We have been very lucky that we have gotten to see so much of our family in the last month! Last week, the Avants came to visit and we had a great time being all together and enjoying all that London has to offer.
Jack, Mindy, Mendy and Olivia all stayed at the New Inn, a Pub/Inn in St Johns Wood. It sounds like it was "interesting."
On the first day they were here, The Avants were good sports and came over to our house for a BBQ. The next day, after they got a little sleep, we all went to Borough Market.
We discovered that, as a group, we are taller than most people at Borough Market.
These guys were in a blow up raft in the Thames. They seemed to not be having the smoothest trip, but they were laughing:
We hit all the tourist hot spots that day! Here is everyone on the steps of The Globe Theatre!
Having a rest on the Thames:
St. Paul's Cathedral...outside of which we caught the 15 bus OLD SCHOOL STYLE!
Before we went to the Tower of London, we had lunch at that fabulous establishment Wetherspoons! (a shout out to our friends Richard and Coleena who are Wetherspoon's number one fans!)It was nice to have a break and some food.
I have now been to the Tower of London FOUR TIMES! NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!! But we saw the changing of the guard at the Tower, which was cool. This time we could actually see them.
You would never know these ladies were related!They look beautiful, even when they are exhausted.
Finally we gave in and walked across the famous Abbey Road crosswalk. Olivia was so excited! I had a little trouble taking it seriously, but it was actually fun and since it was Sunday morning there were fewer people intent on running us over while muttering something about tourists under their breath.
Olivia wrote her name on the wall outside of Abbey Road Studios:
And then a paparazzi guy with a giant camera came by to tell us where Paul McCartney lives. Then he proceeded to meet us there and tell us how much hates Paul McCartney in a very loud voice. Here's Olivia in front of Paul McCartney's House.
Jim and his parents went to Churchill's War Rooms and on their way they saw this parade. We still don't know what it was, but they were excited!
I keep telling people about how cool it is to see 50 bareback horses moving through the streets of London, but I never seem to be able to get my camera out in time. Jim's Dad, though, caught the Barracks Horses in action as they trotted en masse past the Inn.
On the day that everyone visited Windsor Castle, I was home feeling sick. So I'm telling this story based on other peoples' experiences. I missed some exciting stuff!
First, breakfast at a cafe:
Then a beautiful day at Windsor Castle with flowers and sunshine! (when I went it was cold, grey and rainy)
And then they saw the queen on her way to Ascot! From a great distance! If you look closely you can see her in a mint green outfit behind the car.
It was a great visit!
