The official tour begins today at noon when we meet everyone for lunch in our hotel. However that leaves us with a bit of time in the morning for some rushed sightseeing so I will start with that. (This way I have some pictures for the day.)

Someone from the group yesterday recommended the National Potrait Gallery as an option for the morning. The gallery was within walking distance, free and opened at 10. Not sure how long it would take to walk there we headed out at 9. Of course this morning we went the right way and arrived at about 9:15, which included a stop to grab breakfast on the go. We found a wonderful spot appropriately named Bread. We grabbed cheese and tomato and pesto filled rolls which were delicious.

Once we arrived we realized we were around the corner from Trafalgar Square with great lions guarding the Nelson monument. While taking photos we noticed Big Ben in the background and decided to go on a photo stop tour instead of waiting on gallery to open. It was a great decision as the walk took us past several iconic locations or should I say photo ops.

We walked down White Chapel past Downing Street and the Prime Minister’s Home which was not only blocked off by security but also behind scaffolding. We saw the Horse Guards, War memorials (the one for women of WWII is supringly moving), Westminster, the Parliment Building and Big Ben. So we saw quite a few sights. On a side note the line for the Abby was long but not horrible when we first walked by around 9:30 when we walked back by closer to 10 it was at least 5 times as long. So if that is ever on your travel plans go early.

We also walked out to see the gate that leads into or out of Trafagar Square. Sadly neither of us looked down to see that it actually lead to buckingham Palace. It was pointed out on the bus we brought back memories of walking from the palace to the gate with my mom back in 2002.

It was a nice and busy morning running around London but it was time to go meet Alison and start the tour. We got back right at 11 and picked up our tour information. Alison was handing out the information and took a few minutes with everyone. I was as excited to meet her as I have been anyone. She seemed as excited about the tour as I did she was much more vivacious and outgoing than I expected. I assumed wrongly she would be more bookish and serious.

We had a bit of time before lunch and I would remiss not to mention the worst glass of lemonade I have ever had. There is not enough sugar in the world to have made that glass enjoyable. I had sit to wait on what I soon discovered was the very edge of the bar. Instead of moving I decided to order a drink but of course not being a coffee drinker and it to hot for tea lemonade was I thought my best option. When she brought it out I was happy to see it was full of ice and until that first sip I was happy with the decision. But alas it was horrible. I felt like I was drinking lemons. So far the worst $4 ihqve spent.

Back to the tour, lunch was casual and we met a few more people and had one of the historians, Julian Humphreys at our table. His main focus our military or battle sites and by far the biggest character on the trip. He kept the conversation going and kept us laughing through the meal.

After lunch Alison gave a brief overview of the Tudor time period and characters and pointed out some of what we would see on the tour. She also introduced all the historians including Sarah Gristwood who wrote or last book club selecrion Game of Queens. Also on the tour is Nicola Tallywho is currently studying Tudor and royal jewelry. I can’t wait to talk to her about that.

From lunch we headed out on the bus for Hever. It is not to far from London so thankfully we were not on the bus long. Hever was the childhood home of Anne Bolyn. It was later much much later purchased by one of the Astors. He spent a great deal fixing it up in the Tudor style he even hired craftsmen that did all the work by hand with Tudor styled tools to maintain an authentic feel. He created what is now the hotel portion. It has the appearance of a rambling manor bit hides behind the house so not seen in the grand view.

We were treated by Henry VIII and Anne Bolyn upon arrival. Since we were from “Spain” and currently his enemy we were very graciously allowed to enter the castle. He was the perfect person for part which they continued when we came down for drinks.

From drinks we toured the main house. It was decorated with period pieces but none were actually from the Bolyn house hold. When she was beheades they fell out of favor and the house was given to another wife. It did have two of Anne’s Book of Hours. In one that they think she was carrying with her on the way to the scaffold and her death she wrote “Remember me when you do pray”.

There are alsome some great portraits in the house and other artwork but those two pieces are the highlight.

After the tour our “Queen Anne” demonstrated the Tudor dress. She had a replica of a Katherine Howard dress which she had made and showed how everything went together.

Our first “gala” was in the dining room of the main house. It was very elaborately decorated with a huge medieval fireplace and held two long tables. We picked our spots and I got surprisingly lucky. Val and I were down on the far end with only a few spots left. I guess instead of moving people two of the historians who had not placed their place cards down ended up down by us. One was Julian Humphrey that I mentioned before the other was Tracy Borman. If you ever watch any PBS specials on royal palaces you have probably seen Tracy. She is head of the historic palace national trust and works out of Hamptons Court she was a lot of fun. Probably in her late 30searly 40s she again was not what I expected as a historian. Her most recent book is about the private lives of the monarchs and we spent some time discussing whether Americans were more prudish and whether she should keep on the parts about personal hygiene and all that entails. She said her publisher wants her to take it out for the American release but she does not agree. We discussed the romantasism of the time because all those unpleasant issues are never addresses. June brides doesn’t come from the fact that June is a great month as far as weather to haves wedding but because people had just switched from their one winter outfit to their one summer outfit and had there annual bath. I can only imagine how bad everyone smelled.between her and Julien conversation flowed freely and I was very happy to get to talk to her and somewhat miffed at an older gentleman sitting on her other side that somewhat dominated the conversation.

The historians switched places during the main course and now I had Nicola Taly and Tracy. They had similar interest in clothes and jewelry and they talked a bit on it but there was more eating than conversation in this course. Dessert is when Alison took the seat beside me and Sarah Gristwood sat across. Finally the gentleman who must have been a bit intimidated by Alison did t dominate the conversation. Sarah talked primarily with the two people on her side so I have not been able to discuss our book club book with her yet but before the trip is over I should have plenty of time to do that. Alison will not be with the tour every day so I was very excited to getting talk with her through dessert. As I said earlier she was very easy to talk to and treated all my questions as serious questions howeverstupid I might have sounded. (Most of the people on the trip or much more knowledgable on the Tudor reign than I am so at times I feel a little inadequate.)

After dinner Tracy Borman gave her talk on private lives of the tudors and it was crazy how elaborately they lived. Even the kings know as frugal spen obscene amounts on their clothes.

After dinner we met for cocktails and got to meet some of the other guests. Surprisingly the other couple from Texas is from grannies about 30 miles from my mom.

I forgot to mention that several of the guests did dress in period clothes. I was very sad I didn’t do it. But there is always next time and right now I am pretty sure I am going to save up so here can be a next time.

Overall a great first day for the tour.