A Quick Hop Across The Pond

March 12, a day which will live in infamy: the day that James, Gordon, and Sara revealed a year long secret that Shelly Warren was going to London.  Do you KNOW what it's like to keep a YEAR LONG SUPER AWESOME secret?!?!?!  I can almost guarantee you do not.  She THOUGHT she was dropping Gordon and I off for our annual European vacation to which we would be visiting Iceland before driving to Dallas with her husband.  She. Was. Not.  I know, I know, you're wondering,  how did she have her passport?  How did she pack?  I'll tell you.  Jesus and three near sociopaths.  It makes sense in my head.  So, here we are at the airport as things are sinking in.  There was a lot of crying and smiling, and more crying, but I think this is where she really got it:

We boarded the plane for a 7 hour red eye:

When we landed, we took a cab to the rental car pick up spot.  They really are like in the movies!  James and I sat backwards and we jostled down the road on the left side with the driver behind ME!

We picked up the car and CAREFULLY drove (and driving is a story all of it's own) to Windsor. First of all, did you know everything in England is metric EXCEPT the speed limit?  50 MPH is a LOT different from 50 KPH.  Driving on the left is terrifying!  You don't just have to switch sides, you have to switch your spacial awareness four feet in a moving death trapl...er....car.  We made a quick stop at a pub got us breakfast and beer/cider, but more importantly, OUT OF THE CAR.

The royal crest adorned the ceiling of the restaurant.

After some duck pate, we were ready to start exploring.  She looks, happy, right?

Windsor Castle was BEAUTIFUL.  The weather was cool and crisp as we walked the grounds.  

Windsor Castle is still one of the Royal Families main residencies.  The Church they attend is inside the gates.  We walked in as an orchestra and choir were rehearsing.  There were truly no words to express the beauty of the building and the music within.

Windsor Castle is also the home of the oldest Tudor castle in the UK!

We could have spent DAYS, just touring the castle.  We were jet lagged, tired, and dreading the 45 mile drive to our hotel.  

We came back to our rental car and received our first UK souvenir, a parking ticket!  Apparently, even the parking signs are polite.  When we asked the meter maid about the ticket, he apologized, and recommended we stay parked there for free for the rest of the day.  Toto, we weren't in Kansas anymore!  We found it rather humorous that the rental agency gave us a Cactus.  Do you think they were politely mocking our Texas origins?

We took the M4, on the left side of the road, with Gordon on the right, with the stick shift on the left down to Lingfield Surry where we were staying.  Jet Lag, Stay Away!  The WarNigs have things to see!