A Real London Wedding

Weddings here are done just a bit differently than how we do back home.
That said, there are striking similarities that helped to remind me a little of those old celebrations I've come back to like quite a bit.

Andy is the head of the science department at school. He was married to Bella on Saturday, one day after the Royal Wedding.
After the civil ceremony at "city hall" (naturally it's not called that here in posh old England, but my propa English vocab-lrrry precludes me at present), we all took a boat ride down the Thames.
Following the boat's docking, we went to a garden party along the water's edge where the champagne was flowing like wine ;) followed by a seated meal with superb wine. It was really quite lovely.

Here's a few snaps from a great day out in the sun...

Camera

It's time for me to retire the Blue Beast (the $99 Fujifilm point-and-shoot camera I bought with Laura in Toronto in the Summer of Summering: 2010) and join the big leagues.

I need to take better pictures...I've reached the end of the proverbial creative rope. I can't show you what I see anymore...can't electronically journal these amazing sights if I don't upgrade.

Though Erin told me long ago that a Canon point-and-shoot is a great bet, I think for the everyday the-camera-needs-to-be-convenient-not-fancy, I can cart along the Blue Beast. But for those special days (like all my days spent traveling, including those day trips into London), we need an upgrade.

So I'm asking for some help. You must know something about cameras. I will buy one back in Ontario, since I've researched enough to know that it's prohibitively expensive to shop for electronics here in Jolly Olde.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

I find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with Dan Griffin. He's from Toronto and his voice is just what I need right now.

Have a listen here if you want to be lulled into a peaceful state.

A Fine Day for a Royal Wedding

We got on the train in Dartford with few people. As the train made its stops, however, more and more fancy-dressed celebrators joined us. Girls in tiaras, ladies in pageant-worthy hats and dresses, and men in suits, adorned with top hats, canes, and pipes. These men had been entertaining us for some time, so I just had to take their picture.

"You guys going to a party today?"
"Nope...we're just going to hang out in a park and enjoy the day."

Ah England...the advent of pomp and circumstance. It was destined to be a good day.



We walked from Charing Cross to Trafalgar Square: it was closed. So we kept walking along Piccadilly Street to learn that St. James' Park as well as Green Park were both closed (full up with people, to be more accurate), so we finally rested in Hyde Park. What a sight to see...the whole city was buzzing with pre-wedding jitters.



An entrance to Green Park, completely swarmed with people trying to get a glimpse inside.



We arrived at Hyde Park just as Prince William declared, "I will". The crowd went wild and then this happened. This is the moment when Prince William slid the ring onto Kate's finger...swoon...

LOVING life...

Three ecstatic Canadians in a park (with a plain old Ferris wheel behind us)...



I had turned around, saw the Ferris wheel, and said to my friends, "And isn't it so perfect that the London Eye is there in the background, opposite all this magic?"

They promptly turned around, examined the structure...

...turned back and said, "That's a plain old Ferris wheel, Alexis, not the London Eye." Then proceeded to laugh at me.

Funnier still was the fact that these guys

heard everything and had quite a chuckle at me.

Not to worry though...they later helped me identify Jerusalem, one of England's national anthems. Nicely done.

Here are some locals doing it up right with party hats, Pimm's (in which we indulged quite a bit later with lemonade), waistcoats, and picnics. Gotta love the English...

Love was definitely in the air in Hyde Park

The Queen, as she left Westminster Abbey. Check out the creepy William and Kate masks looking out at us!



My friends were clearly loving the souvenir scarves sold outside all the parks. Go Team Kate!



At about 1:30 pm, the Prince and Princess stepped out onto the balcony at Buckingham Palace to greet their country. It was seconds later that they kissed.



Planes flying overhead (this promised to be a "crowd pleaser" and though I was a bit skeptical, it was a pretty amazing thing to witness. Those planes were OLD and flying in perfect formation. I'll take it!)



Adorable inscription...so English. It reads, "Metropolitan Drinking Fountain & Cattle Trough Association." Of course it does.

This is the Goring Hotel where Kate and her family spent the night on April 28 and got ready on the day of the wedding. Absolutely no one was allowed down these streets, even hours after the wedding was finished.

Hours after the kiss, Buckingham Palace was completely accessible. We walked up to the gates where guards and police officers had been posted since 4am that day. They were exhausted, but not at all snippy. They had done a remarkable job of keeping crowds at bay, everyone calm, and the morale quite high. It was a joyful day and I thought they did a remarkable job of keeping the peace.

The famed balcony where Prince Charles kissed his Diana and nearly 30 years later, we watched with baited breath as Prince William kissed Kate. What a sight.

The ever-pristine grounds of Buckingham Palace were a bit marred (if you ask me) with press boxes and set-ups so cameras could see everything and broadcast it. Since I too watched on a live screen, I should be so grateful to see this set-up, but it certainly didn't look as nice as it normally does.



Presumably staff on the balcony, teasing us into thinking there would be more Princess to see.





Press boxes set up to the right of Buckingham Palace. Groan.



One last glimpse (alright, several last glimpses) at the Palace.

We stopped for a quick rest along the Mall and this group of royal horses marched by. Super cool.

Looking back across St. James' Park, we caught a glimpse of the real London Eye. Silly tourist ;)

Churchill's War Rooms...apparently I have to make time to see these (no idea what they are):



We walked along the edge of St. James' Park, our last Royal Park of the day. What a gorgeous day for a gorgeous occasion...

We got back on the train, feet throbbing, heads full of the kind of pageantry that little girls' dreams are made of. What a magical day.