Yesterday was a very fun and eventful day. Spencer, Laura, Elo, Elizabeth and I ventured out to Buckingham Palace to join in on celebrating the Queen's birthday. I was a little confused though because I am pretty sure that the Queen's birthday is in April. Either way the Queen led the march of 1,400 soldiers in the annual Trooping of the Colour down Pall Mall the parade ground behind Downing Street before returning to the palace.
At 1 pm the Queen, alongside Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince William and many more appeared on the balcony in front of the palace. They watched an RAF flypast by 13 different types of aircraft. The Queen has only missed this ceremony once since her coronation in 1952.
After the ceremony Elo, Elizabeth and I took a trip to Hampstead. Hampstead is where the famous poet John Keats lived for two years with business man and writer Charles Brown. It is also the place where he met and feel in love with the love of his life Fanny Brawne.
The house is absolutely gorgeous. It was originally built for two families to share, with a wall being the dividing line. It has been remodeled since Keats lived there obviously and the wall was torn down and an extra dining room added when a retired actress bought the house. We went on a tour of the house which was a lot of fun, minus the diva Middle Eastern man. He would ask so many questions (even though the tour guide had answered it right before he asked) and then he would give out stupid facts. Facts about John Keats and Fanny Brawne that he learned from the movie Bright Star. I love that movie, but obviously it isn't an exact interpretation of Keats' life. The man on the tour clearly did not know that. After the hour and 20 minute tour (it would have been 50 minutes had the man shut his mouth) we walked to Hampstead Heath.
Hampstead Heath is a beautiful, open, green heath. Everyone was out walking their dogs and couples brought their blankets to join a quiet and peaceful afternoon. We met two little boys Julian and Tom who turned an old, fallen tree into an ice cream/cupcake parlor. "They only had every kind of ice cream" according to Julian. So Elo enjoyed a carrot cake cupcake and pistachio ice cream. We made our way to Kyte Park which is on a hill that overlooks London. The view was absolutely breath-taking! We sat on an old, rusty bench and were enthralled but what an amazing opportunity we have to be here in London and can easily travel to a different world (the world of English countryside).
When we got home I went up stairs to dress in red and white to support the England football team. We went to The Collection on Brompton Road but the crowd there wasn't what we were looking for. It was a cocktail bar so it was a bit fancy. At the half we went to the Uni Bar. Only this wasn't the Uni Bar that I know. Apparently when other people here said they were going to the Uni Bar they meant the one across the park in our backyard. That wasn't there when I was here last time. Before it was under construction and wasn't even open. This place is a step up from the one next to Royal Albert Hall. I personally like the old, grungy one. We then made our way to Covent Garden where we danced the night away at Fuel. Their pitchers of Long Island Ice Tea were delicious. Their bottles of Corona were also delicious.
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