weekend update

Over the last few days, we have done some neat things, but I have no pictures to show from them. It has been raining off and on each day, so I haven't wanted to lug the camera around and get it wet. Our memories will have to suffice.

On Friday, A wasn't feeling up to a big journey, so he stayed home with his grandma and grandpa and ate homemade chicken noodle soup. YUMMY! T, O and I took a day trip over to Windsor to see Windsor Castle. We were able to see some rooms inside that were closed the last time we visited. That was nice. Unfortunately, we didn't make it into St. Georges Chapel on this trip. Time just got away from us.

We made up for not seeing the chapel by visiting Westminster Abbey on Saturday. This was my first time to go inside the Abbey. I have to say that I was amazed at the height of the ceiling. The Abbey was built in a Gothic style architecture, which is not really my favorite, but I have to give them credit for creating such an enormous space without the aid of modern machinery. I can't even imagine how the did it.

Sunday was great! When visiting Hampton Court last week, we saw a flyer advertising a jousting tournament to be held at the Tower of London this weekend. We knew we had to see it! Parking is tough around the Tower, so we parked in Greenwich, which is only 5 minutes from where we are staying. From Greenwich, we took a river cruiser up to the Tower. I love seeing London from the river. It gives a completely different perspective of the city.

The jousting tournament was a recreation of a friendly competition which might have happened during the reign of Elizabeth I. This was something that none of us will soon forget! There were four men dressed in complete armor atop beautiful horses with very colorful blankets. It was amazing to see the horses and men going toward each other at full speed and then hearing the crunch as the lances hit armor. Wow!

While at the Tower, we also got to see the Crown Jewels and hear gruesome stories of torture and beheadings. Another highlight of our day was lunch at Wagamama. We have made a point to eat there on each of our visits. I wish they would open in Texas!