London

We landed in London after a long daytime flight from UAE. We hopped in a cab and headed to our Air BnB. We were looking forward to getting settled in our flat and spending the next ten days in one spot. We've had great luck with Air BnB on this trip. Excellent, really. And then, we got to London. We arrived at the address we were given and no one was around to let us in. I called and messaged the host and after a number of tries was able to get him on the phone. The person meeting us was stuck in traffic and, as it turns out, we were given the wrong address.  So we dragged our luggage and travel-weary selves to the right place and waited a little more. We were let into the apartment and... Wow. It was everything we had hoped against. The carpeting was stained, torn and duct-taped together, the tea kettle was crusty, there were mystery stains on the headboard, and - the pièce de résistance - an old mattress leaning on the wall outside the front door. So it was to be that our first day in London would be spent figuring out where we would stay for the next nine nights. We figured it out, moved on and had a great time but we did not document our search in photos. I'll spare you the photos of the yucky apartment. Onward...

Our first real day in London started out great. We met up with my sister and brother-in-law, Brenda and Jim and also with my mom, Mary! They came together to spend time with us in London. We were so, so happy! John and I were thrilled to see family, the kids were thrilled to see "someone who isn't you". 

We started our day at the Portobello Road market.

After that, we were off to Kensington Palace. We walked down Kensington Palace Gardens, a beautiful street with many embassies and also some private homes. There are no photos allowed, sadly. It was quite a sight.

But Kensington Palace is quite something, too! 

Here's my mom, trying to catch a glimpse of Wills, Kate, George or baby Charlotte. No luck. 

That gate tho.

Queen Victoria statue just outside the gate.

Later, we walked over by the Royal Albert Hall to see the Prince Albert Memorial.

It is so grand and beautiful, I felt a little guilty for making all those prank calls to stores asking if they had Prince Albert in a can. I promised myself I won't do it any more.

Sunday was a doozy. We booked a driver and headed out to see Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge. The London Marathon was held on this day, so it was a good day to get out of town, considering the crowds and traffic.

First up, Windor Castle. 

We saw some people chatting next to one of the buildings

We decided that the one in the red hat is definitely the Queen. Tell all your friends we saw her.

 These uniforms are the best. 

Brenda and Mom keeping up with the audio tour.

Not the best group shot, but the only one we have. 

Mom ready to storm the castle's private entrance.

Up next, Bath. Bath is a city known for its Roman Baths that were built on a hot spring around 60 AD. There's also a 7th century abbey there. The town itself is charming and fun to walk through and the historic sites are beautiful and amazingly well preserved. Also, a bird pooped on my skirt within 30 seconds of leaving the van. Baths = good; Birds = jerks. 

The kids and Mimi had a great time but were a little disappointed that we couldn't get in the baths.

The bath with the abbey behind.

After Bath, it was off to Stonehenge.

 Up first, snacks!

Properly fortified, we were off to see the monument, built between 3000 and 2000 BC.  It is stunning to see in person.

So many theories about why and how it was built but I like the idea that we'll never really know.

This day was epic. In between the sites we had a lovely cream tea, a fun lunch and plenty of time in the car. We left London at 8:00 in the morning and as we were driving back, just in time for our 8:00pm return, my ever-energetic sister threw out the idea of dinner in China Town. We were all in. Photo credit goes to John.

Monday morning, we went to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Turns out LOTS of people show up for this event, so we went to Wellington Barracks to see the band assemble and heard them play some music before they headed out to Buckingham.  

Allison was happy to see her brethren: the low brass.

They played for a bit and then headed off.  We followed them down the street but didn't try to shove through the crowds to see them at the palace. As we walked away, we heard them playing "Crocodile Rock". Sir Elton never goes out of style. 

From there we headed over to Westminster Abbey. It is not permitted to take photos inside, so we have only this one. If you get to London make time to visit. So much history, I almost broke something trying to absorb it all. Absolutely stunning.

John, Allison, Cameron and I had to leave a little early that day because we were meeting up with another family of special guests!

Making their SECOND guest appearance on our world trip were 3/4 of the Henna/Commons Family!!! Sadly, James couldn't make it for this one but we were delighted to have Elizabeth, Tim and Charlotte. 

The girls were pretty chill about it but seemed like they were ok spending a little time together.

Tuesday was someone's birthday and we went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour. As we waited to enter, we knew we were in for something special when we saw the set for the cupboard under the stairs. Two adult women may have even cried a little bit.

When we were asked if there were any birthdays in the group, our special birthday girl shoved her way to the front of the crowd à la George Constanza trying to escape a fire.

And guess what! It was totally worth it. I got to push the door open to reveal...

THE GREAT HALL!!!! The real one. Not some re-make.

If you're not a Harry Potter fan, you can skip the following photos. But you should really re-think your choices. There's still time to read the books and watch the movies.

Yule Ball costumes

Wigs for Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy

Various casts, Snape's wig at center

The moving staircase. Note the green brackets used to move it

Gryffindor dorm room that was home to
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Dean Thomas,
Seamus Finnegan and Neville Longbottom

The wands. All the wands. Cameron really wants to make one of these. I might indulge him at some point.

Gryffindor common room

Gryffindor common room - stairs leading to sleeping quarters

Costumes for Hermione, Harry and Ron from the final movie

The pensieve and bottled memories in Dumbledore's office

Dumbledore's office. You can see the sorting hat

Some of the most memorable small props from the movies

Potions lab

Hagrid's hut

The cart that carried people into Gringott's

The door to the vault that held the sorcerer's stone.
I'll never forget the look on Cam's face when he saw
this in the movie for the first time.

Door to the Chamber of Secrets

The chest where Mad-Eye Moody was held captive

The Vanishing Cabinet

Statue from the Ministry - Magic is Might

Dolores Umbridge's office and costumes

Animatronic Charity Burbage hanging over the
table just before Voldemort killed her.
Nagini is on the table, Snape in the foreground

Ministry entrance fireplaces

Buckbeak!

Butterbeer!

Harry's Hogwarts letters desperately trying to reach
him in the living room of number 4 Privet Drive

John and Cameron with chess pieces from the first movie

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The main sign and the
Puking Pastilles character were animated as in the film

Cardboard model of Dumbledore's office

Hogwarts exterior. The boathouse where Snape met
his end is in the foreground.

These books and movies were a big part of our lives for many years. To this day, when we have a snow day or time to sit and watch a movie together, Harry Potter is at the top of the list. We've all read the books multiple times. We talk about the characters and the stories almost daily. It was so special to experience the studio tour with the kids, with other very enthusiastic Harry Potter lovers, and with my brother-in-law Jim, who asked when we saw the cupboard under the stairs, "Did someone live there?"

That night, we went to dinner together to celebrate my birthday. As always, I loved my birthday. John found a great place for dinner and kept the wine flowing, as always. Thanks, Hoeff. <3

It's tough to get the whole group in. Brenda's there somewhere!

Me and Elizabeth. Still can't believe they joined us twice!

Wednesday, we met at about noon to explore the Tower of London. This is truly a must-see. When you go, be sure to join a guided tour with one of the warders. You'll hear all about the brutal history, from the Traitor's Gate that led Sir Thomas More and Queen Anne Boleyn to their imprisonments and eventual executions to the coldest of all cold cases, the princes in the tower. You'll also see many original suits of armor (including two belonging to Henry VIII) and the crown jewels. 

After a few hours exploring, we had a nice happy hour and went home for a bit before dinner. I was so sad that Brenda, Jim and Mom were leaving the very next morning. It was so special to have spent time together exploring London. I'm so grateful that they were able to join us.

Cameron and Mimi, strolling together

Blurry but too cute to leave out.

Best ever.

Thursday, after a few good-byes, we met up with Elizabeth to ride the London Eye. I'm not sure what I liked best: the scenery from high in the air or the super-cool engineering of the Eye itself. Either way, it was great fun. Cameron was under the weather and had to miss out. 

Two of us were not interested in a selfie

Wheel with Big Ben and Parliament building in the background

Looking downriver. I think. Maybe it's upriver?
How do people who live without mountains know these things?

Charlison

Elizabeth and I covered in foam "snow" after the 4D movie experience.

After that, we headed over to the Tate Modern Art Museum. I had to cut out a little early because I found myself coming down with whatever it was that Cameron had. John, Elizabeth and the girls stayed for a while. John and I came to the Tate 15 years ago and loved it then, too.

Warhol's Mao Zedong

African Adventure by Jane Alexander

On Friday, we were able to go to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The one that stands today was built in 1997 about 750 feet from the site of the original, built in 1599. That one burned down in 1613 and a second Globe Theatre was built 1614. The second one was shut down by Puritans in 1642. 

Each show can accomodate about 3,000 people, 700 of whom are in the standing area directly in front of the stage. 

The stage set for a modern Romeo and Juliet.

Again, I had to cut out for a little rest after the Globe. The rest of the crew went to the British Museum. So many treasures here, I'm so sorry to have missed it!

The actual Rosetta Stone

Cat mummies!

Turns out we could have skipped Rapa Nui

Saturday was our final day in London and we spent it with the Henna Commons family at the Science Museum. I could have spent far more time here. It was Smithsonian-level detail and history that covered so many areas of science: Communication, engineering, math, robotics, art, space. Apparently, I was so blown away, we have only one photo of the Apollo 10 command module. I swear there were more things. 

After a fun final dinner with Elizabeth, Tim and Charlotte, we went back to our hotel, packed and got ready for our next adventure

Ireland!