Sara Takes England: Mom and Dad come to the UK!

Hi!

So I had an especially good week the past few days because my parents came to visit! Everyone who knows me knows that I love being home and I love spending time with my family, so I was SO happy that my mom and dad were able to come visit me here in England. The past 11 weeks were the longest I had gone without seeing them and I couldn't have waited any longer!
My parents visiting was the perfect excuse to be a tourist in the city that I have been living in since August. Bath is most well-known for the Roman Baths (hence the name). I'm so glad I finally got around to visiting them because they were really cool! The baths date back to B.C. and have been preserved ever since as a tourist attraction. The Romans used to go to the natural hot spring baths to relax and be cured by the goddess Minerva. You can't touch the water now (as it is very unsanitary looking...) but it was amazing to see that the water is still steamy hot and bubbly. I'm so glad I finally got to see it!

Dad and me at the Baths!

Mom and Dad at the Roman Baths

While in Bath, we also went to see Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent. And of course there was lots of tea drinking, bar hopping, eating, and window shopping! It was so fun spending time with them in the town I have been calling home!
On Saturday, we headed to London. The first thing we did was go to the Tower of London...something I hadn't gotten around to visiting, so it was perfect that my parents hadn't made it there either. Touring the tower took about 4 hours, there was just so much to see! My favorite part was seeing the amazing crown jewels, and touring the rooms where the royal prisoners were held.

We were also able to get a good shot in front of Tower Bridge! Then we went to the London Eye at night! I had been on it during the day, so it was awesome to get so see the city at night when everything was lit up. I think I liked it even better at night!

The 3 of us in front of Tower Bridge

The view from the London Eye

The next day, we got up pretty early and headed to Windsor Castle! I hadn't made it there yet, so I was so excited to get to go! It is about an hour away from the center of London, but it was well worth the trip! The castle is set in the middle of a really cute town, high up on a hill. We couldn't take pictures inside the castle, but it was decorated so beautifully and all of the state rooms were so elaborate and fancy. The best part was when, just as we were about to leave, they switched the flag to signal that the Queen had just arrived home!!

We also got to stop by Westminster Abbey and see all of the Remembrance Day poppy's laid out. Then we took a double decker bus ride around town - another first for me! We rounded out our day with a trip to the covent gardens, a popular shopping and tourist district! It was already all decorated for Christmas, which was really nice! I love that Christmas starts so early in England. Guess they can do that when they don't get to celebrate Thanksgiving first!

It was the best weekend! I loved getting to explore Bath and London more, while spending time with my two favorite people! : ) Thank You again Mom and Dad for coming!!! It meant so much to me, and I am so glad I got to share this with you both! And thanks to my Nana and Papa for watching the boys so they could come!

Well, I cried on the train ride home to Bath after they went to the airport to go home, but I know I am going to be crying even harder when I have to leave the UK...in just 30 days!! I'm going to try to pack these next 4 weeks with lots of day trips and weekend traveling, so stay tuned until next time!

Cheers!

Sara