I don't think we could have asked for a more perfect Christmas this year~ 7 ideal days in and around London with family. I feel like I got the biggest gift of all being able to share my favorite places with everyone. The trip was not with out its little set backs, international travel rarely is, but everyone weathered it well and we did so much. I'll just give some highlights here, with more to follow in future blogs.The day we flew out ended up being a really lousy day to travel, both in the US and in the UK. A massive storm over Denver had caused the cancellation of thousands of flights in the US and severe fog had caused the cancellation of all domestic flights in the UK. Cori, Grace and I made our flight without a problem, but the rest of my family got held up and missed several connecting flight options and ended up flying standby. My sibs got into London just 3 hours after we did, but my parents didn't get there until the next afternoon. And even once we were all there, only Cori and Grace had luggage. Fortunately, our hotel was conveniently located just a block and a half off of Oxford Street- one of the major shopping strips of London.
So we made a little shopping trip our first night there. As nice as it sounds, I had a hard time buying much. The dollar is so weak against the pound right now ($2.11 to the pound), so if it looks like I'm wearing the same thing in a lot of the pictures, I am. Fortunately, Thea had an extra pair of levi's I could borrow. Otherwise, I would have spent our first weekend there in yoga pants! We didn't get our luggage for another 3 days. And poor Sara had to wait until the day before we left to get her bag. Even missing luggage couldn't keep us from having an amazing week.
Here is a list of the places we got to visit over the course of the week:
Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abby, Harrods, Portabello Road, Hyde Park Ward on Christmas Eve Day ( a very special service), Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Bath, Warwick Castle, Stratford, Anne Hathaway Cottage, Oxford, The British Museum, Covent Gardens, The National Gallery, Mme.Tussuad's, The Sherlock Holmes Museum (on 221 b Baker St.), Green Park, and Hyde Park. We went to a Christmas Eve performance at the Royal Albert Hall titled, Carols by Candlelight. The tidy orchestra was dressed in knickers and white wigs. The conductor sat at a harpsichord. They performed every carol imaginable, and we got to sing along with many of them. There were readings from the KJV gospels and Dickens. It was perfect. We also saw Wicked with the original Broadway casted Elphaba performing.
At the Tower Bridge
This is how Gracie spent her nap times.
At Stonehenge
At Warwick Castle
How many Whitakers can we fit in here?
The family infront of the British Museum
At Trafalgar Square
Of course, the best part of the vacation was being together. Thanks, Dad, for such a great trip!
2 comments:
You are so amazing to be able be so positive in the face of some quite major setbacks, i don't know too many Brits who would have managed such!
It was so thrilling to catch pics of London as i browsed a few blogs, it caused me to stop, read and leave a comment.
I love London and don't live too far away from it fortunately. Warwick Castle is also a favorite and Stonehenge is awesome, especially as you first set eyes on it driving over the hill.
I have never spent New Year in Trafalgar Square though it is something i do plan to do at some point.
You must do Stratford Upon Avon and stay in the Youth Hostel there. A trip on a barge is just bliss. OH and i know a great pub that does jazz on a friday night!
words fall short when trying to express how fun it was to read and see photos of our beloved London - you look fabulous, by the way! Can't wait to read the rest of your experiences!
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