LONDON LENSES: Aidan's Camera

We got you little cameras to tote around London. You loved them.

Aidan, this is London to you:

London Trip 2016- The Long of it

Well, you knew you weren't going to get off THAT easy! I can paint in broad strokes, but so many of the greatest points of our adventures in London were in the details!

So, here are more pictures and more details!

Traveling to London was a little bit complicated by a cancelled flight, a last minute change to a different plane, lost luggage, pressurized water bottle explosions, and some long delays. But you guys were magnificent, finding fun in the airport and on the airplane (Julia you watched Frozen, Aidan you discovered Plants Vs. Zombies, which you're still loving to this day!).  For being y'all's second and third flights respectively (Aidan- 3; Julia - 2) you guys did phenomenally! We couldn't be more proud!

Our little house in Crouch End was already populated by Helfords and Kahn-Harrises when we arrived, and the LOVE was spread immediately (so was a stomach bug which we brought over from the States, but, I digress).

We immediately began to explore our neighborhood and hang out with our family:

While Mommy and Daddy shopped for replacement clothes and toiletries, you guys got to play with your cousins and Pops was kind enough to take you to a very cool (and kinda chilly) playground at Alexandra Palace park:

Since the airline lost our luggage, you guys got to go to a cool playground with Pops while we went out and bought emergency provisions and clothes. And boy did the three of you have a fabulous time!

Another day down the drains in London!

Then there was the main event: Kobi's Bar Mitzvah and Party! Kobi was fantastic; and so were the dancing, music, fancy clothes, arcade games, coloring, late nights, and fun with family!

More family time and fun exploring London Playgrounds:

Dont forget the famous Alexandra Palace Farmers Market where Aidan enjoyed Smoked Salmon straight off the fish and Julia enjoyed bon bons and cheese and Mimi shared her special treat!

We spent a lot of good times in our little Air BNB in Crouch End:

And we had a LOT of fun traveling through London on Double Decker Busses, Subways, Walking, and Cabbies!

Of course, we saw the sights too! First up was BUCKINGHAM PALACE, you know, where the QUEEN of England lives! 

Then a lovely stroll through St. James Park:

Then a walk through London to see telephone booths, Big Ben, and ride the London Eye Ferris Wheel!

...and, can you believe it, we RODE in that giant Ferris Wheel and looked down on a wonderful city together, as a family!

At the base of the Ferris Wheel on the way home was a super cool Carousel. Round and round we went. Pretty magical.

Appletinis for all!

Next stop... Natural History Museum:

The Natural History Museum was a big hit with extinct animals (celacanth, dodo, giant sloth!), whales, stegasauruses, earthquake simulators and...Julia's favorite part... the ketchup! (In the cafe Ross asked you, Julia, what your favorite part had been so far. And you stone-faced replied: "ketchup." It's been a running joke ever since!)

There's the famous ketchup!

Next stop was the British Museum, home of Mummies, the Rosetta Stone, ancient Egyptian, Africa, Japanese stuff...and a REALLY cool gift shop! Aidan, you were so excited to see a Mummy. A real mummy. You got super disappointed when it was just the outer sarcophagus...and then the inner sarcophagus...and then the inner coffin. But...when you finally arrived at the mummy mummy exhibit and saw the really real real mummy with his hair and finger nails and skin still hanging on, you were instantly freaked out and checked out of the Egyptian wing as soon as possible! Julia, you were so psyched to find your 'witch mask' in the gift shop and you still choose to wear it sometimes to scare everyone. You recount when you scared Uncle Ross with it in London all the time! And it's true! You were so scary!

Fist bump. 

So Scary!

After a brief phone call and a brief walk, we arrived at the next stop: The Transportation Museum! This place was SO cool and was definitely one of your favorites. You guys got to climb in old and new double decker busses, drive a bus, fix a subway car, play in a plane, and run around. Ding ding! Such a cool highlight!

We met back up with your Aunties for chinese food and creme-filled goldfish pastries, and then took a real train ride back home where a cozy bath was awaiting you after a long-adventure filled day.

The next day we boarded our bus, and a train, and headed off to see the TOWER OF LONDON!

The TOWER used to be the castle where the King and Queen lived, where prisoners were kept, and where some famous people lost their heads. You know, perfect stuff for kids to learn about!

Aidan, one of your treasures you found in London was a key. Keys are different-looking (read 'cooler') there and you found your very own special key. When you met this Royal Beefeater at the tower of london, you wanted to take a picture with him...and his awesome keys!

We toured the grounds...

Watched the changing of the guards (who guard the Crown Jewels). And Aidan, you were so captivated that you marched like them...and guarded like them...and decided you want to BE a Guard when you grew up!

We snacked, spoke with time travelers, chased birds, and climbed on weapons:

We went and saw the CROWN JEWELS. Rubies, diamonds, emeralds. Massive, sparkly, amazing jewels. No pictures allowed. Also not a available for purchase, much to your dismay, Julia! The Jewels were your favorite part!

We climbed the stairs to go into the Whitehall Castle, and look at that view of the Tower Bridge!

Inside we saw swords, shields, and armor, including that of Henry VIII!

On our way out, we stopped for an even cooler view of the picturesque Tower Bridge- a London icon!

So cool...

Before we knew it, we were heading home via subway and bus. But sometimes the Journey is just as fun as the destination!

The next day, we visited the National Gallery. We stopped in some very cool bookstores and bought some antique coins (and met a dalek and DIDN'T get exterminated). Then we ate lunch outside the museum (delish), and witnessed amazing masterpieces inside, and living art outside! This was also where Julia's cat hat said goodbye to us and where we danced in the street to the tunes of "Game of Thrones."

 

 

Your favorite piece from the museum, dear Julia, was the "Glowing Flowers" (aka VanGogh's Sunflowers!)

And yours, Aidan, was "the one with the guy who cut off the girls head!" (aka, Perseus and Medusa!)

In our travels in London we also visited many awesome parks and playgrounds. Some were closed for construction, like the St. James park, so we chased geese and strolled with our family instead.

Some we stumbled across, like the one on the way from Crouch End to Ally Pally, it had a zip line which was super awesome. 

And others, like the Princess Diana memorial playground- designed to be straight out of Neverland with Hook's ship, the Lost Boys' fort, Mermaid Lagoon with Tic toc crock, and the Indian Camp.

That's you up at the top Julia! Mommy had to go rescue you :)

 

Some you got to visit and explore on that special day with pops alone, the Ally Pally Playground...

London was amazing. 

A long, incredible, important, and fun family trip. 

We survived. 

We thrived.

We had fun.

And we can't wait to go back. London is Calling.