Tuesday Finds Rain and London Sites

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Kensington, London, museum

We awoke to a normal British day, grey and rainy.  Boy are we glad we did the outdoor itinerary earlier to take advantage of the sun.  This makes us all the more excited for Spain.

After a hearty breakfast we were off on the tube and arrived eleven stops later at Holborn and a short misty walk to the British museum.

Lucas and Isabella with a random other child in the entrance to the British museum

Sherrie and the kids in the British museum entry way

After a potty break and a bit of orienteering we headed to the rosetta stone. It was pretty cool to see up close and in person.

Lucas and Isabella with the rosetta stone in the British museum.

Luckily, the Assyrian exhibit was near the rosetta stone. This is what Sergio really wanted to see.

Sergio, Lucas and Isabella with Assyrian relics

Assyrian king killing a lion with a sword. This relief from his palace says he was a bad a$$.

We then walk through the Greek and Roman areas which Isabella liked most. Particularly the vases.

Sherrie taking to the kids about Greek culture

Heading upstairs to the Egyptian exhibits the kids saw an Easter island moi. They remember this from the film Night at the Museum and loved “dum dum.”

Isabella and Lucas with Dum Dum

On our way to the mummies we stopped to admire the last remnants from a seventh wonder of the ancient world: the original mausoleum. We meet a nice couple from Long Island on their way through Europe.

Lucas and Mausoleum statutes. Impressive.

Finally to the mummies. But not before admiring all the Egyptian artifacts.

Sherrie and the kids with the famous Egyptian cat.

And mummies! Lucas says thus was his favourite part.

Isabella and Lucas with Egyptian mummies in the British museum

When we left the museum the sky had opened up and we found refuge in the nearest Thai restaurant for lunch 🙂

Unfortunately the rain did not let up and we had to buy some umbrellas from a souvenir vendor. I did haggle for a good deal however. When we packed we bet on nice weather to save baggage space for the warm Spanish coast. Ooh well.

Walking back to the tube after lunch with our newest rain gear

It was a short tube ride to Notting Hill which brought us to Kensington palace.

Isabella and Lucas waking through Kensington gardens to the palace

While stopping for a photo opportunity we meet a group of three ladies on a world tour who had just arrived from a thirteen hour flight from Tokyo. One even had an older son named Lucas.

Sherrie and the kids with the Victoria monument outside Kensington palace

Kensington was part of our royal historic palace membership and a great place to visit which doesn’t take much time.

There are really only three parts: king’s apartment, the queen’s apartments, and Victoria’s apartments.

Sherrie, Aurelia, and Isabella in the king's cupola room

King's drawing room ceiling

Isabella in the King's drawing room

King's gallery

Lucas doing a Kensington palace childrens activity book

The Victorian apartments were very cool to see which included many personal letters, her nursery, the room Albert died, and many of her dresses.

Isabella loved one of Victoria’s dollhouses. She said it was her favouriteand wanted one just like it.

Isabella and Victoria's dollhouse

Victoria's wedding dress and Isabella in mid-fall

The day was great and we all walked many miles with no complaints. Tomorrow morning we leave early for the sunny Spanish coast.

We copped out and picked up McDonalds for dinner so we could do bath time and an early bed.

Goodnight from London!

Monday in London

We awoke unexpectedly this morning with Sherrie’s school morning alarm which got us off to an early start.  The hotel breakfast was nice, although the kid had hot chocolate which they found a nice surprise.

We were then off on the tube to Tower Hill.

We spent about three hours at the Tower of London and thanks to a nice suggestion by the gift store lady avoided hours of queue time for the crown jewels.

The jewels were our favourite part and the lack of any significant crowd meant we spent a lot of time with them.

After the Tower it was lunchtime and we discovered a Starbucks nearby with a tremendous view.  The Starbucks was also nearby the girl and dolphin statue which the kids enjoyed.

Then off to Kew Gardens. We headed strait to Queen Charlotte’s cottage where King George III spent time.  It is only open weekends and bank holidays and was a great opportunity.

We then went to the tree top walk.  It was a bit windy and the structure was swaying making it interesting.  The view was beautiful.

Once down from the tree top walk we visited the glass houses.  The flora variety was amazing from all around the world and in such an setting.

After a few hours looking around we decided out favourite spot was the water lily house.

After a full day of adventures we were famished and looked for a nearby restaurant.  After looking at the menus of a few we decided on Lebanese.  We were not disappointed.

We finished the day tired, a bit pink from the sun and Sherrie with pigeon poop on her shoulder.  She well be a but more careful of pigeons roosting in the beams of tube stations 🙂

Sunday to London

Hello from London. We had a nice train ride this morning and spent the afternoon in Covent gardens.  We had ice cream and walked about.

The weather was beautiful.  We then went to Trafalgar square and to dinner in China
town where we ate Szechwan.  It was very good.

The kids are doing great. A bit tired after walking so much.

Serg and Sherrie

Fossil Hunting on Leckhampton Hill

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Cheltenham, Fossils, Hiking, Leckhampton, Leckhampton Hill, South West England, United Kingdom

Last Sunday, the 10th of June, our family had the fortune (and good weather!) to embark on a fossil hunting expedition on Leckhampton Hill.  Sergio and I were inspired by a posting we read by the UK Fossils Network on the specimens located around Leckhampton.  We set off rather late, as I *had* to catch up on sleep, but we made it to the car park off Daisy Bank Road around 11:00 AM.  Picnic and trowels in tow, we set off for adventure!

Lucas was certain he’d find dinosaur bones and despite our explanations of the geological history of the UK and the oceanic nature of any likely fossil finds, he roared ahead with his dino-digging plans.  Can’t hardly blame the little guy – how cool would that be?!?!  We trudged a quarter-mile or so along a fairly steep grade (Standard Guage Incline, a nod to the lime quarrying past) before cresting the hill onto the ruins of an old kiln: site #1.

We found several examples of bivalves and brachiopods here.  The slope was easy to climb and yielded immediate, clear examples of fossilization in the jurassic period.  When we had our fill, we set out our picnic in the midst of the 1924 lime kiln ruins (click here to read a fantastic article written by the Gloucestershire Industrial Archeology Society in 2001 and to see a wonderful map of the area in which we were exploring along with a photograph of the lime kilns in action).  Totally awesome spot to have a picnic!  The sun brightly shone on the clearing and the temperature was in the upper 70s.  Perfect!

From there, we proceeded to head up the hill and followed the trail along the backs of some gorgeous Cotswold-stone farmhouses to the right, with Leckhampton Hill and Devil’s Chimney on our left.  We found another great outcropping shortly before the steep upward section to reach the Cotswold Way.  At this location, Sergio scored a really neat find: a fossilized starfish!  It was embedding in the rock, however, so we had to settle with pictures and leave it behind.  We found a few more bivalves and some possible plant fossils before we felt some sprinkles and headed back into the wood for shelter.

Just a few yards further down the trail, we reached the peak and met with the Cotswold Way.  The views were STUNNING and nearly beyond belief.  We could see large swaths of the Wye Valley, several neighboring towns, nearby geological features, and the area in which our new home is situated.  The kids loved playing in the grasses at the top of Leckhampton Hill and we snapped a few memorable photos.  Here are my favorites:<insert photo of kids and I, views from the top, and Cotswold Way sign>

We checked out Devil’s Chimney, a bit of a joke left behind by the local quarrymen when the site was operational.  A local legend states that the Devil used to sit atop Leckhampton Hill and hurl stones down at churchgoers each Sunday.  They turned the rocks against the Devil and trapped him beneath, leaving only the chimney from which only the smokes of hell are allowed to escape.  I think the first is a bit more plausible.

Our last scouting site was Deadman’s Quarry, which I have learned is a large Inferior Oolite quarry that houses both upper and lower Freestone rocks.  We saw a few minor fossils and enjoyed the far-reaching views.  With the view of the Cotswold Way overhead once more, we scrambled up the face of the quarry, picking over rocks and “look-at-this-ing” over various finds.  Isabella was beyond proud of herself for climbing up entirely on her own!

We enjoyed the views for while on top of Leckhampton Hill and scoured the top for remains of the iron-age fort and barrow.  There wasn’t much to see on the hill itself, but the view all around was spectacular!

As Aurelia had finally fallen asleep in the Ergo, Isabella *had* to fall down and *had* to unleash a blood-curdling scream right in Aurelia’s ear.  *Had* to.  Aurelia woke up and joined in Isabella’s cries and thus the girls signalled the end to our day’s adventures.  We stumbled along a few paths until we found one heading in the general direction of the Daisy Bank carpark and eventually found our way back to the van.

An absolutely stunning and memorable time was had by all and we have a neat collection of fossils (along with these great photos) by which we can recall our efforts.  I think Leckhampton Hill and fossil-hunting just might become our new go-to sunny day activity.  Who wants to go on our next adventure?

“Bath is a charming place, sir.”

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architecture, Bath, bath abbey, isabella, jane austen, lucas, Roman Baths, royal crescent, Sally Lunn's, sergio, sherrie, somerset, The Circus, uk

“The first view of Bath in fine weather does not answer my expectations; I think I see more distinctly in the rain.  The sun was got behind everything, and the appearance of the place from the top of Kingsdown was all vapour, shadow, smoke, and confusion.” – Jane Austen

My biggest literary heroine, Jane Austen, spent five years of her life (1801-1806) in Bath, Somerset.  Both Persuasion and Northanger Abbey are set here and offer some zippy one-liners about the town.  In Northanger Abbey, Austen writes as Isabella Thorpe, “Do you know I get so immoderately sick of Bath, your brother and I were agreeing this morning that, though it is vastly well to be here for a few weeks, we would not live here for millions.”  Well, Ms. Austen, I respectfully disagree.  We love Bath!  Bath has something to offer everyone: the literary buff loves seeing the Jane Austen Centre and delights in discovering the location of Charles Dickens’ Pickwick Papers and Roald Dahl’s short story, “The Landlady”; the architecture ogler feasts upon the likes of Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge, and other Georgian and Palladian wonders; the consumer in each of us giggles at the plethora of chain shops and local boutiques; the foodie enjoys sampling the wares of Jamie Oliver and gorging on a famous Sally Lunn bun; and the history geek eagerly rubs their hands together in anticipation before delving into the Roman Baths (the Romans called Bath Aquae Sulis and the remaining bath is widely considered the best preserved Roman baths in the world), reveling in the lore behind the Battle of Mons Badonicus, and discovering the multitude of reasons why UNESCO named Bath as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Sergio visited Bath with his family as a teenager and revelled in exploring the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent.  In 2010, we were lucky enough to bring Isabella and Lucas here and were even luckier that we left the baths *without* a 13-month-old Lucas taking the waters firsthand.  Sergio did, however, manage to drive up a pedestrian-only zone on that trip much to his embarrassment and my delight at finally having dinner-party fodder.

Sergio with Lucas, 13 months, and Bella, not quite 3 years, back in 2010

We went once again to Bath for the first time since living here last Sunday, October 21st.  Did we return to the Baths?  Nah.  Did we explore the famous Bath Abbey?  No, but we did interact with a street performer in its courtyard!

No, we chose to skip the usual tourist delights and instead spend the afternoon simply walking around and sampling the city’s culture.  We poked into a few shops, stood in awe in front of the Circus and the Royal Crescent, and listened to two guitarists perform a variety of hits.

The kids, who naturally were starving (insert eye-roll here), begged for a sausage roll and although we had packed a picnic lunch we consumed only an hour earlier, we obliged.  We purchased the rolls for a mere 80p apiece (approximately $1.20 for you Yanks!) and apparently the price was fitting as Isabella declared them to be rubbish.  Quite loudly, mind you!

Our other piece of “adventure” was the ongoing saga of the recently potty trained boychild.  I swear, once Isabella was potty trained, she was an expert.  She had it down, could hold it for a respectable time, and never had accidents.  Lukie, on the other hand, announces one minute that he needs to “go peepee” and then thirty seconds later informs you that the “pee pee is coooooooming!”  This was one of those times.  We were in a bookstore when the inevitable request for a toilet came up.  I asked the shopkeeper if they had a toilet he could use and was informed he could use the public toilets (said very haughtily), located there (grand gesture toward the door).  Argggh!  I tried to follow the signposts toward the public toilets with poor Lucas desperately trying to maintain his grip on my hand and we made it a few blocks before the frantic “the peepee is coming!” bit happened.  I saw a small alley and quickly ushered Lucas behind a parked car to do his business.  All I gotta say is, England wasn’t made for the toddler, the person with irritable bowel syndrome, pregnant women, or just generally those who think it’s polite to allow young children to use the store’s toilet.  Rant over.  🙂

We loved taking in the sights from the more relaxed viewpoint of the resident.  There’s a certain pleasure in knowing one can return at will, with little added cost, to a place like Bath.  I’ve even become quite good at navigating The Beast, aka our car, into absurdly small parking spaces and cave-like carparks.  I fear not the Malvers Car Park!  No, Jane, I’m not sure I could spend a million weeks here, but I’d happily take six or eight.

Bath Abbey

Isabella snapped this fun shot of Sergio and I (and kind of Aurelia!) in front of the Royal Crescent.

Mama and her sweeties

The biggest goofs in Bath.  🙂

A Short Visit to Bourton-On-The-Water

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bourton-on-the-water, cotswolds, river windrush, uk

The so-called “Venice of the Cotswolds” Bourton-on-the-Water is a picturesque Cotswold village only 40 minutes from Cheltenham situated on the River Windrush with several low stone bridges crossing the river.

We set out late on the lazy Saturday afternoon of 6 October 2012.  We have already visited Bourton several times, it is one our favorite places in the Cotswolds.   It was sunny but still chilly.  The kids slept on the way to the village and we parked outside of the Edinburgh Woolen Mill shop for another 30 minutes to allow them to sleep a bit longer.  Sherrie and I took turns going through some shops while the kids were sleeping.

Once the kids woke up we walked through the small high-street.  The kids love this town.  They love running over the bridges, watching the ducks, and sitting by the river just enjoying the town.  It did not help that it was so close to dinner and every shop sells ice cream!

After walking down a street we had visited before we found the small China Town Restaurant (which also served Thai and Vietnamese cuisine).  Sherrie had a hankering for Ma Po Tofu.  But it was still early, only 4:40 and the restaurant, as many do, didn’t open until 5:00.

We walked the 30 yards to the riverfront and watched the ducks from the bridge.  I snapped a picture of the kids and some video while we were waiting.

I walked into a shop to look around and came out to see them gone.  I looked around and saw them quickly walking up the promenade.  I followed and saw that they were headed to visit a couple of horses which had taken a break in the river next to a bridge – perfect height for the children!

The kids had a great time meeting the horses who were very friendly but were intently trying to eat their shoes 🙂

After about 10 minutes the horses decided it was time to move on and they walked on.  The kids were very excited.  We headed to the restaurant and had a great meal – better than we anticipated.  I had crispy szechuan beef and Sherrie got her Ma Po Tofu!  We shared with the kids who also ate some extra rice.  The staff at the restaurant was very friendly and loved the kids.  The kids walked away with lollipops.  A great outing.

 

Wye Valley Walk in South Wales

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tromp, uk, wales, walk, wye river, wye valley, wye valley walk

On Sunday, 9 October 2012, we did a 3 mile loop of the Wye Valley Walk along the Wye River in Wales from Tintern to Brockweir.  The fall colors were just beginning but the weather was too beautiful to pass on such a nice tromp in the countryside!

We parked in the lot for Tintern Abbey, which we previously visited.  The parking was free because the meter was out-of-order 🙂  After a car-trunk picnic we headed out with our wellies.

After a short walk through Tintern we turned North and across the Wye River on the Tintern bridge through the forest and to Brockweir.  The trail was steep at first but leveled out quickly.  The lower, river fronting, sections were quite muddy making me wish I had worn wellies as well!

After a kilometer or so through the forest we happened upon a kind lady and her dog who recommended that we go over the gate and cut through the field and follow the trail to the Brockweir Church.  Looking at her boots we took her seriously and went over the gate.

The field was large, green, and the kids loved it.  I stopped to take a quick video.

After a quick tromp through the field we arrived at the town of Brockweir.  Once over the gate we were surprised and welcomed by a small church festival occurring. They welcomed us and bid us stay for the blessing of the animals as it was a celebration of St. Francis, patron saint of animals.  We had previously attended a similar affair in Olney when we took our cat Basil for a blessing – a great memory for both Sherrie and myself.

They had multiple activities for children, including making masks (Isabella and Lucas choose a frog), fishing for ducks, story time, and petting tortoises.

They held a small outdoor ceremony and the children had a short story time before we left.

They were all so welcoming and warm.  Perfect strangers coming up and conversing with us warmly.  They asked us where we were from and talked a bit about the differences in word usage (mend vs. fix, etc.).  But a nice and unexpected visit to a small Southern Welsh village.

We headed out of Brockweir and back to Tintern – an anticipated 2km.

We met a nice couple on the path with a very energetic dog with whom the children wanted to throw a stick.  The dog was more than obliging to them while we chatted about their children and grandchildren who now live in upstate New York and are naturalizing as US citizens now.

A few more photos on the way back to Tintern (including the kids showing off their new frog masks)…

On our walk through Tintern to the car we discovered a small drainage pipe which was home to many snails…

And finally back to the car and to home!

Next time, instead of going to Brockweir, we’ll take the upper trail to the Devil’s Pulpit.

Celebrating My Birthday in the UK

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abbey, beer, birthday, bourton-on-the-water, cathedral, cotswolds, edward II, gloucester, history, king, pub, robert curthose, tomb

Today I celebrated my birthday with my family.  My first birthday living overseas in the UK.

I slept in until 0830 when I heard Isabella come up the stairs to check if I was still sleeping.  I went downstairs at 0845 greeted by the family with a warm Happy Birthday! before Isabella told me I was not supposed to be awake yet.  Sherrie sent me back upstairs with the kids while she finished breakfast.

Sherrie made a wonderful plate of back-bacon, scrambled eggs (Gordon Ramsay style), and toast with orange juice.  One of my favorite breakfasts.

Aurelia then took a nap and we headed out to do some sightseeing nearby.

Gloucester Cathedral

I really wanted to visit Gloucester Cathedral.  There has been an abbey on the site since 678 and the current cathedral was began in 1089 and completed (in its current state) in 1450.

I especially wanted to visit the tomb of Robert ‘Curthose’ (nicknamed short-legs by his father, of whom they were not on speaking terms, as a term of derision). He was the eldest son of William the Conqueror but denied the throne twice by his younger brothers.  He spent 26 years in exile and was buried in Gloucester Cathedral.

The tomb was awesome.  Painted marble and the body sculpted in such a unique position – right arm crossing the body, left hand holding a sword at his side and his legs bent and crossed.  Because of his time spent in exile, he likely spoke French (his first language) and Welsh (due to so many years spent imprisoned in Cardiff).

Also buried in the Cathedral is Edward II – the likely reason the Cathedral was not destroyed in the dissolution by Henry VIII.  His tomb is unassuming but obviously royal in custom and design.

Another amazing sight in the cathedral is the ceiling above the choir and alter.  The brilliant stone masons carved amazing ribs and arches which flow from each other in an organic and delicate way belying their stone origin.

Dick Wittington’s Pub

After the Cathedral we headed out to find some lunch.  The rain began heavily however and we had to take cover in the KFC entryway until the worst of it abated and we continued on.  We finally decided on Dick Wittington’s – a pub with a 1800s facade but a 1600s interior.  Very charming.  The food was normal pub quality.  I had Chicken Roquefort (stuffed with cheddar and fig).  The kids shared a chicken sandwich and chips and Sherrie had the ham, eggs, and chips.  I had a pint of the Butcombe Bitter with lunch which was fairly nice – smooth with caramel but a bit light on the body.

We left Gloucester and headed into the Cotswolds.  We drove for Bourton-on-the-Water but I mistakenly set the SatNav and we were back in Cheltenham instead.  20 minutes later we were finally in Bourton-on-the-Water and spent 45 minutes walking the picturesque town.  Since it was already 5:30 in the evening most places were closed or closing.  But the kids fed the ducks and Sherrie poked into some shops.

We returned home to a dinner of French Toast and birthday cake and ice cream!  A great day.