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Stratford Trip Day Three

At the beginning of day three, we visited Blenheim Palace, where some Duke lives (do you see how my touristy zeal has gone down exponentially? Being a tourist can be very tiring!) There are two main attractions to this palace: 1) the beautiful grounds 2) this was where Winston Churchill was born!











And here is a lovely rose garden. It smelled quite nice, just how you would imagine a rose garden to smell.



I think this is my favorite rose of them all. I like the roses that have a blend of different colors. I also like black roses, but they didn't have any in this garden ;)
Then we happened to stumble upon this lovely waterfall!

Over an incredibly beautiful stream. My group raced sticks like they did in Winnie the Pooh.




After admiring the lily pads, we went up and climbed a tree that was extended over the stream. I couldn't remember the last time I had climbed a tree. I was in a state of bliss.

Next we visited the little town of Oxford (you may have heard of it).
Prepare yourselves Potter nerds. The following photos are from Christ Church, where certain parts are featured in the first couple of Potter films.

Does this look familiar yet?





How about now!?! If you think back on the first Potter film where all the first years walk up a staircase and meet Professor McGonagall for the first time before they head into the great hall for the first time. This is that very staircase my friends. Where quoth Draco Malfoy: "It's true then! Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." It was a wonderful moment for me you guys. This was my own Potter nerd personal Mecca.

And this . . . . . is the great hall. There were no hovering candles, but that didn't stop me from feeling the magic that was still there!

I could have very well passed where our magical trio sat.

After so many years of hoping beyond hope, I have finally arrived to Hogwarts!

Oxford was a fun little town to walk through because of the architecture. There was always something to look at.

Including the fiddler walking on the rope.

Comments

  1. NatalieJune 7, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    Wow. Fist of all, what a place to be born and that waterfall is so beautiful. Secondly, how cool is that that you saw Hogwarts (well, kind of)! That would be so surreal.

    ReplyDelete

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