Frosty Fun!
Hyde Park's annual Winter Wonderland was a blaze of lights, colors, music and chilly outdoor fun. Mike and I hit it on its opening night, with a zoodle of hundreds of others, but we still beat the biggest crowds and enjoyed the Bavarian themed festival. Little booths overflowed with trinkets and treasures, food stalls sold tasty treats and various singers and bands meant lots of great music abounded.
A really COOL (quite literally!) part of the wonderland was the Ice Castle full of frosty air and lots of amazing frozen sculptures forming a village of icy interest. There were elves, miners, animals, castles, king & queen thrones, a giant slide, unicorns, etc. Our exit treat was a pack of hand warmers -- good idea!
It was a neat way to kick off the coming winter-time. Now let's find the hot chocolate -- maybe where they sell the "candy floss" (a.k.a. cotton candy)?
Kensington Palace Puttering
A fun, day-time trek with new friend, P.J., took us to Kensington Palace. (She and her husband actually moved from our Georgia home ward of Shallowford in Marietta just weeks before we moved in there! In fact, we share lots of the same friends! Now, the Hegewalds and Molinaros are in the same ward in London. How's that for an incredibly small world?!?)
Built in 1605, the palace has been home to lots of fascinating and colorful royals including joint monarchs William/Mary, Queen Anne, King George I, King George II and Queen Victoria. It's been expanded through the years and is now divided into two sections: the historic state apartments and the private wing where some of today's royal family still live. Some other residents have/do include: Princess Margaret, Prince Charles and Lady Diana and now Prince William and Kate (i.e. the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) with their little ones, and Prince Harry. Word is that sometimes you can see their entourages coming or going.
One of our guides confessed he'd actually been surprised by Kate, Prince George and their secret service entering a room where he was singing and dancing while he thought no one was around. It was a hilarious tale; and we're still not sure who was more surprised -- him or them!
P.J. and I explored several areas of the palace such as the Queen's State Apartments, the King's State Apartment, drawing rooms, bedrooms, nurseries and sitting areas, the rooms parties were held for those at court and the place where Queen Victoria held her first Privy Council (with cabinet ministers and close advisers) when she became an 18 year-old monarch.
Less elaborate in décor and furnishings than palaces such as Hampton Court and Buckingham, it still is an intriguing look into history! People titled "explainers" (such an amusing, although accurate, moniker) give short chats on specific events in various rooms and that added so much to understanding the characters and happenings there. Such a different world to be sure!
We also enjoyed an exhibition of modern royals' fashion that featured rare dresses from HM (Her majesty) Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret (who evidently sometimes referred to herself as "P2" i.e. Princess 2 -- second in line for the throne after sister, Elizabeth) and Princess Di. Elegant and lovely gowns -- fun to see! . . . I immediately came home and put on sweat pants and a T-shirt and was happy though! ;)
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