Advertisement
Published: July 24th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Lauren & Andrew at Westminster Abbey
Andrew proudly displaying the chocolate coin he earned for his diligent study of Abbey history Up early to clean up and say farewell to our lovely Paris flat. Still raining off and on as we trudged down the street with our luggage towards the taxi stand. We figured a taxi would be the most reasonable way to get to the train station for our Chunnel-train back to London, but the rain apparently had caused a taxi shortage. A day earlier there had been a long line of cabs, but this morning we waited for 20 minutes (nervously looking at our watches) and nothing. Eventually we decided to go with plan B and take the metro. Very efficient and worked quite well although hauling luggage up and down stairs was a bit of a workout. Made it to the train station with enough time left to not feel rushed. Bid au revoir to Paris having not had nearly enough time to explore the sights (and tastes). We barely scratched the surface of patisseries and brasseries and didn’t get into even a single fromagerie. Eurostar was smooth and fast. Trip under the English channel was downright boring, though very efficient. I think the kids had envisioned a glass tube with fish swimming outside the train windows. London flat
John, Andrew, Lauren at Westminster Abbey
Main entrance all to ourselves.... ya think? this time is a whole house (enormous compared to the large apartment we had last week). Kids even each get their own bedroom (!), this being the first time on the trip they have not had to share an actual bed. Quickly off to see Westminster Abbey. Magnificent building and so rich with history! In addition to many Kings and Queens, there are monuments to many great writers and scientists. Sonia was particularly amused to hear a docent describe how Newton had come up with the Theory of Relativity. Do you know that the revolutionary leader Oliver Cromwell (ardent crusader against any sort of showiness in the Church of England) had an elaborate funeral at Westminster Abbey and was buried there… until after the restoration of the Monarchy his body was exhumed, hanged and decapitated? Andrew worked doggedly to complete the series of questions on the “Children’s Trail” handout (he had to find the stone with Cromwell’s name but was spared the decapitation details). For his hard work he was rewarded with a chocolate coin. Home for a brief respite followed by dinner (Indian food) and then off to the Apollo theatre for “Wicked!” Kids were tired (up early for
Wicked!
Plot better-than-expected and costumes, set, and staging fantastic! But all the actors were faking British accents! train to London + a one hour time change from Paris) but enjoyed the show nonetheless. Andrew was completely whipped when it was over and said (possibly for the first time in his life) “Just get me to bed.” As we left the theatre at 10:30pm, Lauren was also quite tired but managed with a mischievous smile to ask “So what are we doing now? Walk around by Big Ben?”. Unfortunately, a low photo day, because no photography is allowed inside Westminster Abbey or during “Wicked”. I guess we will have to get by on the literal 1500 we took earlier in the trip. I hope there is one good shot among them!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.204s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 15; qc: 70; dbt: 0.1137s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.3mb