On the last day 2018, we should be thankful that the trains in Britain have WiFi. It was quite and easy trip to Windsor and the country side was quite nice.
Leaving Paddington Station for Windsor
Once we got to Windsor there was a little bit of a line to get in the castle but it really wasn’t too bad
These girls in front of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
We don’t spy the dress yet.
The quad at the center of Windsor Castle
Archers window on the outer wall wide to narrow to allow room to angle your shot
Abby, Ash, Soph and Katie infront of the Keep the oldest part of the castle with its own well for water to survive the longest siege
The Butners infront of the Keep.
We worked our way into the castle staterooms and eventually saw the dress which was amazing. Not as amazing as the portrait of Henry VIII but still awesome.
To the staterooms
A different look at the quad if you magnify the image you may see a guard infront of the royal family entrance
Here is the guard
A different view of the Keep.
Walking to St George’s Chapel Home of many big events and state function but also the Royal families church.
The sad thing is no pictures were allowed inside Windsor Castle or St. George’s Chapel. So no pictures of Meghan Markle’s dress. Here is the summary. It was white and made of silk. Seriously it was nice the train has all these flower embroidered into it. They are suppose to be local flowers. Not sure how anyone would know that. The people who embroidered the train also need to wash their hands like every 20 minutes to keep it clean. Other things I couldn’t take a picture of were the iconic portrait of Henry the VIII which hangs above the door in one of the sitting rooms or the Imperial Peterhof Malachite Urn. It was given to Queen Victoria from Tsar Nicholas I. During a fire at Windsor in 1992 many of these rooms damaged. The restoration has been meticulous and elegant. Anyway the vase ended up filled with steaming water from the fire and the attempts to put it out. That combination caused all the Malachite to basically slide of the vase. The vase’s core is stone. So restoration experts has to reapply the Malachite like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
In the chapel there are the final resting places of George the VI and his wife Elizabeth. There is also a huge sword that belonged to King Edward the III. This thing is ridiculous think Edard Stark, GOT, ridiculous. It is accompanied by this huge picture were King Edward III wears the crown of England. The crowns of Scotland and France are impaled on his sword. King Edward III also founder the Order of the Garter. You should check them out on Wikipedia.
The exterior of St George’s Chapel
Some of the details are amazing
The crew in front of the main entrance at St George’s Chapel. Apparently there was a big wedding here not too long ago.
B&W arthouse of St. George’s for EB and PB
A guard at Windsor. Classic
From the castle we walked through Windsor and found a great little Italian place for lunch.
Statue of Queen Victoria in Windsor
Streets of Windsor
Ohh so pretty and so artsy
From Windsor we took a train back to London in the ride back we enjoyed some delicious Krispy Kreme Donuts, a uniquely British treat?
At our tube station.
After we got back someone had the bright idea to head over to Oxford Street, one of London’s prime time shopping districts. Thank god we got there with only 1 and 1/2 hours of time left before the stores closed.
It did get a little uncomfortable at Zara. The model looking British lady kept starring at me while we waited for the girls. Kari could tell she was digging my sweet action. Ultimately my combo of Patagonia best and LL Bean convertible pants proved to much for her. She knew she couldn’t hang with a guy who could easily adapt to any environment. TB and I helped security clear out Zara but not before our daughters made some purchases.
Oxford Street decorated for the holidays
Selfie nation on Oxford Street
After returning to the flat with our credit cards still mostly holstered we enjoyed a Little Chinese take out which was remarkably good. We then prepared ourselves to travel downtown for the London Mayors New Years Eve Firework show. I had a little appreciation about this. How hard would it be to get there? How hard would it be to get out? How crowded would it be? Are there bathrooms? Are there soccer hooligans?
On the train to fireworks.
In the end the fireworks were awesome. Getting in and out was easy and the people on the bridge were awesome. Even the Buffalo Bills fan in an Elmer Fudd Hat was nice. He made sure to remind me 10 minutes to midnight how the Bills beat the Vikes at home. Goodbye 2018, I don’t need that memory.
The girls with the London Eye behind them.
Happy New Year!!! Make 2019 great!!!
Happy New Year from the Butners
The London Eye
Big Ben is under construction but still glorious.
Katie and me
I still can’t put in my own videos and I am not sure how long 4:30 of fireworks would take to upload. Check out London’s Nee Years Eve Fireworks on YouTube. Here are some still photos
Fireworks coming from the London Eye
Wow!!!!!!!
This is not the finale . This is the middle. Amazing fireworks show. Even better than the 4th of July in Choteau.
One more in 2019!!!
From here it was back on the tube. Once in the flat it was generally bed for everyone. Team Anseth was taking the train to Heathrow at 9:10 and out of England at 12:00. Team Butner was going to hang out till 3ish and then home to Boston by 8 PM. Another great trip in the books.
