The Cotswold

Took a tour today to Blenheim Palace and the Cotswold. The Palace was unbelievable, great display, the east wing is still lived in my the Duke of Marlborough. It is a huge place with the Palace and grounds. This was the birth place of Winston Churchill. The grounds and Palace were worth the visit. Lunch at the Duke of Marlborough Pub. Then to Burford, Burton on the Water and Stow on the Wold. Three villages, they were all similar, but different, very pretty situated on the river and typical English villages. Enjoyed the scenery and the quaint little shops. We started the day by sitting on the motorway for a hour due to a wreck, it did rain, but most of the rain was while on the bus, the sun came out when we got to the villages. It was nice it co-operated with our schedule.

Out on the Town

Saturday - went out to a town called Royal Tunbridge Wells. It was approximately 50 minutes on the Southeastern train in to the area of Kent. Walked around town, did a little shopping, had lunch, and visited the historical area of town called the Pantiles. This is now mostly shops and out door seating of eating places. Enjoyed the day, the sun came out so made a nice day to wonder around. Bumped into one of the guys that work in the office - that was a surprise, he lives in that area. Returned to London Charring Cross station, so checked out the Gay, Lesbian, Trans activity that was going on in Trafalgar square - see the pictures it looks lots different packed with people than the previous pictures I had taken there. Look closely for the cross dresser as there a few in the pictures. Lots of people and police.

04Jul - Friday night a bunch of us from work went to the Bavarian Beer House. Interesting evening. Four of my agents are from Germany and speak it fluently. They all dressed for the occasion by doing their hair with braids and kerchiefs and Steffi dressed in the country dress, she was really cute. See the pictures. Big heavy steins of beer and lots of good food. There was approx 30 of us that went and everyone had a good time, especially after one of those beers.

Tennis Anyone !

I visited Wimbledon today - the tennis championships are being played there for two weeks. Everyone at work along with Beverley stated that I needed to experience Wimbledon. I did experience it, what they all neglected to tell me is that you can queue all day in order to get tickets. I left home around 9:30a this morning, took the tube, meet a couple nice guys who actually were working security at the events, nice chat with them and they showed me where to go to queue once we arrived there. About a 15 minute walk from the station, then across the park to join the queue line. Which was really long, they advised us upon arrival at 11:30 that would probably not get in the gates till 5pm. Um, then had to decide if I was going to wait. Decided I was there, might as well, also the weather was very nice today, sunny for the most part with a breeze blowing. Met some interesting people while in queue. (by the way queue here is waiting in line). Finally at 5:30p this afternoon, I made it thru security to the ticket booth and actually inside Wimbledon. I haven't ever really watched any Tennis, was really surprised to realize that I actually enjoyed watching some of the matches. They have 18 courts that matches were being played on. The main match in the center court was also broadcast on a big screen TV that you could watch from the lawn. Lots of food places and the Wimbledon store. The grounds are very pretty with lots of flowers and green. Did I mention lots of people ! It was an enjoyable day even with the long wait to get in. Not sure if I would do it again, if I did I would arrive much earlier in hopes that it wouldn't take so long to get in. People actually camp over night to queue first thing in the morning. There were people already there today that were camping to queue tomorrow. It was a great experience and an adventure. Glad I did it ! Never thought I would be able to go to The Championships at Wimbledon.. Enjoy the pictures.

Oh look it's Me!

For those of you who have forgotten what I look like or have missed seeing my pretty face, here I am... I ventured to Cambridge today, took the 8:45am train from Kings Cross station directly to Cambridge. After losing my money in a machine to get a tourist map, found my way to the center of town and the official visitor's center. Went on a 2 hours guided walk thru the town, good walk, went into Kings College, the chapel is awesome. Grounds are very big. Also went thru St John's College. I learned that Cambridge University is comprised of 31 colleges. Wow... We viewed the river Cam with the punting boats on it, lots of them, looks like it would be a lot of work. Seems that Cambridge's name came from the river Cam and the bridge they built over it, as it was one of the few places that you could cross the river in the early days (1500). Had lunch today in a Pub that was established in 18 something... so old.. was good food and beer. Did a little shopping and more sightseeing and walking, then headed back on the 6:15pm train. Busy day - saw lots, resting my feet now.

Greenwich

Today I straddled the prime meridian. I visited the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the prime meridian (0 longitude), the observatory is the point from which all time is measured. The museum was very interesting it had lots of timepieces, astronomical instrutments and camera obscure. Also saw the Queen's house, the first Palladian-style villa in Britian and the National Maritime Museum. The town is known for being the home of the Cutty Sark, however it was closed for renovations at this time. Walked along the Thames with views of the Old Royal Naval College. Checked out a couple of the markets they had there, was a good day, saw something new. On the way back I stopped off at an ASDA store, which is the name of the Wal-mart brand here, however was manly a grocery store, but interesting. Then back on the Dockland Lite Rail to Bank station, then the Northern line back home.

Discover Shakespeare's Country

Well today I played tourist. Booked a Grayline tour out to Oxford, thru the Cotswold to Stratford-on-Avon and back to London. Was an all day tour. Saw lots of the English Countryside, it really is pretty, rolling hills, rivers, trees and it is all green. In Oxford we visited Christ Church University. Charnae you might recognize some of the pictures as many of the scenes from Harry Potter were filmed here. Thought about you as we went thru the campus.
The Cathedral was beautiful, lots of stained glass. We walked thru Oxford, which has colleges through out the town. We only visited the one. Would be great to go back and explore some of the others. They are all open to the public to visit in the afternoons.
It was a cool town and would have liked to spend more time there, but oh well, on we went from there to have lunch at a Pub in a small village. It was a small typical english pub, I tried the Shepard's pie, which was very good and made with lamb, getting more adventurous in my food selections. Then we drove thru parts of the Cotswold toward Stratford-upon-Avon, we traveled thru many small villages on the way, but didn't get to stop. The scenery was great. The homes are all made out of limestone and many still have thatched roofs. Saw some great cottages, very English with thatched roofs and flowers all out front. We visited Anne Hathaway's Cottage (Shakespeare's wife), was a picturesque, thatched, 12 room cottage, with beautiful gardens. Then on to see Shakespeare's birth home on high street in Stratford-upon-Avon. Interesting and again great gardens, the homes was very interesting, hard to believe people lived in them. We again didn't have much time to explore the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, before getting back on the bus to return to London. I'll have to venture back to both towns at some point to doing some more exploring. Also would like to go visit some of the villages in the Cotswold's. Make sure you check out the slide show for all the great pictures from today.

Sunday

What a beautiful day - the weather was fab today. I am off to the Ikea Store - need some items for my flat - like a mirror for my dresser and a night stand. So took a bus from Hampstead to Warwick Tube Station for the tube and then a free Ikea bus to the store. Got some great things for the flat - feels more like home now. Made it there and back with my arms full on the return, seems like I always have more than I think. Went to put together the night stand and guess what needed a screwdriver - um don't have any of those with me. So went for a walk to Finchey Rd and you guessed Woolworth's, then walked back as the weather was so great. Have spent the evening putting things away and making my flat homey.
I'm starting to feel like I belong here. Another week starting - back to work for another week.