The Royal Wedding: My Experience on William and Kate's Big Day

You Are Invited

to experience, by way of this blog, the

Very Royal Wedding

of

Prince William & Catherine Middleton

which took place on

Friday, 29 April, 2011

in

London, England

***

Yes, followers, I made the decision to brave the insanity and take my chances in hopes of seeing something noteworthy during what will probably be considered the single most important day in Britain in the year 2011.  I could not pass up the opportunity to be in London for the Royal Wedding. I knew the city would be absolute madness.  I knew I'd be able to see much more by watching streaming video online.  I knew there'd be hours of standing, and a possibility of not seeing anything at all.  But let me tell you something about England.  Here, the atmosphere, no matter the occasion, is worth all of it.  You know that feeling you get, deep down, when you're at an amazing concert, or your favorite team's game?  That sort of rush and feeling of devotion and respect?  That sense of feeling fortunate to be there, and awareness that it's a moment in time you'll likely never forget?  Well, one thing I've come to notice about the British is that they allow themselves that kind of atmosphere a lot more often than we do, even on smaller-scale occasions.  So, I knew that, above all else, I'd be able to experience the happiness, the hope, and the love in the air of London, and had to be there.

I got much more than I expected.

I arrived by coach around seven in the morning, and, having studied the wedding procession time and again for days, literally made my decision to go to Buckingham Palace as I left the coach station.  I had no plan of action, simply a tiny hope that I'd made the right decision.  When I arrived, I was shocked to find that, while there were many people filing in behind the gates propped up by security, I was only about two rows behind everyone else.  Apparently, the major crowds were pushing closer and closer to Westminster Abbey, where the couple was wed.  I was ecstatic.  I had a perfect view of the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where the couple was scheduled to appear with the Royal family at 1:25 p.m.  I didn't really consider the fact that I had six hours until that time came.

Within the first five minutes of standing there, I was having a conversation with a lady from Kent, in a town only a few minutes away from Canterbury, who was there with her four children.  She said that she'd never been to a royal event and had vowed to take her kids to the next one because of the connectedness she feels to the monarchy, having grown up with them all her life.  Of course, the kids took turns lying down on a blanket, complaining about their tiredness, and eating all of the day's worth of food while she gleamed at the view we had gotten, and stated over and over again how lucky we were to be there.  She also suggested a few places I have to visit in Kent before leaving, and commented on how wonderful it is that I'm traveling as a young woman, and reiterated how "courageous" of an endeavor it is.  I love hearing that.

Behind me stood a Scottish man in a kilt, from St. Andrews - the place where William and Kate met - along with two American ladies from California, who excitedly told me about their adventures at Notre Dame for football games when I told them I was from Indiana, and an elderly British woman from just outside of London, who has been outside the gates of Buckingham for several royal events over the years, and who gladly discussed her work in publishing with us.  Much later, a girl from Canada ended up at my left side, and we were able to share laughs over the ridiculousness of the couple's faces plastered on every flag, mug, and postcard, and take into account that Kate, having not grown up a royal, was probably thinking the same thing.  Might I mention this girl is in London for a few more months after spending two years working at Associated Press, where she gave me connections for when I return to the states?  Such luck! 

People came prepared - breakfast sandwiches were eaten (I was offered many biscuits (cookies) to which I gladly accepted), cellphones with internet capabilities were brought in order to watch live footage from Westminster, chairs and blankets made waiting comfortable, and, of course, champagne and wine bottles were popped open before nine in the morning.  It was a day to celebrate, after all.  Why not start early? :)

At first, there was no sign of the sun whatsoever, and in my mind, I played through how difficult it would be to pop open my umbrella in the crowd that grew fuller and more congested by the second if it were to rain, picturing myself taking out someone's eye, or the umbrella crushing and becoming worthless as the crowd surged forward upon seeing the couple.

But then it happened.  The massive speakers surrounding the palace crackled to life and broadcasted the very songs being played at Westminster Abbey, where guests were beginning to arrive, and the sun's rays bursted through the thick, white clouds.  The crowd cheered, and waved their flags in appreciation.

Of course, we were in London here, so, when the speakers grew quiet, the sun disappeared again.  But then the real excitement began.  After watching several security officers, palace guards, the Royal Army, and police officers for nearly three hours, the wedding's most important participants began making their way to the abbey, and passed us by in doing so.  First, we waved as William's driver buzzed past to pick him up.  The crowd stood on tiptoe, watching the open gate in front of the palace, growing silent in anticipation, and then cheering so loud, I'm sure it swept across the country, waking anyone who'd wanted to sleep in - the Queen's car emerged and drove towards the abbey, Her Majesty impossible to not notice, clad in a bright yellow dress and hat, smiling, nodding, and waving to the thousands of onlookers as she passed.  It took me a moment to realize I'd just seen the Queen of England, and I couldn't stop smiling.

Soon thereafter, we were jumping up and down with excitement.  From the procession map, it appeared all of the royals would pass on the opposite side of the palace and we'd be able to catch a glimpse, but not a close-up.  Unexpectedly, a car full of Kate's bridesmaids, including her beautiful sister and Maid of Honor, Pippa, passed right in front of us, the little flower girls shyly waving in our direction.

Cameras were made ready once we realized Kate herself would pass by, too, and when she did, with her gorgeous smile, all in white, there were a thousand gasps, a second of complete silence with a few "beautiful," "she's stunning," "look at her" comments made, broken with cheers and whistles for bride on her way to the altar.

Within minutes, the speakers came to life again, and we listened as the Archbishop of Canterbury led the two in exchanging their vows.  It was one of the most moving moments of my entire life, then, as a crowd of thousands upon thousands made not a sound, save for the occasional young child asking, "Are they married now, mummy?"  When Prince William's voice announced his promise to Kate, there was a roar that echoed around Buckingham Palace, which quickly grew silent in order to hear Kate make hers, and again, the cheers were overwhelming.  During the silences of the ceremony, an announcer informed the crowd of what was happening, the signing of the certificate and such, and when the Archbishop announced that the two were officially married, the crowd cheered for what seemed like ages.

The national anthem was sung, tears were shed, and it became crystal clear that this was a wedding not for the royal family, not for politicians and celebrities, this was a wedding for the people of England.  At this point, the sun shone over London again, and we heard the commotion from the abbey, not needing the announcer to tell us when they had left the building, knowing simply by the cheers.

Now we were waiting for the entire wedding party and their guests to return to Buckingham Palace.  The Royal Cavalry left to meet and lead the carriages and cars back to Buckingham, while van-loads full of wedding guests were driven quickly through the palace gates and led inside.  News reporters filed in behind them, with their clipboards and cameras, and the security guards attempted to keep the crowd entertained.  Royal guards marched in perfect synch out of the gates, and around the fountain, returning to line up just in front of the palace in order to greet the wedding party that followed soon behind.

Again, we were able to see all of the people you've been watching on the news for the past few months in real life.  The bridesmaids, Kate's parents, the Queen, and finally, the newlyweds themselves!

Once everyone was inside of the palace, it took about an hour for them to appear on the balcony.  During this time, I was made quite frustrated, as there was suddenly a surge of people, thousands to be exact, that were led by police into the gap between the palace gates and the gates that held all of us who had been waiting since early morning back.  They were able to run up to the gates and peer just inside, while I, and all those I'd met and uncomfortably spent seven hours standing with, waiting, looked at each other and booed in disappointment.  However, when the gates that kept us from moving were finally taken down, I decided to stay put.  At that point, the best spots up close had been taken, people were clearly squished and unable to move, while I had space to breathe, and a perfect view of the balcony that would be ruined if I'd inched any closer, since I stood on a little piece of higher ground.  All of that frustration quickly blew away when the couple appeared on the balcony.

I can't even describe the feeling I had at that moment, trust me, I've been thinking about the proper word.  It was pretty magical to be there, in such a modern day crowd, yet such a centuries-old atmosphere that a girl like me probably experienced hundreds, even thousands of years ago in medieval Britain - witnessing the Royal Wedding, watching the future King and Queen of England wave to their celebrating country, and even seeing the current Queen and the rest of the family look back at us.  We were all together, celebrating the same thing, all happy in that moment.

I joined in the, "Kiss, kiss, kiss!" chant and cheered when Will and Kate decided to do an encore smooch.  I'm sure it's been covered in the press everywhere, but Will's parents', Princess Di and Charles', kiss on their wedding day was the first ever public display of affection by the royal family, and because the British are not allowed to kiss at the altar in the Church of England, this was their first one as a married couple - so this moment was kind of a big deal!  And, although I've seen many people kiss in my day, this was by far the most romantic and unforgettable.

After a few more moments of waving, the couple went inside, and the crowd dispersed and took over the city.  I took a few minutes to stretch, sit down, and think about where I wanted to go since I had a few hours left in London.  It was then I thought about what kind of feeling would come with having a wedding of this importance, knowing that even when it was over and you were inside, posing for the press and your wedding guests, that a thousand people continued to sit on your lawn and celebrate your big day, too.

After getting some strength back into my sore legs, I decided to wander about a bit.  I ended up strolling through St. James' park for awhile, and of course visited Westminster Abbey.  From there, I stopped and admired Big Ben for the hundredth time, because you can't really help it, and walked along the Thames.  I crossed over to Trafalgar Square, where there was a huge MSNBC tent, with reporters and a giant screen showing footage of the day that stopped hundreds of people in their tracks.  Helicopters continued to hover above the city, leading Will and Kate on their final drive through London.  Street parties were going on at every pub on every street, crazies were being interviewed for all of the TV stations, and many people were just relaxing on their day off in the beautiful parks of one of the most amazing cities in the whole world.

The sun finally came to stay, and it was in that position that casts the perfect glow, making everything golden and beautiful, as I began making my way towards the coach station.  It was the perfect winding down of a perfect wedding day.

During the ride back to Canterbury, I thought about how unlike me it is to be excited over something like a wedding, how unlike me it is to attempt large crowds and take part in something that's become (as I've noted from several Facebook statuses over the last few weeks) annoying and overdone.  Well, while I can't speak for Americans' obsession with this wedding, other than the fascination that comes with being able to witness a day of royalty that is so very non-American.  Click here fore a Brit's take on the matter. Having been able to experience this while in England, I've a few reasons why this wedding was such a big deal:

1.  The British (or those whom I've met) have a respect, a love, and a faith in the royal family that goes back centuries, something us Americans simply cannot fathom.  In America, for example, we don't know who our next President will be.  There are vicious campaigns and a huge celebration for the inauguration, but only by those who supported the chosen candidate.  Here, everyone knows that Prince William (or should I say, Duke) will one day be their King.  And in times of great joy, as well as times of great despair, the people look to the royal family, who do not hide in their castles and shrug off whatever is going on in the world, but make appearances, talk with people on the streets, begin organizations and campaigns, let them know that they, too, are feeling the same.  The royals serve in the same armies as everyone else, drive the same streets, celebrate birth and marriage, mourn death and divorce - and yet, because of the strong tradition of their having power to do well for the people of England, those people have hope in them.  They always have, and they always will.

2.  The couple will one day be Britain's King and Queen.  Prince William was a given, and although he will need permission from the Queen for Kate to hold the title of Queen when he takes the throne, the country is certain she will grant it.  Again, the love the British have for the royal family is one thing, but the two already have made great names for themselves in their interests and goals that are not in the interest of social elites, but for everyone.  They strive to ensure that they are no different than anyone else, but because they have the opportunity to be heard, promise to take it.  Kate was bullied in school, and they are already working on tackling bullying as a major issue.  Diana sent William to a 'regular' school so that he'd make better, truer friends, and since the two were immersed and surrounded by people of middle class, they're aware of the issues that need attention, and the Brits have faith that they will do good for the entire country as a couple very interested in standing up and making changes.

3.  Speaking of being non-royal, this was the first royal marriage that was not arranged (at least, in some way.)  After several divorces and much unhappiness in the royal family, Queen Elizabeth apparently encouraged Will to date whomever he wanted and make the choice on his own.  He met Kate, a girl with a middle-class background, at university, and they were friends before dating.  Will dated other girls before realizing he felt something more for her, and after a few years as a couple, they even went through a break up and reconciliation.  They lived together before marriage.  All of this is very real, a very common way of choosing 'the one', and very unlike royal couples of the past.  Oh, except for the fact that Kate was a girl like me, a girl like you, and got swept off of her feet by the future King of England.  And let's get down to the mushy, simple truth of the matter...

everyone loves a fairytale.

The Countdown Begins: Only Fifty Days Left

I am convinced.  I absolutely, positively, 100% chose the winning place to study abroad.  It has been almost too beautiful and perfect in Canterbury lately to put into words!  Of course, we've been quite lucky to have had three weeks of clear skies, sunshine, and warm weather, but this week, with temperatures on the rise (sometimes to the point of being hot) we got a little taste of summertime.  I've been able to spend a better part of my afternoons lying out, soaking up the rays with a good book, strolling the streets that grow more and more crowded with visitors by the day, and appreciating all of my favorite aspects the British culture that I know I'll miss the moment I get home, which, might I mention, is in a short fifty days.  How did that happen?!  Of course, I've loved every moment here up to this point and am so thankful for all I have been able to see and experience, but when you realize you're short on time, it's only natural to up the ante, fill each day to its brim, and recognize the importance of making sure no opportunity is shrugged off.  So, even on the days I don't leave town, I make sure to visit it, or spend time doing something "personally fulfilling" while on campus - such as taking the time to read and write - because who knows what life will be like once I enter the real world back home!  I may not get the chance, for awhile anyway, to just be as I am right now.

 

I can't get enough of the absurd amount of flowers and blooms that have overtaken the city!  I can attest to the claim that Kent is in fact "The Garden of England."  Every few steps there is a different color, a different variety, a different scent.  I especially enjoy certain areas around the River Stour, namely near Westgate (pictured above), which I fortunately pass by every time I visit town, whether walking or taking the bus!  This week, I spent a lot of time walking into town, not necessarily looking for anything in particular, but simply enjoying being in the midst of the lively streets.  There are street musicians, literally, on every street corner in the main part of town.  One song fades into another.  There are ice cream stands dotted throughout the city centre, never without a customer.  Tourists flock to just outside of the cathedral gate and make me feel better about my own obsession with getting pictures of it from every angle when they pull out their hefty cameras and tell their children or significant others where to stand and how to pose.  But my favorite bit as of late?  The Wednesday and weekend markets!

Not that I ever buy anything, but I could spend hours just looking through the selections.  Just about anything you'd need can be found at the market (although some of what you need, you probably wouldn't want to get there) but I mostly enjoy the fabrics, jewelry, fresh produce, and yes, the ridiculous amount of Royal Wedding "collectables" that have overtaken a better part of the market in the last couple of weeks.  Who wouldn't want to cuddle up in a blanket with Will and Kate's smiling faces printed on the outside, while sipping tea from a mug complete with the royals' engagement shot and wedding date?

On Friday, I met up with Leigh Anne for a study break, as she sadly has seven exams to prepare for and a huge paper to write while on vacation!  Needless to say, the freedom one experiences when stepping away from the books caused our visit to town for scones and tea to turn into a two day long let's-avoid-schoolwork-altogether adventure.  Because it was so unbelievably hot on Friday, we were sweating, panting, and longing for a cold drink rather than hot tea by the time we got into town.  So, we instead decided on a little takeaway shop for cold water and a snack.  It was there that I experienced the best piece of banana cake my taste buds will ever know!  From there, we visited a few shops, our favorite being a thrifty place, three stories high, full of adorable dresses, shoes, and decorations.  We were a little bummed that the stores began turning off their lights and closing their doors just before five o'clock, and decided to walk back to campus.  However, a little cafe that we'd been meaning to try caught our attention, and we stopped in for an early dinner.  This was quite possibly one of our best decisions yet.

For those of you who know me, anything even mildly reminiscent of the 1960s is an instant winner in my book.  Any restaurant offering a vegetarian selection moves towards the top of my list.  And any mention of The Dude makes me very happy indeed.  So, when we walked in and saw the walls plastered with quirky, hippie-style knick-knacks, found an abundance of vegetarian options to choose from, and saw that one of those options was named after The Big Lebowski, I dubbed this my favorite cafe in the world.

We sat in a little garden outside and spent a couple of hours over delicious food, great conversation, and white wine.  The setting sun seemed to stand still, in just the right place, for longer than it should have, which only added to our falling in love with the place.

 

The next morning, we met up for a morning walk out in the countryside.  There is a little path just off of campus that leads through a hilly area, dotted here and there with little English cottages and dense forest, fields full of flowers, stunning views of the town, and plenty of cobwebs and bugs!  We walked for a couple of miles, ending at a massive, gorgeous "cottage" (really a mansion of sorts) and headed back to our own tiny rooms with shared kitchens.  Sigh!

I laid out for awhile before going back to her place so that we could walk into town with Clem, before leaving her to visit an outdoor vintage thrift market, and kept on to the bus station, where we boarded a bus to Margate for an Easter Beer Festival.  Although it's not too far from Canterbury, neither of us had been there before and weren't sure what to expect.  My jaw dropped when we got into the town and it looked as if we were in a different country altogether.  A sandy beach on the seaside was packed full of sunbathers, kites, picnic baskets, and bicycles.  I will, without a doubt, return for a day at the beach before I leave!  We had to pass the beach by though, to get to where we were going, which was an old, lovely theatre in Margate's Winter Gardens.  

 

We started off by sampling some local ciders, which were either delightful or disgusting, but thankfully the volunteers allowed us to sample whatever we wanted before filling up our glasses completely.  Both of us were starving and followed the arrow of a giant sign that read "Food This Way," and instead ended up on an outdoor balcony that unauthorized personnel weren't technically supposed to be on, but considering the door was open and the view was a must-see, we disregarded the sign.

 

We finally did find the food, which was all local as well, and decided while we were eating that the only logical way to get our money's worth out of the festival since there wasn't much time left, would be to get as many little samples as possible by pretending not to like even the ones we did.  This worked quite well, and after another cider, I ended with a white wine that I wish I could stock up on for home!  We laughed our way back to the bus stop, and discovered that we had about an hour to waste, so hearing music close by, we stopped in a pub and belted out Alice Cooper's "School's Out" with the singer over cider-blacks before going back to the bus stop, where we began both the best and worst bus ride in the history of bus rides back to Canterbury.  We were in great spirits, and tried not to let the motion sickness put a damper on things.  I'd say we had more fun than not.

We made it back to Canterbury, and dreaded the long trek back home knowing that we were far too late to catch a bus to campus, so we made a pit stop to get food and sit for a moment before huffing and puffing our way up the hill to our beds!

This morning, I woke excited to attend an Easter service at the Canterbury Cathedral, especially since the Sung Eucharist was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury himself, Rowen Williams (who will be marrying Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday.)  Although I am personally still on a long and unknown path and do not identify myself with any particular religion, I thoroughly enjoy services, of all faiths, especially because Christian or Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist, the messages aren't all that different in the end - to love the world and believe in something bigger than ourselves is always moving to hear.  In any case, the Archbishop of Canterbury has always been the leader of the Church of England, heads the Anglican Communion, and the British have always tended to turn to him in matters of the church (does St. Augustine ring a bell?)  So, to spend Easter morning in one of the world's most important cathedrals, with one of the most respected religious leaders was once-in-a-lifetime.

The sermon was very well done, with a focus on the importance of happiness in a world of turmoil.  Happiness not as a result of material gain, but personal fulfillment.  He mentioned how it is often people we don't expect to feel joyous - nurses with hospice patients, aid workers in third world countries - who feel most happy, with happiness being "an overwhelming sense of being where you should be, being in tune with something or someone, being rooted in the moment in a way that doesn’t at all blur your honesty about what’s there in front of your eyes but gives you what you need to sit in the presence of horror and grief, and live."  He noted that the kind of happiness that surprises us and sneaks up on us is the lasting and most important - like the surprise that came with Jesus' resurrection.  The service was quite memorable, especially having been in the historic cathedral, the choir echoing throughout its ancient arched ceilings that remember voices from centuries upon centuries ago, the organ's vibrations beneath my feet, and the lighthearted references to modern-day pop culture to get the message across, in such a medieval place of worship.  I think the sermon is worth a read if you're interested, click here.

So, that's Easter weekend, as the British do!  I sit here now, feeling a bit exhausted, but excited for the next few weeks.  On Friday, I'll be attending the Royal Wedding.  Next Monday, I'll be on my way to Italy.  As if that's not surreal enough, I'll be en route to Spain shortly thereafter!  I will do my best to share my last few amazing weeks and experiences with you the best that I can.

I hope that wherever you are, and that whatever you're experiencing, it is in some way fulfilling you, setting you up for your own happiness.

Until next time,

Aly

A Visit to Windsor, Bath, and Stonehenge

Hello and happy sleepy, springtime Sunday everyone!  I hope this finds all of you well, happily wrapping up another week and starting the next.  Personally, I find myself waking up on Sundays lately thinking, "No! It can't be next week yet!"  It seems the moon and sun are chasing each other across the sky more and more quickly these days, leaving me less and less time to savour my last few weeks in Europe.  It was this thinking that led me to book an all-day, history-filled tour of some of the places I've longed to see the most.  So, yesterday, after a sleepless night (I can never sleep knowing I have to catch a ride before dawn), I jumped out of bed at 4:30 a.m., grabbed my camera and a sweater, and made my way to the bus station in the dark of morning - that time of day that only the chirping birds know to exist.

My coach arrived at Victoria Station early, around 7:20 a.m., which left me an hour to find my coach in Fountain Square for the tour.  I had scribbled down walking directions from the station, and had written at the bottom, "Should only take 3 minutes."  That's what Google Maps said.  So, I began walking in what I thought was the right direction and ended up strolling about for nearly ten minutes without ever seeing one of the streets that I was supposed to.  I turned around and arrived back at the coach station to start over in the opposite direction, where I walked another five minutes without coming across any of the streets listed in my notes.  I stopped and asked a police officer and then a bakery owner, both of whom pointed me in opposite directions.  By this time, the cap of my water bottle decided to fall off while in my bag, soaking my camera, my tickets, and my leg.

I made my way back to the start again, and re-read the map offered at the station... totally confused as to how I could miss a square - thinking there would be all kinds of shops and people bustling about.  So, I asked a nearby taxi driver if my destination was within walking distance or if I should catch a ride.  He kindly pointed in an entirely new direction and gave me a detailed description of when to make the proper turns.  I followed his advice to a T and ended up in the bus/taxi/coach building that is Fountain Square.  Perhaps had I known that I would be looking for a giant garage rather than an outdoor square with shops and a fresh morning market, I would have found it more quickly.

But I digress!  I had made it, nearly thirty minutes early.  I dried myself and my belongings off and watched more and more tourists show up.  A girl about my age from Canada was the first to arrive, and then an obnoxious thirty-something from America, along with his girlfriend, then soon after about twenty Japanese university students.  All the while, though I tried to focus my thoughts on what I'd be seeing over the course of the day, my body was gradually going numb.  I haven't posted anything about this, because I don't seek pity or attention for it, but I've been having some health issues lately that my mom has been insisting I see the medical center for - and after my experience yesterday, I will be their first appointment tomorrow - plus, it adds to my story!  Gradually, the numbness worsened, I was unable to make out what anyone was saying to me, and when they began to fade to black, I fell my way in to the tour office.  A couple of the staff members helped me to sit onto a box of tour brochures as there were no seats, and stayed with me until I came back to reality.  A jolly bald-headed British military man, whose suit indicated that he was a tour guide for the company, tried to make light of the situation by assessing it, and insisting that it seemed I was nothing more than drunk - then went on to list the insane amount of synonyms the British have for the term "drunk."  After sitting for a few minutes and laughing with him, I determined I was not about to miss the tour and returned to the back of the line that I had once been the head of.

We loaded onto our tour bus minutes later, and I was surprised when our tour guide, Deleanne, began speaking, after handing out little audio earpieces for us to listen to her, because she spoke in a very non-British accent.  I later found out she was Canadian.  She wore a full suede suit complete with fringe and I was surprised her leather boots were missing their spurs.  I was a little down that I'd be touring English sights with a non-English tour guide, but could not have been more disheartened than when, between the high-pitched ring of the earpiece and her introducing herself, I heard the bus driver say, "Where are we going?"  Deleaane knitted her brows, covered her microphone (which made no difference as we all heard her anyway) and she half whispered, half yelled, "Windsor Castle!" to which he replied, "And how do we get there?"  I was tempted to jump off of the bus right then and there.

I bit my lip and said a little prayer that whatever the day held for us, we would actually make it to the places we'd signed up to see.  The ride to Windsor from central London is rather short and, although the majority of the time Deleanne spent giving the driver directions and attempting to get our tickets for our entrance to the castle ready, she did throw out some interesting facts along the way... pointing out a few of Princess Diana's favorite restaurants and cafes, giving us history on the Grosvenor area, and telling us about Her Royal Majesty's life at Windsor (her official residence), including how she gets to and from Windsor to London in a car like anyone else (except with loads of security cars dancing about her) and, at 85, still goes riding on her favorite horse, George, nearly every day.

When we arrived, I was astounded to learn that Windsor is not just a castle - it's an actual town.  Where have I been?  Of course, the castle is gated off from everything else, but remains very much visible to anyone who lives, walks, shops, or arrives in the area.

When we left the bus, Deleanne yelled time and again the time we were to meet back at the coach and popped open a giant, pink, kitten shaped umbrella to which she held high above her head so that we could follow her.

At the rate my morning was going, I was not surprised at all that I ended up in this group.  None of the events at this point had caused me to lose any interest whatsoever in the day's trip, but aside from an occasional laugh with the Canadian girl, I felt totally out of place as we made our way towards the castle considering all of the voices around me were speaking in Japanese and there was no talking from our guide on the way to the castle.

I felt like even more of an outcast while standing in line to get into the castle, which seemed nearly a mile long, when Deleanne came over to me and said, "Why, you're on the Discover Tour... you can jump the line.  We'll see you later!"  I have no idea what the "Discover Tour" is, but what it came down to was my getting to jump the line, have an extra twenty minutes than everyone else, and owe fifteen pounds extra than I should have.  I think.  I was certain when I purchased my tour ticket online that I had paid for general entrance to the sites, but I felt that this kind of fit how my day was going.  Bloody false advertising! So, I winced as I handed over a twenty pound note and took my ticket, then shrugged it off and headed for the castle entrance.  Only having an hour and a half meant I had work to do!

And upon passing through the walls, I totally forgot about the start to my morning.  The castle that greeted me was absolutely breathtaking in every way - medieval, covered in spring blooms, and basking in the early Saturday sun that decided to make an appearance soon after I passed through the gate.

I spent a great deal of time marveling at the gardens that surrounded the castle, in what was meant to be its moat.  Because I was one of the first people in, and had beat the crowd of tourists, I took a moment to pretend that I lived at Windsor Castle.  I imagined myself waking up to a warm cup of tea, which I would drink on the balcony of one of the windows overlooking the gardens while watching the crowd of people begin to stroll in and snap one picture after another of my home.  That's when I realized that maybe it's true that the life of the Queen isn't an easy one.  A day of privacy is likely unheard of.  I mean, what if you simply wanted to stand on the balcony in your bathrobe and horrible bed-head for a few minutes with a cup of tea in the morning without risking your reputation?  And I was happy then, to be one of the tourists snapping pictures.

I spent a few minutes gazing down at the town below, trying to imagine what it might have looked like hundreds of years ago.

I wish I could show you what the inside of the castle looked like, but unfortunately, no cameras were allowed to be out once entering it.  I will confirm that it is equally as stunning on the inside.  There are many well-preserved artifacts, including Queen Mary's Doll Collection, lots of china, swords and suits of armor, paintings (including some from Rembrandt!), furniture, clothing, jewelry, the whole lot.  I nearly stumbled over the fancy rug beneath my feet while gazing up at the giant chandeliers and out of the massive windows overlooking the castle grounds.  While I was aware that the royals have always had the best and fanciest, I couldn't believe the perfection of every plate and fork, every crown and sword, even those from the 1400-1500s.  Seriously, I'd be nervous to eat a meal on that china today, let alone way back then!  Click here for a link to see what's inside Windsor if you're interested.

When heading out to see a bit of the town and get back to the coach, I passed a few souvenir shops and a tiny, royal ice-cream truck, which I would most certainly insist on having on my castle's property, and which I would visit every day, twice a day :)

Also before exciting the castle grounds, you're able to stop in St. George's Chapel, which is, not surprisingly, quite astonishing as well.  Once again, I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside, but click here for a link to see more about it!

I stopped and purchased a few postcards and laughed at the incredible amount of Royal Wedding memorabilia, including blankets, calendars, magnets, teddy bears, shot glasses, and just about anything else you can imagine Will & Kate's faces on, and even a few things you'd never want to imagine their faces on.  I grabbed a sandwich and a drink and practically ran back to the coach, where I saw not only one, but two coaches from the same company.  I climbed onto one of them thinking it was mine, but didn't see the water bottle or headset I had left in my seat, so as I began to exit, I saw that jolly, bald-headed British man from earlier in the morning.  I joked that I had gotten on the wrong coach and he commented, "Well! That's too bad, my driver and I sure would love to have you... really, you should come with us."  As I made my way onto my own coach, I found myself watching him and his driver laughing and talking with their group.  I was a little irritated when my own tour guide came back and said, "Oh, I actually changed our take off time, you could have stayed another ten minutes."  I kept my cool and started to eat my lunch though, and heard her complaining to the other tour guides outside that our coach had been overbooked and she needed to kick someone off, onto their coach.  When I saw her pink, kitten shaped umbrella come back on the bus, I knew exactly what she was going to ask me.  She said another lady was supposed to have been the one to get on the other coach, but if I didn't mind, could I leave?  And friends, I cannot tell a lie.  I already had my bag in my hand.

I happily hopped on over to the coach ran by Tony the tour guide (the bald guy) and Dennis the driver.  

I instantly felt better about the day.  I was able to sit in the front seat, with all kinds of room for my legs to stretch.  Tony's bus had a microphone that was updated enough to work without us having to wear static-filled earpieces that are too big for my tiny ears.  Dennis knew where we were going and how to get there.  I met a lovely Australian couple and a French guy that kept me company while Tony went around the coach answering all kinds of questions about England.  He had great stories to tell.  His grandparents were directly affected by WWII and Hitler, and his grandmother had met the Queen who had visited with workers to help comfort them, which led to him discussing the benefits of a monarchy. He had received his diploma from the hand of the Queen upon his graduation, and impressed us with a great knowledge of Britain's history.

Before I knew it, we were entering Bath.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but when I was looking into study abroad programs, I narrowed my choices down to Canterbury and Bath, and while I'm very happy with my choice, having visited Bath, I wish I could have spent a semester here and one there, or you know, could study abroad for ten more years :)

Perhaps one of the best parts of driving into the city was the landscape.  Tony pointed out when we were passing through the Cotswolds... an area that the government has banned building on, and is known for its natural beauty.  The walls and bridges were built of beautiful local stone and it was the hilliest area I've been through while in England.  Someone pointed out a white 'thing' in the distance, to which Tony replied was the suspension bridge connecting Bath to Wales.  Yes, we drove that far!

I immediately fell in love with how Roman the place looked... it was a very different feel than the typical medieval cities I've visited and the architecture was to die for!

I'm not sure if I was supposed to pay for my entrance to the Roman Baths, considering this tour was a bit of an upgrade from my own and because I had had to pay at Windsor, but Tony handed me an entrance ticket with a wink, as I was now a part of his own group.  Did I mention I believe in good luck after living here?

 

The baths were even more spectacular than I'd imagined.  It's hard to believe nature can create such masterpieces, but then again, nature's something we should never underestimate.  Nor should one underestimate the architects of long ago - just look at how gorgeous the hot springs' surroundings are!  I loved the statues looking down on the main bath and the abbey just behind - picture perfect!

There were lots of ancient artifacts in the Roman Bath museum as well - including original statues from the original temple, as well as information on the historic bathing rituals, and real life "Romans" wandering about the terrace.

Tony offered to meet up with us early if we wanted a tour of the town as well, before leaving.  He is actually from Bath, so he knew all of the places worth seeing in such a short amount of time!  He explained the importance of the Bath Abbey, which locals refer to as "The Light of the West," since eighty percent of its walls are stained-glass windows!  I wasn't surprised to see a figure of Henry VIII above the door, nor to learn that the reason two headless figures were headless was by his order for them to be beheaded once they turned Protestant, not only in real life, but in their brick form as well.  Oh, Henry.  It was also interesting to learn that England's first King was crowned at the Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury!  I feel so connected to history here :)  One might think cathedral after cathedral and abbey after abbey may get a bit boring, but I suppose that I enjoy how they all differ in their character and in their stories.

We then went to the town square, where there were lots of street musicians and outdoor cafes, as one might expect.  While all of the buildings were clearly well kept, some of them had black patches on one part or another - which we learned were not caused by a fire or bad paint jobs, but rather, years and years of pollution, which city cleaners leave alone to indicate authenticity of their age.  Yuck!  I personally fell for the buildings with cute windows and flower boxes, and the astounding perfection on the town's "rich" street, where one place is currently up for sale for 8 million pounds (nearly double that and you get the amount in U.S. dollars.)  Yikes!

 

Before we boarded the coach again, Tony insisted we visit his friend's chocolate shop for the best chocolate in Bath.  Having tried some, I'd say that this wasn't the best chocolate in Bath.  No.  This was the best chocolate in the world.  The sweets are made every morning, and if you don't mind waiting, you can request a special order and have it made as you watch!  I tried a few milk-chocolate covered caramels and white chocolates, but could have spent an entire day taste-testing!  The chocolatier was teaching a class while we visited, and was so enthusiastic, I had to capture it.

Getting on the coach again, we heard echoes of the huge, chanting rugby crowd, on the field that was probably about a half of a mile away.  It gave me goosebumps.  When driving out of the city, we saw thousands of people jumping and cheering, and I was a little sad to be crossing the bridge and leaving so soon.  I will live in Bath one day.

 

Tony and Dennis break the rules on a regular basis and do the tour a bit backwards because it allows for more time at each place and makes sense - but also gives Dennis the ability to take a scenic route from Bath to Stonehenge instead of the motorway.  I am so fortunate to have ended up on their tour!  We passed through several villages with extremely old chapels and homes, Tony pointed out the canals (if I ever have a honeymoon, I'm doing a canal trip through England), and we were able to see ancient battle mounds dotted throughout the fields (many times there were two mounds beside each other, one for humans and one for their animals.)

To be completely honest, Stonehenge kind of snuck up on me.  I think that's the way Tony likes to play it.  He goes on about the history just before getting there and then exclaims, "Oh! There it is!"  And to continue with my complete honesty, Stonehenge really is a pile of large rocks, albeit strategically placed, in the middle of nowhere, in a massive field surrounded by sheep.  And it is the absolute most amazing pile of large rocks in a field filled with sheep that anyone will ever see.  

It's magnificent and awe-inspiring.  I don't care that the audio-tour gave an explanation for how the builders got the two-ton rocks mile after mile to their destination and set them up on top of one another in precisely the way they planned.  It's a miracle, and to have such dedication and determination nowadays for something like that, in my mind, is a rarity.  Tony offered his step-by-step theory, which differed a bit from the official audio tour given by Stonehenge, but he also added that the explanation, which my dad insists on for works like Stonehenge and the pyramids, could also be possible:  aliens.

I couldn't get over how some people pass Stonehenge everyday on their way to work, or school, or home.  It's very likely they don't think a thing of it, or even give it a second glance after so long.  I'm desperately trying not to take anything for granted after my experience abroad, and hope that I can be in love with my surroundings wherever I am in the future, instead of just passing them by.

Note the road in the background.

Boarding the coach for the last time, while the sun and looming rain clouds fought for the sky, I hadn't fully grasped the idea that I had just visited the places I've dreamed about for years.  It was such a whirlwind of a day and I believe I was in a bit of a shock, really.  I recall being the 'nerd' in fourth and fifth grade, watching television specials on English history, studying on my own time from a dusty old set of encyclopedias my mom wanted (and still wants) to get rid of, and telling myself one day I'd see Stonehenge.  It's a little surreal to grow up and keep that kind of promise to my ten-year-old self.

Our coach arrived back at Victoria right on time (I learned that Deleanne's coach was running behind us all day long) and I was able to amend my ticket for a coach back to Canterbury so that I would arrive two hours earlier than expected.  As much as I wanted to stay in London for a couple of hours, I still wasn't feeling the greatest, and was ready to not be in a coach for awhile!  I had enough time to grab a veggie wrap, which I scarfed down in record time while a young child watched with an expression that I can only describe as pure terror (I look pretty scary when I'm hungry I guess!)  and got on my final coach for the day, back to ye olde Canterbury.  I kept my eyes open until we were out of London, because as I've stressed before, it's too wonderful a site to ignore, and opened them again only when I knew I'd be seeing the top of the cathedral that welcomes me home each and every time.

I fell asleep before my head hit the pillow, and didn't mind at all that I woke around 7:30 this morning, since I woke to the sun shining and a singing bird perched on my windowsill.  Sometimes, life is perfect.

Love,

Aly