typing on a little Dell computer so no USB port for my camera and I can't upload any pictures here but will have many when I get back.
I was fixated on statues and ornaments in London and have pictures of the Tudor Rose. It has been a symbol in my mind for about a year and I got to see the real thing. Go google it if you are curious.
I saw Kelly Harcus and we went together with her book arts group to see some handmade book exhibits at the Victoria and Albert Museum. There were more statues, marble, and a whole room of plaster casts that were made during a time when the English were making them of old ancient things like Trajan's Column (another google expedition).
We went to the town of Cambridge one day to see my friend Deborah and her partner Steve and she took us around to see the colleges in the old part of the city. One of the places I liked the best was the chapel in King's College. Wow! I did manage to get some pictures and will post them after May 5th when I get back.
We (my husband and I) started off by taking a 2 and 1/2 hour bus ride all over London and we learned alot. Then we trekked over to Harrod's and had lunch. Later we had middle eastern food at a place I went to 25 years ago called Fakhreldine that is still one fancy restaurant. We saw Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey and many other sights one after the other.
Did you know that if lions are at the base of a statue of some guy it means he died in battle? How about this one. If you see a statue of a dragon it means you are entering the old "City of London" and that is different than the city of Westminster and they are right next to each other. The "Tower of London" isn't a tower at all. Every taxi driver in London has to buy and get accepted to have a license to work around London and they get one because they are an expert and know where everything is. Also, you can buy an day long underground ticket for 5 pounds 30 and then you can ride all day.
Things cost ALOT here! It is almost unreal. I got a pair of earrings for 89 pounds. That's $223 american and they were brass and crystal!!!! I really wanted them and I am going to try to forget what I paid for them. What?
So now we are in Amsterdam after a half hour flight and some extra waiting around. I almost slept through the whole thing because no matter what anyone tells you jet lag doesn't really go away. You keep waking up at the same time every day and it's when you wake up at home. And I still haven't gotten the time change down so every time I ask my husband what time it is at home I am wrong. So I decided to keep my watch on that time and he changed his to this time zone. That way we have them both covered.
The place we stayed in London was right in the middle of things and we could find our way back by the landmarks: Buckingham Palace, Green Park, Prince Albert's Gate (in a can?) Piccadilly Circus, The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square.
Then I gave all my extra pounds, I had 80, to my husband and we changed them to euros and now here we are sipping champagne (I am a bit tipsy) in the nicest bed and breakfast place called "Fusion Suites" in Amsterdam. Do I know where I 'really' am? No! But as soon as I finish writing this we are going to go and find out. Until next time!
signed Catherine Witherell who is travelling in Europe. xo