The Minnesota Vikings Flew Us To Jolly Old England
Todd Swank's Diary Entry for October 13, 2024
Last weekend, we flew to London for an unforgettable adventure. After a blur of a Heathrow Express ride, a quick Uber to the hotel, and dropping off our bags, we jumped back on the Tube. Our first mission: Buckingham Palace to catch the Changing of the Guard. But, of course, by the time we fought our way through a sea of tourists, we could barely see anything through the gates. It was chaos, it was exhausting—and it was the perfect way to dive headfirst into the madness that is London.
We managed to sneak a few peeks of the Changing of the Guard by weaving through the crowd like pros—until we paused for a photo and promptly got scolded by the police to “keep moving.” Buckingham Palace, with its 775 rooms and royal fanfare, was impressive, but the guard ceremony itself was a chaotic ballet of red coats and tourists' elbows. It’s been a tradition since 1660, but honestly, we mostly saw camera phones and heads in our way.
We were incredibly lucky to win this trip, courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings, to see them take on the New York Jets. The Vikings ran a contest to incentivize season ticket holders to pay their invoices early. I paid mine immediately, not expecting much—but by the time Max called to tell me I’d won, I’d completely forgotten about it. What an awesome surprise! Flight, hotel, and game tickets all covered—how could you not love that? We are very blessed!
After Buckingham Palace, we had tickets to tour Westminster Abbey. With a few hours to kill, we wandered through the city, hitting all the iconic spots—Big Ben, Parliament, and the statue-filled Parliament Square. We tried our best to blend in and not look like lost tourists, but let’s face it—I stick out like a sore thumb. And the irony? I’ve only got one thumb… which, technically, used to be a finger.
Westminster Abbey was nothing short of awe-inspiring. It’s been the site of every British coronation since 1066 and holds the remains of kings, queens, poets, and scientists alike, including Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens. The gothic architecture is overwhelming, with towering arches and intricate stained-glass windows that make you feel small in the best way. Walking through, we marveled at the beauty—and got a bit creeped out knowing just how many famous people were buried beneath our feet. It’s both a celebration of history and a reminder that even legends eventually take up residence underground.
The craftsmanship throughout this ancient cathedral is beyond stunning—everywhere you look, there’s a new marvel to take in. It's also packed with enough famous skeletons to fill a Hollywood red carpet—kings, queens, and poets, all crammed in like it’s a VIP section for the afterlife. We strolled through Poet’s Corner, where Chaucer, Dickens, and Shakespeare either rest or have plaques pretending they do. Fun fact: they even stuck Charles Darwin in here—because nothing says poetic justice like a scientist buried in a church. And while the architecture made our jaws drop, it’s a little unsettling knowing half the floor you're walking on is just decorative burial space.
Navigating the Tube felt like jumping into an urban labyrinth. London's Underground is the oldest subway system in the world, kicking off operations in 1863, and it moves millions of people every day. In the daylight hours, it’s a well-oiled machine—but those early mornings? A different story. Wandering through the empty tunnels, with no one around except the occasional flickering light, felt like we’d been cast in a horror movie. It was creepy enough that we kept waiting for someone to pop out from a dark corner just to say, "Welcome to the dungeon!"
We kicked off Saturday with an all-day bus tour through the gorgeous English countryside. Rolling hills, charming villages, and ancient landmarks dotted the landscape like scenes from a postcard. Every bend in the road felt like stepping back in time, as if the land itself had stories to tell that go back millennia. Compared to this, America feels like it’s still figuring things out. There’s something surreal about driving past castles, Roman baths, and mystical stone circles, all in one day—like history is just casually scattered along the highways here. It was both humbling and exhilarating, and we couldn’t wait to dive deeper into each spot.
Traveling always gets better when you meet great people. We hit it off with Phil and Mel, die-hard Vikings fans like us, also here for the game. Jerry and Susie, on the other hand, were from Australia, hopping around Europe. Sharing laughs and stories with these new friends made the whole adventure way more rewarding—because let’s face it, exploring is way more fun when you're doing it with good company.
Windsor Castle was downright majestic. Walking through its grand halls and private quarters, it’s easy to imagine the royals casually sipping tea here—when they’re not busy being fabulously royal. Fun fact: It’s the largest, oldest inhabited castle in the world, but somehow they still manage to open it up to the public like it’s just another tourist trap. Honestly, letting us wander around their actual living space? Bold move. I kept expecting a butler to pop out and say, “Please don’t touch the Queen’s favorite chair.”
We stumbled upon the guards suiting up for the day—classic case of “wrong place, wrong time.” Got told more than once to step aside as they were clearly not thrilled to have tourists in their workspace. These guards may look like ceremonial figures, but they’re actually active-duty soldiers from the Household Division, responsible for protecting the royal residences. Oh, and those iconic bearskin hats? They weigh about 1.5 pounds—imagine trying to stay stoic with that perched on your head all day.
Stonehenge was a bit surreal to visit, but I’ll be honest—it’s out in the middle of nowhere and really just looks like someone abandoned a stack of rocks. But hey, it’s ancient rocks. Built around 3000 BC, it’s older than the Pyramids and was likely used as a burial site and for astronomical rituals. Scientists are still debating how these massive stones were transported—some came from 150 miles away. I was hoping for something supernatural, like a stone shifting or a mystical portal opening. But no such luck—just a windy field and a lot of speculation.
By the time we reached Bath, we were running on fumes and didn’t have much energy left for exploring. But we did stumble upon the Bath Abbey, a stunning Gothic structure that anchors the heart of town. Bath, known for its Roman-built baths and hot springs, is the only place in the UK where you can bathe in naturally warm, mineral-rich waters. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its elegant Georgian architecture. After a quick coffee break at a local café, we climbed back on the bus for the long ride back to the hotel—heads full of history and feet begging for mercy.
@toddswank Westminster Abbey is Awe Inspiring!#westminsterabbey #london ♬ Magic Glockenspiel - DOMANSED
@toddswank Windsor Castle is so beautiful!! #windsor #castle #england ♬ original sound - Todd Swank
@toddswank Stonehenge #stonehenge #england ♬ original sound - Todd Swank
@toddswank Lots of Vikings Fans in London!! #vikings #skol #london ♬ HOT TO GO! - Chappell Roan
@toddswank Pre game warmups in London. #vikings #SKOL #london ♬ Game Day - ROKKA
@toddswank The Vikings game in London was a bunch of fun! 5-0!! #vikings #london #SKOL ♬ Powerful songs like action movie music - Tansa
@toddswank One of our favorite discoveries in London. The Outernet! #outernet #london #experience ♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song - PeriTune
Totally awesome! You guys are lucky....and have way too much fun!
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