What can we say about London? The city is awesome. The history, the museums, the people speaking English.....it was heaven. We packed a lot into our three days, and because we had great timing, there were no crowds and we did in three days what would normally take six (and the weather was still very mild).
First stop, Trafalgar Square. We were so impressed with this square. The column with Lord Nelson was larger than life, and the lions, well, what more could a kid want than to climb on these??
Admiral Lord Nelson.
We loved that every street had "look left" or "look right".
The horse guard coming up the mall just before the changing of the guard.
The gates of Buckingham Palace at 11:30 for the changing of the guard.
Westminster Abbey was really incredible. We spent quite a while in here to see everything and for the kids to do the "treasure hunt". This Abbey is one you can NOT miss if you go to London.
At the end of the treasure hunt in the Abbey, the kids got a large chocolate coin from the gift shop for completing the hunt.
Of course.
These horse guards are right in front of the Prime Ministers house on Downing street, we loved the sign.
Our first pub lunch, Bill serves us our drinks!!
On to the British Library where we saw *the* Magna Carta and old manuscripts, pages of writings, music, and drawings from the Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Beatles, Mozart, Lewis Carroll, etc etc etc. No pictures allowed.
Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station took a little bit of time to find. They keep moving it around as they update the underground. It was worth it and again, no lines for our pictures.
A great view of Parliament from the other side of the river Thames.
Inside the london eye as we took our 30 minute ride.....very cool.
The tower bridge. We also saw the London Bridge but really, it's just a bridge. This bridge was part of the old castle and where many people in history stayed imprisoned including Ann Boleyn, William Wallace, King Henry VI, Catherine Howard, and William Penn!!
Our "Beefeater" who gave a great tour of the castle.
At the Rainforest Cafe, our dessert had a sparkler which Nolan loved, but Katie did not.
Our last day, we checked out of our hotel and went to the British Museum as our last stop.
They allow pictures of just about everything in the museum. We could have spent the entire day here looking at the relics from Egypt and Greece, not to mention everything else. Two days here would do it justice, our time here was great but too short. We saw things that are thousands of years old. It was extraordinary.
Nolan loved the mechanical clock exhibit.
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This was in front of the Handwerkerhof (Craftsmen's Courtyard). Nuremberg is home to some of the best of Germany's toys, glassworks, and goldsmiths. This medieval courtyard is filled with adorable shops.
In the courtyard.
The Easter decorations were adorable.
Nuremberg is a walled city. Here I am (and Nolan climbing) in front of one of the gigantic doors of an entrance.
Katie and her best little buddy eating gelato.
This cathedral is beautiful. We took a walk inside the next day after Easter mass.
This bridge was modeled after Venices' Rialto.
In front of the Ship of Fools (the ship is filled with characters from a 15th century satire).
This beautiful fountain is in the Marktplatz where the Christmas Market is held each year.
Local legend has it if you spin this gold ring three times, you will have good luck, so of course we all did.
After the market, we walked up to Kaiserburg, the imperial castle. The kids had a complete blast climbing on the rocks in front.
Walking up to the castle.
If the kids have gelato and things to climb on, we are all good.
A beautiful city.
We always manage to find a playground.
Day two, we found breakfast, strolled in the city, and came across this fountain. It is Ehekarusell Fountain. The scuplture is figures from the 20th century and it apparently represents the joys and sorrows of married life. We got a huge kick out of it and had to have a picture in front of what appears to be the wife dragging her husband to hell in the very end.
Our last stop before heading home was the Nazi Documentation Center which does a great job of explaining how things went very wrong here in the 40's.
This is where some of the biggest Nazi rallies took place.
The platform where Hitler once stood to address his people.
An old image of a rally.
After a six hour drive, we were starving. We got to the Blue Beetroot and practically ordered food before we checked in!!!(Lisa and Jennifer H.)
Lisa wastes no time and orders wine and beer......love that girl!!
We brought supplies, but we needed a place to chill them. Since it was ridicuously cold outside, the window worked.
This place was the absolute best. So cosy, great food, and the manager Jarek was adorable.
Paula and Jennifer M. were first timers. It was fun to watch them check everything out. They loved it.
Paula, me, Jennifer M., Lisa & Jennifer H. at Andy's.....our favorite!
"What do you girls think of these jugs??"
Thank goodness Lisa brought her adorable coach tape measure so I could make sure these were the size I needed.
After a long day of shopping, it was nice to come home to this!!
I had to get a picture of our "loot" on the way home. We kept commenting on the scenery outside the window....Jennifer would just say, "I can't see a dang thing".