Windsor Castle

Today I popped down to see the Queen at her Castle. She was busy so I wandered amongst the throng of tourists visiting her abode. Not too shabby.

After doing a load of washing I headed through One Tree Hill gardens down to Honour Oak station. Chatted to a couple of biddy's at the station. In London no one says boo to a goose, and I love to see the reaction when you start a conversation. First they look at you as if you have committed a sin, then after a short response, they chat like theres no tomorrow. Rather fun to watch. These two were ignoring each other when I arrived, and they boarded the train chatting to each other about family and health. One of todays tasks achieved, and its only 10am! I left them to chat and caught the train to Clapham Junction, changed trains and travelled to the Windsor Riverside terminus. Windsor is a lovely place. Joined the queue for entry to the castle. The castle comprises St Georges Chapel, The state apartments, queen mary's dolls' house and the drawing gallery (those available to the public anyway). I would have loved to gone into the round tower, but that was not available.

I started in the state apartments and found them to be laid out similar to other castles, however windsor castle had superior ornateness to others I had been in. The history and storys were on a par with others, however there was another level of class and grandeur about this place. As a working castle, it was impressive to say the least. The reception hall is second to none, in all castles I have been in.

St Georges Chapel (inside the grounds) was inspiring. I still havent really come to grasp the concept that there are tombs and graves of important people inside the Chapel. I find it a little eerie walking over stones of historical people. It is also worth noting that in this building that has stood for over 500 years, that stones of marble sitting there for 300 years are sound and weathered the test of time (and the 1 million visitors each year), not the same can be said for the more recently laid stones. If i were to pick just two of the most amazing things in the chapel, they would be ... the wood carvings for the knights of the garter are impossible to describe, and the building structure being completely of stone and spanning impossible distances, and has remained unaltered for hundreds of years.

I wandered along the Thames both upstream and downstream from the castle. I managed to find the oldest cast iron bridge, and the longest viaduct still in use today (as a train crossing over the Thames).

All in all, a most amazing day.

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Part of trip: UK

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