Thursday at Windsor

The group took the 10 o'clock train to Windsor on Thursday. It took about an hour to get there. We went straight to the castle where we got free audioguides. The castle and grounds cover a lot more space than I expected.

Got to see Queen Mary's Dollhouse. It was really big complete with working electricity and plumbing, real silver dinnerware, a mini set of crown jewels, and what was the first vacuume cleaner along with a lot of other stuff. It was pretty cool! Very detailed!

Then it was around to a small gallery with some original sketches by Davinci, Bernini, and others along with some original sketches of the Tudors and some of Henry's wives. One really cool thing was a book with a poem written in it believed to be Elizabeth I's handwriting. It was short and neat, so you could actually read it!!

Saw the incredible amount of weaponry on display in the castle from British conquest as well as some stuff they didn't steal! But it was all really cool--a gold tiger's head, a Thai crown, robes from other countries. Lots and lots!

Walked through a massive portrait hall, the king's and queen's dressing rooms, a bedroom that Napoleon III and his wife slept in while visiting (each complete with many many beautiful paintings), a dining room, and a beatiful, enormous, did I mention golden recieving room. Wow...

Also saw St. George's chapel. Really big, really pretty--of course! Was expecting something more grand for Henry VIII's tomb, but he had a slab on the ground in front of the altar much like those at Westminster with his remains and those of Jane Seymore, Charles I, and someone else too. Serves him right?! ;)

Then Steph and I got to take a picture with one of the royal guards!! It was kindof scary, like he could turn on you at any moment!! :D

Got lunch at a nice little pub a little down the road from the castle and then Steph and I looked around at some shops--I got some cute stuff. Then we stumbled on Windsor Great Park and what might have been The Long Walk before heading home.

Sorry, still no pictures, I screwed something up I'm trying to figure out how to fix!