A Super Long Post for a Super Amazing Trip

The day school got out, I got out of town.  

Literally. 

I flew on a jet plane across the country, across the pond, to the land of 

queens, princes and princesses, and castles.

Where fairy tales are made up. 

See, just like this . . . 

The beautiful drive into Kent

I planned to stay with Matt and Kim at their home in the beautiful English countryside of Kent on the Surrey and Sussex border.  

This is the village where the church building is... East Grinstead

The first order of business, lunch at the local pub (and I mean local, it's right across the street).  Then, off to their ward talent show.

The next day, we headed a full 10 minutes out to Hever Castle.  This is where Anne Boleyn lived, where Henry VIII sometimes lived.

I loved this arbor. 

Here is Kim with her two boys that are at home, Connor and Kyle (Tyler is on a mission).

I don't think I could mow that straight if I had to.

The castle grounds had a garden maze.

On Monday we went to BRIGHTON!!

Connor and Kim hanging out on the Brighton Pier.

In the town, with the small, small streets, with the water at the end.  Just about ALL the streets in England are this size.

On Tuesday morning, we got up early and took five trains to PARIS.  

PARIS!!!!!!!!

We stayed at the Marriott (below) on the Champs Elysees right near the Arc de Triomphe (above) and it was fabulous!

Those two guys in red pants are welcoming customers through the massive black gates to Abercrombie and Fitch.  I think that if it were not cold and drizzly, they would not have been in those particular outfits (cough, cough).

Yes, that would be the Eiffel Tower, in all her glory.

The architecture is beyond amazing . . . even the bridges are beautiful.

At the Louvre.

I called this the Lock Bridge.

Kim crossing the street in busy Paris.

Inside Notre Dame.

We climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and had incredible views.  This is were the streets all converge to the center, like a star.

On Wednesday we took a train out to Versailles.  You have not seen opulence until you've seen Versailles.  Holy Cow.  No wonder the French revolted.

It was sooooo crowded inside. 

The grounds were beyond extensive.  How would you like this for your little side yard?

And this for your back patio?

We were so glad we rented bikes and rode around the Palace grounds.  Riding for an hour still didn't even touch a fraction of the extensive property.

Back to Paris, we climbed to the top the Notre Dame.  It was awesome! We were so glad we had great weather, too.  

Hello Gargoyle friend!

The bell Quasimodo rings. 

Exiting the bell tower.

A hungry gargoyle.

Views from all sides of Notre Dame.

Lunch at George V.  

The beautiful bridge I was standing on earlier, over the Seine. 

We happened upon this amazing Farmers Market that was so unbelievably gorgeous.  Everything was displayed so beautifully I've never seen anything like it.  We bought a bunch of jewelry from the nicest French lady here, too. 

It's the real deal at this Farmers Market.

Outside Notre Dame.

Along the Seine, with vendors set up along the sidewalk.

Taken from the train ride.  The beautiful French countryside where there would be miles of gorgeous fields, then a small village with a tall church in the middle, then miles of fields.  Over and over again.

Back in the U.K. . . 

On Thursday morning, we went to the London temple.  

This is Kim's house (well, the backside).  The house is so cute, and old.  It's called, "The Coach House".

After the temple, we took the train into London and look who I found at London Bridge?  Fancy that!!  We met Matt at an outdoor market for lunch, did a little shopping around, then John and I took the express train to Lingfield for the night. 

The view out our hotel window.

On Friday, John, Kim, Connor, and I went to Bath (BAAWTH).  Along the way, you can't miss these stones that are alongside the motorway . . .

Stonehenge.  Prehistoric and still there!

Bath Abbey

The Roman Baths in Bath.  

That's me with Jane Austen.  Yep, we're buds.  

The Crescent. 

Lunch in Bath.

Just some of the English countryside taken from the car.  I must have said, Oh that's so pretty! a million times.

Windsor Castle. 

The oldest, largest castle that is still in use.  We weren't able to see much of it because the queen was coming.  She usually spends her weekends here. 

The tradition of the guards is actually pretty comical if you think about it.  There is so much ceremony, it's amazing that they actually are able to guard anything.

During his ceremonial march, back and forth in front of his guard shack, he came very close to me.  

And I mean very close - that blade came inches from my head. 

The town of Windsor.

The Wheatsheaf. A very, very old structure in the middle of nowhere that is now a pub.  I can't remember how old it is but it is more than 400 years, and the sagging roof is proof.  We got some good English grub; Toad in the Hole actually.

Canterbury!!

Talk about old!  Just imagine that Chaucer actually walked these streets.  Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in this cathedral in 1170, thus beginning the pilgrimage to Canterbury, and the Canterbury Tales.   

Dover!  The White Cliffs of Dover. 

We went to the coast and visited Dover castle and the famed war tunnels.  

, 

On our last night, we went for a walk with Kim and Connor around their "neighborhood" which follows footpaths as old as dirt, through sheep fields, deer fields, wheat fields, and just beautiful fields.  I can just see Elizabeth Bennet or Emma Woodhouse joining us as we took our exercise. 

Sorry, it's the English Lit geek in me.

The Swan - the pub across the street.  

 Thanks for staying until the bitter end of my long vacation journal.  I hope you enjoyed the journey.  

I should clarify the crux of the reason for this amazing adventure.  Matt and Kim had been asking for John to bring me along one of his business trips ever since they moved to England.  We actually planned to bring the whole family, but couldn't quite make it work, so instead I went.  I left Friday, John left Sunday and went to Amsterdam, then all over London and various parts of England before we met up on Thursday. It's really hard to have John gone a lot and traveling all over the world, but the benefit of that is airline miles and hotel points, for which I'm very grateful.  And even more grateful am I for ready and willing grandparents to help with the children while we are gone.