Day 9: Oxonian Pleasures (Abbreviated)

THE FRIDAY ITINERARY: Early train to Oxford with Naomi, stroll around the beautiful colleges including panoramic views on a very tall church tower, lunch at Cafe Nero, pilgrimage to the site of the Eagle and Child, quick look at the Bodleian, ride home and naps before a splendid dinner with Nana and Grandee at King William IV, the pub.

Pictures to be added tomorrow morning, as our photo expert is asleep. Check back at www.threefriendsinafog.blogspot.com tomorrow morning for pix.

Madeline: While it is looking like my time in England is almost up (come on people, do you really want me to be stuck at UVA next year?) we spent some time looking at some other universities that you might have heard of. I refer to the little school of Oxford. Yes, this quaint school consists of many different colleges all with their own annexes and libraries. We were able to see quite a few of them and add a great time walking around the town. There is such knowledge and history. While we are all tired, we press on. With Naomi, Gabrielle's cousin, as our excellent tour guide, we were able to see the remarkable university. It almost makes me ready for college, but that would require me to return to America. One more day.

Gabrielle: It's the little things, really. I now own more Oxford wear than Wesllely clothing, and I'm not even matriculating at Oxford. It's how many times I saw Knole House and Hampton Court and Westminster Abbey as a set for "The Other Boleyn Girl" tonight. It's the sauteed potatoes and Veggie Wellington at King William. It's getting my picture taken at Peter Wimsey's Alma mater (Balliol). It's the discussion of language differences with Nana and Grandee after dinner, between American English and British English. It's watching the men's Wimbledon semifinals with both Americans and Britons. It's the fact that I know who Andy Roddick and Andy Murray are, and where they come from. It's how Revie made a dog joke in the car. It's how Madeline deleted the pictures of her sleeping. It's Naomi giving up a day of school to trot us around Oxford. It's small, I suppose, but it's lovely all the same.

Revie: Today was fun and full of walking, and I greatly enjoyed looking at the college architchure that I will not receive at VCU(:( }... It is a charming town, you can see the history, I can picture C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien walking about it. Sorry for my brevity, I am very tired. Fact of the day: I do not care for Beef Wellington, although the British now how to making deserts(particularly a gorgeous chocolate cake..yumm)

Day 8: English Real Estate

THURSDAY ITINERARY: Went to Knole House, took long nap, ate dinner, went to
bed.
The gorgeous Knole House, taken by star photographer, Mr. Linnell

Us in front of Knole House (notice the window between Gabrielle and Revie that made its appearance in the Other Boleyn Girl)

Deer roaming about the grounds

Also laying about the grounds

Isabella showing off her lovely hat in the Courtyard

Revie, being gorgeous as usual

Madeline being strange as usual

Madeline modeling Isabella's beautiful sunhat

Getting a head start on that nap

Madeline: Walking in the presence of Natalie Portman was incredibly exciting. The scenes from The Other Boleyn Girl that used Knole House included the Courtyard and inside looking out the window that is present in the second photograph. We all wanted to watch the movie tonight, but being quite exhausted decided it best not to. In fact, we all crashed for several hours after getting back from the relaxing day at the Knole House. With each day, we get older and older, we passed mature adult several days ago, and are now moving quite quickly into crotchety old women (we'll be able to relate to our parents much better on our return). Now we're spending the night getting ready for tomorrow (I might need to start packing my suitcase soon so that it will be much easier when we actually leave). It's not too late to donate money so that I can live happily in England for the rest of my life. I've set up a Fund-Madeline-In-England Charity complete with a PayPal account for anyone who would like, all proceeds go straight to the charity, and it's really doing a public service to the world. I promise all donations will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Only you can stop my return to America, and time is running out.

Gabrielle: Knole was lovely. It's buried in the Kent countryside, which itself is lovely although it was the cheapest spot on my old British *Monopoly* set (games can be deceiving). The rooms felt a little bit inadequate, however, because it seemed they needed a Gothic ghost to roam its halls. Although Tudor-era players like Thomas Cranmer and Henry VIII lived there once, I felt it was in its essence a place for writers like Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf to re-imagine Victorian horror stories. It's got that vibe, don't you know, and it was fun. The Venetian Ambassador's room was my favorite, especially since he had a Dressing Room. I want a dressing room when I return or I will commandeer someone else's room for the purpose. That's how Henry got Knole, in fact. (Thanks, Grandee, for the piccies!)

Revie: To begin with my fact of the day's so I don't forget: firstly, bathrooms in London are quite scarce because their are no bathrooms in restaurants or any other shops for that matter. Fact number 2 is that deer, epically baby deer, can just be cute as our cartoon character Bambi. It was a fun day with Stephine, little Isabella is such a delight, and Mr. & Mrs. Linnell were so obliging, taking us to Knole House which is in the next county( 2 hrs. away). If you will please record the two Women's and Men's Finale's at Wimbledon, because we will be gone and I wish to see it. Also dear mother If you could cancel my foot appointment on the sixth it would be great because my foot hurts and I would love to not haft to think about it on my seven hour flight( my reasoning is that I have walked so much on it, If I wait a few days and try to get it down, it will hopefully work better, but if you can't, I understand). Thank you for your comments they are nice. Love you all, Rev

Day 7: London Art

THE WEDNESDAY ITINERARY: Walked across the Milliennium Bridge, went to the Tate Modern Museum, saw As You Like It at the Globe Theatre, walked to Buckingham Palace and through St. Thomas Park, returned home tired.

On the Millennium Bridge overlooking the Thames River

The Millennium Bridge and a view of St. Paul's cathedral (when viewing the Harry Potter 6 trailor, when you see the Death Eaters destroy this bridge, pause it, and you can see St. Paul's, and across the Thames you can see the Globe and the large building adjacent is the Tate. We had great fun discovering the Globe's appearance in the movie.)

Where the magic happens.

Anxiously waiting for the play to start (notice the unfortunate groundlings below).

The "obstructing" pillar that made our seats half-price, it actually provided nice shade when the sun beat down towards the end of the play.

Outside Buckingham palace

The entrance to Madeline's future house (please wipe your feet before coming in)

Outside the palace having our picture taken by some friendly Italians.

Gabrielle: I am so exhausted I can barely make comprehensible English but Madeline is holding an axe to my neck so I figured I better be comprehensible. The Tate Modern was lovely, some mind-blowing pieces by Picasso and Magda Conwell and Andy Warhol that really made me think about what we classify as art. The Millennium bridge was fabulous for the view and for the upcoming scene in Harry Potter. The Globe was pretty much the best Shakespeare I've seen in my entire life, and it's pure delight to watch. We had so much fun they need to reinvent cliches to describe it. Here's one: if I don't go to sleep RIGHT NOW, I will be deader than an aardvark who met an unhappy end to tooth floss... or was that the lion... dear God I need sleep.

Revie: Our last day in London was an extremely memorable one, but at least we were able to walk for three hours and then sat for three hours, fairly balanced. The Tate Modern Museum overlooking the Thames is one of the best uses of a old factory I have ever seen. Their collection was fascinating and a wonder to have beheld. Being able to study works of art done by masters of their craft;Picasso, Pollock , Andy Warhol...The globe was wonderful and exciting, I was never bored throughout out the play which has defiantly happened in three hour plays. We were able to see if the queen was home at Buckingham Palace(which she was, because the flag was up). I hope you will have a wonderful Thursday, tomorrow we will be going to Anne Boleyn's' family home.. Good night.

Madeline: As you can probably tell, we are all quite tired. But it was an absolutely wonderful, if not scorching hot day. After spending a considerable amount of time in the Modern Art Museum, we went to see As You Like It at the Globe Theater. It was probably the most fulfilling experiences while in Europe thus far, it was so well done and made me reconsider my whole view on Shakespeare's plays. For a while, I was quite convinced I was the only person in the world who didn't like Shakespeare, but the truth is, it isn't Shakespeare I don't like, but rather I've never liked the way Shakespeare has been presented, and I didn't know what I was missing until now. Shakespeare wasn't meant to be acted by amateurs, it was meant to be the best of the best, His plays were not meant to be acted out in large concert halls, but rather in the intimate nature of the Globe Theater itself, and the language was not meant to be spoken with a poor British accent faked by some unfortunate American, or even a normal British accent from a native, but rather a refined and practiced voice. Saying good bye to London was such sweet sorrow, until next time, good friend.