A Cold Water Day, Books Galore, and Meeting the Queen (or at least her favorite house): Days 18-19

Day 18: Saturday, March 31

Saturday started another weekend of sight-seeing, which we were obviously very excited about since our days had been so long during the week that most “tourist-y” things were closed when we got off work.  I don’t like to use the word tourist anymore because I feel like I’ve been here long enough now that I wouldn’t be easily identified as one on the streets.  Carmen and I rarely require a map (due to careful planning, more on Carmen’s part than mine, because she is the owner of the awesome Rick Steve’s London Pop-up Map, before leaving the house) and have been asked so many times now for directions around the tubes.  I’m afraid one time, though, we did get a group of girls terribly lost; not because we didn’t give fabulous directions (they were totally awesome and completely correct), but because the girls 1) might not have understood English 2) had no idea where they were to start with and 3) asked for directions to two different places at the same time.  Carmen and I were fine explaining the direction.  But the girls? Not so much.  Oh well, we did our best (and even missed a train to help them out!)  But again, I digress.  My goodness, this happens often.  You lovely readers must get so confused by my train of thought, but I promise I have made bullet points of each day so I have an outline to follow.  I’m just easily distracted, I suppose.  But on to the real day’s events.

It started out weird.  Mainly because after breakfast (which, by the way, we eat religiously each day, no matter how early we have to get up to get it, due to the fact that have paid for it already and refuse to waste any of our quid [aka money] by buying our own breakfast), we had very cold water when we went to take showers.  I’m talking, leaving the water on for 2 minutes and still freezing when it normally only take 10 seconds to warm up.  Why, you ask, was the water so cold?  Well, I asked the owner, he checks out his 15 gazillion security cameras located on the premises, and lo and behold, the boiler had been turned off.  Again, you ask, how does this even happen and who still uses boilers?  Well, lovely readers, neither Carmen nor I have the answer for you.  We are still confused about it ourselves.  He said to give us 30 minutes for it to heat back up, and let me tell you, an hour and a half later, that was the coldest shower I have ever taken in my life.  We were not super pleased by the morning’s events.  But decided it could only get better because, quite frankly, there are not many things worse than a cold shower in the winter time! Ha.

The St. Pancras Station.  Sorry not pictures of all the impressive things in the British Library, but like all the cool places, no photography is allowed.

So, a little bit later than planned, but very crisp and clean, we made our way to the British Library (the world’s largest, by the way) located right near the St. Pancras/King’s Cross train station.  This time, we got to walk all the way around the outside of the station, and it is absolutely breathtaking.  We also realized that it is a hotel.  And of course decided we would never get to know its splendor because we could never afford to stay there.  But alas, it is nice to dream.  Anyway, upon arrival at the British Library, the outside of the building is not much to look at, as the building was not historical, but built in the 1990’s.  Probably because of the ridiculous amount of preservation techniques required within its walls to maintain as many ancient documents as it does, and also because it houses the deepest basement in all of London (so there’s your interesting fact for the day.  You know, besides the one where people actually still have boilers that can be turned off).  We were able to see one of the 4 remaining copies of the Magna Carta from 1215 (one of the others is actually at the British Library as well, but somewhere deep down in the basement being preserved) along with a revised version from 1225.  Yeah, you read that right.  1215 and 1225.  As in, 800 years ago and still legible and preserved.  We were, as usual, in awe.  There were many other famous documents, some excerpts by Shakespeare and Jane Austen, as well as the Gutenberg Bible and some fragments of Bibles from the early 300’s.  Yes, as in the year 300.  Another wow.  There is also a bookshelf (which is quite the understatement once you have seen said “bookshelf”), which houses something along the lines of 65,000 books and is at least 6 stories tall and 4-sided.  Google it.

After our afternoon at the library, we came back to the guest house, got ready for a fun night out, and headed out with the boys to Leicester Square.  We had dinner at the Slug and Lettuce (a different one this time, though) where Carmen and I were ID’d by the Metropolitan Police (central London policemen) but they boys were allowed to walk right in.  I thought quite surely I looked over 18!  But Michael read an article that apparently there are all of these 15 year old girls dressing up and wearing way too much make-up to get into pubs and such, so the police are trying to crack down before the Olympics and increase London’s reputation. 

The London "Crew"!  Michael, Me, Carmen, and Stephen

Afterwards, we headed to The Bear and Staff Pub (or maybe Nicholson’s, depending on what door you looked at; they each had different names!).  As always, we had a great time hanging out with the boys, and I am quite certain they enjoyed the crazy people watching as much as we did!  You just really never know what you’re going to see out on the streets of London! (I would say at night, but quite frankly, Carmen and I have seen some pretty bizarre clothing at very early hours as well)! :)


The lady taking our picture told us to make surprised faces!  But I do feel like this is perhaps how we look when we see some of the crazy outfits people are wearing  :)



Day 19: Sunday, April 1

On Sunday morning, we got a much earlier start than the day before (you remember, the no hot water day?).  We were off to Windsor and Eton Riverside, home of Windsor Castle, one of the many castles of the Queen and the one where she has always stated she feels most at home.  We did some fancy tube navigating (per usual) and bought our tube passes to way outside of London.  Even outside of Zone 6!  We were smart enough to get two discounts by buying our tickets to the castle at the train station and using part of our weekly Zones 1-2 card to get outside of London.  Go us!  Carmen and I bought lunch at the M&S (Marks and Spencer) Simply Food at the station and hopped on the train for a very long ride.  It was over an hour ride, which gave us plenty of time to eat and get a little nap in as well :)  We finally made it to the stop at Windsor and Eton Riverside and an amazing view awaited us right when we stepped off the train…the castle is just right there!!  Just a hop, skip, and jump across the street (and you know, the giant stone walls and guards which have kept people out for centuries!).  But still.  Right there for everyone to admire!

Our first view of Windsor Castle

First of all, Windsor (the town) is absolutely charming.  I think that if I were to have to move to the UK, Windsor is the town I would pick to live in.  It is so quaint, with adorable townspeople, shops and different eateries, and you can tell it is in a very, nice area.  So, unlikely I would be able to afford it, but this is my dream world after all :)  An interesting fact: Windsor Castle, in and of itself (not the whole town), is a small, working community, employing hundreds of people, many of whom live on the grounds in beautiful little flats.  The people lucky enough to get these flats, which are a visible part of the castle on the main road, are distinguished military personnel, as well as some of the younger guards still on duty at the castle.  Upon arrival, we saw that the Queen’s flag, and not the regular Union Jack flag was overhead, which means that the Queen was actually in residence there at the time!  Carmen and I were almost beside ourselves with excitement (even though we knew we wouldn’t actually get to see her.  But hey, we can dream!  We also found out afterwards that Harry was in town there was well, as the weekend was the Thanksgiving celebration to remember the Queen Mother and the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, who both passed away in 2002).

The Queen is in residence today!!

Entering Windsor Castle

 

Carmen and I were lucky enough to get there just in time for a tour of the grounds with one of the wardens.  Today was an absolutely gorgeous day by US weather standards (and especially by London standards), so the grounds tour was most enjoyable.  What was not so enjoyable, you may ask?  The crazy, obnoxious other Americans on our tour with us.  They honestly could have been off of some TV special New York Gangster/Housewives edition.  They were asking the dumbest questions I could possibly think of, often repeating questions that were just answered by the tour guide.  Carmen and I were quite embarrassed to be grouped (in thought) with these people, and we made quick friends with a local man and his family from Windsor when we complained to them about how rowdy the other American tourists were being.  We also made sure to inform the rest of the British crowd there that we were not with them and to not judge all of the States by them. You’re welcome, America, for us showing the rest of the world there is still some classiness left in you.

Starting our tour of the grounds

The Round Tower is part of the original castle built by William the Conqueror.  Now it just houses lots and lots of what I can only assume are amazing artifacts, but it can only be toured during the fall, when the Queen is not in residence.

In front of part of Windsor Castle.  Isn't it beautiful?

Carmen and I also were able to impress everyone on our tour with some knowledge even the guide did not know.  From one of the highest points on the castle walk, you can see down over the entire town and all the way into Eton, widely renowned for its famous secondary school, Eton College (not a real college in terms of how Americans think; it’s actually a boarding school for middle and early high school students…very, very wealthy students).  Princes William and Harry (ah, sigh, we just love those boys!) both studied here, as well as many others who went on to become Prime Ministers of England.  At this point, we were able to inform the tour group that there were actually 19 Prime Ministers who attended Eton College.  Insert gasp from crowd and guide here :)  The guide was quite amazed at our knowledge, but we always study up on the places we are going so we can ask intelligent questions and have some knowledge of the history of the area. 

Even the lamps have the mark of royalty.  Every lamp had a crown on top :)

After the grounds tour, we were able to see Queen Mary’s famous “Dollhouse.”  I put it in quotation marks because it is a dollhouse unlike anything you could possibly imagine.  Unfortunately no pictures were allowed (and probably would not have done it justice anyway), but I highly recommend you Google some now.  (You can read up here just to get a small idea).  It belonged to Queen Mary, wife of King George V (the current Queen’s grandfather).  A small working replica of Windsor Castle, it is by no means small, as it is several feet tall and as many feet deep.  The detail is absolute breathtaking, with working running water and lighting.  Quite impressive if you ask me!

Where the Heads of State enter and the state apartments are to the right.  Unfortunately, Carmen and I were not invited to enter from here. 

After the Dollhouse was a special exhibit of 60 photos of the Queen throughout her reign, as this is her Diamond Jubilee Year!  This means she has been on the throne for 60 years; the only English Monarch to reign longer was the also beloved Queen Victoria, and if the Queen reigns until 2015, she will gain the title of longest ruler.  The exhibit was neat because it showed more than just the proper state photos, but also those with her family and more private moments.  We toured many of the glorious staterooms throughout the palace.  What is neat about these compared with those seen at the other castles we have been to is that this is still a working castle.  At any given time, heads of state or other distinguished members could arrive and walk through and meet with the Queen in the same rooms we were given the opportunity to view.  It was just very exciting!

One of the three moats of the original castle.  The drainage system did not work well and ended up becoming a large sewer collection area (which would actually work better than a real moat if you ask me!), so they converted it into a garden, which is absolutely stunning!

Can't you just picture the Queen taking a little stroll through the garden?! :)

After exiting the castle, but still on the grounds, we witness a most exciting and hilarious incident.  During the tour, we saw guards dressed in their full regalia doing their marches throughout the grounds.  Most were behind gated areas, but one guard was standing on duty by one of the gift shops and though he was still marching, upon coming to a stand-still, many people would run up to take pictures with him (we resisted, as we thought this was rude and disrespectful).  He would turn and make the same walk about every minute and a half or so, but one particularly rude tourist stood and jumped around him taking pictures for what seemed like forever (or at least more than 1.5 minutes).  The guard started making the motions that signaled he was about to start his walk again, and the tourist was still there, paying no mind and posing for pictures, so the guard just turned with his bayonet on point and headed straight in the direction of the tourist, almost impaling him in the process!!  The guard was not being rude or trying to be funny or anything; it was part of the signals of his march, but everyone just about died laughing at the stupid, silly tourist who didn’t look so cool and mighty after almost being stabbed.  It definitely made my and Carmen’s day much better :)

So the lady who we asked to take this picture clearly did not understand that we wanted the gardens to be in the picture with us, but after about 3 tries, we just gave up and accepted her pitiful attempt at picture-taking. 

In front of the moat-turned-garden.  Absolutely beautiful.  And after looking at the picture above, it is quite clear Carmen knows how to take a picture and adjust the person for optimal lighting :)

After dinner at a quaint pub in Windsor town, we had a most eventful train ride back!  Two young gang groups (we have learned that misbehaved middle school age children are regarded as “gangs” here.  You know the Brits would about die if they encountered the real gangs of Atlanta!) boarded our train and were having some large fight (or rather, a disagreement, as though many threats of punches were thrown about, no actual punches were thrown) about someone accidentally running into member of the opposing gang.  In the beginning, Carmen and I were quite amused, but after about 30 minutes, it was no longer quite as comical.  Luckily, a father with young children who did not approve of the misbehaving and rather foul-mouthed youngsters asked them to move to a different carriage, and Carmen and I enjoyed a much calmer ride home.  We then got ready for our first true day at the hospital on Monday!