Day Twenty-five from Melissa - Windsor Castle!

In early April, I went to the dentist. While she flossed my teeth, she chatted and discovered I was going to England. 

"You've got to go to Windsor," she told me, revving the mechanical toothbrush. "You take the train out, walk up through the town, and there it is. You can spend the whole day there!"

Then I discovered that's where Queen Mary's Dollhouse is. Ten years or more ago, I watched a documentary about that dollhouse with my family and have loved it ever since. 

So I decided I wanted to go to Windsor. I wasn't sure how much different the castle would be from the ones I'd already seen, but I figured the dollhouse was worth the trip, and the lady who cleaned my teeth had been very charmed. 

Getting there was a tad complicated, and I later discovered we could have done it more easily. We ended up going to Paddington Station, getting off at Slough (pronounced "slow") and taking a bus past Eton boys school to Windsor. 

Real pretty countryside. 

Pulling into town, I could see the turrets right away. We walked closer, and I was stunned to see them keep going... and going... and going...

That's me with Queen Victoria and part of the castle in the background. 

Look at that lawn!

This shows the round tower. When the Queen lives here, she has a royal standard that hangs there.

See what I mean?  I told you it was huge!

Anyway, we thought we'd go to St. George's church. On our way, we were passed by soldiers. They were relieving a fellow at his watch,.

All in their olive hats!!!

While we were there, we went into the State Apartments to see the doll house.  No pictures, tragically, but google it. You'll find them. 

The dollhouse is maybe a little shorter than I am. It is three stories high with a basement, garage, garden, etcetera. All the plumbing works, and the house is wired for electricity. If you're familiar with Belleville Lego, it was just a little large scale for them. Nowhere near a Barbie, though. 

There's a miniature library in the house, filled with little postage stamp sized books. Some authors even wrote their own stories, unique to the Dollhouse. Well, a couple years ago, one of those unique books was scanned and printed regular size!

Inside, the State Apartments were amazing!  Think Breakers, but Gothic. With more gold. And wood. And lavishly painted ceilings. Sets of furniture made from solid silver, Reubens and Van Dyck paintings line the walls. 

Oh, and think of King Henry VIII.  Got a mental picture?  If so, than yes. The one with the floppy soft hat. It was there too, as ell as pictures of all his children. 

Insult to injury. 

On our way home I met a bear. 

Paddington Station. 

Ok, this was dinner from a place we've been liking more and more. Cheap food, doesn't make us sick. Its Pret A Manger, only its not said that way. "Pret Uh Mawnzhay."