Mom, me, and Derry
After walking around Birmingham, we found a place to eat — The Duck. We had an excellent meal and ordered a fudge sundae for two. We were stunned by the size of the dessert . Often English people say that American sizes are very large. Ha. That sundae was massive! Even so, we all enjoyed it and the vacation.
After leaving Kenilworth Castle, we headed to Birmingham where we spent one night prior to flying home in the early morning. First we took mom to The Mailbox so she could get a taste of one of Birmingham’s shopping areas. From there we walked along some of the canals at the Gas Street Basin. Mom was surprised to learn that Birmingham has more canals than Venice. The weather was perfect and it was a good way to unwind.
Mom and Derry relaxing.
After leaving London, and on our way to Birmingham, we visited another English Heritage property, Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden which is in Warwickshire.
After seeing the changing of the guard, we took a tube over to the London Tower. By then, the weather warmed up quite a bit. As time went on, however, the weather changed again with a light rain. The first time I went to the Tower, Derry and I climbed more stairs going into the various towers. However, we’ve been giving mom quite a work out and so decided not to climb as many stairs. Besides, we also walked across the Tower Bridge. And, after we were on the other side realized that the tube station we next wanted to go to was on the north side, meaning another walk across the Bridge. By then, mom and I were holding each other up to make it across!
The building on the far right is The Shard, which will be Europe's tallest building to date when completed.
Mom is a big fan of English royalty. She likes the kings and queens, stories of Lancelot and Merlin, and all things up that alley. On our second day in London, she was thrilled to learn that she would be watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. As another surprise, the queen was in residence, and we saw when she left the residence in her Jaguar! Yes, everyone cheered.
When you get the opportunity to stroke a royal horse ...
After a long day with several stops along the way, we finally made it to London. It was already late in the afternoon. Even so, we wanted to bring mom in and let her see some sites. Being we were staying on the outskirts, we took a couple tubes in.
Derry explaining the tube system.
Mom is settling in well to riding the tube.
Mom had no idea where we were heading. When the Westminster stop was finally announced, we started talking over the announcement … “Exit here for House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey …” so that she didn’t hear any of it. Once we exited the station, and mom looked up, she was stood still in absolute disbelief. Her head looked upwards, her mouth dropped, and she kept saying, “Oh my God, Oh my God. that’s the Big Ben. Oh my God.” :)
Derry was great with mom, often walking her around as she looked at everything in disbelief. We went to Westminster Cathedral. At that point it started to rain. Mom was fine with the rain saying she was in England, she was expecting it to rain. It was a quick shower and the skies started to clear.
Derry walking mom around.
Mom sure looks happy!
After a lot of English and National Heritage sites, cathedrals and castles, scenic overlooks and more, it was time to start our trek to London. The prior evening, however, there were some beautiful skies before the sun started to set, meaning landscape pictures. Here are a couple of my favorites.
Anyway, along the way to London, we stopped at a folly in Cotswold called the Broadway Tower. While this is something I’d like to visit again, especially on a clear day, it was very windy so we decided to look around the area but not go up the Tower.
Another work day in the a.m., and tourist day in the afternoon. Today we visited Worcester in the county of Worcestershire, and a visit not far from the office. First we walked around the town, wandering the shops, and visiting a National Heritage site, The Grayfriers, which was built in 1480 and later restored.
The Greyfriars
There were many handmade items on display.
The included many large panels of Jacobean crewel embroidery.
From there we went to Worcester Cathedral. The last time Derry and I visited, we made the 235 step climb up the incredibly narrow, winding staircase to the bell tower. It’s so narrow that the traffic is one way. There is a person on the bottom and top with a walkie-talkie to get clearance on how many are coming up or down. According to the literature, “during the civil war in 1651, it was said that the future King Charles II viewed the Battle of Worcester from the top of the tower.” On this visit, the tower was closed. That was fine by me as there was no way I wanted to make that climb again let alone suggest that mom make it. I remember I was so tired on the way up that there were times I didn’t think I could make it. While the architecture and artwork throughout is spectacular, I am particularly drawn to the archways in the basement crypt. When mom and I finished going through the Cathedral, we had delicious Victoria sponge cake and tea.
The tomb of bad King John.
Mom and me after tea.
After work on Tuesday, we visited the town of Chester located in the County of Cheshire (and, yes, we did stop at a pub called the Cheshire Cat). Chester has a lot of black/white Tudor buildings and lots of shopping.
Lots of rain when we arrived.
There were shops along the second floor of the buildings, which is where we stopped for tea.
While having tea, a tour group gathered under us and photograhed people drinking tea!
We went to the Dewa Roman Experience, which has archaeological remains and relics. In 1991 remains were discovered, and the excavations remain open for public viewing.
Part of the excavations left open to the public.
Once we were outside, the skies cleared. After walking around the shopping area, we went to Chester Cathedral.
Chester Cathedral
Me and Derry.
After our long weekend, and being it was a Monday (a la work), mom and I didn’t start our adventures until the afternoon. First we headed to Ludlow, also located in Shropshire. After walking through the town with its medieval and Georgian buildings, we visited Ludlow Castle.
Next up we went to Ironbridge, a world heritage site also located in Shropshire. It has the world’s first arch bridge made out of cast iron and is the birthplace of the industrial age. The bridge crosses the River Severn (the same river that runs through Bewdley).
Mom, me, and Derry.
After visiting Stonehenge, we were off to Bath to stroll around, visit the Roman Baths, see the Bath Abbey, and walk around the parks.
The Bath Abbey
On Sunday, we first trekked to another scenic overlook called the Cotswold Scarp. Then it was on to Stonehenge, with an age estimated at 3100BC . Mom didn’t know where we were headed, and each time we saw a sign, we directed mom’s attention elsewhere. “Oh, look at the sheep!” “Oh, look over there.” It worked, and she didn’t realize where she was until she saw the sign in front of the rocks! Since summer solstice was days away, it was crowded, much more so than I’ve seen in the past. I’ll add that while we didn’t take mom, another very cool place if you’re in the area is Avebury.
Mom is a bit stunned!
They always look happy together!
