Well I think it has been about 5 days since my last post and I have done and learned so much it that short about of time. First of all, I would like to point out that I have probably walked between 10 and 15 miles every day because that is what the British people do. I am also in love with the public transportation. I really do wish we had it back in the States because it is just so convenient. Also, it is a lot cheaper that having to drive everywhere, especially if you are only going say between 5 and 15 miles on a bus, or if you are going longer distances 2 or 4 hours by over ground train. Everyday day, Dad and Daniel and I, get up and walk to the Potters’ Bar Train Station where we take a bus to the tube Station and then take the underground wherever we are going that day. And of course we bought travel cards before we came so we do not have to worry about buying different tickets every day.
On our third day in London we had a very busy day. We started our day by going to watch the changing of the Horse Guards. It was pretty cool to see all of the Horse Guards in their uniforms and the horses all dressed up. This is a ceremony that makes place every day in order to give the guards their breaks. It is also very prestigious to be one of the Guards because you are working for the Queen. After watching the ceremony, we went into the House Hold Calvary Museum, which tells also about the workings of the horse guards. Inside this museum, we also got to see some of the actually Guardsmen taking care of their horses after coming off break. Next, we went to go and have lunch in Saint James Park. It is a beautiful park with all sorts of wonderful plants and wildlife. After having lunch, we went across the street to Banqueting House. Banqueting House was originally part of Whitehall Palace and was used for parties and entertaining done by the King and Queen. It was also the place of the execution of King Charles I (I believe). From Banqueting House we traveled down to West Minister Abbey which is one of my most favorite places in England. It is a grand Christian place and an active place of worship. The architecture is absolutely amazing and there is so much history in one place that a person could easily be overwhelmed. There are also loads of very famous people and royalty buried in West Minister Abbey including Queen Elizabeth I and her half- sister Queen Mary. The well-known author of Canterbury Tales, Jeffery Chaucer, is also buried there. This made me extremely excited because just last semester in Dr. Overstreet’s Western Literature class we read the Canterbury Tales. As I was sitting there admiring Chaucer’s tomb, I could hear Dr. Overstreet teaching us about Chaucer and his writing. The last place we went on this day was Winston Churchill’s War Rooms. This was a fascinating experience. These were the rooms where Winston Church and other officers during World War II spent most of their time. In many of the rooms there was originally furniture and maps and other necessities.
However, by far my two favorite places we have been have been Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace was one of only a few things that I decided I absolutely 100% had to go see on this trip to England. The tickets are very hard to get and pretty pricey, but we pre-ordered ours so it was a lot easier. The experience was also 100% worth the cost of the tickets and I will pay the price again in the future. There is something just so exciting about being in the home of the Queen of England and walking in places where she, and other members of the royal family have been. Everything in Buckingham Palace is just so expensive looking and the intricate details of everything are fascinating. Windsor Castle is also a royal working residence and just liking Buckingham Palace is fascinating in the detail that is put into everything. My favorite thing about Windsor though was seeing were Jane Seymour was buried. Jane Seymour was one of the 6 wives of King Henry the VIII, and she is said to be the only one he truly ever loved. She is by far my favorite of the wives (I love the TV show the Tudors about King Henry VIII).
Well on Tuesday we are heading to York for 3 days and I probably won’t post again until then. But in the time being may God be with all of us as we each live and serve him.
On our third day in London we had a very busy day. We started our day by going to watch the changing of the Horse Guards. It was pretty cool to see all of the Horse Guards in their uniforms and the horses all dressed up. This is a ceremony that makes place every day in order to give the guards their breaks. It is also very prestigious to be one of the Guards because you are working for the Queen. After watching the ceremony, we went into the House Hold Calvary Museum, which tells also about the workings of the horse guards. Inside this museum, we also got to see some of the actually Guardsmen taking care of their horses after coming off break. Next, we went to go and have lunch in Saint James Park. It is a beautiful park with all sorts of wonderful plants and wildlife. After having lunch, we went across the street to Banqueting House. Banqueting House was originally part of Whitehall Palace and was used for parties and entertaining done by the King and Queen. It was also the place of the execution of King Charles I (I believe). From Banqueting House we traveled down to West Minister Abbey which is one of my most favorite places in England. It is a grand Christian place and an active place of worship. The architecture is absolutely amazing and there is so much history in one place that a person could easily be overwhelmed. There are also loads of very famous people and royalty buried in West Minister Abbey including Queen Elizabeth I and her half- sister Queen Mary. The well-known author of Canterbury Tales, Jeffery Chaucer, is also buried there. This made me extremely excited because just last semester in Dr. Overstreet’s Western Literature class we read the Canterbury Tales. As I was sitting there admiring Chaucer’s tomb, I could hear Dr. Overstreet teaching us about Chaucer and his writing. The last place we went on this day was Winston Churchill’s War Rooms. This was a fascinating experience. These were the rooms where Winston Church and other officers during World War II spent most of their time. In many of the rooms there was originally furniture and maps and other necessities.
However, by far my two favorite places we have been have been Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace was one of only a few things that I decided I absolutely 100% had to go see on this trip to England. The tickets are very hard to get and pretty pricey, but we pre-ordered ours so it was a lot easier. The experience was also 100% worth the cost of the tickets and I will pay the price again in the future. There is something just so exciting about being in the home of the Queen of England and walking in places where she, and other members of the royal family have been. Everything in Buckingham Palace is just so expensive looking and the intricate details of everything are fascinating. Windsor Castle is also a royal working residence and just liking Buckingham Palace is fascinating in the detail that is put into everything. My favorite thing about Windsor though was seeing were Jane Seymour was buried. Jane Seymour was one of the 6 wives of King Henry the VIII, and she is said to be the only one he truly ever loved. She is by far my favorite of the wives (I love the TV show the Tudors about King Henry VIII).
Well on Tuesday we are heading to York for 3 days and I probably won’t post again until then. But in the time being may God be with all of us as we each live and serve him.