Winning London: Part 1

You might be pretty excited by the title, but I’m not talking about the Mary Kate and Ashley movie from the early 2000’s today. Waah waaahhhh. Although, shout-out to them for making a really great movie, not to mention they were the original fashion icons of my generation. Their outfits during that entire movie were so classy and amazing.

Well, look at me, maybe we will talk a little bit about the movie! Anywho….. I am actually going to take you on a quick trip around beautiful London, England! We are going to hit some of the hotspots, then wrap it up for the day!

Your first stop should 100% be Westminster Abbey. It is an absolutely gorgeous building, inside and out! One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new larger city is look at the cathedrals, because you really get a taste of the incredible architecture. I have rarely seen a cathedral that was disappointing.

Westminster Abbey stands tall in the city, and it’s hard to miss because it really is in the center of everything. I have to hand it to London, most of the major tourist hot-spots are all in the same area, making it very easy to walk and see a lot! When you go into Westminster Abbey you are not really allowed to take photos inside, which was a major bummer for me. I guess they want to keep the allure, which I suppose I understand. I will warn you, it is very expensive to get inside, but in my opinion it was well worth the cost for the experience and the history! You have years and years  of famous monarchs getting married, crowned, and buried in Westminster Abbey. It’s incredible to see all of the people who are buried there like Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I, Jane Seymor, most of the Henry kings!! Incredible! AND! They have a large corner called the Bard’s Corner that pays tribute to authors like Shakespeare (heard of him?) and Jane Austen!! So much history in one building.

I also highly suggest coming back at night and looking at it then! The way they light up Westminster at night is so beautiful and almost haunting, especially on a rainy London night. Make sure to explore all areas that you can! We loved this corridor that leads to a beautiful courtyard in the back! It kind of reminded me of Hogwarts!

After you have explored Westminster Abbey till your heart is content, your next stop should be Big Ben and Parliament. Westminster Abbey is next door neighbors to the Parliament building! Again, I love how close everything is in London!

Did you know that Big Ben is actually the nickname of the clock itself, not including the tower? The tower is called the Elizabeth Tower; it was renamed in 2012 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee! Also, can we just take a moment here and talk about how adorable  the Queen is?! I’m not sure if it’s because she reminds me of my Grandma, but I just think she is the cutest little lady!

Ok, back to London. One of my favorite views of Parliament and the tower is from Westminster Bridge. You can walk out on the bridge (or even cross over to the other side of the Thames) and get a great view of the building! One of my favorite parts of walking around London was hearing the chimes of Big Ben. When we went, it was the last time Big Ben was going to ring for awhile because they were doing some restoration on it, so that was really special.

Another super cool thing we got to see was Parliament letting out of session! At one point we walked around the corner and all these men and women were dressed in old clothing and had powdered wigs on!! It was both fantastic and hilarious. Jackson, being the fearless guy that he is, walked up to one of the younger looking Parliament members and asked if we could take a selfie with him. Yes, I know that this was the most American thing we could have possibly done, but looking back on it now it’s one of the funnier moments in my life. Turned out the member we selfied with had just begun his time serving, and he thought we were hilarious….so…. we were Parliament approved.

There is so much to do and see in London that I could hardly cover all of it in one blog post. I thought I would start with two of my favorite places, then eventually I will put out the second half. I hope that if you ever get the chance to go across the pond, you take it! London is a neat city, and one that I hope to visit again in the future!

❤ Abbie

P.s. This should go without saying, but I did not take the photo of Mary Kate and Ashley or the photo of the Queen. Everything else was taken by me. Obviously.

For Grandpa…

This post is written in honor of my Grandpa Jachym for today, his 95th birthday. Thank you for your constant love, beautiful hand-made wooden objects, and sharing all of your travels with me over the years. I cherish each moment I get to spend with you, and each story that tells me a little more about the young man you were. This post, this journey, it was inspired by you.

In my life I have traveled to many different places. I’ve gotten to see natural wonders like the Cliffs of Mohrer, incredible homes like Versailles, huge cities like New York, but none of them meant as much as this little town just outside of Reims, France.

As Jackson and I were planning our Europe trip there were many places on our must-see list. Places like Edinburgh, London, and Paris, were absolute musts for us, but when I knew for sure we were going to Paris, I knew I had another place that made it to the top of my must-see list. You see, my grandpa used to tell me these amazing stories about the times he was overseas during WWII. He would tell me about visiting Versailles, about running around England and stealing chickens (I didn’t say his stories were legal…. but brilliant and hilarious, nonetheless). He would tell me of his home outside of Reims where his unit was stationed. He shared the photographs of the places he visited, which always made me long to visit these locations. So, when I found out we were going to Europe I asked if I could borrow his photographs to take with me, and he gave them to me without question.

One day, while researching places to visit in France I found writing on the back of his old photograph that read, “Our home at Pargny Les Reims.” I showed it to Jackson because I thought it was cool, and he asked if I had “Googled it”? For some reason that had never occurred to me, but I am thankful every day that it occurred to him. After a quick search, he found a photograph of the exact same home that was in my grandpa’s photo some 73 years ago… and the best part? The home has become a bed and breakfast. Friends, when I saw that I was instantly in tears. Even now just thinking about it I am holding back tears. To find a very specific non-famous location continents away from my home just seemed unfathomable, but here we were staring at the beautiful home on our computer screen. That was it for me. I booked our stay immediately and it instantly was moved to the top of my list.

We left Paris for a one night stay in the small town of Pargny-les, Reims at La Baleiniere Bed and Breakfast. When we arrived we were greeted by the lovely owner of La Baleiniere, Patricia. She and her family were some of the most kind and helpful people I have met. We were having trouble connecting to the internet, so her daughter set up our phones. When we wanted to take a trip into Reims to see the famous Reims Cathedral, her husband drove us. I can honestly say they were the best hosts we have ever had, and I would go back a million times over.

When we arrived Patricia gave us a tour of the rooms, and told us about the history of the home. (When I found this place I emailed Patricia and explained my grandpa lived there during the war, so she already knew my side of the story.) The home was owned by her husbands family for three generations previous. During WWII the home was first taken over by the French army, then the German army, and ended with the American army.

She showed us the places in the walls where the American soldiers carved their names in the stone. She showed us the burn marks on the floor where they put out their cigarettes. She told us how during the winter, they would chop down a tree and shove the tree in through the window, then chop it up to go in the fireplace. Unfortunately, the Americans didn’t really know about the history of the home, so they kind of beat it up back in the day. Looking on it now, so many years in the future was really incredible. I could just imagine my then-young grandpa standing at the fireplace and watching men play darts.

We had the entire half of the bed and breakfast to ourselves because we went in February, which is an off-season. We had full roam of the dining room, library/game room, living room, and our room. We arranged to stay in the Hélène suite, which was honestly divine. I have never stayed somewhere so lovely.

In the morning our hostess made us a lovely breakfast, then we had to head back to the train station to make it back to Paris. There were so many amazing moments on our trip to Europe, but for me this one topped the cake. It was not only beautiful, but emotional. I wish my grandpa could have been there with us.

When I got back to the U.S, I made a trip up to Ohio to visit. I got to tell my grandpa about my trip. I got to show him my photographs of La Baleiniere. I’m not sure how much he understood, but I will never forget his smile when I showed him the picture of me standing in front of the place he used to call home in that little small town in Reims.

Happy birthday, Grandpa! I love you!!

Abbie

Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland

Happy almost Halloween my ghouls! I thought the last spooky location I should take y’all through should be really creepy, but also awesome. So, today I bring you Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Scotland!

When planning our trip to Scotland I did a lot of research on things to do/see. Edinburgh was a little bit harder than other places because we wanted to see a ton of stuff. It is an incredible historic city, and we wanted to hit the highlights! One place that we kept seeing over and over (for different reasons) was Greyfriars Kirkyard. So, we added it to the list!

 Greyfriars Kirkyard, like many places in Edinburgh, is tucked behind some old buildings and you would absolutely miss it if you weren’t paying attention. The easiest way I suggest finding it, is to find Greyfriars Bobby’s Pub. First of all, the outside is adorable and you can see a statue of Bobby, the sky terrier who supposedly guarded his owners grave until his own death 14 years later. (You can find Bobby’s headstone right in the entrance of Greyfriars Kirkyard.) Once you find Greyfriars Bobby, look to your immediate left and go down the dark spooky alley and you will walk straight into Greyfriars Kirkyard.

This cemetery has been around since the 1560s. Yes, you read that correctly, 1560. Many Scots have been buried in Greyfriars throughout the ages, but one has been said to still be hanging around after his death. George Mackenzie was a persecutor of the Presbyterian church back in the 17th century, and his ghost is supposedly haunting the kirkyard to this day. The Mackenzie Poltergeist is said to be pretty aggressive because people have been scratched, bruised, and pushed often in the kirkyard at night.

It’s kind of incredible just to see all the old headstones and mausoleums. Even during the day it’s a little creepy. If you’re looking for a really creepy time, try going in the kirkyard at night! As far as I know, it stays open all the time, so you can go in anytime of the day or night! Jackson and I found the kirkyard for the first time at around 11pm and we wandered around in the dark for awhile. Not going to lie, you are going to want someone to hold onto.

Ok, where are all my Potterheads? I have something exciting to tell you! Did you know that J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter in Edinburgh (more on that in another post) and more specifically, found some of her character’s names in Greyfriars Cemetery?!? Buried in the cemetery is a man named Tom Riddle. There is also a Scottish poet with the last name McGonagall. I’m not going to tell you where they are because honestly finding them is half the fun! I will tell you they are closer to the back, but that’s it!

Greyfriars Kirkyard is an unbelievable place in one of the most beautifully magical cities in the world. If you are ever in Scotland, you must visit Greyfriars Kirkyard and Edinburgh. Say hello to Bobby for me and make sure to be on your guard!

❤ Abbie

Loch Ness, Scotland

Hello friends! I have been having major Scotland withdrawals lately. To be honest, out of our entire trip, Scotland is the place I always miss the most. I miss the breathtaking landscape. I miss the super friendly people. I miss the magical feeling of walking around somewhere so old. Scotland just always stays with you. Today I’m going to share another part of Scotland with you! We were excited to take a tour of the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness with The Hairy Coo touring company! Now, I have to preface this by saying that I don’t normally suggest touring groups because I would much rather explore by myself. I feel that much more ground can be covered if you tour by yourself and you have the chance to stop and see whatever you want because you are making the schedule. However, The Hairy Coo tour was amazing. The tour guide was hilarious, gave excellent historical information, and even stopped at places not on the schedule because he thought it would be a good photo opportunity! I highly suggest taking the Hairy Coo tours if you don’t have a car available! Ok, time to get down to business. Let’s go find Nessie, shall we?

We started our tour of Loch Ness in an adorable little town called Fort Augustus. Imagine the place where little red riding hood lives, and you would have Fort Augustus. The town is full of beautiful old buildings turned touristy shops.

We hopped on a double-decker boat and ventured out into the vast Loch Ness. The views from the water are incredible! The loch is mostly surrounded by mountains. There was something mysteriously beautiful about the foggy day and looking for the notorious Nessie.

The tour guide on board told us the history of Nessie as we floated down the loch.

Did you know that if you are in Loch Ness longer than a minute you will die of hypothermia? The loch is so deep and dark that the sun cannot penetrate very far into the water, keeping the average temperature 42 degrees Fahrenheit year-round!

Many people over many centuries have been said to have spotted the Loch Ness Monster! Nessie is said to be quite large and have a long thin neck that protrudes the dark waters. The bad news is that an animal with such a long neck wouldn’t be able to live in water as cold as Loch Ness. We were pretty bummed to learn that news, but then something crazy happened.

Like really crazy. WE FOUND NESSIE!!!

Ok, so maybe not, but the boat had a little Nessie painted on the window that made for a perfect photo op!

If you look on the sides of the mountains as you boat around you might even see some wild sheep! They, unlike Nessie, are real! The trip was so beautiful and my photos don’t even do it justice.

I hope one day you venture out to find Nessie!

❤ Abbie

 

A Stroll Through Notting Hill

When traveling to London, I don’t feel like many people say, “Hey! Let’s go to Notting Hill today!” There are so many other “typical London” things to do that I feel like someplace as adorable and Instaworthy as Notting Hill gets shoved to the back-burner. But, the blogger in me couldn’t miss out on that opportunity! Especially since about 4 months prior I started following some amazing London bloggers/Instagrammers (which I’ll tag below) and most of my favorite posts were in Notting Hill. So, Jackson and I meandered over to Notting Hill for some pretty strolls and antiquing on Portobello Road!

The first stop was food. Portobello Road holds the UK’s largest antiques market, some yummy restaurants, and some adorable shops. We stopped for lunch at Arancina, an adorable Sicilian pizza restaurant. How could you not stop with a window as adorable as this??

We chowed down on some yummy pizza and a coke! I highly recommend Arancina!

Next, we walked around Notting Hill to look at all the gorgeous row houses! The good part of Notting Hill is that it is all pretty centrally located. You don’t really have to walk a million miles to see some pretty things!

Now to the biggest bummer of the day. Make sure to pay attention to the day you go walk around because some of the shops might be closed! I was really excited to go to Alice’s Antique Shop, but alas, it was closed. Most of Portobello Market was closed also. There were still some small antique shops open, so the antiquing part wasn’t a total bust.

All in all, Notting Hill was definitely beautiful and good for a nice stroll! I would say if you have some time to spend in London, you should definitely check it out!

If you’re not in London, but you want to add a little bit of beauty to your Instagram feed, you should check out the following Instagrammers:

@siobhaise // @prettycitylondon // @clairemenary

You won’t be disappointed! Have a great day dreaming of London!

❤ Abbie

Wanderings: Arthur’s Seat, Scotland

An actual Europe post?!?! WHAT?!?! Look who is being productive!! I thought this would be a great first post on our incredible Europe trip! Hiking Arthur’s Seat was one of my favorite (and most sweaty) parts of our Edinburgh stay! I would say that this should be top priority on everyone’s Edinburgh bucket list!! Also, one of my best friends, Adele, is heading to Edinburgh next week so I thought I would give her yet another thing to look forward to!! So Adele, this one’s for you! Today we will be making the trek up Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland!

Now from the bottom this thing looks like a mountain (while hiking it also feels like a mountain) but it is technically considered a hill. It is located next to Holyrood Palace, which is where the Queen stays when she comes to visit Scotland. It’s a beautiful house and you can tour it when she isn’t visiting!

You can start the trek by going left or right to get up to Arthur’s seat. Left is quicker and less of a trek. Right takes you on a bit of a wander around the base and middle of the hill (which is also scenic). Really either way you go you are in for a treat! I suggest left, because we went right first and were a bit confused on how to actually get to the top! (Side Note: If you want to click on any of the photos in the galleries below it should blow them up to normal size for you. It’s just impossible to have all of the full size pictures in one blog post. It would be insanely long! So please click away!)

I probably should have said this sooner, but I definitely suggest wearing hiking boots. The way up and the top tends to be a bit slippery, so you will definitely want some traction. I also suggest not wearing a ton of layers, even if it is 40°F. That hike up there can get a bit sweaty, trust me! I had 4 layers on and was dying.

The views while going up the hill are incredible.

You can see all of Edinburgh laid out beneath you! You can see the hill that Edinburgh castle sits on. You can hear church bells ringing off in the distance. It really is a dream and pictures just do not do it justice.

❤ My adventure partner

There are several places to sit once you are near the top. If you are really feeling fancy, try to bring a picnic basket with you and have a picnic! You’ll have the best view in the whole city!

Once at the top I suggest you just take it in. To this day sitting at the top of Arthur’s Seat is one of my fondest memories of our whole trip. Enjoy every moment.

❤ Abbie

P.S. Another huge “thank you” is in order to my husband Jackson for taking some killer shots of me. He really is the best.