London aside...

We’re really terribly behind with our blog now. We’re writing this entry from Turin and there is a lot more to blog about. So let us just post these photos for you and then tell you a little bit about them... or more if our memories decide to work well

Pat, our lady cheauffer

The railway station @ Windsor

bench (at windsor railway station)

Basically, we rejoined the tour company for a day trip outside of London. We chose the Windsor-Stonehenge-Bath route. We have no regrets. It was hassle free, pleasant and cruising... We even got some much needed sleep. Sweet!

Kanootz in front of an old train engine

The coach driver was a lady named Pat. She wore a silver fern pin and greeted every single passenger, asked them where they’re from, and on learning we live in NZ, she said Kia Ora… lovely lady! Our tour guide was dear old Richard again. We’re a bigger number today, approximately twice as much as yesterday.

Windsor Castle

First stop was Windsor castle. We had to climb up a bridge and into a railway station – which was very very pretty and quiet. Somewhere along the railway station you can get a lovely sight of the entire castle. The town itself is very quaint with its cobbled streets and tiny little shops in buildings that are probably as old as the castle.

this way please...

The Windsor Castle behind Kanootz

Windsor tower

a tree by the castle wall

To get into the castle grounds, you have to go through security as rigorous as those in airports. After fetching our humungous audio guides - which we only listened to for the first 3 stops, we marched along the top of the castle wall for a little orientation before our guide leaves us to ourselves. Here, we got a lovely picture of the ‘public school’ (which means elite school) which William and Harry attended.

Windsor wall

The castle interior is just as one would imagine. Overwhelmingly regal, everything seems to be lined with gold. All the ceilings are painted with beautiful murals and the walls decorated with royal portraits by some of the most famous painters / artists of the past. There was a very PINK room. Joia liked that one. Then there’s the throne room where people who get invited gets to have an audience with the queen. It’s like in that movie Ever After where the stepmother and step sisters were summoned to appear before the king and queen.

view from Windsor Castle

There was changing of the guards that day...

After a while inside the castle, we were glad to be out the door and into the sunshine again. It gets to you, if you’re like us, uncomfortable in and overwhelmed by all that regality. It’s nice and all but okay, so? It’s enough to say we’ve seen all that.

guard's shoes

Walking back into the assembly point, we finally found each other again after getting lost in all the castles chambers. But also, this castle guard / beefeater (or something) found us. He was so funny. He insisted we took a photo together with him. Then he offered to take a photo of us – wasn’t a very good shot but nevertheless, the lovely gesture more than makes up for it.

friendly guard at Windsor

shot by friendly guard

Stonehenge silhouette... (w/ lens flare)

tourist pose

Next stop was Stonehenge. The site was pretty much the same as what one would see in travel brochures and travel shows. Visitors basically go in through the reception point and through a tunnel under the road, then out the other side where the rocks are. Here, the Filipino mother and son tourists finally approached us for a photo. It took them a while… haha!

a tomb hill around stonehenge

They thought we were Vietnamese. The son, who works in London, was complaining about the weather. We said we didn’t expect much of the UK weather, that way we don’t get too depressed by gray clouds.

listening to folklore

look below...rock poops!

the lone stone

Probably the most interesting thing about Stonehenge is that as one walks around the circular formation, every now and then, one would hear – rather, feel a really large explosion which actually shakes the ground with pressure enough to make you pop the inside of your ears. We learned later that there is an Army training ground close to the site. Now, it makes sense.

another lone stone

follow the shadow

Last stop: Bath. This was a lovely finale for the day. Bath is a very beautiful city.

some quote about Bath

Bath City Centre

The stately homes and gardens make you feel as if you’re in a different era. They even have shops lined up on top of a bridge.

Bath Cathedral

Roman Baths entrance

xylophone... ah, music!

Apparently, some famous Hollywood people have got themselves properties in some of its exclusive areas. The actual Roman baths are an interesting artifact. One can really get lost in time inside the complex.

The main pool

Roman costume-wearer behind Joia

dip?

The exit end leads you into the city center. The sun slowly darkening the parish church’s façade, people walking their dogs, quaint little shops of all sorts, a busker playing delightful music on his large xylophone… It was blissful!

Roman architecture inside Bath complex

building next to bath cathedral

Harrods - on our way back to hotel

Alas, the day must come to an end. The drive back home was peaceful. We thanked God for another safe day of travels. It was time to pack up again, thankfully, we did not have any problems boarding our plane from Heathrow to Milan – because we booked this flight online ourselves. Onwards to Europa!

Kanootz @ Heathrow w/ our ride to Milan

On the wings of... Alitalia

Bath, United Kingdom