Onward to England!

Lord willed, I got to run today! I visited ye ol’ Holyrood park once again before saying adieu to the last morning with reasonable running time options. Arthur’s seat is still just as beautiful as it was on day one. 

The hotel that we’re in now is quite a few very large, Neil Armstrong sized steps down from Radisson Blu. Dad has become the new “toilet whisperer” as the toilet requires several pumps to warm it up then will flush. But you have to hold it down, but not too long or it won’t work. There’s a technique to it or something that I have yet, and probably never will, uncover. 

The hotel has a few funny signs, like requesting that guests close the bathroom door before showering. No worries there, the shower curtain is so flimsy it will actually stick to you and chase you around as you try to shower. To avoid the show I’d close the door anyways. No need to blind the parentals. There is no safe in the room, so to keep your valuables safe you need to take your wallet, tablet, laptop, passports, jewelry, royal crown jewels, whatever down to the front desk daily to have them keep it in their “Safety Deposit” (yes it is capitalized) facilities. They also request we don’t leave valuables in our room. What a pain.

We do have AC. It’s called a window. It opens a whole 2 inches.

My personal favorite is the hairdryer. Yes, they include one. However, this hairdryer is attached to the drawer. You read that correctly. The drawer. Not the wall, not the outlet. The back of a moving drawer. Intelligent. 

The facilities here make my apartment seem luxurious. And that’s saying something, considering for the past 3 years my sink has been either spewing violently or dripping, until Chen actually fixed it. I was in awe. 

This morning after being chased by the shower curtain, making breakfast in café Georgianna (aka a hot water kettle and instant oatmeal) we walked over to Rabbie’s for a tour to Alnwick ("Ann-Ick") Castle. Alnwick is the home of the Harry Potter Castle, the Christmas Downton episode and some spectacular gardens. En route we also stopped in Kelso, driving by the spectacular Floors Castle. The highlights of Kelso were the handwashers. I’m not joking. If my internet was faster I’d upload the video of mom being the hand model. Essentially you shove your hands in a box where the automated system allocates soap, dispenses water for an insufficient amount of time (but that’s all you get!) and then dries your hands. All in the same box. It’s awesome. 

The Kelso Abbey was a spectacular set of ruins and graveyard. We didn’t have much time to explore but I did find a really neat tombstone which read the following:

Remember man

As you pass by

As you are now

So once was I

As I am now

So must you be

Prepare for your death

And follow me.

Morbid, eh?

Nearby picturesque graveyard

Hilarious. Can't help myself.

The Abbey ruins

Abbey ruins, view #2

We stopped at the Marriage House which sits right on the river Tweed between the Scottish and English border. Back in the day, the Scottish marriage age was 16, and the English was 18. Enter the Marriage house. English lovers could hop over to Scotland for the day, tie the knot and then go face mummy and daddy back in England. 

Here is the Romeo and Juliet spot itself, Scotland side.

Knock another country off the list

On the bridge. FLOWERS. Can't help myself.

Arriving in Alnwick, we made no stops, did not pass go, did not collect $200. It was mission time: see everything. The castle was precisely that used in Harry Potter, particularly the courtyard scenes and Quidditch things. There was a Quidditch “lesson” going on in one of the courtyards. A twee bit hilarious. 

Also spotted at the castle. You can do the judging.

Quidditch lesson for the kiddos! I should've joined.

Token family shot thanks to our Roswell friends we met

*Cue HP theme*

Map in hand. READY.

The interior of the main castle (state rooms) was just incredible. Think Versailles but cozier. The 4^th Duke decided to redo the place in 1870 and redo he did. It went from medieval style where Dracula would have thrived to a Downton-ready set in about 10 years. The interior rooms were even equipped with a chapel, playing host to 300 year old flags in less than prime condition. The whole place was just amazing. While photography wasn’t allowed inside (the current 12^th Duke Ralph Percy and Duchess live there in the winter months) the Downton Christmas episode will show you the interior and how incredible it was. The library was my favorite, full of photos from Lady Melissa Percy’s wedding, William Percy of many a year ago was the first owner of the castle, hence her name. The best part was the small children dresses as mini-Robin hoods and fairies. 

The costumes just slay me.

The Downton sets were recreated, with pieces from Lady Rose’s costumes. The dresses were surprisingly found in vintage stores around London and none were made for the occasion.

Down in the servants quarters we were met with great surprise to see “FRANK E. MANN” on the wall. Apparently there was a Frank Mann that worked on Northumberland Estate back in 1914 and fought in WWI until 1918. Looks like some genealogy exploration is in order when we get back home. There was a small museum for the WWI soldiers, including an airplane made from cigar boxes that a solider might have given his son, and embroidered postcards they sent home while abroad. 

The gardens were fairytale like, even taking the next step and adding accents from fairytales. There was a humpty dumpty statue hanging out by the wall and a Beauty and the Beast rose in one of the gardens. The gardens had a bamboo labrynth, which I successfully got lost and found my way out of. Rose gardens, giant fountains, oriental gardens, extensive cherry orchard, pond and even a poison garden. It was pretty intense.

Scouting

That's a restaurant. In a tree.

Pretty spectacular fountains

Bamboo labrynth

Mom's decided this is going in our backyard

Horton hears a who- inspired

I am what I am.

As if we didn’t get enough castle, Sandy drove us over to Bamburgh castle, the most scenic in England, just for funzies since we had the time. He’s swell. 

Scenic is an understatement

As per itinerary, we headed north to Berwick-Upon-Tweed where this town had changed hands between Scotland and England 13-14 times. Imagine Bristol, VA/TN except with lots of arguments and war. It's a little comical considering the name Berwick ("Barrack") means "barley town". Humble beginnings and so much conflict.

Just over the crest is the North Sea

 Totally pooped, we arrived back in Edinburgh just in time to get some dinner from Sainsbury's, the local market. I wish I could bring back strawberries and tomatoes. Their cherry tomatoes are absolutely the most delicious I have ever put in my face. Until next time I suppose.