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Published: August 4th 2010
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Thanks for all the well wishers for my birthday, it was greatly appreciated. I had an enjoyable and relaxing day with the kids and Sam in Ljubljana (LJ). Dame.
Now here is part 2 of Alex´s account of London, with Dad typing!
Monday
We were up early to catch the coach to Windsor Castle (One of the Queens castle), Bathe and Stonehedge. At Windsor castle we walked through the castle gates where they were changing of the guard. we als walked through St Georges chapel which is the like the Quenns own cathedral. The celings were very high and lots of information on past kings and queens. After walking around the estate we hopped back onto the coach and headed for Bathe. When we reached Bathe we went to the the first Roman baths were built. It was amazing how it has been preserved and the tour of the site was amazing. Underneath the building there is hot natural spring that bubbles through the ground and enters into the pool area. The water has a temperature of 46 degrees. We were not allowed to touch the water however there was a little fountain and bridge where Opa and I touched
the water accidently in small fountain. It was hot to touch and the water was green because there are no chemicals added to the water. Once we had a look around the museum we had a little stroll through the town . We were also told by out tour guide that Nicholas Cage and Johnny Depp have houses in Bathe. Back onto the Bus again we headed towards Stonehedge which was not to far away from Bathe. When we got there it was an open plain paddock with this large and amazing formation of stones that were carried from Wales which is still some distance away but thius day they still not know how and why they got there. The stones were placed in a circle and they think it may represent a clock or calender. It also may have been used as a compas (Never eat soggy weetbix which represents North, east, south and west) After that we than headed back home and had dinner in an English pub.
Tuesday
Another early morning again and we caught a guided coach again to Oxford University, Drove through the Cotswolds, Stratford upon Avon and Warwick Castle. At Oxford University we
went to the building where part of Harry Potter was filmed. We than had a stroll around the university where we saw many other buildings. It was a beautiful town! We than drove through an area called the Cotswold where there are many old housesd witth thatched roofs that area still standing today. It was lovely and green. When we drove through the Cotswold area we arrived to Stratford upon Avon we the famous William Shakepeare was born. Although I do not know who he is, mum said that I will learn more about him in secondary school. We walked through his house where he was born. It was quite a large home for the times. However children up until the age of 5 years were required to sleep with there parents in the same room because of the candles they had for lighting during the night. The reason it was to dangerous to leave kids in the same room. Our final place we visited and was one of my favourite was Warwick Castle. First we walked through the castle and saw knights, swords, amour that knight would where to protect there bodies. I tried to pull the sword out
of the stone but I was not strong enough so I cannot be like King Arthur. Thre was a demonstration of a trebutchet. (This is a fire ball that was released from a large timber levered sling machine that released the fire ball 100m through the air) It was amazing to see it go through the air. Then we walked back up a path to the castle and started climbing the tallest tower of the castle. Then was one way up and one way down. There were 530 stairs, that was a lot to climb! Sienna said she didn't want to be a princess anymore because her legs were hurting from all the stairs! We walked over the drawbridge to the stocks. In the olden days, people who did the wrong thing were put into the stocks. It is an outside timber jail. (that is Alex's explanantion!) Back on the coach to go home. A long day, but really interesting and cool. I loved Warwick Castle the best.
Bye from Alex (and Dad)
OK, Mum's turn! (of course!, couldnt let a blog go without some final touches!!)
Hi everyone! That night after warwick Castle, we
caight up with Dejan and had a blast catching up on old times! Just great!
Wednesday was a day of rest! And now you can see why! Kids have travelled well through it all and even Opa has managed to keep up! He and Sienna walked together at a steady pace! Wednesday night Marie picked us up and we travelled by double decker to Putney and had dinner at one of her favourite English pubs by the Thames. It is actually the area of the Thames where the movie sliding doors was filmed, the bit when Gweneth is watching the regatta! A bit of useless info for your files!!
English countryside was beautiful and just quietly London was really surprisingly lovely too. Dame and I were expecting a dirty, dark, city, but not the case. Beautifully restored buildings, mixeed with modern day buildings. Friendly people, good food (well not any different to Australia) and a transport system that Melbourne desperately needs! We will come back to England and London, and also investigate the counrty side a bit further!
And then home to pack for the train trip to Paris!.... Mia has decided that she will blog about Paris!
So do stay tuned!!
Today, Wednesday, we had a day of rest. We have been on the go so much, driving here and there, visiting family from every corner of Slovenia, and we all needed to recharge batteries! Poor Sienna who usually sleeps every afternoon has managed to catch 15-30 mins in the car, but today we all had an afternoon sleep! I finally cooked our first meal! Gee it is cheap to eat out here! Tonight, seeing we are all rested we are heading out for a walk and an icecream. Also kids are picking up the language, the fact that most people speak with their hands is also helping!! Ha Ha!!
Love to you all and thanks for the comments! So ace to hear from you all! Honestly I'm not missing home yet! Really enjoying being together here and emersing ourselves in the language and culture.
Nicedriveway!
love Sam! xx
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Stan
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London part 2
Great to hear from the boys especially Alex's version. Wish I was there! Back here weather is dismal - wet and cold. Dams are up 9.2% on last yr and increasing rapidly. Mokka is settled at our place and has lost weight running after all the birds. Mum is good and calm. I posted my drug prescription last week by mistake (which I had to explain both the doctor and chemist. This resulted in much laughter! By the way the postie returned it to the doctor yesterday free of charge. keep up the blogs, love hearing from you. DAD