England Part 2

Quickly going to run through the rest of our trip in mostly photos here.  If you really want the scoop as to what we did you are going to have to call or even better, visit us. 

To start this post out I got to start where I left off.  Here is evening at King's college.

We decided to take a day trip to Kings Lynn to see a castle.  James likes trains, because they are great for sleeping.

Here we are at Castle rising.  This is apparently the most famous 13th century castle in England, but my cousins who live 1 hour away had never heard of it.  How famous can a 13th century castle really be anyway.

Sweet high hill all the way around it to make intruders run up hill.  Then on the inside a square building with very high wall.  it was not huge, but still impressive.

This day was the coldest of our whole trip.  No rain, but probably on 50 and misty.

The old timber floor was right under Brenda's feet and then there was storage under that.

I know I was there....although there are rarely any photos to prove it.

Not that great of a pic, but when we got back to Kings Lynn we walked around and checked out this church.

Then warmed up with come Coffee.

Back at the De Jong's, Kalyi and James played around.

The next day Matt was able to take us into the Kings College Cathedral.  Since he is a member of the University staff it was free for him and guests which is always nice.  The stone ceiling was spectacular and they are not entirely sure how it was constructed because there is no cement is the stones, but the weight of each one pushing like a wedge against the next holds it up.   Kind of scary if you think about it.

You are not allowed to walk across the grass unless you are a professor there that has worked there for about 15 years....ridiculous rules, but since I did not want to reflect poorly upon my cousins good name I followed them.

Got in this picture as well.

Then we walked around for a bit.

Ate in the city square to see this kid....wait a second...is she....no she couldn't be.....she is!!!  Parents, I implore you to get the pacifiers out of the kids mouth once the can speak full sentences and think rationally.  This girl looked about 6 to my, but I am not a good judge of age.

Brenda and I then went off to a rugby game.  Cambridge got killed, but there was a lot of yelling and one fight. 

Lots of grunting

Kind of fun to have a few pints and watch a match.  The fight was pretty cool.  Two guys got pissed at each other and decided to headbutt one another.....at the same time.   Never had I seen that before, and after the headbutt they were both thrown out, but neither of them flinched.   Man was it cool.

Then it was off to Kayli's birthday party.  She was turning two and we had a chance to meet some of Matt and Cara's friends.

Then hang out and eat cake.

The next day was pretty mellow with church in the morning then Matt and I left on the bikes for Ely.  We rode like madmen for what seemed like forever, but really was just over two hours and the girls met us there.  We went to the cathedral there which is very famous for being cool.

Never point a gun at anyone is what I think of my mother saying at this picture....hahahaha.

For dinner it was fish and chips, and mushy peas.  Brenda ate the peas.....eeeehhhhwww.

We kind of just hung out the next day again going for tea and then a long walk through the country and town.

Cara took care of James while Brenda and I went to Evensong.  It is a choir that sings every night in the cathedral and kind of cool to see, and of course it is free so just withing my budget.

Here is a cool bridge in Cambridge

James pulled his hat over his face to keep the lights out I guess.

The next day we were off to London for 3 nights to wrap up the trip.

When we arrived we went to the British Museum and checkout out the Rosetta Stone.

Saw some cool coins from Judea about 30 AD.  Some had Caesars face on them.....I think I heard a story about that once....let me think.

After a long day it was time for dinner.  We ate every night a pubs.  They were great because they were loud so no one would care if James cried, but most of the time he looked like he does here, dead asleep.  They also had good food and beer.

We got the variety platter....m.m.m.mmmmmmmm.

Our hotel was two block from Buckingham Palace and 4 from Big Ben.  perfect place to use my hotel points I get when I go on the road for work.  The Crown Plaza was nice and we definitely looked out of place in that hotel which normally was about $250-300/night.  I am glad I had those points as there is no way we would have been able to stay in London otherwise.

Right before the changing of the guards.  The changing of the guards is ok, but if you go in the summer I am sure it is even more crowded and unless you are right up front it is kind of lame.  We were about 5 people back and of course heads taller than anyone else and I still thought it was lame.

I could not resist getting pic of this lady...seriously.

Classic shot which made me feel like a tool, but the wife insisted.

Big Benny

Parliament

Westminster Abby.  Note on Westminster is that it costs about $22 us per person to get in.  Nice to see, but I think if you go to the evensong you see enough and you can go to that for free ( we did that as well).

Westminster at night

Then, the last day it was on to the Tower of London.  We had a great time there and got to see the crown jewels.

the spot where Anne Boleyn got separated from her head.

Tower Bridge.  I kind of expected London Bridge to be better, but it was just a concrete bridge and was lame.

Shakespeare's globe ( we just walked by and did not go in).

One last time past Parliament and Big Ben at night

The next day we headed out on the long journey home.  Slight snafoo with ticketing when they told us the computer says we should have two kids, but I assured them we only came with one.