beboots

This is my final entry before my return to the real world! (AKA the True North Strong and Free) that by no means is the end of this travel blog, however. Once I've managed to get some sleep and finally upload the hundreds and hundreds of photos onto my beloved but neglected laptop computer, I'll be sorting through said photos so I can create blog posts on the things that words just can't describe. :)

Let me narrate to you my last few days in Britain. 

It must have been three days ago now that we visited Alnwick Castle, a must-see pilgrimmage site for any Harry Potter fan. In case you aren't in the loop (I wasn't until q week or so ago either), this castle provided many exterior shots of Hogwarts in the films. Think the first flying lesson in the Philosopher's Stone. That's Alnwick Castle.

(Oh, and continuing on the favourite theme in these islands of nothing being pronounced as spelled, "Alnwick" is spoken like "ann-ick". Of course!)

It also had an absolutely gorgeous library, and I sincerely regretted not being allowed to take photos there. I would also have loved to have visited this place as a young child; they have a "knight's quest" obstacle course that kids dress up for. Adorable and fun-looking!

Also, speaking of Harry Potter and such... When we arrived in London, it was at King's Cross, so of COURSE we needed to take photos at platform 9 3/4. :) They have half of a luggage trolly going "through" the barrier there for you to pose with. We did a "running smack dab into the solid wall and breaking our noses" photo as well. ;)

We spent a full day in York, running around trying to see everything. The Treasurer's House is a good example of how bad antiquarians could get. You see, Frank Grant, a ridiculously rich man with a passion for old furniture, bought up this beautifully preserved house, then renovated the crap out of it to fit with his "vision" of what a seveteenrh century house would look like. This included deliberately banging up the centuries-old oak floorbords so that they would look right.

On the plus side, I saw a portrait of Charles I in there (the one with the horse and jaunty pose I spoke about in a previous post way back).

We also went on a short ghost walk (can't get enough of those ghosties and ghoulies!). Our guide was very witty and a very gifted storyteller, among other things. His "spooky" name for the tour was "Poltergeist Peter", or "Petergeist." Again, I'm irrationally amused by puns. :)

Yesterday, we took the train from York to London King's Cross. I chose to book my flight home a a reasonable hour (3:00 or so in the afternoon), but the others, who booked separately, believed that a flight that leaves at 7am was doable. Um, they spent the night sleeping in the airport. I stayed in a nice hostel near Hyde Park and a bunch of museums. Granted, I didn't sleep well because I'd lost my earplugs and was in a twelve-person dorm with a couple of snorers, but it's the principle of the thing, right?

Anyway, with little else to do to kill time... We for went to go see Wicked, the musical. (They'd already seen it when they were in London the first time nearly two months ago.)

It was awesome. Inspiring music, wonderful sets and costumes, snappy dialogue... I need the soundtrack post-haste.

It was a wonderful final day in the UK. Now, to kill a few hours before I leave for the airport, I'm heading over to a history of medicine exhibit just around the corner at the Natural History Museum. Or maybe the Victoria and Albert museum. One of the two. :)

See you soon, everyone!