Easter week was also the spring holiday week for both Michael and Sophia from their perspective schools and we had planned long ago to spend the break in London, England! Even though Michael was on 'spring holiday' with his teaching responsibilities here at DIS, he still had teaching responsibilities in London while we were there. He has been teaching a course periodically throughout the spring semester to Rice students who are studying abroad in London. Thankfully, on this particular week, Michael only had to teach one day for three hours so that gave us plenty of time to do some sight-seeing!
Being this was our first year living in Europe, we were unaware of where people tend to go for their spring holiday. . .I would venture to say many go to London because there were tourists everywhere! We used 'The Tube' (underground subway) to get around--very efficient, as long as we weren't going at rush hour times. It was unreal how many people would squish onto the already crowded train cars. Certainly no room for personal space issues in this situation! We just had to laugh a few times, at the craziness wall to wall people. The saying, 'packed in like sardines' was our real life experience on the tube, to be sure.
The loooong escalators going up from the Tube. Notice we are being good tourists and following directions by staying to the right, lest we get in the way of the fast-moving people zipping up the stairs on the left!
We began our London experience by taking the girls to Herrod's (the famous London department store) for afternoon tea at one of the restaurants there. Finger sandwiches, scones, cute and tasty bite size desserts decorated the 3 tiered tray. We each had our own teapot filled with a flavoured tea of our choosing--just lovely. It all made for an enjoyable time together. I feel very fortunate to have a husband who really enjoys having tea time with us girls. :) Afternoon tea has become a regular part of our days here in Copenhagen, one of the traditions we would love to hold on to when we return to the states.
The second day, while Michael taught his class in the morning, the girls and I went to the London Eye--an elaborate 'ferris wheel' of sorts that offers amazing views of the beautiful city in all directions as it slowly moves around in a circle.
Going to Chinatown was another highlight for us since it was our first opportunity to have Chinese food since we left Houston last June! Let's just say we were a happy bunch when we got our meals.
London's Chinatown!!
Something that we noticed about London is that the people walk FAST!! Evidently they have places to go and people to see. . .NOW!!! It is in such stark contrast to the relaxed, easy-going walks we do here in Copenhagen each day. By the time we returned back to Copenhagen, I noticed how tight my calf muscles were. It had to be from all the fast walking we did! We now appreciate the slower pace of Copenhagen all the more.
One day was spent doing all things 'Royal'---going to Westminster Abbey to see where Prince William and Kate MIddleton were married in 2011, walking through the beautiful St. James Gardens that led to Buckingham Palace, getting a small glimpse of the changing of the guard, on to the Royal Mews tour where we saw the horses/training stable/carriages used by the Royal family and finally making our way to Kensington Palace.
Westminster Abbey
Buckingham Palace---while you can't really tell from this picture, there were hundreds of people there to see the changing of the guard!
Up close and. . well, not personal since we are on the outside of the gate!
Tour through the Royal Mews--the stables where the Royal's horses are trained and where the Queen's carriages are kept(including this Gold State Coach).
Did you know: The carriage weighs 4 tons, it takes 8 horses to pull it, and Queen Elizabeth has been known to say it is the most uncomfortable ride!
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| Vienna was nice enough to pose for a picture for me. She is one of the horses at the Royal Mews.  |
Almost to Kensington Palace (off in the distance). But had to stop and rest the tired feet first!
(Above right) Being that Leah and Sophia are big Harry Potter fans, we visited the 9 3/4 Platform at King's Cross train station and picked up Harry Potter books to read.
On Friday, the girls and I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a couple of ways: First, we spent a day traveling with a personal tour guide through some of the English countryside, an hour and a half outside of London in an area known as the Cotswolds. It was as if we stepped back in time as our guide shared with us fascinating accounts of famous people in history as we traveled to the places where they lived (the Mitford sisters, C.S. Lewis, Charles Winchester), not to mention the buildings/churches we learned about along the way as well. You know the saying, 'If walls could talk'? Well, our tour guide, Ray was their voice--he was a wealth of knowledge and a gifted story teller who could bring history to life. We weaved in and out of quintessential English villages, driving through beautiful, hilly countryside dotted with sheep and their new baby lambs, brilliant yellow colored fields (where canola oil comes from), seeing endless stone 'fences' that divided the land, and springtime flowers were everywhere---it was simply breath-taking! Let me take you there in pictures. . .
Interesting story: For those of you who are familiar with Pinterest, I had pinned this photo onto one of my boards long ago--one of those places I would like to see someday. I was giddy with excitement when I actually did get to see this for myself while on our tour!! Two very large Yew trees were planted long ago and have grown to now flank the church doors. WOW!!
(This is at St. Edward's Parish church in the town of Stow, in the region of Gloucestershire.
ATTENTION DOWNTON ABBEY FANS: (BELOW) This is the church/church doors that Mary Crawley entered when she walked down the aisle to marry Andrew! Next picture is the site of the hospital (which in real life is a library).
(ABOVE) We stopped to have a light lunch next to this peaceful stream that ran through a small village--so restful.
(BELOW) Walking along this same stream, we came to this cute English cottage and nearby water mill and shops.
Sir Winston Churchill's birthplace - Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England (1874-1965)
'Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.'
- Winston Churchill
Now on to the area of Oxfordshire. . .
Christ Church is one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford.
(BELOW) The home of C.S. Lewis
The pub where C.S. Lewis and his brother would often go.
The church that C.S. Lewis and his wife attended.
We took this picture from C.S. Lewis' gravesite.
Ray telling the girls about this specially made stained glass window with the Narnia characters beautifully displayed. It was placed near the pew where Lewis' would sit each Sunday. Unfortunately, the church was closed so we
couldn't see it from the inside. :(
Our awesome tour guide, Ray, leading the way
to what used to be C.S. Lewis' backyard, now
a nature reserve.
A tranquil woodland that is thought to have been a place of inspiration for the writing of the Narnia classics.
'There was a reason why you were brought to Narnia,
that by knowing me here for a little while, you may know me
better there.' - Aslan
As if that day trip to the Cotswolds didn't make it an amazing day already, the girls and I were then excited to head back to London in time to see the musical 'Wicked' on Friday evening!! We are so grateful to Aunt Ann who had gotten us tickets for this show months ago, in anticipation of our spring break visit to London. It was magical, wonderful, and a very memorable mother and daughters outing. A great way to end the spring break.
During our week in London we were ever mindful, always prayerful of the declining health of Michael's father, Neil, back in Minnesota. He had been battling multiple myeloma for four years and in recent months had developed various complications to his illness. It is extremely hard to be away during these difficult times but we did our best at keeping up-to-date with how things were going via Skype meetings with the family and the doctors--so thankful for that capability! Neil was always in our thoughts throughout our week traveling around London and each day, by late afternoon (London time) we were anxious to get back to our flat and Skype with Mike's brother Rick and sister Ann to get updates as to how things were going for their dad. It became clear that Michael needed (and most certainly wanted) to be at his dad's side. The girls and I stayed in London, returning to Copenhagen on Saturday while Michael was able to catch a flight back to the states on Good Friday to be with his dad and the rest of the Emerson family.
We are so thankful Michael was able to be there, to have the chance to talk with his dad and say good-bye to him with the reassurance that one day he/we will be reunited with his dad in heaven. :) Grandpa Neil passed away Easter Sunday night--how very fitting that he should pass from this life on Resurrection Day, the day we so joyously celebrate because of the hope of eternal life in heaven that we are promised through Jesus if only we believe.
WHEN CHRIST DIED, HE DIED FOR YOU INDIVIDUALLY JUSTAS MUCH AS IF YOU HAD BEEN THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD.
- C.S. LEWIS
Thank you to all our family and dear friends for the many heartfelt thoughts and prayers over the past weeks. We appreciate them all so very much. It was an Easter week that we will never forget for so many reasons. Neil left us a legacy of much love and laughter--and it's pretty safe to say that his legacy will be kept very much alive as the Emerson family continues to love and laugh together in the years ahead. :)
'Joy is the serious business of Heaven.'
--C.S. Lewis
