Sunday in Paris through Thursday in Stratford

Sunday morning we went to mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral which was really interesting and hot. Seriously, I was sweating profusely. And during mass there were plenty of tourists wandering around and using flash photography to capture the event. Yeah, really spiritual...

After mass we went to the Louvre. Now, if you have never been there you need to know some thing before you go. It is really overwhelming. I don't think I can ever truly explain how overwhelming it is. It is insane and huge and full of all kinds of stuff. You kind of have to pick a few things you want to see, look at them and call it good. Especially when you go on free Sunday...

Winged Victory. I love this statue.

This is the Mona Lisa room. I don't think this picture can adequately impress in your mind the insane amount of people in this room. In order to get a photo of the painting people do a lot of shoving which is strange to me because, it's just a painting people!!!

Next stop was the Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise where we visited Jim Morrison's grave (among others). Yes dad and mom, you can be so proud. Unfortunately the toilets at the cemetery were an experience that left me scarred for life...

Monday we spent most of the day in line for the Eiffel Tower. Okay, not most of the day, but a really long time. It was totally worth it though. This is a view of the Seine from the top.

Sadly, the last thing we did in Paris was eat at McDonald's. In fact, I am ashamed to say that we ate McDonald's 3 times in the 4 days we were in Paris. This is because Paris is ridiculously expensive. I mean seriously! We ate some small baguette sandwiches (2 thin slices of ham and a bit of butter on the baguette) that cost like $5.00. For the same price we could eat a whole meal at McD's. And let me tell you with all of the walking we are doing, a small baguette with wimpy ham just doesn't cut it!

Oh well, au revoir Paris!

Tuesday in London we toured around the original site of the Globe Theatre, wandered the Tate Modern, and saw the BEST show of the whole trip, Merry Wives of Windsor at the new Globe. When you go to the Globe, it is just like the original design so the cheap tickets are the "groundlings". This means you are standing in the yard around the stage. Yes, standing. For the whole play. And if you try to sit down they make you stand back up. But the good news is that the audience is encouraged to heckle the actors. So we cheesed it up! Lots of cheering for the good guys, booing for the bad, sweet sighs for the pretty maiden and lots of laughter and clapping. Truly the best way to enjoy Shakespeare.

Wednesday we watched Timon of Athens at the Globe. Not so great. Unless you like poo and bums. Seriously. Not our favorite day in London. But we did go to a restaurant called Nando after the show. Nando is awesome because they have BOTTOMLESS COKE! Ah, refills...

Now Thursday. Probably Scott's best day of his life ever. We boarded a coach (charter bus but they get really pissy here if you call it a bus) and headed for the countryside. First stop was Oxford and Mecca for nerdy Tolkien fans like Scott.

The Eagle and Child. (Mecca)

The "Rabbit Room", hangout of the "Inklings" which, I am sure you know, is the group of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis who taught at Oxford University and hashed out their books together. You know this because you are nerdy too. You just can't admit it in public. But that's okay, you can just be jealous that we ate the most amazing brunch there...

And then on to Mary Arden's home in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Mary was William Shakespeare's mother. The farm she grew up on still exists and is super cute! This is a typical kitchen of the 1600's. I would never have survived...

This is Anne Hathaway's house. She was Shakespeare's wife so this is where she grew up. Inside they have the original "courting bench" by the fire which would have been used by Will and Anne. It is a tiny plank of wood with a high back designed to discourage comfort. However, we are pretty sure this isn't the only place they courted since Anne was 3 months pregnant when they got married! Oops...

This is our room at the bed and breakfast in Stratford. It's okay, we know you hate us a little.

This is the river Avon. The English countryside is just too beautiful for words.