Remember, Remember..

...the 5th of November!

Today in London it's Guy Fawke's Day! From TimeOut London:

On November 5 1605, rebel Catholic soldiers demonstrated their dissent to the then anti-Catholic James I by planning to detonate 36 barrels of gunpowder under the House of Lords. The anti-Protestant Guy Fawkes, who was hired to carry out the plot, was caught with the gunpowder and his capture (and subsequent torture and execution) quickly became an annual source of Protestant celebration – hence, mocking up a Guy Fawkes to burn on the bonfire. While the questionable religious sentiment behind the day has all but fizzled out, what we’re left with is a sparkly, traditional evening that’s purely about chomping on a sausage, warming your mitts on a hot drink and enjoying the colourful spectacle.


(No I didn't take these pictures hah!) But I did just see an awesome display of fireworks right across the street from my flat! It is kind of strange that this day celebrates someone trying to blow up Parliament but hey, a reason to celebrate with fireworks is fine with me.

This morning my roommate, Rachel, and I went to Hampton Court Palace, where King Henry XIII lived (with his multiple wives). It was probably one of the bigger palaces we've seen so far! The kitchens were used to feed up to 600 people and it had a beautiful garden, along with the oldest grapevine in the world (250 years young!)