London + Paris
- Maggie Coyle
- Sep 29, 2019
- 6 min read
June 15, 2015
Stepping off the plane in London, I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement and awe. Like the Beatles first stepping onto U.S. soil, I hit the ground running toward the adventures ahead. Unlike the Beatles, I had no fans, just my family and a list of things to see before crossing back over to the United States. We landed at London Heathrow airport and boarded a tiny Mercedes taxi about the size of a volkswagen beetle. The seats in the back faced each other and my mom, dad, sister and I were seated on top of our luggage with our legs over each other. First lesson of travel in London, don’t expect leg room! Forty-five minutes later the painful journey was over and we arrived at our apartment for the next ten days, a second story apartment overlooking the major shopping street, Oxford street.
June 17, 2015
After a day of fighting jet lag, figuring out where to buy our favorite grocery items, and exchanging our currency, we took off early for Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is a must see! It is in numerous movies and new coverage. It is everything you would expect to see in a castle. It has been around since the 11th century and is where the Queen can be seen from time to time. We were told by our guide that if the royal flag is up, the Queen is present at the castle. Imagine my surprise when we walked up the long, brick path to the gates and saw the royal flag flying! The royal guards were at attention at the gates and as hard as I tried to make them laugh or smile, it is impossible.
Once back in town we visited the London Bridge and Big Ben. I couldn’t help but think of the scene from Chevy Chase European Vacation where he gets stuck in the roundabout in front of Big Ben and can’t exit. Luckily we had a local driver so we were able to get out quickly.
Dinner that night was at the London Hard Rock cafe which originally opened in 1971 in Mayfair, London. It was as magnificent as you would expect. My parents were mesmerized by the old rock memorabilia and I greatly enjoyed my first British hamburger.
June 18, 2015
Time to see some ancient rocks in a circle! Little did I know it is in the middle of nowhere and once you arrive, you will stand in line forever, even with tickets purchased in advance. Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the world and so it was a must see. Although I have to say, once you have seen it there really is no need to go back. Stonehenge is a prehistoric rock formation in a circle in the middle of a field. I supposed it you are an archeologist or geologist you might enjoy spending hours staring at these stone. My sister and I were ready to leave after fifteen minutes and a couple of pictures.
That evening we went to one of the oldest theatres in the district to see Wicked. It was an amazing musical although they definitely do things differently than in the United States. During intermission we were allowed to buy a tiny cup of ice cream which has a wooden spoon stuck in the top. It was definitely different but the play was fantastic. The really amazing thing that happened happened after we left the theater and entered the taxi. About ten minutes into the taxi ride back to the apartment, the traffic stopped and my family observed armed guards everywhere up and down the street. My mom looked over through her window and said, “those ladies are wearing crowns!” Immediately the taxi driver said, “I don’t believe it, it is the queen mum.” Sure enough as we later confirmed in the morning newspaper, it was in fact the Queen of England, Camilla and several other royals departing the Duke of Wellington’s palace in Mayfair where a 200th celebration of the Battle of Waterloo was occurring. Our taxi driver put the significance in perspective when he told my dad that in thirty years of driving a taxi in London that is the first time he has actually seen the Queen.
June 19, 2015
One more item on our bucket list was a stop at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. The wax figures of famous celebrities was so realistic, it was almost creepy. The matched outfits and positions were picked by the artist for a specific point during that individual’s life. I was surprised at how many famous people were portrayed in such a small building. The lines were long and the aisles to see each exhibit were narrow. My favorite wax sculptures were the Beatles and Amy Winehouse.
June 20, 2015
We started the morning early with a 9:00 am tour of the Tower of London. For a century this castle has been a fortress for the royals and a prison for some. King Henry VIIIth killed a couple of his wives here. The guards, called “Beefeaters,” stand watch at the entrances while tourists visit every floor. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of eeriness walking on the cobblestones where so many entered and never exited. After the tour we met up with some family friends of ours who recently moved to London from Peoria with Caterpillar. They took us to afternoon tea at a fancy hotel, the Ham Yard hotel. Eating macaroons and trying it with hot tea brought out the Brit in me.
June 21, 2015
After a week in London, my family and I took the Eurostar high speed train to Paris, a train taking us under the English Channel. This was during a week when the Paris taxicab workers were talking about going on strike, and French ferry workers on strike were already damaging train tracks between London and Paris. My parents were very nervous that if we got to Paris safely, we might not be able to travel back to London by train. In fact, the train that left only an hour before us on the way back to London, was stopped by strikers. The hotel in which we stayed was the Pullman Hotel, overlooking the Eiffel Tower at night, a sight which I’ll never forget. The next morning we walked to the Eiffel tower. Visiting the Eiffel tower in person was in no comparison to pictures of it or just simply looking at it. Going up to the top was breathtaking, literally I couldn’t breathe. Actually there are three levels and we only went to the second one, but that was high enough. There were holes through the floor and stairs which made it hard not to look down. With the high winds you felt as though the whole structure was moving underneath you. Even though seeing this during the day was amazing, looking out my window at night, watching all the lights flicker on it, was extraordinary.
June 22, 2015
The one place I visited which I will never forget is the Cathedral de Notre Dame. Just this year, the 856 year old church caught fire and was seriously damaged. Just knowing I visited this old and magnificent church before the fire makes me feel so fortunate. The glass window art was like no other I have seen. The colors were so vibrant. My voice echoed yet the place was so kept so peacefully quiet. Visitors were asked to not take pictures, although some did. I found that out the hard way after taking this picture moments before security told me to put my phone away.
June 23, 2015
Just like the movies and pictures, I saw the Mona Lisa with my own eyes. Touring the Louvre Museum brought what true art was to my attention. The murals and sculptures had been so well kept, considering how old they were. The Mona Lisa and other well known paintings were protected by a glass casing and high security. We stood on the marble steps and looked at the Winged Victory Statue which dates back to the second century. I can’t even explain how amazing this was! https://www.louvre.fr/en
June 24, 2015
Time to go home. As sad as it was to leave behind my old friend, the culture I experienced, and the memories I made, I’m glad to say this was by far one of my favorite trips. Why? I accomplished so much within the time I was there. From seeing the Queen, to visiting a bunch of ancient rocks, we covered a lot of ground. The one and only place I wish I was able to see that I didn't was Abbey Road. I am a huge Beatles fan, and even if it is just a road it is special to me. This is a trip I definitely would want to go on again when I’m older and I can more greatly appreciate the art, culture and history around me.
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