London: Tidbits

 More photos from our little London trip...

Our hotel was near 800-year-old Southwark Cathedral, and I'd really hoped to make it inside. But our timing didn't work. 

Also, we were very near Borough Market, which is apparently an awesome food hall. But it was closed when we were available. We needed one more day!

We went to Covent Garden after the Tower of London, before heading back to get our bags and take the train to our Gatwick hotel Tuesday night.

We came across the Noel Coward Theatre, where Mischief Theatre was putting on The Comedy About Spies. This is the group that created The Play That Goes Wrong.

Again, if we'd had one more day! Or, even 12 more hours - a later flight Wednesday - we would have bought tickets for Tuesday night's show. The girls (and Stace and I) love Mischief and seeing the crew in person would have been amazing.

We happened upon one of the best-rated pie 'n mash shops, so we stopped in for a final dinner. It was delicious.

Violet wasn't excited to spend time in London - she's a nature girl, not a city girl. So Stace promised her a pair of Dr. Martens boots, talking them up, with their London history.

He got a bit of sticker shock when we went in, but he's a man of his word. Vi would have loved a pair of black boots with black embroidered roses she saw, but they were out of her size and they're completely gone online. So, she went for a very classic pair of eight-holes, with black thread instead of the traditional yellow.

With the amount they cost, hopefully they'll last her forever, and be a memory of this trip.

Just London scenes...

Stace and Cora went out early on Tuesday morning to see the site of the original Globe theatre, around the corner from our hotel. 

The letter "G" behind her is part of the outline of the theatre's site.

That'll wrap up our England trip, 2025. Lots of great memories made and experiences shared! 

Our flight home Wednesday was uneventful, as you alway hope flights are.

London: Tower of London

We packed up Tuesday morning and took our bags down to the hotel's holding closet before walking to the Tower of London. I'd visited on my first trip to London, with JT, in 2001, but hadn't been back since. It's castle, fortress, prison, center of government and museum, holding all manner of fascinating pieces of English history.

Here, we're in front of the White Tower, built by William the Conqueror in the late 11th Century. Now, it's a main part of the museum attraction, with the Royal Armouries and much more inside.

We had to start our day with a tour of the grounds with a Yeoman Warder, who gave us great stories and details with typical dry humor.

Two of the many centuries-old suits of armor, which have been on display for hundreds of years to tourists like us!

The 12th century Valasse Cross was on display, on loan from a French museum for one year. It's bedecked with precious stones from Egypt, Iran, India and beyond, with a relic said to be from Christ's cross inset into the gold.

The cross was displayed here in St John the Evangelist's chapel, within the White Tower. Built as a place of worship for William the Conqueror, it held medieval church services for the royals, and fills the same role today. It is a majestic space.

Above, a bedroom fit for king! King Edward I, to be precise, who reigned in the 13th century. 

We're posing together in the throne room of Wakefield Tower. 

We really enjoyed this day together, learning a lot in our 4-5 hours on the grounds. We toured the rooms used by Sir Walter Raleigh while he was imprisoned at the Tower, and we also saw other prison and torture exhibits.  
 

A crowd gathered to watch the lower bridge go up, to let a tall ship - looked like a wooden old Tall Ship - go through.

London: Arrival

On Sunday, we had lunch at the Prince of Wales with the family, and then spent time with Dean, Jenny and the children at Nan and Pop's house. That evening, it was time to pack up.

On Monday morning, we gave kisses to Nan and Pop, and took the train into London to start our short 43-hour city break. We had two things solidly on the agenda: a play booked at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and tickets to the Tower of London.

We found our Premier Inn, in a fabulous spot near the Thames and the Globe, and dropped off our big suitcases. Then, we wandered around for a while. 

On our wanders, we found the Golden Hinde, the replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship, so we bought tickets and went aboard. 

We learned the replica was constructed 50 years ago using the old, original shipbuilding method, and, like its predecessor, successfully traveled around the world. Stace remembers seeing it with his Pop when he was a boy, when it docked in Cornwall.

There were informational signs and activities for kids, and you could imagine what it might have been like to be a 16th century sailor (no thanks!).

Stace and Cora continued their longstanding argument over whether Drake was a pirate, or privateer, or if privateer was a synonym for pirate. A fellow visitor overheard and said she was a history professor, and he was indeed NOT a pirate. 

Then, in the next room, a sign labeled Drake a pirate. We got a laugh.

London is an amazing city. Maybe we were just in the best parts, but it felt safe, and every view was pretty.

Here, we were walking across the Millennium Bridge toward St. Paul's Cathedral.

Without prearranged tickets, we weren't able to go inside, but seeing it outside was special in itself.

Cora managed to get on WiFi and looked up "boba near me," and successfully navigated us to a boba shop. The girls were very happy to have their favorite drink, for the first time in two weeks. It's not easy to find in Somerset, but boba is all over London, we discovered.

Across the street was a fancy little bakery, where we got sausage rolls.

This bit of Southbank history - the remains of the 12th century Winchester Palace - was preserved near our hotel. Truly a great place to explore!

Dunster Castle

On Thursday, we made our return to Dunster Castle, for the first time since 2016.

Stace, Sue, Violet and I made the trip, while Gord helped Dean with a work project. We had a great time! 

It's the details - like this gorgeous carved wooden staircase, and the ceilings.

These chairs caught my attention - the carved oak Flemish backs are from around 1600, and depict the stations of the cross. The seats are from 1830.

These 17th century leather hangings were especially intriguing to Violet. They told the story of Cleopatra and Antony.

Every room told a story, and featured beautiful furnishings.

I glanced up at one of the portraits and thought I was looking at my grandpa!

We got coffees and scones and had the best view for our snack, including a robin on the adjacent wall.

 

We walked the grounds, which include a lovely creek.

We then walked into the nearby medieval village, which is just stunning. I'd be happy to stay a night here someday.

We walked into several shops, including this Medieval Gallery, where you can buy an 800-year-old sword that would likely have been used by knights in the Crusades. Eight thousand pounds!

Dorset Days

 Stace sorted out car insurance for the new-to-the-family car, and we spent Monday in Yeovil and Sherborne with Sue and Gord.

While out, we stopped at a lovely garden centre, where the hydrangeas were particularly lovely.

We also spent time shopping for a new suit for Stace, for the wedding we'll attend while we're here.

We went into Sherborne for lunch and drinks - such a lovely town, with great medieval charm! 

On Tuesday, Stace, Violet and I went on a little adventure, to Maiden Castle near Dorchester. Violet loved being close to the sheep as we walked around the Iron Age fortress.

We picnicked. It was fabulous.

We then went into Weymouth to check out the beach...

...and around to Smugglers Inn, a beautiful 13th century pub Stace remembers his Pop taking him to.

Violet and Stace walked from the pub down to the cove, where pirates would land in the 17th century.

Before heading home, we checked out the Portland Bill Lighthouse. 

A great day exploring Dorset!