Visiting the Mother Country!

One of the best parts about being in Germany is how close and easy you can get to other countries. I took the opportunity to visit England and my beautiful and amazing cousin took me in for the week!

I flew from Frankfurt to Heathrow which took about an hour and change gate to gate (quicker then a trip home to FL!) I made it to Stacey's and we spent the day hanging out at the house. Of course it was raining in England but it was good to spend time and catch up! 

We went into London to do the typical touristy things: London Eye, Buckingham palace, Big Ben, etc. 

First thing we decided to do was to go on the London Eye which if you haven't had a chance to I highly suggest it! It looks like a carousel but with pods of clear plastic so you can see all of London at a birds eye view. It takes 30 min to go the entire circuit so you don't have to worry about motion sickness! 

View of the London Eye, River Thames, and Big Ben

On the London Eye with Big Ben in the background!

Once we got back to the bottom we walked along the River Thames and then hopped on a Double Decker bus tour. Sadly, no it wasn't red. We took the bus to Buckingham Palace so we could visit my other husband Prince William ;) sorry Jim! Unfortunately, in the summer the changing of the guards only happens on odd number days and my luck it was an even day :( nonetheless we got to see the guards which has always intrigued me since I was a kid. How someone could stand still in the same spot and not move for hours on end was beyond me.   I guess it intrigued me enough to marry someone who does something of the same haha.

Standing guard

The front gates to Buckingham Palace

After visiting the palace we had worked up enough hunger for lunch so we went to the a pub called The Kings Arms. I had steak and ale pie and it was so deliciously amazing. 

Steak & Ale pie yummmm way better than the one I bought at Trader Joes!

After lunch, we hopped back on our double decker bus tour and got to visit Hamley's the biggest most amazing toy store I've ever been in! Drove past Trafalagar SQ. Which is completely different from when I was last there and you could feed the pigeons and turn into a crazy pigeon lady! We got to see Westminister Abby, Tower Bridge, London Bridge ( which is quite boring compared to Tower bridge), more of Big Ben, and the sight of the the first Irish Pub. You know, the important stuff! 

Out front of Hamley's

Trafalgar Sq without the pigeons :(

One of the better pictures I took!

With the 100th anniversary of WWI having just passed I wanted to go to the Tower of London to see the ceramic Poppy display done by artist Paul Cummins titled Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red and will eventually include 888,246 ceramic poppies. I had seen pictures on Facebook from when my aunt went but it honestly didn't do it justice. 

Tower of London

From there, we hopped on a river boat cruise on the Thames that brought us back to the train station. It was good to get another London perspective before we left! 

The Shard

A few days later, we got the chance to meet up with my other cousin Annalise who I hadn't seen in over 10 years! It was the first time the three of us cousins had gotten together so it was pretty special. Now, they don't like getting their pictures taken but I had to document this momentous occasion! After coffee, Annalise and I went to my Uncle Alan and Aunt Jackie's who I last saw at my wedding almost three years ago! My cousin Lucy, who couldn't make the wedding I hadn't seen in 15 years! Seriously. How is that even possible?! We had a great time and a wonderful BBQ until my uncle busted out pictures from my last trip to England. I was the hormonal teenager that didn't want to be bothered with anyone and boy did the pictures show it! I'm surprised they invited me back! 

From L-R Annalise, Stacey and Thomas (hiding) and me!

More cousins and family reunited! Jaime, Lucy, Uncle Alan, Aunt Jackie, Suzanne and me :)

My second to last day in England Stacey, Thomas and I went back to the city. We had afternoon tea at Harrods which was good minus all the seafood sandwiches. Yeah, I ate a shrimp one without knowing it. Bleh. But the sweets and tea were great! I picked up some souvenirs to bring home and then we went shopping in Harrods.

High tea :)

If I had to sum up my trip in a few words it would be: Family, Tourist, Tea, and lots of new memories!