Day 5 - Windsor

We woke up in Windsor on a very rainy day. After breakfast, we headed up to the Visitor's Information Center where we created a plan for the day. Today is an important day for the Royal Family. It's the Garter Ceremony, where new knights take the Oath and are invested with the insignia. The Queen and the whole Royal Family are in Windsor for this ceremony (unless they came to see us). You can tell that the Queen is in residence because the flag flying is the Royal Standard, instead of the Union Jack.

Shopping area where the visitors center was located

Shopping area - sculpture on right was in honor of Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee.  There are 60 balls for 60 years.

There are many people lined up to participate in the Garter Ceremony. Tickets had to be ordered months ago. Then there are other people quite dressed up (many ladies are wearing “Fascinators”) who have been invited inside the Castle to witness the ceremony.

Police entering the Castle

Invited guests heading to security before entering the Castle

Security tent

We then took a self guided walking tour around Windsor.

This train called “The Queen” is a full scale replica of the locomotive used to ferry Queen Victoria and the Royal Family into Windsor.

Henry VIII Gateway built in 1811

Drury House c. 1645, the oldest restaurant in Windsor and was the former home of Nell Gwynn, the favorite mistress of King Charles II.

Apparently Nell Gwynn now owns a gift shop and a Chinese Restaurant

Execution warrant for King Charles I

People waiting to get in to Windsor Castle outside of the Royal Mews (which is basically the Queen's garages)

Entrance to Castle 

the Long Walk - the entrance path to Windsor Castle 

The Guildhall, where upstairs, Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles and Elton John entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish. The town required builder Christopher Wren to add the four pillars in the middle of the ceiling as they were afraid it would fall. Wren proved them wrong by building the pillars, but they don't quite reach the ceiling, so it's been standing since 1689 without falling.  (see next picture) 

the Market Cross House was built in1718 with unseasoned wood, so it's crooked. 

Queen Charlotte Street, shortest street in England. 

We stopped for lunch at a Greek restaurant, then headed back to the boat for a rest.

While David and Barbara hung out on the boat, I went to a nearby pub with wifi, sipped a cup of tea and wrote this blog. At 4:15, we headed out to the Christopher Hotel nearby for afternoon tea. This was a very elegant place. Barbara and I each ordered an “afternoon tea”, which was pastries, scones, four different kinds of finger sandwiches, and of course, tea. It was fairly expensive (21 pounds each) and not good enough for the price. David had a cheese platter and he ate what Barbara and I left over.

Then we headed over to the public marina. Over there was a boat with a display of Ikea merchandise. They are opening a new Ikea store nearby and this was a big promotion. Barbara and I went on it and looked around a bit.

Then we got on a large boat and went to the horse races. We bet on three races, and lost each time. Each race lasts about 30 seconds and there's a half hour in between races. Finally, we decided we'd lost enough money and caught the next boat back to the center of town. We chatted with a very interesting lady while we waited for the boat.

The boat to the races

We passed our boat on the way to the race track

Watching the race on the big screen

The "more expensive side" to watch the races (we were on the other side of the fence)

The horse races!

After the races, they walk the horses back to the stable

I was hungry, so I picked up some Thai food and then we sat on our boat and I ate and we all drank wine and vodka. There was another LeBoat behind us and soon after, the people from that boat came back. We started chatting with them and had a great time exchanging stories of our travels. They were from southern Germany and are also planning to tour the castle tomorrow morning, so we may see them again.

Our friends from Germany

Dancing on the boat