Day 1: arrival adventure.

Flight #2: when you are under the assumption you will not be fed at all, and then they feed you dinner and breakfast, you may feel slightly pampered.

:) slightly.

We watched movies with British and French actors to prepare for our trip. We tried to sleep... But we were uncomfortable and far too excited... This image from Chronicles of Narnia seemed very fitting...a door is opening into who-knows-what adventures...

6 am.

We begin our descent. Shanti and I can barely contain the joy as w

e look beyond the dark morning mist to see

the orange glowing lights of London. It seemed as though the mist was trying to harbor secrets beneath its cloudy blanket...secrets and mysteries that we will discover, no doubt.

6:45. Customs. Remember to bring a scrapbook

with

you so that they can know who you are... Good thing I really was being honest! Wow. And great appreciated

was the English welcoming committee: the man on the sign: "Welcome." That image kept us going as we snaked around the room in a never-ending customs line. Also, we are amused by the signs: restrooms= "toilets" and the woman stick figure is not wearing a triangle dress anymore...

8 am. Find Alex Mackenzie! Finally we see the sun peeking

through the cloudy sky. Aaah the weather was gorgeous.

It felt like we were at the sea... Refreshing...cool, but much Warmer than the winter we imagined. Shanti and I were delighted by the right side of the car drivers and the British taxis.

.

Pete drives up, loads our luggage and we are

off. Itinerary: Alex and Pete have printed out a packet for the next 5 days, complete with photos, song lyrics, and descriptions of where we will go and what we will see. Brilliant.

Shanti squeals at every hedge she sees, and remarks: "people actually live here!" I cannot get enough of

the classic red telephone booths and how gorgeous the weather is. (One of our first views from the car as we leave the airpo

rt...true story.)

Eton: our detour drive took us to the city where all the princes go to school. Yes please.

Windsor Castle.

Don't worry, before we even get to enjoy th

e splendor of our first castle, across the stre

et is America's fast food: a British mcdon

alds uniquely hidden and complete with the royal guard mannequins.

Out itinerary teaches us: "This castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the official residence of Her Majesty, The Queen."

A lively and lovely walk

around the castle and throughout

windsor.

Car: sleep.

13th century church: beautiful. Pomegranate shaped grave stones. Gorgeous rafters and a few different worship rooms.

Car: sleep.

Oxford: we ate at the white horse pub, which celebrated

many Oxford residents and students: Emma Wat

son,

j.r.r. Tolkien, and c.s. Lewis.

We went into the famed oxford library and found the room that they used for the hospital wing in "Harry

potter".

We tried delicious free fudge, and found books for 2

pounds. We all want to go to school in Oxford.

Car: sleep. ( not even exaggerating... The second we were in the car whether for 10 minutes or an hour, we were out within the first 30 seconds until Alex or Pete would shout: "wake up! We are here!" after the natural man response to want to keep sleeping, it was like magic... Like living in a dream where each time you wake up you feel as though you are dreaming because you have been mystically transported to the next most beautiful location in England. Ah, bliss.)

Another castle: we saw it across the luscious green lawn ( everything is a gorgeous and lush green as this is their rainy season!) and I felt as though we were now in "sense and sensibility" so I began to run, cryin out for willoughby to come rescue me with my gimp knee instead of an ankle. As we were

walking out of the gate, we were pointing out "oh look at the cute doggies!" in "our" British accents, when a man with his dog chanted back in all seriousness and grumpy chastisment "he's not a do

ggie, he's a jack Russell." brilliant.

Car: sleep.

Villages: the quintessential England, says Alex. We felt as though we had just gone back in time... The sun was setting and so the old old sandstone cottages were lit as though with the warm candle glow from within. It was truly magical. It seems as though that word describes this whole day. True story. We are going to live here.

Car: sleep.

Stratford upon Avon: we went to the home and theatre of the royal Shakespeare company. I bought a play written for and devised by this company. We are all theatre nerds. We loved the cobblestone roads and pinstripe :) buildings.

Car: sleep.

One more castle in the dark. Very mysterious and majestic.

Car: sleep.....

Final destination: the home of Betty and Brian. A sweet older couple who have welcomed us into to their home for the night. We are ready to sleep... Despite all our success in moments of slumber throughout the day. Sweet dreams...