world’s largest four-faced chiming clock with water, The summer of 2009 was definitely and was built in 1288. At the end of our only this the most exciting. The highlight was trav- tour we found a small fish & chips restau- one isn’t eling to Europe with my family. I was rant and sat down for a quick lunch before and never looking forward to climbing to the top of we went back to the hotel to get ready for was. Instead the Eiffel Tower, but I didn’t get to do that my new favorite musical – Wicked! See- of water this this time. My mother keeps saying we ing Wicked was definitely a highpoint in moat has need to save something for our next visit, our vacation. The Victoria Apollo Theatre beautiful and I am sure there will be a next visit be- was amazing. Now I know why everyone gardens. At cause I LOVED EUROPE! says that London’s theatre district is the Windsor We started our adventure by flying all best in the world. Castle you also find Queen Mary’s doll night to Amsterdam. I was so excited I Castles! We don’t have castles in Flor- house. Now this is no ordinary doll house! could hardly sleep. When we arrived we ida, well except sand castles. Our hotel First of all it was huge and was complete needed to catch another plane to Heathrow was at one end of Kensington Palace’s with electric lights, running water and Airport in London. This was the longest park very near the statue. The wine in the wine barrels. I will never look day of my life. I just wanted to get to Lon- area is known as because of at an American Girl doll the same again. don and take a nap. It was 2:00 in the af- the large marble arch at the entrances of The royal dolls had designer clothing and ternoon when we arrived but my body the gardens and park. They don’t just have accessories. How many girls do you know thought it was really 8 a.m. like at home. one castle; they have a lot of castles. We who have dolls with Cartier jewelry? This When we finally made our way to visited Buck- doll had many pieces. our hotel, The Thistle Marble ingham Palace The next day we woke up early and Arch, I wanted to explore every- and watched made our way to the train station. We rode thing within walking distance. the changing on the chunnel train that travels under the Sitting on planes for 13 hours of the guard English Channel. After our ears stopped made me a bit crazy, I wanted to and saw popping we knew we were in France. It stretch my legs. There were many Queen Mary’s was about another hour before we arrived things that reminded me of home, doll house at in Paris. Paris was beautiful and the food in fact the first place we grabbed Windsor Cas- was AMAZING! I loved seeing the Eiffel dinner was a KFC, only they did- tle. You may Tower and all of the designer shopping n’t have the same menu. It was wonder what districts! I didn’t realize that swimming still inexpensive, open late and yummy and the changing of the guard is and why they pools were not found in every city like we that was what we were looking do it. I know I did. Apparently the have in Florida. The new attraction for for. The KFC was on Queen’s troops have guarded her and the local kids was a huge swimming pool that the street behind our royal palace since 1660 and when Queen was built in a big barge and parked on hotel called Oxford Victoria moved into Buckingham palace the bank of the Seine River. How Street and was in 1837 the troops remained at St. different is that? Hotels don’t even known as a good James Palace so everyday a have pools. I guess that is why so shopping street for group of troops march many people were going to the locals in London. up to Bucking- coast for the weekend. It was I immediately ham Palace hot and swimming was some- wanted to shop. from St. James to thing I would have loved to One of my fa- replace those be doing. vorite parts of guarding the Queen. One of the most impressive the trip was They march right in places we visited was the Palace getting to try on the street and traffic is of Versailles. It is strange to imagine shoes and shop in each of not stopped for the daily that King Louis XIV thought the palace the different countries we visited. event. Maybe this is why traf- that is now the Louvre Museum was not London shopping was amazing and fic is so crazy in London. You don’t grand enough for him. I guess if you are sightseeing was great. One of my favorite go anywhere fast. Windsor is outside of the Sun King, everything must glitter like tours took us to Big Ben and Westminster London in the countryside. It was a huge gold and Versailles definitely does. Abby. Big Ben is the clock tower of West- castle complete with a moat. Now we all minster Abby and is really BIG. It is the know that moats are supposed to be filled

Clare Molina is a 6th Grade student at RAA Middle School in Tallahassee Florida