Runnymede, Windsor & Stonehenge..

On Friday we had a very busy busy day. We woke up earlier than usual to catch a coach that would take us on our first "field trip" as a class, although
long it was such a wonderful day.

Runnymede

We have been studying the Magna Carta in class and especially as it was the 800th anniversary on June 15th it was extra special that we were able to see Runnymede. I don't really know what i expected it to be like but it was literally just a field off the side of the road where King John happened to stamp this document in 1215. It was beautiful no doubt but we didn't really spend much time. It's funny because on this strip of land there are 3 monuments, 2 of which were put their by Americans. This June there was the new monument, the 3rd was put there by the royal family. 

There is a John F. Kennedy Memorial there that is on "American Soil" it was good to be "home" even if just for a moment.

Prince William sat on this chair in Runnymede last month so here I am..

Windsor

I have been to Windsor before and it was one of the things I was looking forward to most upon coming here. Windsor is where the queen spends most of her time living. Its the most beautiful castle in the middle of a quaint little town. We were able to spend a few hours touring the grounds and going through a few rooms on the inside. I think i didn't realize how old things were until I saw the "Moat" sign. That just kind of hits you right in the face. I just don't really understand why I don't live in a castle yet by the way ;) I mean hello.... Windsor is definitely something that I would recommend to anyone who finds themselves coming to London even if only for a few days, it isn't very far away and it encompasses all the expectations of what England should kind of look like.

We all decided that for Halloween this year we should be queens guards, how adorable would we look? We were able to watch the Changing of the Guards here at Windsor and I can't wait to go to the one at Buckingham Palace soon! While we were here I got a tea towel for Princess Charlotte to add to my quilt. (I am collecting towels from all the noteworthy places we visit to create a quilt in the end. My friend Kelsie gave me the idea and i'm obsessed.

Stonehenge

The drive from Windsor to Stonehenge was a bit long but luckily i was able to get a little snooze in.. 

 

Upon arrival you have to get in a bus to take you to the actual rocks because they are literally in the middle of nowhere. Your whole life you kind of here things about the mystery of how they got where they are and in the formation that they are but when you see them in person you are just in pure awh. I have no clue how it could've been done. But surely this was a site to see, This is the first of the "7 Wonders of the World" that I have seen and the only word to really describe it is "surreal"

Obviously we made a human pyramid outside of Stonehenge because why not but all in all it was a really great experience and I would definitely go again. I got a really dumb shirt in the gift shop that I absolutely love that simply says: Stonehenge est 3,000 B.C. I'm not entirely sure why but I happen to think it is the funniest thing ever..

At the end of the day we were all kind of exhausted and more than anything else starving. So we went to the closest and simplest thing we could find as soon as we got home: McDonald's. After that most in the group went home but Candace and I decided to brave riding "City Bikes" through Notting Hill. It was a blast...

Sincerely,

Mackenzie