Wednesday was one of the days in London I was most looking forward to, and it lived up to everything I was hoping it to be. I got a really rough start, unfortunately, but it all worked out perfectly fine! I was planning on going on a tour to Windsor Castle, Bath, and Stonehenge for the day, and was supposed to meet the group at 8:35. I set my alarm for 7 to give me enough time to shower, eat breakfast and get there, but I was still so jet lagged that I immediately fell back to sleep. Fortunately, I woke up in a panic around 8 and realized I needed to get going...fast. Needless to say, I didn't get there for 8:35. The girl at the front desk of the hostel told me to go to the wrong place on the Tube. After making this realization, I went from person to person asking for directions, and they all told me different things. By the time I finally figured out where to go, it was 9:05 and I was sure the bus had already left. I still went in hoping to plead with them for either a refund or a spot on the next day's bus, but, miraculously, the buses were running late and there was one seat left on the bus that was pulling out as I walked in. I got on the bus and started crying from stress and relief. I couldn't believe how lucky I was! I quickly fell asleep (something I would do between every stop on the tour), until we got to our first destination: Windsor Castle.
Honestly, I wasn't very impressed with London to that point. With the exception of the big monuments throughout the city, I got a big NYC feeling from it. It was much more modern than any of the other cities I've traveled to, and I was a little disappointed by that. Windsor Castle completely changed that outlook, however. THIS was the London I was looking for. The old buildings surrounding the castle and the castle itself gave you the feeling of stepping back in time. It was all so beautiful, and I was so excited to be walking the same halls that centuries of monarchs had done previously. There were incredible artifacts gifted to the royal family, portraits and paintings done by DaVinci, Rembrandt, and Van Dyke, as well as artwork done by members of the royal family themselves. We saw Mary's Dollhouse, which included real silver in the dining room, mini crown jewels and original artwork and literature. We meandered around the state rooms where the Queen entertains guests and the private gardens where the Queen takes her daily walks. Finally, we were able to see St. George's Chapel. I knelt in front of the altar and it was a such a strange feeling knowing I was in the same place where so many royals had been married in years past.
Our next stop was Bath, which quickly became my favorite part of England. The city style is Georgian, which is essentially a mix of classic British style blended with ancient Roman and Greek styles (I bet you can now guess why I loved it so much!). The town was so unique and quaint and I really wish I had more time to explore, but I still had an absolutely amazing time here. Before we got off the bus, the tour guide told us that more than likely we wouldn't take more than 20-30 minutes walking through the baths. There were so many incredible artifacts and ruins to see and learn about there, though, that I have no idea how someone could just walk in and walk out. I spent over an hour wandering through it and still felt rushed!! It was one of the coolest museums I have ever seen. It was built around the ruins, and everything was laid out as they would have been if the ruins were still standing. The baths themselves were the coolest things. They're in the open air, yet you can still feel the heat coming from the water. In the religious bath, you can even see the water bubbling from the steam coming from below! I put my hand in and it made me wish more than anything that I could just jump right in and sink into the water. Next time, I'll have to make sure to book a spa session! Towards the exit, there was also a fountain where you could have a glass of water from the springs. It was warm and tasted very "mineraly", but it was really neat to be able to drink it (it has a lot of nutrients!)
After leaving the baths, the first thing I saw was Bath Abbey, with it's spires towering above the surrounding buildings. In front, there was a musician singing "Moon River" and playing the sax. It was truly beautiful moment. Soaking up the smooth music and the surroundings made for a mystical atmosphere. Despite the rush of people surrounding me, I truly felt at peace wandering through the crowd. I slowly made my way past the Abbey, and still had a few minutes to spare. There was a gelateria we passed on the way to the baths called Real Italian Ice Cream shop where I got my classic coconut and hazelnut & cocoa combo. I ate it on my way to see the Putney Bridge which is modeled after my favorite of bridges, the Ponte Vecchio. It was like a mini tribute to Italy! I had just enough time to snap a few pictures and finish my gelato before heading back to the bus to go to our next and final stop: Stonehenge.
At first, I was very underwhelmed with Stonehenge as we approached the site. I was expecting this gigantic monument on a high hill, which is not what it is at all. I was very disappointed. As soon as we made our way through the entrance, however, my feelings completely changed. When you're standing face to face with one of history's greatest mysteries, you can't help but soak in and stand in awe of it's splendor. The way the stones are lined up and placed in the ground to complement the changing of the seasons is absolutely baffling. Looking on at this incredible site, and seeing nothing in the distance but farms and field animals gives you the most incredible feeling of serenity.
We got back from the tour pretty late, but I was still able to shower, get some food and find my friends to go out. All the napping on the bus gave me the energy I needed for a fun night in London! Dani, another friend Jillian, the guy from Cali and the girl from South Korea and I all went out together. I had an unbelievable time with the best of people and could not have asked for a more amazing time.
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