More Royalty and History!

So today has been quite the busy day! As soon as we got up we ate some granola bars and were on our way! We first went to Hampton Court, which was so pretty! It wasn't quite Versailles, but it was still, it was better than shabby! It was pretty busy today because it happened to be the day of a huge garden show, so a lot of people were on the train and were wandering around. 

One of the cool things about the place was that it had a lot of history of the beginning of King Henry's reign with the stuff regarding Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Cardinal Wolsey. I was very impressed with how much stuff I knew from that time period! But it helps when you've read a lot of Historical Fiction novels and such. We also got to do the world-famous maze they had there, which was pretty fun. We got stickers for finding our way through!

While we were there we got to meet some celebrities! Well, King Henry the VIII, who was about the get married to Catherine Parr. I would just like to point out that at that point in his life, Henry would not have been walking around like he was, he had a serious case of gout and well, other diseases, which left him mainly bedridden. I'm just saying... But it was still fun to meet him and get to take a photo with him (which is the one pictured in the blog).

After Hampton Court we went back to London and checked out the British Museum. While in Paris Kelley was a little disappointed she didn't get to see the Rosetta Stone in the Louvre. I mentioned how I had seen it at the British Library (oops) but then corrected to museum, but they idea got in to Kelley, so we checked out both today! At the British Museum we mostly stayed in the area with the Mummies and then the Partheon. It was really cool to look at the old stuff, but not so much dead bodies. Just not my thing. Kelley was completely blown away at the Library, which made me feel proud for suggesting it. We saw lots of original work including stuff by Jane Austen, Da Vinci, Handel, and of course, my favorite, the Beatles.

Right now we're back at the pub. No ales tonight though! Tried their version of "Authentic American-Style Buffalo Wings" which were pretty good, but not amazing. And what's sad is that their little Diet Coke was almost as much as a pint! Like a 30 cent difference! While I'm writing I'm watching some Cricket. I don't think that there's actually a game going on, I think it's something called "The Ashes" which is a lot like our All-Star Slam Dunk contests. I'm trying to follow it, but all I've gotten so far is that the pitcher is trying to knock over some of the pins, which the batter must protect. Once the ball is in the outfield though, I'm completely lost. And the hitting of the ball is really all they're showing.

I leave for Oxford in 2 days! I can hardly believe it already! Getting there is going to find itself to be quite difficult. Once I get to Paddington Station (think of the bear), I'll be good, but it'll be hard getting there. I've decided not to take the Tube there because it'll be way too hard with 2 suitcases and no extra help. There are stairs without escalators or lifts, so I just don't think it'll be realistic. But right now I have an itinerary of 3 bus changes and 2 walks. So, we'll just see about that.

Tomorrow though, we'll be going to Windsor Castle! Originally we were suppose to go to Stonehenge, but since I've already been there and I'm going again, they switched their 2 days so that I can do something I haven't done yet. It was very nice of them, and I'm super excited for it! 5 days so far in Europe, and no castles! Can't believe it! Only palaces.

I would like to mention on a last note that I have officially had my first day in England without rain! At least so far... So there ends the streak.

Like always, love y'all!