12. Stonehenge and Windsor

Stonehenge:  We were there!!!  next is Easter Island... or Tahiti... or Guam, or just a hotel in CA with 4 pools.... not sure, but I think its a sign that you had a good trip when you come home from one vacation, and you're already planning the next vacation:) 

 above, this aerial view is a picture of a picture.  We didn't take a helicopter tour.

Again, it was great to be among the first visitors of the morning.  We were in the ticket line when they opened.  Our experience was much nicer than the Rick Steves' travel guide we watched in preparation, when there was a chain link fence surrounding the site. yuck.  Instead, we toured a new visitor center with lots of good information, then we rode a bus 1.5 miles to the site.
These stones were arranged in 2000-3000 BC (= PREhistoric)  there are also other nearby burial mounds and prehistoric monuments.  Theories abound.  The stones came from Wales, by sea and river, over 150 miles.

Windsor Castle was our last stop before returning the rental car.
We walked through one richly decorated room to another and another.  Inside the castle walls, it's like a mini-city, including a beautiful St. George's chapel.  We saw a neat doll house, where every little item worked, but was miniature sized.
So now we know where the royals are when we see them in the news: Kensington, Buckingham, or Windsor.  I guess there are many other royal residences, but it was neat to see those three.
I liked this photograph of Queen Elizabeth and her grandchildren, I presume, though I only recognize Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Our hotel was near the airport.  Mom and I walked to the local neighborhood Tesco grocery store.  We picked up produce and buns as well.  I love airplanes flying just above my head.  lots of energy there.

 courgettes = zucchini.  thanks Mom for sticking to your guns about eating healthfully even when it's not the easiest thing to do.

  

Sleeping through the night wasn't easy on the trip, with phone calls coming in (sister C, or Uncle C, or bishopric looking for a closing prayer), or jet lag, or a flooding bathroom, as seen below. ugh.

 

 hoorah for Pret-a-Manger salads!

 The airplane ride was long.  We slept on the way to England, but on the way back, we read, did Sudoku, watched TV, and ate - they fed us warm food 4 times!  quite different than domestic flights.