European Vacation: Going home, Day 7

Goodbye, Europe!

 Back on the plane:

 Pooh Bear needed a refresher of emergency procedures:

 This kid was pretty sick of airplanes at this point:

 Luckily, one of our layovers had a playground area:

While we were gallivanting across the world, Grandma Joy was home with the kids.  Sarah entertained Grandma by dressing up and roller skating in the kitchen while the kids were at school: 

Grandma did lots of fun activities with the kids:

 
 
 She helped Mary with her hair on crazy hair day:

 And they made cardboard-box cars for a drive-in movie at home.

We were so happy to see everyone again.  Thanks again, Grandma Joy, for making our trip of a lifetime possible!

European Vacation: London, Day 6

Ready for another day, Tiki?

 We ate oatmeal and fruit at King's Cross station:

 

 Subway ride to Hyde Park:

 

 Hyde Park:

 Buckingham Palace in the background:

 We came for the changing of the guard.

 However, it was so crowded that I could hardly see a thing.  David lifted Tyler up for a pretty good view.

 

 Back through Hyde Park:

 And on to St. Paul's Cathedral:

 

Tyler was asleep on my back at this point:

 

No photography allowed, but here is the nave:

Looking up into the dome:

We climbed up into the whispering gallery when Tyler woke up (after about a fifteen-minute nap on my back).  The whispering gallery turned into a screaming gallery.  His howling echoed through the entire cathedral.  Luckily, we had an emergency sucker that saved the day!

 Taking a train from Paddington Station to Windsor Castle:

 Changing trains in Slough.  Tyler made friends with a very kind Indian attendant:

 Windsor Castle seen through the train window:

Windsor Castle was almost closed for the day when we arrived, so we did a whirlwind tour.

 

No photography allowed, but here are the state apartments:

 

 

This dollhouse was built for Queen Mary between 1921 and 1924.  It is a 1:12 scale miniature of an aristocratic home.  I really wished our girls could have seen this:

 

 

 

Canon's Cloister:

 

Windsor Castle is a working royal residence.  It was fascinating to get a little insight into how the royal family lives.

 

 St. George's Chapel:

Interior shot courtesy of the Internet:

 Tyler got a kick out of the guard (or maybe I was tickling him...):

 At the train station, we found a French restaurant:

 We had a wonderful last dinner.  Croque monseuir et pâtes:

 Complete with pot de crème...

 ...and a happy Tiki:

 Back to London: