Well, I’m settling in at Oxford and thought I would check in to let you guys know how my trip is going! It’s really been great, but in some ways, it was a bit of a nightmare. Our flight here was delayed 28 hours (I am NEVER flying Virgin Atlantic again) and we had some trouble with the hotel once we settled in London. That threw our entire trip off, but since then, things have been good!
As soon as we got to London, we went to the British Museum which I have never had the opportunity to visit. We saw the Elgin Marbles and most of the Greek, Egyptian and Asian collections. It was a great visit, and a nice, laid back way to start the trip.
Friday, we went to Hampton Court Palace. After how much I’ve been reading about King Henry VIII lately, as well as watching The Tudors, I was really looking forward to this visit. We spent pretty much the whole day there.
Me in a niche of the maze at Hampton Court
If you look closely in this picture, you can see the intertwined H and A symbols that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
After we got back from Hampton Court, we took a ride on the London Eye, which really was cool.
Then we walked around Parliament and Westminster Abbey because it was so close by! Unfortunately, Westminster Abbey was closed so we’re hoping to visit in when we’re back in London at the end of the month.
Saturday, we went to the Tower of London, and ended up spending a lot of the day there because there is so much to see!
Traitor’s Gate
Graffiti carved by the Dudley family
After that, we went to the National Portrait Gallery, but since photography wasn’t allowed, I don’t have anything to share from that part of the trip! After that, we walked to Buckingham Palace and through Hyde Park.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain
I haven’t taken any pictures at Oxford yet (I haven’t had a chance to remotely explore the city) but rest assured that I will be posting some soon!
30 comments:
Wow! I'm so jealous! This pictures are absolutely gorgeous!
Even though getting there was a nightmare, it looks like you're having fun. I'm glad your hubby got to come for a little while.
OH my!! Your photos brought back so many great memories of my months in London. Such great shots! The marbles are just unbelievable. Oh and the Rosetta Stone and so much.
Oh wow! Looks like you're enjoying yourself!! In Oxford, you have to swing by the Eagle & Child pub--there's a little plaque on the back room wall about how C.S. Lewis used to hang there. =)
Wow these pictures are so fascinating. Looks like you guys had a really nice time.
Wow, to actually SEE the places from the books/movies I've been enjoying would be so exciting! Hope you are really enjoying your trip!
Oh I'm so jealous. Have a blast.
I remember reading about the Elgin Marbles in one of Robert Hellenga's books (The Sixteen Pleasures, I think). Thanks for sharing your photos!
Sounds like you're having an amazing time! (except for that 28 hours delay, of course!) I'm just a "tiny" bit jealous now! :)
Sorry your flight was such a pain, I had a great experience flying Virgin Atlantic, but that was about 8 years ago, so who knows now. Very exciting to see Hampton Court and the Elgin Marbles. Did you read Stealing Athena by Karen Essex? It was all about the Elgin Marbles.
Wow :-) I'm so jealous! It looks absolutely gorgeous! What's been your favorite thing so far? Obviously not the plane ride there!
I'm really pleased you are enjoying it in the UK. I only live about 10 miles from Hampton Court so often go there for picnics in the summer. I love it there!
I was born in Oxford, so know it well. I look forward to hearing all about your time there.
Wonderful pictures - thanks so much for sharing these. Sorry your trip was such a nightmare, but good to see you're having a good time despite all that.
Oh man, I am so jealous. It looks like you are having a great time in one of the best cities in the world. Great pictures!
That's funny, Virgin Atlantic is our favorite airline! They must have been having a seriously off day, normally they're heads and shoulders above the others (and we've flown most of the airlines that go from the east coast to the UK).
I'm glad you're having a great time otherwise though! I still haven't been to Hampton Court Palace but it's definitely "on my list". I hope the rest of the month is fabulous too!
Oh, I'm so jealous! I'll be in London in September, though... these pictures make me all the more eager to go! It's been about 8 years since I was last in England (went to Oxford for a summer program and lived at Magdalene College), and I'm looking forward to my trip in the fall.
Thanks for the desktop vacation. I liked Diana's memorial fountain.
You're an amazing photographer Swapna. These pictures are so lovely. I can see you're having a wonderful time.
I may never get to go to London myself but your pictures will help me live vicariously through you.
The pictures are awesome! I'm jealous that you get to visit to so many places!
I am so happy/jealous about your picture at Hampton Court! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. It makes me want to go there even more. Have a wonderful time!
Great pictures! Brings back memories for me - seems like you guys did/saw almost exactly the same stuff as I did when I was in London. I even flew on Virgin Atlantic, too, but I have to say I had a much better experience than you did! Ah, I'd love to go back again...
Thanks for sharing the pics!! It makes me what to go back again.
Wow! Thanks for sharing these awesome pics. I've never been to London, but it's on my list of places to visit some day.
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Ahhh London. I miss it! I hope you are having a great time. Funny enough I will ONLY fly Virgin Atlantic. Sorry you had such a problem and delays. Have a great time!!!!!!
This is a dream of mine to one day visit various place in Great Britain, including Oxford. I hope you have a fantastic time!
Great pictures!! I would love to go there some day.
Really beautiful pictures Swapna! I'm so jealous, I wish I was there too. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
I love the British Museum! I really enjoyed visiting the Tower of London, too, even though I expected it to be more outside the city (that's what I get for reading historical novels).
Had so much fun looking at your photos -- bought a huge smile to my face! I'm so in love with the city and wish I had more than the three days I was there in May. I did manage to cram in a ton, though, and I'm sure you're having an amazing time!
those photos are so gorgeous. I am jealous. Have a great time and keep us up to date on everything.
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