Today was the day to take Robyn to Windsor Castle. It is not the easiest trip to get out to Windsor; however from hotel to the castle entrance it only took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes, which was not too bad. It was a short cab ride back to Paddington, a 25 minute train ride to Slough, and a 6 minute train to Windsor-Eaton Station. As the second train rounded a bend and I pointed out Windsor Castle, Robyn saw a carnival ferris wheel and said, "Look, it's the 'London Eye!' " I then pointed out in my least sarcastic tone that no, it was a simply a ferris wheel and not the "London Eye," as we were about 40 miles from central London.




Since I last visited Windsor 16 years ago, the Windsor-Eton train station has been transformed into a very pleasant shopping area with restaurants. Robyn immediately said she would much prefer this to the Portabello Road Street Market. We headed to the visitor's entrance to Windsor Castle and used our London Pass, which sent us through a very short line allowing us to move ahead of a tour group of at least 50 (who were all at least 50 years older than us). Right then, I decided the pass had been worth it. Once inside, Robyn became a tad uncontrollable with the picture-taking as she took 3,785 photos and 14 videos of which I have selected 7 photos and 1 video for viewing. She also was a little out of control with the souvenir purchasing--there should be no worries on where the royal family is getting their funds for the next year.




The first really significant structure that actually dominates the castle is the Round Tower, which is also the oldest part of the castle. I feel a history lesson coming on. William the Conqueror built Windsor between 1070 and 1086 as one of several defensive castles around London, and it is also the only one left. The Round Tower is the initial structure he built with a classic defensive earthen moat surrounding it. Not all moats were meant to hold water; they were an area to trap enemy invaders. This moat is now a garden which cannot be accessed by the public. Since the Round Tower is the highest point in the castle that is also where the Queen's Royal Standard flys which indicates she is in residence. When she is not there a Union Jack flys from the Tower.






We were able to take a special guided tour of the Royal Kitchen area which was constructed during the 14th century Richard III era and is still in use today, making it the oldest continuously working kitchen in Europe if not the world. You cannot imagine how many very large copper pots were in that kitchen--all perfectly shined by the "help." We also were able to tour the State Apartments used by the Queen for formal events at Windsor. Photography is not allowed inside the castle so there are no pictures available. We do however have a picture of the Quadrangle, the large arch in the middle that is actually the official main entrance to Windsor and the area above that are the State Apartments which are used by heads of state when visiting the Queen. So yes, George (Bush) slept there.





The video I have posted is one Robyn took of the royal guards as they were leaving the Quadrangle after a guard change. Listen at the end for Robyn's "friendly" comments to the woman next to her.






Upon returning from Windsor, we went over to the Victoria and Albert Museum and Harrod's Department store. Not terribly impressed with either, but when in London....