Our first stop was the great city of London. My first impression was, "Whoa! This is worst than NYC and does it ever stop raining?!" The crowded streets, the tube . . . all a little much for the first day but I soon find myself enjoying the fast pace. We had dinner at the London Hard Rock and then, hit the ground running to catch "Wicked." The production, the talent and the creativity that went into creating the story-line was incredible. It is by far the best musical that I have ever seen! I def. recommend it!
I think the neatest thing about our trip was that we really got to settle into the city life. Instead of hotel accommodations, I stayed in a flat which is the equivalent to an apartment equipped with a very cozy bed, large bathroom and kitchenette. It was located not too far from a tube station and that made it convenient for inner city travel. All in all, London was terrific. I want to be sure to tell you one of the greatest highlights of London. It was the tour of the Tower of London. I believe that it was the Tower's tour that sparked my deep interest in Queen Elizabeth I and the Reformation of England. I believe it is travel that opens a person's mind and it is a true chance to experience the history rather than just reading about it as if it is an abstract "thing."
Really, it is hard to sum up the amazing trip in a blog. The pics speak from themselves. Now that I think about it, it is hard to capture the grand beautiful of living history in a photograph but I did try ;) I have included some travel details just below followed by a picture slideshow. Enjoy!
Travel Details:
Buckingham Palace- It is the official London residence of the British monarch. Unfortunately, on the day that I was there to visit, the did not hold the changing of the guard ceremony.
Westminster Abbey-It is a large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, London. This is the site of Queen Elizabeth I's burial. At her funeral on 28 April, the coffin was taken to Westminster Abbey on a hearse drawn by four horses hung with black velvet. I must add that many brilliant leaders of science and literature, monarchs and queens alike. It really something to see!
Warwick Castle-It is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a cliff overlooking a bend in the River Avon.
Wicked-A musical based on the best-selling novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's public fall from grace.
London Eye- Known as the "Millennium Wheel," is the tallest (the diameter of the wheel, or its height, is 135 metres (443 ft) Ferris wheel in Europe. Its height is measures 443 ft.
Tower of London-It is called "Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress," more commonly known as the Tower of London. It is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. This was also the place of imprisonment for Queen Elizabeth I just before she took the throne for her 45 years of reign.
Oxford University is located in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is also regarded as one of the world's leading academic institutions.
Stratford upon Avon - he town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of the playwright and poet William Shakespeare.
