Wednesday – Apparent the guy who lives across the street does well – he has a Mercedes, and a driver who was out buffing the car this morning, waiting for the owner. We went downstairs for breakfast where Randy had Swiss pancakes, but we were in a hurry to get to Windsor today. Hurried through breakfast and went to Victoria Station. Couldn’t find the bus stop so we missed the first bus. Finally found it and caught the bus to Windsor. On the way to the castle we stopped at Woods of Windsor store and bought some Woods of Windsor soap and Crabtree and Evelyn soap, which we left at the store for the day. Went through the castle: the dollhouse, the semi-state rooms and staterooms, and the private chapel for Price Edward.
Much has been restored since the fire, and it actually looks better. They did a great job of restoring it, and generally it looks a lot cleaner. They used lots of clean, light oak in the restoration. A guide talked to us about the weapons displayed. There is a lot of it because every monarch had his initials stamped onto the weapons during his reign. Since the next monarch didn’t want his army using things with the previous king’s initials, so he replaced them.
While we were there, there was a "changing of the guard" ceremony. It is a must more modest ceremony than the one at Buckingham Palace. This one just involves two guards, but the perform with the same serious, formal attitude.
We went to St. George’s Chapel, where Henry VIII and Jane Seymour are buried, along with several other kings and queens (George IV, George V and Edward (Victoria’s son). One day a year they open the chapel where Price Albert laid in state, and this was the day. It’s a smaller room off to the side, and richly decorated.
After the castle tour we walked through the town. Went to the Carpenter Arms pub to eat; Randy had the Blarney Stone and Steak and Guinness pie, I had the Hunter Chicken – chicken and bacon with potatoes and peas. Pretty good food.
Then we went shopping around town. We went to the Scottish Shop where they have great looking kilts, but they cost over $1000 for the complete outfit. Next we looked through a china store – three stories tall, with a very narrow staircase. We stopped in a Chocolate store and bought some chocolate. This is the store whose chocolate was used in the move “Chocolate”.
It rained a little bit so we started back, and caught the bus back around 5:10. Back in London we walked to Kensington to see Albert’s Memorial, Albert’s Hall and the Museum of Science, although we didn’t go in them. We went past Harrods, which is lit up with string lights on all corners – it looks nice.
We got back home that night a little after 9.
It rained a little bit so we started back, and caught the bus back around 5:10. Back in London we walked to Kensington to see Albert’s Memorial, Albert’s Hall and the Museum of Science, although we didn’t go in them. We went past Harrods, which is lit up with string lights on all corners – it looks nice.
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