Let's see, my last post was right before my parents came. It was wonderful to have them here, and to travel with them. I am thankful that they now know what I am talking about when I mention the kids. They have seen my room and met my family and been to the church that I go to. I wish they had gotten to see more of my friends...but of course we had to do a bit of travel while they were here!
Our first stop was the Cotswolds in England, we drove from my home in France to Calais and took the ferry across the English Channel to Dover, where we then drove to Oxford for the evening. The next day we explored to picturesque, idyllic Cotswolds. I love England, as you probably now, and seeing a part of it that I had never seen before was just wonderful. They were some of the cutest little towns that anyone has ever seen. And of course every place was littered with reminders of the upcoming Royal wedding, which we had plans to go to, of course. The Boswell's can't miss a Royal function if they are in the same country! So, cute towns the first day in England and then Windsor Castle and Eton the next. Windsor Castle is where the Queen resides when she isn't in Buckingham Palace.
One more night in Oxford and then we headed to exciting London and the Wedding! My friend Sarah Bedford from Whitby came down to London and we spent the day together going to Covent Garden and Oxford Street and Leicester Square. She spent the night at our hotel and we woke up really early the next day for the wedding.
7:30 am- we are outside Westminster Abbey awaiting the first arrivals of the guests. The streets were so crowded and some people had been there all night. It was MAD. We saw Elton John enter, and a lot of women with hats, and some African ambassadors. We ran back to the hotel once the wedding party had made there was down to the church so we could watch the ceremony on tv. It was beautiful. I wish I could have choir boys at my wedding...probably isn't very popular for Presbyterians though. Dang it. After the ceremony, we took the tube to Buckingham Palace because Will & Kate were going to come out on the balcony and have their first kiss. The place was FILLED with people. The whole courtyard was overflowing, policemen and crowd control officials were EVERYWHERE. People were jumping over big fences into bushes to get a better view. It was insane. Seriously, I was worried someone was going to get trampled.
That night Sarah left and I was sad to see her go. She is the first friend I made in Switzerland and she had to go back to England early...so I don't know when I will be seeing her again. Tear.
After London me and the rents got back in the car and took the ferry back to France where we went to PARIS! I have never been there, and I have always wanted to go. I could've spent every day going to a different museum (especially with the lines being so dang long), but of course we had to see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame and walk along the Seine and the Champs Elysees. My feet were KILLING me at the end of each day. I got to the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay and the Musee de l'Orangerie, so I was satisfied with Paris, but the thing that really made it for me was the last night.
So, the whole time we were in Paris, my parents had been looking for a restaurant they had been to with some friends the last time they were there. My mom finally remembered where it was on the last night, so we went. It was so worth it. Usually going out to eat in Europe leaves something to be desired. I guess people just don't do it as much, so they don't have the same quality of restaurants for a comparable price. But this place was GREAT. I got a steak with blue cheese sauce. I love steak. I was so excited. And there was just something about this place. It was really crowded, and all around us was groups of young French professionals with their friends, laughing, sharing good food and wine, and just emitting such a great feel, that it really made me love Paris. I didn't really have a strong feeling one way or another before we went to that restaurant, but after that place, I LOVE Paris. So, in case you are ever there, go to the restaurant La Maison, 28 Place Saint-Ferdinand, 75017 Paris.
After Paris we hit up Versailles, and were a little let down. It is an amazing place for sure, but it is just SOOOOO crowded. It made it hard for me to enjoy.
Then back to France and back to the real world and work.
I am going to bed now, sorry that this particular post is lacking something...I am bad at the summing up. Keep in touch for more emotion next time.
