"That's Going to Cost You."

"That's going to cost you." I will probably never forget those five words for the rest of my life. This is the joke that the royal guard spoke to us under his breath outside Windsor Castle.

Outside Windsor Castle

You always see people trying to make the guards with the big fuzzy hats crack a smile in the movies and it is said to be impossible.  But I did it...I made him laugh...TWICE!

Windsor Castle is one of the queen's many homes in England and although she wasn't there the day that we came to visit, there was no shortage of the royal presence.

As if witnessing the grand parade of the changing of the guards, having my first pasty, and getting a tour of the grounds and state apartments wasn't exciting enough...the best part of the day was when we spotted a guard that we could actually walk up next to.

Excitement written all over my face
for my first picture with him

I really could not contain my excitement. The first picture I took with him looked absolutely ridiculous because I was just SO excited to get so close to him.
After everyone else got their picture, I turned to the others and said, "Guys, can I take a picture with him where I actually look like a normal human?" That was the first time he cracked.  I don't think he had ever encountered a crazier American.

I ran up next to him and said, "Sorry, sorry, sorry...I PROMISE this is the last one." And that was when he let out a chuckle. He tried so hard to hold it in, but he just couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous 21 year old American girl acting like a little kid getting her first puppy on Christmas morning.

The moment he cracked a joke at us :)

If I accomplish nothing else while studying in England, I somehow feel like that would be okay.  Many people strive for the "American Dream" but I succeeded in my "British Dream"...to make a royal guard laugh. Not once...but twice. I sure must be doing something right. :)