Leaving in the Lap of Luxury!

It was cold and overcast when we reached the taxi stand.  We 'queued' up and waited our turn.  A sedan pulled up and we asked the driver if he took a credit card, yes.  The next question, could take us to Central Station, yes.  Was he able to drive us to our hotel in Windsor, yes.  What might it cost.  He said he had a chart. He offered to do it for 140 pounds and we settled on 130.  We splurged with a taxi all the way especially since it had started to rain and now we would go straight to the hotel and not be dragging our bags through stations, possible changes of trains, and then to find the hotel.  Money well spent.  130 for the two of us and the ship wanted $200 each!

The driver, Barry, was so nice.  Although he drove carefully he was still able to chat.  Many topics were discussed and surprisingly he wished Charles would not be king but was sure he will not pass up the opportunity since it was the direction of his whole life.  He thought Americans should get out of Trumps way and said every time he tweeted he wished he would just stop.  Elva was not comfortable with this part of the conversation as she is a devoted Democrat.  Normally she and I agree to disagree but the third party input was fascinating to me.  Barry expressed that he and his chums just wanted the US to 'get on with it.'  They don't understand how when our system works as it has for more than two hundred years people don't accept the outcome and move on.  He said they wished there system was so precise and worked so well.  Apparently over here, when the party in power wants to pass a law and doesn't have enough votes they can just make a few more titled Lords and gain a majority of MP's in the House of Parliament.

We talked about a lot of different things and the ride went smoothly and quickly.  As we approached the town of Windsor the rural sheep dotted scenery became filled with posh manors.  It is a beautiful part of the country not far outside of London.  Because it was still drizzly I asked if it would be a lot more to drop our bags since would not have access to our room and then for him to take us to the castle.  He said fine and I saw he added 4 pounds to the bill.  Well worth it.  No bags to drag, no rain to deal with, no wandering around finding our way (I saved that for later!).  Elva wanted add a generous tip which we made sure went to him even though it was on the credit card and tipping is not usual here.  He was very, very happy to accept 165 pounds and we were happy to 82.50 each for door to door to queue line service in a comfortable card with an interesting byplay.

Cruise is officially over and we have arrived at our first destination of our four night interim vacation relatively unscathed!

Barry dropped us at the end of a blocks long queue but we quickly discovered that this was the tour group line.  A lady bobby, is that a bobette?, directed us to the front of the line and another told us to go straight through the middle door.  A half hour or so later we had our tickets and had finished security.  Great good luck.  Had we come by train or by ship transfer we would have missed seeing the interior of St. Georges Chapel!  It was closing at noon for a wedding later in the day.  We were able to go all through with the crowds that have increased because of interest in the wedding on May 19 of Harry and Meghan.  (Let me add that Barry and later others as well as Brits on the ship do not think this is going to be a long lasting marriage.  They feel that it will end like Charles and Diana but that Miss Markle will be the dastardly party this time!)  We even went behind the alter to where the happy couple will retire to sign the official documents of registration.  I got a few quick pictures before a well attired Dean in his scarlet robes stopped us saying no pictures.  Now many places will just say no flash, and granted, some do not even know how to turn that off on their phones so far enough I suppose.  It is old and filled with treasures and beauty and I am sure you can find it on Google or the History Channel or PBS, especially as the next 'wedding of the century' comes near.

We continued our tour when the chapel closed taking snaps along the way.  Then the only misstep of our journey so far, other than the one that landed me on my face, happened.  We decided to use the Ladies Room before continuing our tour.  We approached an archway and as I found the steps to the lower level Elva didn't hear me say that and didn't apparently see me point to them.  She had stopped for a photo which was quite understandable in such a beauty though gloomy place.  When I realized she had not followed me I hesitated about going back since there were large crowds and more than one way to go.  I waited where the lines split to go to the State Apartments and to the Queen Mary Doll House.  The toilets were just beyond that.  After about five or six minutes I didn't see Elva so I thought she must have got past me so I went to the bathroom and didn't find her.  Returning to the lines I looked again ad wondered if she had left me behind and gone in.  I retraced my steps not seeing her. 

In the courtyard I asked a Warden if everyone came out the same way and he agreed to watch for her and have her wait on a bench if she appeared.  He said it took about 40 minutes to go through the State Apartments and I commented that she loved art and liked to listen each full description of each piece in each room.  He said then it was at least an hour and a half.  He suggested I go in and see if I find her but he would keep his eye for someone of her description despite the crowds.  He also asked my name and said if someone said they were looking for a lady in a purple jacket or by my name he would have them wait on the bench. 

There was a very long line which had not been there when this started but it turned out to be for the Doll's House and I could walk right into the Apartments.  I zipped through each room and after about halfway I found Elva.  She didn't look for me because she didn't see the sign for the bathrooms.  She figured I would find her and I did,  When we went out I introduced her to the Warden watching for her and we proceeded back down the stairs, past the super long line and I waited while she used the rest room I pointed out to her.  Turns out she never was looking for me but was reading all the information on the wall by the line and actually would have had her back to me.  Since the Doll's House line would have been between us and there were lots of black raincoats being worn on Saturday, I didn't see her either. 

So we saw the Doll's House which reminded me of the one at Science and Industry in Chicago, but I think that Hollywood one was even more impressive than this one.  When we exited, by a different door after all, we continues through the exteriors which are open to the public.  There is no Mews here since the Queen comes frequently and it holds her private vehicles.  They bring the Coaches out from London if they will need one for a special occasion.  I peaked through a gate and the bridal cars were being decorated for the afternoon wedding.  Turns out any member of the Royal Household may be married there as may their children or grandchildren.  Regular people can be invited but the guest list is cleared a few  months before hand and before the invitations may be sent out.

Photos in general of the world's largest, oldest, most continually occupied Royal Castle! 

 

 My new buddy from Chicago, Jake!

 

 

 

We took a few more pictures and made our way out.  A kind policeman gave us directions to our hotel and we pulled it up on Google Maps.  Not a fan of that app.  Sure didn't help us on Saturday to make the 6 minute walk back.  My fault as I was looking all around and marveling over the liveliness of the small city which will have more than a half million people in in in just a few weeks hoping to get a quick glimpse of royalty and the good life.

When we got to the Queen Victoria Monument we turned left instead of right on the High Street.  On the corner was a delicious smelling barbecue place which I am sure will become more and more popular, both with foreign visitors and those trying to adopt some of the American ways of the Newest Royal (adult).  Then I spotted Fish and Chips and it took persuasion at all to convince Elva that 4:00 was dinner time!  We ordered then went upstairs to a cozy, warm room full of families.   It reminded us by its size and shape of the Upstairs Pancake House in Amsterdam.  The narrow whitewashed room held about 10 tables for two.  Some pushed together for parents and children.  The gentleman brought our delicious, piping hot, crispy haddock and chips too hot to bite into up to us.  What is more the Diet Coke tasted great as well.  This break also gave us time to warm up!  It was, for me, freezing.  I had on my down jacket and gloves but had neglected to bring a warm hat, or even better, the very warm headband-earmuffs that Katie crocheted for me as a Christmas gift.  From now on this will always be tucked away in my suitcase!  The temperature was 8 degrees Celsius!  The sky cloudy and grey, the weather drippy!

When we finished we set out and continued left.  Then at the corner realized we had gone wrong and got directions from a trash hauler.  We followed those for awhile stopping to admire churches, flags, Royal cutouts, children playing, flowers, and the general atmosphere of the town.

 

When we got where we thought we were going we wanted a little more help.  The parking attendant at a local garage led us through the lot and pointed out the path in the park and told us to go under the bridge to the coach parking and when we would be there our hotel was at the end of the street.  We stopped to check out a brick maze in the park that replicated the Castle maze.  We watched some teams all in white, which team is which, practice lawn bowling.  We got to the street we needed and saw the Queen's Swans on the Thames and the campus of Eton beyond.  But we forged ahead to the round-a-bout and finally found Arthur Road.

Since we were passing by the train station Elva suggested we figure out how to actually get up to it and also to find out about what we would need to do the next day for Hampton Court, and on Monday to transfer to Manchester, and then on Tuesday to visit my cousins in Bolton.  Good idea Elva!  Jay was the very nice railway clerk who is well used to dealing with people from America who never ride on trains.  He gave us advance purchase, senior rate tickets.  Explained which of the two stations we needed for which trip.  How to transfer at the various stops along the way. Printed the tickets and gave Elva a little wallet with three slots for the three different journeys!  Then I asked how, when we get to Manchester, how do we get to the airport where our hotel is.  Oops.  We had purchased non-refundable tickets with a reserved seat train to Manchester, Picadilly, which is the central station.  SO we each paid five pounds extra to add on a transfer to the airport.  Not a big deal but perhaps we could have saved a few quid and not changed trains had I initially asked specifically for the final destination.  Elva is in charge of the tickets and I am in charge of reminding her where they are!

Across from the hotel was a co-op and we stopped in to see if there was something we might need or want.  When we saw a line at the register we opted out and crossed to go up to our room which was titled William.  It was on the first floor which means in England not on the ground but up a narrow, steep, shabbily carpeted staircase with an antique but painted white, floral and leafed wrought iron balustrade and rail.

The room opened easily with our code and we retrieved our bags and tucked in for the night.  So cold.....jeez, the windows are open!  Hot tea for me and a hot shower, cocoa for Elva and good night!