We traveled via train to Windsor today. Tom took us to King's Cross station to catch said train to Windsor. He led us toward the back near some escalators and with a slightly wicked giggle said 'I must show you all this. I'm sure our writer will be excited." After a few moments of walking we stopped by a brickwall surrounded by tourists. A metal cart was halfway into the wall under a sign that read 'Platform 9 3/4' Everyone in the group got really excited. I was completely lost. Tom looked at me with gleeful expectation. Too bad I disappointed him. Having never read any of the Harry Potter books or seen any of the films I had no idea what I was looking at until someone in group finally took pity on me and explained it. I took a picture for my best friend back home as he is a major HP fan.
windsor
The train ride to Windsor was interesting. I have rarely been on a train in my life so this was almost something entirely new to me. I sat off to one side, my earphones in, and watched the countryside pass by. The sky was a lovely silvery grey due to the rainclouds. In about an hour's time we disembarked in Windsor and headed up the hill toward the castle. I was wholly unprepared for what awaited me there.
The queen is in...
When we got to the top of the hill and stood off to the side of the Castle proper, watching the changing of the guard happen, Tom pointed to the flag flying from one of the turrets. The Queen was in residence. I must admit I was schoolgirlish-ly excited. I know that this will be the closest I will ever be to her majesty and I'm going to enjoy the thought for as long as I can. As the guard passed by, Tom pointed out the colored plumes in their bearskin hats. Each color is specific to the country that guard is from. The ones that marched so grandly beside us are Irish Guards due to the blue plume in their hat. New trivia always makes me happy.
Inside the queen's house
Tom gave us free reign to roam the grounds and see whatever we wanted that was open to the public. I opted for the State Apartments and St.George's Chapel. The apartments were everything I wanted them to be, opulent and beautiful. I walked slowly through them, my ear glued to the audio tour headphones we had been given upon first entering the grounds. The artwork and furnishings and history was almost too much to take in at one time but I gave it the old college try! St. George's Chapel was lovely and is where Henry VIII is buried. Honestly, I spent more time looking at the amazing pipe organ then the king's grave.