London: Week One

So far, London has treated us fairly well. Of course, by this I mean that London has joined my list of cities that, if someone were to offer, I would move to in the time it took me to pack a purse.

The kids (Eden, Miles, Clare) are not so enthused. Probably because they've been seeing London through the eyes of busy students, while I mostly cruise around at my own pace and log hours and miles (and miles and miles) with Jessica. 

Ha!

Below, please find photographic evidence of our numerous and varied exploits, named for your convenience and to help inform your jealousy.

Green and green and green and only a little rain. In case you were wondering, I felt very at home in the desert room. So did Jessica.

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Well, it was a little lame and a lot more complicated than it should be, but no good geek's trip to London is complete without a visit to King's Cross. And we are nothing if not good geeks.

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An adventure I was sadly not a part of. This was Clare's favorite part of the week, though, likely due to the fact that they got to visit and walk through the hedge maze Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was filmed in. 

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Because, duh, we're dorky dorks who dork-out whenever possible. If you haven't understood that already, no worries. More evidence this way comes! Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street was funny, funny, and made Clare giggle like the fifteen year-old girl she is.

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Sadly (awfully, horribly, heartbreakingly) we failed to spot and flail over any of our celebrity friends, but the BBC Studio tour was still very happy-making. Witness the right side of your screen: Miles got to play a fake game show (and lost horrible), and Eden and I got to be pretend newscasters (with stumbling and giggles). Next time, though! Next time we will see our friends!

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Picture in the upper right hand picture was stolen from here, which is from Sherlock, that TV show you should watch. We like going places from our favorite TV shows/books. A lot. What of it? 

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Like The Beatles, in case you missed that one. We walked for ages to reach Abbey Road, because I, ahhhh, seriously underestimated the length of our journey. It was mostly GoogleMaps fault, really. Also, if you ever think you want to try to take a picture like that above, consider trying at, like, two in the morning or something. Because when we were there, so were a lot of other people. And innocent Londoners trying to, you know, drive their cars. Result? Lots of running, getting in other pictures' ways, and honking. But. Still fun. And we have the picture!

And now I'm tired. And cold. And the rain won't go away. Wish us luck and sun. 

a series of fortunate events

FRIENDS

FRIENDS

TODAY, WE ALMOST MET MERLIN

Seriously. We were l---THIS---l close. 

IT WENT LIKE THIS

First, we decided to visit this castle, because Google told me that parts of Merlin were filmed there. It's called Castele Coch, for reference. It's very cool. Look:

From here. 

Only, when we got there, the castle was full of TV stuff. And a crew. And lots of wires. We all go like this: 0_0 and whisper, "OHMYGODdoyouthinkthey'refilmingMERLIN?"

They weren't. They were filming this other, new show called Da Vinci's Demons. It comes out in the spring. As an insider, now, I will tell you that it looks pretty fab.

So we're at a castle and they're filming. And then we were skulking around the court yard, because we didn't want to get in any of the very many peoples' way. We got in free, which is AWESOME and also foolish - they don't charge when shows are filming because not everything is open, but HELLO, that's the best time to be there, DUH

ANYWAY

We are standing around wondering what to touch and how loud we can whisper. Brilliant Miles goes up to the nearest crew member and asks, "Hey, could you please tell us where we should avoid? We don't want to get in your way."

AND THEN THE GUY PRETTY MUCH WALKED US AROUND THE CASTLE. 

THROUGH THE SET. 

THROUGH IT.

Our crew-member guide was very very nice. (And if by some beautiful trick of the universe, he is reading this, HELLO! You were great. Five American tourists appreciated your kindness very very much.) He was so nice, that once were done looking around the castle, we talked to him for awhile. 

He asked what we were doing in the country.

"Studying abroad in London," we said.

He asked why were in Wales and at the castle.

"WE LOVE MERLIN," Eden said.

Everyone looked scandalized, until our almost-friends said:

"Really? I've worked on Merlin."

Everyone looked like this:

Then he said, "Oh yeah. I've also worked on Dr. Who and Sherlock."

We all practically lunged. "WE LOVE SHERLOCK TOO!"

For a few minutes, conversation dissolved in our flailing about and acting like the foolish fans we are. Our friend laughed. He gave us directions to filming spots up the hill. We squealed. 

AND THEN AND THEN AND THEN

He said: "They might be filming around here today. Hold on, I'm going to call my friend. He's on set with them."

Cue:

He called some guy on set with Merlin to try to get us on set. Sadly, they were filming in another part of the country entirely, The Forest of Dean.

BUT STILL.

So close. So close.

OH BUT THERE'S MORE

We decided to hike up a huge hill, to seek out the filming spots. Places seen in Sherlock AND Merlin? We could not resist.

We were standing at the bottom of the mountain, looking up the path and being awkward uncertain as to how to start. 

There is a moral to this story: Look awkward, ask for help, reap benefits.

Some very very nice Welsh lady walking her dog asked if we needed help. We said, yes, actually, we are looking for BBC filming sights. 

She said she's seen that many times.

She said she knows where the places we were looking for are.

She offered to walk up with us and show us the way.

I know. I know. Luckiest day ever.

So today, we saw places that our BBC friends have filmed. 

It was the BEST THING EVER.

AND, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE NOT AWARE

The Manning family has a bit of a thing for Merlin. And Sherlock. A bit of a thing, and a thing is an obsession. As in, Eden and I were almost crying with joy when our friend was on the phone with Merlin people. Don't judge us: It's a BIG FREAKING DEAL. 

Also, if you haven't watched either of these shows, shame on you. Get on it. They're on Netflix. In fact, I will even link them for you. No excuses. Watch. And before you know it, you'll be hiking up big muddy hills and stroking the ground because, "They were heeeeeeere!"

MERLIN

SHERLOCK