Last day in London :(
We had a bit of a sleep in until 9:30 this morning before gathering our things together and getting ready for the day. We checked out at 10:30 and left our bags at hotel so we could finish up our sightseeing without having to drag luggage about. Andy & I went back to Le Mère Blanc for their wonderful breakfast. Andy had the French breakfast again and I had a variation of the English with Halloumi cheese instead of mushrooms and beans. It was fantastic! I wish I could visit this place daily!
After eating we headed to Victoria station and caught the tube to Westminster. Again the awe of Big Ben and the House of Parliment took over as we exited the station. It's simply magnificent! Photos don't do the place justice! Nor do photos or footage of the marriage of Wills and Kate, at Westminster Abbey. Andy and I did our own little tour through the grand cathedral. The elaborate details, carvings and delicate furnishings are amazing. We walked over the resting place of Charles Darwin, saw the tomb of Sir Isaac Newton and many plaques in memory of great literary influences such as Lord Byron, Tennyson, Lewis Carroll, and William Shakespeare. Unfortunately you are not permitted to take photos within the abbey. However, we did tour the gift shop and bought a guide book. After our tour we caught the tube back to Victoria station so we could go and collected our luggage from the hotel. Again we returned to the Victoria station and caught the tube to Embankment station, where we switched to the Circle line tube to Euston Station. There we bought tickets for London-Midland train to Milton Keynes Central to go stay with our cousin Catherine for a few days.
She met us there at the station and we went to her university where she is persuing her PhD in geology. We were introduced to her classmates and then given a tour of some of the facilities in which she works doing analysis of rocks. Afterwards, we went to the on-campus bar where 15 of us (we and her classmates) sat around and talked. We got to hear all about the goings on of their group lately and had a fun time just listening to their conversations.
We came back to Catherine's house. It's beautiful! There are 7 bedrooms, a large living room, 2 and 1/2 baths and a nice sized kitchen and garden out back! Shortly after coming home Andy & I helped her in the preparation of a wonderful dinner of Steak & Guiness pie, homemade mashed potatoes, and cabbage. It was delicious!! We cleaned up after dinner and then got our beds ready. Catherine used her hairdryer to help pump up air mattress that I would sleep on in the spare room just off the kitchen. We made up the sofabed in living room for Andy to sleep. Since it was Lucy, Catherine's housemate's birthday, Andy, Catherine and another housemate, Pete and I walked (about 20 mins) to Catherine's favorite pub, called The Swan Inn. A few more classmates that we had met earlier were there. I had a cider and Andy & Cath a beer made with honey called Waggle Dance. Both were very good. We enjoyed conversation and getting to know Pete on our walk home. Upon returning home we all went our separate ways to bed. Another fantastic day in England!
- Bree