London, Baby!

As anticlimactic as it may sound, my ultimate dream vacation has always been London. Theoretically it lacks the exotic allure of a far off foreign land where you must learn a new language and immerse yourself in an unusual culture. London, however, has been at the tip top of my must see list before we even left for Europe.

Being so far away from home in the holiday season can be difficult, so for the Thanksgiving holiday we managed to find solace in our amazing hosts and tour guides to the city, as Tom has a good deal of family living in London's surrounding neighborhoods. As we were boarding our flight the night before Thanksgiving, Tom asked me what I was most excited about on our visit. My answer, and undeniable first thought, was "They speak English there!". Oh how I miss being able to walk into a store and converse comfortably with anyone inside. 

Obviously, we didn't make the flight simply to enjoy some proper English with an endearing British accent. To prepare we watched a documentary on the Tower of London and I did my research on everything Kate Middleton. We were ready for an adventure filled time. 

Turkey day began with a walk along the Thames to Hampton Court Palace. We began with a walk through the surrounding gardens, the vast amount of separate, perfectly manicured and maintained gardens was overwhelming. 

This castle is primarily associated with Henry VIII and his numerous wives in the 1400's. Centuries after his reign ended, new construction began, creating the back apartments, and William III and Mary II moved in circa 1689. Intricate stone and wood workings are incorporated throughout the inside and outside, many with monograms and family symbols. Above is a W and an M intertwined for William and Mary.

While walking through the gardens, a magnificent view of the palace roof and its numerous chimneys can be seen. Each chimney varies from the next. They were all created by different craftsmen and each one wanted to leave their own unique touch.

Henry VIII's astronomical clock is still preserved in the tower. It not only lists the time, but the month, day, position of the sun, astronomical sign, day of the year, moon phases, age of the moon in days, and hour when the moon crosses the Mediterranean, multi-functional to say the least! The beauty and integrity of each layer is mind boggling, as it was created in the 1500's and only recently restored.

We spent the entire afternoon touring the palace. An audio guide was provided and gave a great deal of information regarding the use and time period of each section and room. The weather was chilly, but we warmed up with steak pies in the cafeteria located on the grounds. 

Kate Middleton's dress was made just beyond these walls.

I genuinely did not know much about Hampton Court Palace until our visit. Since our return, I have watched nearly every YouTube video and documentary I could find on both the palace and each of the inhabitants. The history is fascinating, plus it has all of the makings of a top novel: death, love, divorce, promiscuity, and power struggles. Factual and enticing stuff.