Paris....

So Tuesday dawned awfully early, and we set off for Paris on the Eurostar. When we booked this, I was very unimpressed (scared to death) of the thought of going under the Channel, but I slept through it. Haha. That is a great way of dealing with anything that makes you uncomfortable. Sleep. Haha. Or being exhausted in general. It seems to have stolen all the things I was scared of in the past. Anyway.....

So off to Paris we did go. We got to our accommodation, which turns out to be heavily photoshopped and misrepresented online, where Becky found and booked it. A bit of a disappointment, although it was cheap, and close to Eiffel, so whatever. The guy who owns it however, is a douche, and it was probably him that annoyed us most. Apparently we look way to stupid to know how to work a lock, or turn on a shower etc etc. like we live in caves in Australia. anywayyyyyy.....

The first thing we did, was have lunch. And wine. Cos we needed it after dealing with him!

Then we went on our mission to find Eiffel.

And we found her, YAY!!!

And then, we climbed took the lift up to the second floor. Scary? No, not really (well for some of us. One of us, who shall remain nameless *coughAssadcough* chickened out and wouldn't go up any further).

So...seeing as it wasnt so bad, we took the express lift (those things go FAST!!) up to the top!

Wow, what a view!!!

Don't look down.....hahahaha.

Seriously though, I surprised no-one more than myself by not being remotely scared. At all. How weird. Normally heights scare the bejesus out of me, but nothing. Just in awe. Loved the Eiffel tower. Loved the view. Loved it. The end.

Can't be bothered flipping the photo on my iPad, so you're going to have to deal with it being sideways. Haha.

So that pretty much dealt with our first day.

Wednesday morning was my last day in Europe, so Bek and I got up early and found our way back to Eiffel to have coffee and share the sunrise with her. And have croissants stolen out of my hand by a bloody bird, scaring me half to death. Haha. Bek nearly wore the croissant as I hurled it away in fright. Haha. Good times. Or good laughs. Whatever.

What a stunning picture perfect day. Especially after the rainy windy miserable weather we had Tuesday! Oh well!

We went back and woke the kids, and headed to Champs Élysées. Oh my, I could've spent some money there. But I controlled myself. Just. Mostly because I was on the other side of the street from Louis Vuitton. Haha.

THEN, we went to the Louvre. We didn't have enough time to go inside, SAD FACE, due to me flying home, and Bek & family going to Belgium, but we had a little play in the courtyard anyhow.

What. An. Idiot.

Even funnier, I jumped off (photo not on iPad yet, might upload it later) and went splat. Haha. because I'm so talented like that.

Bek got excellent photos of THAT. haha. Was laughing so hard, probably as much as everyone else who saw it. Haha. How embarrassment.

And with that, we went back to pack up, and parted ways. I'm currently in Hong Kong waiting impatiently for my flight home to my babies.

It's been such a wonderful trip, and I saw so many amazing things, and had an absolute ball. But, I'm so ready to go home and get back to normal life with my beautiful little family. Until next trip.........

Kel xoxo

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London Day 3 - Windsor, Oxford and STONEHENGE!!!!!

So Sunday night, Bek, Assad and the kids headed off for their awesome little holiday at LEGOLAND (to be honest, I was so tempted to do that too!! Haha) and I went back to Southbank to buy more tacky souvenirs (I am a freak for tacky souvenirs!!). Then I went back to the hotel to collapse in a heap. I guess it may be a good thing (not really, but anyway) that I didn't get Robbie Williams tickets for the night, cos I was soooo buggered I don't know if I would've made it to Southend and back. Bahahahaha, who am I kidding??? I'd find energy to go scream at Robbie anyday!!! :D

Anyway, Monday morning I found my way across town to where the tour bus was picking up from, and since I was early as always, I did MORE shopping!!! Union Jacks galore in my bag!! Haha.

So our first stop was Windsor, and of course, Windsor Castle. What a pretty little village.

We only had a little over an hour there due to traffic delays, so I did a quick bolt through the State Rooms, and that was pretty much it. No photos allowed inside of course, but it was gorgeous, naturally!!

 

So after a quick run through, we piled back on the bus and headed to Oxford. What a pretty town. We had a little wander through part of the town, then went for a closer look at one of the colleges, ChristChurch.

Another amazing building with amazing history.

Hi there Hank!!

Makes me want to go study something. hahaha. Of course, the most exciting part for me is that part of the Harry Potter films have been filmed there.. Woohoo!!

That balcony should look familiar to HP fans....Hermione calling down to Haz & Ron in one of the first couple of films.

This is the Bodleian libraries reading room I believe. Bit cool. If you like that kind of thing. I do. Haha.

We also stumbled across the set of a tv show/movie that was filming. That was funny mainly because I'd actually watched it the night before. I don't have the sneaky photos I took of the rather annoyed star on hand Haha. And I can't think of the name of the show, nor can I be bothered googling it. I believe it's the offshoot of Inspector Morse. Google away. Haha.

Once we were done there, we were back on the bus for the most exciting part of the day, Stonehenge!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEE! So heading out of Oxford, we got stuck in traffic. Not cool when we were on a very strict timing with access to the Henge. Then, just when traffic started flowing, the bus was rear-ended by a noob in a BMW. Great. So dealing with that took the driver about 40 mins, which then meant we were very late for our very important date! P.s. the bus was fine, as we're all passengers. The BMW, not so much. That'll learn him for texting when driving. Haha. One expensive text!!

Anyways, we eventually made it to Stonehenge just before sunset. We were supposed to be in the circle for sunset, but we had to be split into two groups, and it had also started raining. Not great. AND our half hour for each group had been whittled down to 15 mins each. Not cool. Luck for me, I was in the first group! YAY!!

Just a bit excited to be there!! hahahahahaha

A tiny bit of sun managed to sneak between clouds and the horizon. Beautiful.

Sooooo, that was amazing. Possibly my favorite moment of my trip. Which is really saying something, cos I've had lots and lots and lots of amazing moments!! There is something so very special about this place, and words really can't describe it. Loved it.

It really was an awesome day. Slightly marred by a very very stupid girl who was screaming and yelling abuse at the tour guide and bus driver and disrupting everything on the trip back to London. So after a few minutes of everyone wallowing in the awkward moment she was producing, I may or may not have gotten into a massive fight with less then exemplary language, but DID however manage to shut her up and sit her down and enable us to all go home in piece. It was probably a good thing I was in a window seat, or I very well may have slapped her down. Not that I condone violence of any kind. Nor do I wish to bring home the souvenir of Assault Charge!! Haha. But she so needed it. So did her mother who sat there letting her go for it. Seriously. Anyway....all was well and we all got home, and she got off at the first stop possible. Yay. Haha.

And then....we went to Paris......

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London day 2

What a day!! I'm absolutely exhausted, my feet are protesting very very loudly to ever having to walk ever again. Haha

We started our day with a trip to the London Eye. The weather has turned fairly typically Londonish, and was all overcast and cold, and threatening rain. Thankfully though, it held off! Yay!!

So we had booked tickets on the Eye for 10, which is when it opens. We got there about fifteen minutes early which gave us plenty of time to both pickup the tickets and have a cuddle with David Beckham. I WISH!!!

So the London Eye wasn't nearly as scary as I expected....or I'm just too tired now to be scared of anything! Normally heights and I are NOT friends, and ferris wheels of any kind scare me to death, but I was pretty cool about it all!! Who knew it was possible?!? It's sooooooo damn high though!!! The view was just awesome though..

After we finished out little ride, we set off to Trafalgar Square...

Oh they are some tired eyes!!! Haha

Then headed down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace.

The park is absolutely gorgeous!!!

And, we saw squirrels!!!! YAY!!!! AND, I managed to NOT squeeeeeeee like a little girl this time.....just!

We arrived at the Palace just in time to see some marching action, which was kinda cool.

Once we were done with gawking at the Palace and fighting the crowds to take photos, we headed off (stupidly, on foot!) to Harrods. On the way, I met a phone box...

And did a little window shopping....how nice would that be!?!

Before we FINALLY made it to Harrods!

Now, I'm sure Harrods is lovely. However, after 2 weeks of travel, and after walking a million miles already this morning on my stupid old lady legs, I was so over it by the time we got there, and it was SOOOOO busy, I just could not wait to get back out of there! We pretty much just bought lunch and went back outside to eat it. I'm sure I could spend many many dollars in there....if I had many many dollars to spend!! Haha. Maybe a bit exclusive for my holiday budget!! Though I'm sure Aaron would have liked the upgrade to his boat!! hahahaha

Anyway, we left Harrods after lunch, and headed off to The Tower of London. I got off the tube at Temple to go on my own little quest to finally visit Temple Church. A very exciting prospect for a Templar geek like myself!! Found my way to Fleet St, finally found the gate in, and IT WAS CLOSED!!!!! From August something to Sept 22nd. Not. Happy.

So they had a mud map on how to enter the Temple complex from around the block somewhere, and off I went to try and find it. What a mission!!! I found a few other people also trying to find it. And eventually we did manage to work out the maze of buildings and lanes etc to find the church! Yay! I loved being able to be there, but it was really really disappointing to not be able to go inside.

So after having a little cry about that I tore myself away to get to the Tower before it was too late!

Another amazing structure, with masses of amazing history!! In my element!!

View of the bridge from the wall of the Tower.

All in all an awesome day, but I'm soooo exhausted, and should very much be asleep in preparation for my very very very exciting trip to Stonehenge tomorrow!!!

So on that note, I'm off to get those zzzz's!

Kel x

P.s. Regan had a very random request for when I was in London. To see one of those 3d pavement paintings you often see on the interwebs. I pretty much told him "yeah sure buddy. Not likely". So, in amongst all the searching for the Temple church, in an amazing maze of buildings and courtyards and gardens etc...I came out of a lane, and ran smack into the Church. I turned my head to the adjacent courtyard, and there is a photo shoot in progress, OF ONE OF THOSE 3D DRAWINGS!!!! incredible. They weren't very friendly, so I wasn't able to try and get a pic on it myself. A bit of a shame. But seriously, what are the chances!?!? The universe works in mysterious ways. For sure. Love it!

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