Hampton Court

Today Katherine and I traveled to Hampton Court. We rode the tube, and then took a train. I think I took 100 pictures. We both ended up with dead cameras. We saw so many things that were just unbelievable. We wandered through the kitchens, which are made to look like they would have ages ago, including a huge pot of cooking food that actually smells like food cooking. There was a real fire burning in the huge fireplace, big enough to roast half a cow. I really enjoyed the looking at the gardens, even though we didn't see nearly all of them. We made it through the maze; we found our way into the center. I actually most enjoyed looking at the Fountain Court, which has this gorgeous green grass, and a red brick and a fountain in the middle. The flowers were gorgeous, and I can't even imagine the time and energy that goes into keeping them so beautiful. We had lunch in the Tiltyard Café, where in centuries past, knights would have been jousting. There is currently an exhibit on Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, and Cardinal Wolsey. It's interesting to imagine Henry, younger and apparently more handsome, before he began his obsessive quest for a son. I'm amazed at his resemblance to my friend Mr. Woodard, minus the six wives and the crown, of course. We had a great conversation with Noreen, who is a warder (we would call a guide) who talked to us for a LONG time about the Tudors and the Stuarts and the whole monarchy thing. She was so knowledgeable and so willing to share with us. I'd love to share all my pictures with you, but there are too many. I'm attempting to attach a slide show of some of my favorites, so enjoy!