Day 10: Harry Potter Experience

 July 20

Today was a MAGICAL DAY for Kim and I.  For those of you who are not Harry Potter fans and/or haven't seen or read the Harry Potter books, today's highlights won't mean a lot to you.  But those of you who ARE Harry Potter fans, this will be an exciting day of pictures.  Today we took the more than an hour bus ride to the Warner Brothers: Harry Potter Studio Tour.  What made this OH-SO-COOL for us, and all Harry Potter fans was that unlike the Harry Potter theme parks, what we visited today was NOT a recreation, but rather these were THE movie sets and props used in the making of the blockbuster movies.  At least five times as we entered a new area or rounded a corner, out loud I said, "OH MY" in excitement.  Just so, SO very cool from start to finish.

We returned to the hotel (after having to find our own transportation/taxi) around 3:45 pm and met up with Pam and Bob for a final Happy Hour and dinner out.  We've had so, SO much fun with our friends and are excited to rejoin them in less than two months as we travel to ancient Egypt to explore the pyramids on a Nile River cruise.  BIG THANKS to Nancy Nelson of Dream Vacations for making all of this happen - you're the best!

Harry Potter Highlights
These are the "best of" the more than 100 photos I took today - I'll be posting a "bonus Harry Potter page" later

Kim playing Quiddich

Ready to take the tour

The dragon welcomes you to the Harry Potter Tour

Harry's "room" under the staircase on Privet Drive

Harry's Invitations to Hogwarts have arrived

The Hogwarts Express Is Ready To Depart From Platform 9 3/4

We've arrived at Hogwarts!

The staircase to the dorm

The Gryffindor dormitory bedroom (Harry's bed)

The common room of the Gryffindor dorm

The Marauder's Map Will Guide Us

Dumbledore's office and the Sword of Gryffindor

The Pensieve

Kim preparing to transport through the fireplace

The Secret Passage Below Hogwarts

Diagon Alley

Shopping on Diagon Alley for our wizarding supplies

Ollivander's Wand Shop (and yes.....I DID get a wand today!)

Paying a visit to Gringots Bank

Trying to gain access to my vault

My retirement funds stored safely at Gringots

The Great Hall

Dinner is about to be served in the Great Hall

Ready to be sorted

Crossing the Hogwarts Bridge

Flying over Hogwarts

Causing trouble again

Thanks to all of you who made up the more than 1,100 social media hits on our latest adventure!