Dad and Grandpa visit!

The very next morning after returning from the Netherlands, I met my Grandpa and Dad at a bed and breakfast in Egham. They had arrived the day before, but getting back from the Netherlands was a longer trip than expected.

We spent Saturday getting groceries and walking around the Royal Holloway Campus. Later on, we made an attempt to cook in my flat. It worked out alright! Plus I was just happy to host since I'm usually just cooking for myself.

Sunday was Easter and Dad had to work on his presentation, so Jess and Grandpa and I walked through the Runnymeade National Trust Reserve. It turned out to be a nice day and despite the mud, it was a good walk. We got to see a part of the town that we didn't even know existed. Besides the pretty park and river views, there was a memorial to John F. Kennedy and a monument for the Magna Carta, which was signed there. Then we had a good Sunday roast at The Crown, a pub in Egham.

On Monday, Grandpa and I went in to London. We had lunch at a pub in Picadilly, went to Harrod's, and strolled the South Bank. We discovered the BFI on the South Bank and though we didn't stay to see a movie, we found the media room where you can sit and watch clips and films for free. We watched a bit of a documentary about Jacqueline du Pré which was really fascinating. I'll definitely be going back there.

Tuesday was the day of Dad's big presentation. He had to set up for the majority of the day, and it was a bit stressful at moments, but it was worth it. People came and seemed to enjoy the presentation! He did a really great job. We got to unwind at another pub nearby afterward (seemed to be week of pubs!) before heading back to Egham.

On Wednesday we had a good touristy day. We went to Shakespeare's Globe. I had never been there so I really enjoyed it. The exhibit is just jam packed with any ounce of information they had about Shakespeare and the plays put on at the original London theatres. The theatre itself is absolutely beautiful. I've got to see a production there before I leave!

We had another pub meal, though this was a more up-scale pub on the South Bank :-) We then hopped on some buses as a way to rest our feet and to see sights of the city. Eventually we got to Knightsbridge, stopped at Harrod's and a Starbucks, and then went home to Egham.

Dad and Grandpa managed to squeeze in another sight on Thursday morning: going to the Chiswick House before going to the airport to return home. It was great visit - both busy and relaxing. I'm just glad I got to see family.

Unfortunately, Mom and Lyle couldn't make it out here for their visit. The volcanic eruption in Iceland prevented them from flying. It really stinks because I won't get to see them until June now, but we're trying to make the best of it. I'm going to take a little trip up to Scotland anyways as a change of scenery for my studying. Exams are coming up!

Will post about my trip to Scotland upon my return.

Here are pics from Grandpa and Dad's visit:

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In the quad of Founder's Hall

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Part of the Runnymede National Reserve

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Steps to the JFK Memorial

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JFK Memorial

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Grandpa reading about the Magna Carta

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An Easter-y Thames

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South Bank

"You can see the country beautifully all round; and the air is healthier for you—fresher and drier"

After we left Paris, my dad and I headed to London. We stayed in a hotel and went to the Tate Britain on our first day, but then straight away headed out west on a little road trip. We booked a bed and breakfast in a tiny town called Lynmouth in Exmoor National Park. It was probably the most adorable town I've ever seen - like a mix between The Shire, Disneyland, and Cape Cod. It was right on the shore, but also hidden in a valley of huge mountains, so it allowed for amazing views of the sea (and even Wales on the horizon). We spent a day walking around and took a little hike along the cliffs. Some goats even crossed our path! It really gave me a feel for the beautiful, but very very different landscape of England (as opposed to Tuscany). I didn't mind the chilly winds or overcast sky - it actually was very atmospheric. Definitely reminiscent of "Wuthering Heights" or "The Secret Garden". There was something enchanting about the endless fields of the moors stretching out of the ground on high cliffs by the sea.

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Secret Garden anyone?

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Yeah. Secret Garden.

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Dad on a cliff!

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Tea and crumpets after a chilly walk

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Sheep dots

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Heathcliff lives here

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Watersmeet

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New Years Eve we went to pub in Lynmouth and had some really good seafood - something I wasn't sure I would otherwise experience during this year. Then we watched "The 400 Blows" at the bed and breakfast and drifted off to sleep listening to the fireworks on the bay at midnight.

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Our journey back to London the next day was a bit hectic, as was all of the driving (it's the other side of the road! so scary!). We made a bit of an error and ended up heading towards Bath instead of Stonehenge, so we decided to visit that instead. I had no idea Bath was such a lovely city! The architecture was beautiful - all very classical and Roman influenced. The actual museum of the Roman Baths was really fascinating. I highly recommend visiting because it's incredibly informational, but also fun. You can tell the curators really care about the history of this place and want visitors to imagine what it might have been like. I think we stayed there for 3 hours alone. I'd love to go back to Bath for a longer stay, because it looks like it's very pedestrian and quaint, but also pretty posh and lively.

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Gorgon head

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Stones from rings found in the drains of the bath

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Collect 'em all

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Head of Minerva

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Remains of original groundwork in front of the Temple of Minerva

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Steps to Temple of Minerva

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Sacred Bath

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Look familiar.. maybe our kitchen floor?

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How they heated the floors

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Full moon driving back to London

Finally we made it back to London. On my dad's last day of his visit, he went out to explore 'Blake's London' - a lot of the different parts of London that William Blake lived or worked, and he visited Blake's grave (the real one). We met with a member of the Blake Society to learn more about him and his life in London.

We went to a North African restaurant for dinner and had some yummy chicken and lamb with couscous.

The next day I said goodbye to Dad and got dropped off at orientation with Arcadia, so I will have to post about that soon. But as of now, I'm moved into my room at Royal Holloway!