at Westminster.

Fifth, we decided to hop on the boat that heads down the Thames because it was such a lovely day. The sun was still shining! A miracle in London! And I thought the boat was fantastic. We saw Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Waterloo Bridge (which was built completely by women during WWII) and about a dozen other bridges, the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk they call Cleopatra’s Needle, and the HMS Belfast (an old warship which is now a wartime museum). About 45 minutes later, we arrived at Tower Pier and immediately took some pictures of Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and the funny looking city hall building across the river. The Tower of London gift shop is quite good so we spent some time there.

Sixth, after a few more pictures and some fun facts I’ve learned from my professors and tour guides, we hopped on the #15 bus toward Piccadilly Circus. The bus was packed because everyone is still on Easter break. Cool Britannia, a touristy store in Piccadilly, was also crazy busy, but we managed to find some good souvenirs to bring home.

Seventh, we ate. At a restaurant that Diana liked to bring William and Harry – DaMario’s. Good Italian food for the end of a good day.

I’m dividing this post in two. We’ve done soooo much and there is just too much to write.

Love,
Kelly