Trip Wrap Up

      I know I missed some sharing it thought I'd use this quiet morning to do a wrap up. This is photo heavy but doesn't begin to cover the trip. I think I touched on Bath then Lyme Regis working our way back to Bristol by way of Kingston Lacy and Corfe Castle. In that time between then and London, we were on the go. This included:

Rugby, Wales vs Japan in Cardiff 

Opening Theatrics complete with fire. Wales is a nation of  dragons after all.

Sunday Roast Dinner prepared by her daughter...also in Wales. Then on Monday, a wander in the Forest of Dean. 

What a beautiful forest. 

Lacock Village and Abbey and Stourhead. 

Lacock Abbey

Cutest bakery in Lacock 

Inside the Cloisters 

 

The outside of the Abbey.

The house at Stourhead was closed for holiday decorating but the amazing grounds were ready for exploring.

The church on the grounds of Stourhead. We could go inside this building, still holding services.

Cute cottage in the grounds. I imagine a gamekeepers lodging at one time. 

     Salisbury, overnight with guided tour by her good friend who knew all the best views. We drive by, but did not wander around the footprint of old Sarum, but if you're interested in the history of Sarum Castle and Cathedral being moved to what is now Salisbury ( the highest spire in the UK) read here. 

Salisbury Cathedral

St Martins church which is even older than the cathedral and part of the Old Sarum history as parishioners were locked out upon returning to the Sarum garrison. I might not have this exactly right so correct if you know better. 

     We had a busy local day and visited the Christmas Steps the small part of Bristol that barely survived the bombings in WWII. I packed and with help weighed my stuffed case. It was a feat and had to measure what I'd have for final purchases in London. 

An original Tudor building that now
 is home to Ahtoots, yum.

The top of the Christmas Steps.

     On the 21st, off we headed for the final leg. Friday was a wander in the Fulham neighborhood and a late lunch in a Turkish restaurant. Delicious. We went to a Christmas Market at the Fulham Palace, doing a bit of shopping but mostly sipping both a glass of prosecco and later a hot slo gin cider. 

Fulham Palace.

     Saturday was Burrough Market and the Tate Modern, with rainy walks on the South Bank.

The heaving Burrough Market. I had a cheese and olive stick from Bread Ahead, as promoted by every YouTuber that ever went to this market. I love bread, cheese, and olives 

Remains my wall of an old Bishop residence. I'm rubbish at remembering details.

Just a walk by, but the current Globe Theater.

Degals lobster phone. Don't ask me why, on display at the Tate Modern.

And for Vix, a Wetherspoon's that once was a train station. We didn't have an all day 'Spoons, but had a second cider each at just £3.40 each it would have been silly not to. 

     Sunday we started the day with a breakfast in the neighborhood followed by a few hours ( and coffee in the tea room) of the Victoria and Albert museum, shopping at Harrods, and a concert featuring the Carmina Burana. It was incredible! We wandered a bit after, grabbed a burger for supper, while waited for both post concert and museum closing crowds to dissipate a bit. We even caught the second half of a dismal MN Vikings game in a bar in route from tube back to the hotel. ( Pictures are not sequential.)

  

A full house at the Royal Albert Hall. 

A very crowded Harrod's on a Sunday afternoon. 

Prince Alberts statue. 

A young Queen Victoria.

Tea room at the V&A museum.

Matt's in Fulham.

     Monday was Notting Hill and thanks to recommendations, dinner at Dishoom. Tuesday was the big 60 day which included a boat tour, Liberty ( I bought nothing $$$$$), tea at Fortnum and Mason's, and Hamilton to end the night. 

The Buscuiter...my friend gave me an adorable tea towel from this cookie shop.

Cheesy pose in front of the inspiration for Hugh Grants shop in the movie. 

The real shop that was featured in the Paddington movies. 

The pastel houses that line streets in Notting Hill. 

     Siobhan was horribly ill with a cold on Wednesday so I broke my day into parts to check on her and provide provisions. In between returns to the hotel I went to the National History Museum because dinosaurs, 7 Dials, Trafalgar Square and the Christmas market, and the National Gallery to see just a few of my favorites. My final outing was chips in a different local pub and watched a Champions League soccer match. 

Natural History Museum 

Inside the Natural History Museum.

At 7 Dials market

National Gallery

The Trafalger Square Christmas Market.

And of course, I had to visit and
admire Van Gogh's sunflowers. 

My trip to the airport was uneventful in a good way, with a carefree less than 1/2 full flight. And that ends my first trip on my own ( though with someone of course once there). A travel blogger I'll never be, but hope you enjoyed sharing my trip with me. These were just snippets and it will take me a while to really sort and label but a good January activity on bitter cold days.