Greenwich on Christmas Day

We walked to Greenwich on Christmas Day since the trains weren't running during the holiday. Greenwich is in south-east London and on the south bank of the Thames. We went to Greenwich park and climbed to the top of the hill where the Royal Observatory is. We stood on the Prime Meridian, where the line of longitude is 0°, and it passes right through the building. Greenwich is also known for Greenwich Mean Time, which was once based on the time observations made by the the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

Flat Stephanie at Starbucks

Hi-ho, hi-ho...it's off to work we go!

The "Venti" cup is as tall as Flat Stephanie.

This cup works as a good hiding place.

Flat Stephanie watching Tommy make some drinks.

Tips Please!

Time to brew the coffee.

This cup is just right.

"Happy Christmas" from London

Christmas in London is very festive. There are a lot of outdoor ice skating rinks and Christmas markets in the city. I haven't been ice skating...yet, but I did some shopping at the Frost Fair outside of the Tate Modern Museum, which has been held in London for hundreds of years. In 1683 there was a Great Frost in London, where the Thames was completely frozen. The Frost Far is held to remember a time when London was much, much colder! The whole city is decorated with Christmas lights and decorated trees. Drinking mulled wine and eating minced pie is a holiday tradition here. Every year a Christmas tree is donated to London and displayed in Trafalgar Square by Norway for Britain's support in World War II. There is a big lighting ceremony and a huge crowd turns out every year for it.

Flat Stephanie in London

"Have you read Flat Stanley? It’s a kids book about a little boy named Stanley Lambchop. Stanley has a bulletin board fall on him as he is sleeping and then wakes up ½ inch thick. After this happens, Flat Stanley has all sorts of adventures from sliding under doors to being a kite, to catching sneaky thieves. Stanley wants to visit his friends in California but his parents can’t afford the plane ticket. Fortunately for Stanley, he can fit into a special envelope and be mailed to his friend" (http://edelbrockfamily.blogspot.com/).

Stephanie (my cousin Laurie's daughter) and many of her kindergarten classmates, have made a flat version of themselves in class and their assignment over the break is to have adventures with their Flat-selves. So, I took Flat Stephanie sightseeing in London...

The BEST way to get around London is on the Underground. So off we go...

Flat Steph with a Silver Dragon, which is the symbol of the city of London.

At Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

We heard Big Ben chime at 1:30pm.

Flat Steph in front of the London Eye (a huge Farris wheel next to the London Aquarium).

Taking a break on a park bench in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Flat Steph in front of St. Paul's.

We spotted a Red Telephone Box outside of St. Paul's.

In front of the Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge.

It wouldn't be a trip to London with out Fish & Chips!

The real Stephanie!