Well our journey which began what feels like a lifetime ago on March 21st is about to come to an end. This afternoon we catch a plane back to Toronto. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you in person, getting to sleep in our own bed, etc., but we’re also going to miss exploring new cities, seeing new sights and learning how to say “Can I have a beer” in another language.
Our last stop was back in London where it all began. We spent Monday in the British Museum which we had skipped our first time through and yesterday we hopped our last train for a while to Canterbury.
The British Musuem is much too big to see in one day however we got a good taste of it with a focus on Greek and Roman antiquities as we thought they’d resonant with us after our travels in Italy and Greece. Before we got into the museum however we encountered these great African sculptures made from decomissioned weapons…
Of course once we entered the museum our first stop was the Rosetta Stone probably it’s most famous treasure…
From there we wondered through the antiquities galleries paying particular attention to the frieze’s and statues from the Parthenon in Athens that were ‘acquired’ by Lord Elgin. The Greeks say they were ’stolen’ as Elgin bought them from the Ottoman’s (who ruled Greece at the time and had for 400 years or so, but weren’t of course Greek) and want them back…
The museum is bursting at the seams with other great Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek and Roman treasure’s which I’m going to have to let speak for themselves if we don’t want to miss our plane…
George and I tried to figure out a way to heist this one of Bacchus as we thought it belonged in a bar rather than a museum…
We spent yesterday in Canterbury, setting for the Canterbury Tales and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The catherdral house’s the grave of the only King Henry I think we missed at Westminster, Henry IV.
The place is most famous of course as the site where Thomas Becket was murdered on the orders of Henry II.
The most interesting thing to me however were these two towers at the western end. One was built in 1832 to replace a 1070 original, the other was built in 1434. Can you tell the difference? I couldn’t. The one on the left is the new one.
Beyond the Cathedral the town has lot’s of well preserved medieval buildings including the earliest Dominican monastery in England, and a hotel that Henry II gave to Thomas’ widow as penance after he had him whacked.
Back in London we grabbed a final pint at George’s favourite pub in Nottinghill…
Well, that’s it. We’re back to the ‘real world’ Thursday. Thanks for all of your comments and e-mails they really helped us feel that we were connected with everyone back home. Hope you enjoyed seeing the sights with us.
Until we rack up a few more frequent flyer miles and can come back….
Cheers,
Mark & Ali
Hi Ali and Mark. It’s sad to see this great trip come to an end. Thanks for sharing it with us. We really enjoyed it. Have a safe trip home to the real world. Talk to you later. Love, Sara and gang.
All good things must come to an end.
It was a wonderful adventure we had the chance to experience with you through this blog. It is sad to see this great trip come to an end, but as the old saying goes, “There’s no place like home.”
Enjoy entering your “old” home as the new Mr. & Mrs and have a good long comfy sleep in your own bed. See you this summer!
Dear Ali and Mark’
You certainly had a MOST EXCELLENT adventure.Thanks for sharing your trip of a life time with us all.You will be happy to know that the outhouse at the beach is now upright and in its new home.Looking forward to seeing you there this summer (at the beach ,not the outhouse )We will be in TO the first of June for a couple of days ,maybe we can get together for lunch possibly on the 6 th.Will be in touch.Thanks again for taking us along on your trip.
Love Mary
Dear Ali and Mark,
Oopssss….. we haven’t even congratulated you two on your wedding So sorry …we probably are the last in line on your blog to do so. But still: CONGRATULATIONS !!!!
And now it is time to go home. As you have shown us in the pictures and stories we surely believe you have been enjoying this trip at the fullest. And we with you. Thank you very much for that.
We hope you will have a nice flight and safe landing.
Enjoy being back at your own place, surrounded by family and friends.
Remember this trip forever ( I wish I had done it when I was “young”…..)
Love from all of us in Moordrecht X
Dear newlyweds,
“Partir c’est mourir un peu”. Since you’ve been to France I don’t have to translate this…right? It’s obvious you’ve had a great time these last two months. We really enjoyed having you and travelling with you!!
Enjoy your status as newly-weds at home. And don’t let the ratrace take over too soon…..!
Hope you have a safe trip. Please give our love to Bets, Doug and Lisa.
And do open a bottle of champagne!!
We have…hips…!!
Love Jess and Walter
We’ll just a note to let you know that I don’t like champagne!!
But I did like your visit because my mother laughed a lot when you were over here and that makes me tickle!!
Frutsel
Hi children,
The party’s over (almost) and time to get down to earth again.
You are already one hour into your flight back home and we can hardly wait to see you.
We also enjoyed going on this Excellent Adventure with you, as did relatives and friends. It was a marvellous experience to see all the sights with you and to be able to experience your wedding day with you, even though it was in picture and story only.
CHEERS to you both and welcome home!
Much love,
Mom and Dad T.O.
Welcome home Mr & Mrs Zims!
Welcome home!!!
I have told you I would miss your site when I see “the end” or in your words “the last post”. Alison and Mark, we have enjoyed this so very much. Thank you for taking us with you.
I have a friend who is Greek, I sent her one of your wedding photos on the terrace. She said, it looks like a commercial. Beautiful girl in her lovely wedding gown and a tall handsome man behind her.
We send you our best wishes with your return to Canada
Welcome home !!!
Rebeca,Cha & Mark
Hi Mark and Ali,
So you’re back home!!! How did it feel to give all your dearies a big hug????
Thanks again for the nice stories and pictures, we enjoyed them a lot and it gave us a lot of ideas for our holidays the next 5 years……
Bye, hugs,
Wim Harriet and the rest of the gang!!