Costa del London as the temperature in London was higher than Ibiza @ 22 degree Celsius). Easter holidays- I took the bite to promote domestic tourism and spend a day outdoors.
I prepared fresh cucumber sandwiches with carrot finger food.Train from Hayes and Harlington to Windsor and Eton via Slough for 6.20 GBP return. By the way, there was no ticket checking at Windsor and Eton train platform. A short walk through the lovely railway station and was at the castle visitor center. Since I had a year pass, I imagined it would be an immediate but they issued a fresh ticket for 3pm entry. A stroll by the Thames to admire the swans, the row of neat houses, the crowd and watch the boats sail by.
There were three men who got into the train from Slough. One even released wind while walking on the platform. At Windsor, I observed them sitting at strategic locations as homeless people.
The river cruises and all the chairs by the river were occupied. Long queues to catch the short boat rides at exorbitant prices. A single scoop of ice
cream ranged from 1.95 GBP to 3.40 GBP in the span of 500 ms. I walked to the Alexandra Park and enjoyed my picnic lunch in the relative quiet. It was mostly having fun in Windsor.
Lots of goodies platinum jubilee celebrations of the queen and London touristy on sale. At the castle, it was a tortoise like check in like going through an airport security. Finally walked around the covered moat to the staterooms after queuing again to enter the same.
The delightful 20th house English miniature house called Dolls house was open to public display. It was created by Edwin Lutyens.
It was lovely to see the tiny exquisite beds, bedcovers, paintings, carpets, porcelain, vases, table/chairs in the size ratio of 1:12 to the original house with servant quarters and cars. It was old fashioned furniture and not Ikea ones. It was not one of the doll houses to play! If we do get tiny aliens, I am sure they will be delighted with our arrangements to host them as it has electricity and running water too!
The staterooms were all gold and velvet with massive portraits of royalty and proud I admired the paintings by Reubens.
The wall hanging tapestry, mostly made in St Gobain, France were hung from the walls to prevent draft. They had biblical stories of Esther, a Jewish queen who saved
her kind from the Persians at great risk to her life. Somehow Jews seem to have been prosecuted all the time. (However, yesterday I heard that Jews were planning to convert the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem into National Park against the wishes of Palestine Christians?)
The ball room was nice and chandeliers beautiful. Of course, it cannot to the Papal palace in Venice or Versailles which were far more gorgeous, big and spectacular. The audio guide kept explaining the maintenance and conservation with odd covid social distancing guidance. Hardly any stories on the castle itself. I remember even the guide at the Paris cemetery had more stories to offer. Photography of the state rooms were not permitted to preserve the
The queens platinum jubilee is planned to be celebrated in June 2022. I was afraid of picking up knick knacks only to realise that they were made in dear old China 😊
Saint Georges chapel was closed as the royalty were offering their Easter prayers of continuity of their royal privileges and estate. The smiling priests were richly dressed in golden flowing dresses and were standing at the chapel
The road in front is the long walk ( about 4 kms) and was built by King Charles inspired from the french kings. King Charles had long curly hairs.
After much deliberation, I entered a Thai buffet joint and picked up a Green papaya salad. Unfortunately, it smelled too much of fish and I had to throw it away. Turned around the corner to the 4kms path from Windsor Castle gates to the Horse statue on Snow hill. Up the walk, we enter a deer park. I enquired from an Indian couple if there were any deer. They said, No chance.
