my winter vacation, part 1, by Susan W. Story

Day 1 - Dec 17, 2009 (Thursday)

London taxi ride from airport (Mac in the jumpseat!) with newly shaved Jimmy


Snow, glorious snow!

Day 2 - Dec 18, 2009 (Friday)

catching the Tube to the London Dungeon

arrival at the London Dungeon

SCARY ride at the London Dungeon - Extremis Drop Ride to Doom


...and a partridge in a pear tree (Burrough Market)

the most fabulous cheese in the world - Comte from France (Burrough Market)

Jimmy's pork belly sandwich bought at Burrough Market; it was love at first taste for Jimmy!

one of the greatest joys of life: catching up with old friends. One of Jimmy's Georgetown roommates, Shad, lives in London and we caught up with him on Friday night for drinks and dinner.



Day 3 - Dec 19, 2009 (Saturday)
Trafalgar Square with great friends, the Maynards, who also happen to be the most gracious hosts and wonderful tour guides.

the hustle and bustle of nearly last-minute Christmas shopping

Day 4 - Dec 20, 2009 (Sunday)

En route to Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, we stopped for lunch and a quick walk in Oxford where we bought Mac an Oxford hoodie and rugby shirt. You can never start too early for college preparation.

We lunched at a pub that was frequented by literary types, including C.S. Lewis, who reportedly read from The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time inside the pub.

Christ Church at Oxford University

us in front of Mac's future institution of higher learning


our most fabulous and charming cottage for the week: Little Orchard Cottage on Hoo Lane in Chipping Campden

Day 5 - Dec 21, 2009 (Monday)

We started the day thinking we'd celebrate the winter solstice at Stonehenge, but quickly changed plans and went to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage.

Shakespeare's birthplace

Jimmy and Mac by the nearly frozen Avon River

Susan and Mac in willow arch in the forest walk at Anne Hathaway's cottage


Part 2 will follow!