Wanderlust | Mummy and Dad

So, this past week I've had the joy to share my British experience with Mom and Dad. They came on Wednesday, so after class on Thursday I had the whole weekend to spend with them. I can't believe they're back home already!

Adding a page break because we have quite an overload of pictures today!


London Sights

On Thursday, I met up with them at the British Museum and we explored the Borough Market. Since I had been there the Saturday before, I was able to show them around and lead them to my favorite booths. After, I brought them to Harrod's and we finished the day with another London night bus tour, which was chilly, but I honestly recommend it if you don't want to spend for the daytime Big Bus Tours. Totally worth the fifteen pounds and goosebumps you get while riding around on top, so bring your scarves!

Cardiff Bay, Wales

Friday brought about the first day of exciting adventures, which was the beautiful Cardiff Bay. We arrived super early, so we toured around Mermaid Quay until it was time to visit the wonderful and fantastic Doctor Who Experience. I won't even try to hide my nerdiness here, because it was just too awesome. I won't give away any spoilers, but everyone who ever connected emotionally with DW needs to go. Now.



Casually hangin' out in the Tardis.

Best villain of all time.



Favorite companion ever ever ever.



Amelia Pond comes pretty close, though



Oh, hello Tardis

Just picture me hyperventilating.

The rest of the day was awkward, however, for we didn't have enough time to journey back into the city of Cardiff, but we had way too much time in Cardiff Bay. Plus, it was cold and windy and really rather dreary out. We spent the rest of the day coffee shop hopping (and I had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season and it was GLORIOUS) before jumping back on the train.

Windsor, England

Saturday morning we ventured back to Paddington to catch a quick train to Windsor, which was thankfully not complicated. What an adorable city! We trickled in and out of the cute shops (I bought a hat with bowties on it hehe) before venturing up to the castle. The castle is absolutely beautiful. I believe that the Queen was in residence, so I like to believe she happened to peer out of the window while I was walking past, ha!The castle allows you to tour Queen Mary's Doll House, which I have to say, I would have been one happy kid if I had a dollhouse like that!!!!

Afterward we went to a pub nearby (the name has left me but I can totally explain where it is) and I had literally the. best. mulled. wine. EVER. Christmas in a cup, man. I already warned Mom, Dad, and Ryan that I will forever be trying to imitate that recipe every Christmas from now on, so, you know, cheers.

Windsor Castle

See isn't it cute?!

Beautiful gardens!

I mean, I'd live here too with that view...

The pub was down that little street!

Literally the best drink ever.

St. George's Chapel. So beautiful, and also the final resting place of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Charles I, and parents and sister of HM the Queen, among many others.

Bus Trip: Leed's Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and White Cliffs of Dover

• Leed's Castle

A few months back, after trying to figure out the last few places I wanted to visit, I stumbled across a bus tour that covered basically all of the England staples that I have longed to see but haven't yet.Ironically, it turned out to be the same company that we used for our Oxford and Warwick Castle trip over six years ago. When I told Mom about it, she and Dad decided that it'd be a great trip for the three of us to do Brilliant!

After dealing with the ever-lovely group of fellow tourists (note: that was sarcasm, everyone), we set out on a very rainy Sunday morning to Leed's Castle, Canterbury. I absolutely loved the exterior and the history attached to it (basically if it still has ties to Henry VIII and/or Elizabeth I, I'm geeking out about it), but the three of us all found the interior a little lackluster. Not that it wasn't pretty, but it was smaller to some of the other castles I've seen and not as awe-inspiring....which is not to say that such a thing is necessary to make a castle wonderful. One of my favorite parts was finding the little built-in reading lights that the lady had installed in her bed in about the 1900s. She knew what she was talking about!!

The rain was a bit of a damper when it came to walking around, but I still found it enchanting.



Beautiful

Decaying mill

See the reading lamps above the pillows? Love them!

• Canterbury Cathedral

My parents and I opted to get the built-in lunch that the tour company provided, which consisted of your average fish and chips. We later realized that we had made a big mistake, for it cut out a significant chunk of cathedral-exploring time. The Canterbury Cathedral is a place that I have desired to go to for a very long time, and that longing only grew last year while taking my Chaucer class. It does not disappoint. If you've ever read 'Pillars of the Earth', this cathedral has to have been an inspiration. I won't even try to describe how awe-inspiring it is. It is breathtaking, and I promise you that pictures and words will never be able to do it justice. I am sick that I didn't get as big of a chance to soak it in as I wanted, but it was enough to satisfy my thirst, at least for a little.

Cute little town of Canterbury

Memorial to the original site of St. Augustine's seat in 597AD

• Dover, England

Okay, so after feeling completely overwhelmed from Canterbury, I promptly fell asleep on the bus ride to Dover. So, quite conveniently, I woke up right as we were pulling up to the coast. How beautiful is Dover! I was slightly disappointed as we only got to spend about twenty minutes there, and the actual cliffs that one thinks of when they hear the name were off in the distance. However, by the time we arrived, the rain had stopped, and we had a quite clear view of France across the water, and after standing in the chill for a few minutes, I grew to appreciate the sights and was quite glad to get back onto the bus.

See France?!

There they are!

Cheesin' on the coast.

So pretty!

The tour ended with a pretty, but not-as-exciting boat tour from Greenwich to Embankment. Mom, Dad, and I ate at the Sherlock Holmes Pub (yummy! And so cute!) and then collapsed into bed. Unfortunately, the next day I had to leave for class but they toured a bit more of London. This past weekend as absolutely fabulous, and I'm so glad that they got to see these sights with me. More photos will be uploaded on FB in due time, but for now I have to hurry on out as I have a train to Exeter (sup Kate) soon, but on Saturday I'm off to Madrid!!! I'm so excited to see Elisa and then my host family from four years ago. I will try to blog as much as I can considering my limited access to technology, but I'll certainly pick it back up next week!


Cheers! xo