Our second day in England we set aside for London. We signed up for a bus tour pass that would conveniently and quickly show us around the city. There was a lot of ground to cover so we didn't see very much in depth, but it was nice being chauffeured around and experiencing the sights and sounds of London town.
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Can you guess where we are? The bobbies' helmets are great!
(What happened to the old navy jackets that matched the helmets?) |
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| St. Pancras train station in all its splendor |
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| Looking like real tourists now! |
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| New mixed in with the old (Can you find the double decker buses?) |
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We weren't lost, just confused...maybe we should try calling someone?
(Of course this would have been easy if we would have had a working cell phone...hee, hee!) |
It took us a while just to figure out where the bus was supposed to pick us up. Even the online tickets proved elusive. We finally made it on the bus after a bit of wondering.
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| The beginning of many photo opportunities |
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| Is this a good look? |
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| How about this one? |
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| "Glory be to God on high and on earth peace..." Looks like a Wedgwood frieze up there. |
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| Braving the second "storey"while listening to the tour guide |
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| Wish your address could be 88 Queens Gate? |
We hopped off the bus at Harrod's, Westminster Abbey/Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London.
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| Even Harrods welcomes you with grand architecture |
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| Chris excited to finally step inside Harrods |
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The victuals tempting Roger, if only they were having a sale
(must mention that we were reprimanded for taking this photograph) |
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Escalators. chandeliers, Egyptian engraved walls and operatic arias filling the space
(If you think this is nice, you should have seen the luxury bathrooms.) |
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| Posing with the infamous Harrod bears |
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| The adrenaline is flowing and we have a lot of ground to cover |
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Westminster Abbey (we didn't actually go in, since we had to be
choosy with our money and our time; all touristy locations closed at 5:00 p.m.) |
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| The flag flies when parliament is in session |
Well, are we glad we left the picture-taking to Chris (and Ben)! Chris has a superb eye for the quick, colorful, dramatic photo and got a lot more "out of" London this way than I would ever get...
The city looks even more exciting now than I remember it seeming when I worked here for the two years of 1966 to 1968 (our office was located across Westminster Bridge south of the Thames). At first I lived in a hostel for female government employees. It was centrally located close to Hyde Park and Kensington, which was wonderful. All cleaning was done for us and all main meals were provided and were delicious! Then I decided to move in with two friends from St. Andrews up in north London. It was a long commute but fun to be with them and become a bit more "domestic."
It was a thrill to be a part of the great city of London, which offered a cultural smorgasbord the like of which I had never experienced before and which very much matured my interests. My classical-music-loving boyfriend and I would enjoy exquisite concerts in the brand-new concert hall across the Thames. The art and architecture offerings were immense and superb. Drama, opera, history, all kinds of events and classes of interest . . . Oh, those two years were indescribably wondrous, and the memories will be with me always. No wonder I'm always smiling as we re-visit the old haunts! Let's return and spend more time in London!
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London's calling
(Chris was trying to take a picture of the "Queen's entrance.") |
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| The London Eye incapsulating Big Ben |
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| Reflected proof that we rode on the double decker tour bus |
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| Juxtaposition--old and new |
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| Tower Bridge, often mistakenly called London Bridge |
Closing time was swiftly approaching so we decided to explore the Tower of London and the Queen's jewels (which were amazing). To see them you stood on a moving belt, which prevented dillydallying.
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| Tower of London (outside) |
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| Tower of London (inside) |
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| Beefeater kindly posed with us |
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| Not sure why Chris was so happy to be in the torture chamber |
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| Wall dating back to Roman times |
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Guarding the Queen's jewels
(Sorry, no photography was allowed inside, but they really are there.) |
We grabbed some London-style (tourist trap version) fish-n-chips (our only real food all day) on our way to the river boat. The river cruise finished off our whirlwind tour.
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| "Quick, Chris, I need proof that I am actually in London!" |
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| For all of you Shakespeare lovers, we caught a glimpse of the Globe from the river boat |
Upon exiting the river boat, we were faced with the predicament of getting back to the train station. Walk? pay for a Metro pass? or take a taxi? Taxi was the winner! Have you seen London streets? How about London streets under construction? It made for an exciting ride. We told our driver we were from Utah and he immediately connected us with Donny Osmond and straight, white teeth! Not quite as bad as hearing about horns growing from our heads. He wasn't too impressed with the amount of cash we drummed up to pay him, though--not quite 20 quid.
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Thanks Mum for persuading everyone to take a taxi!
It was Chris' first taxi ride and turned out to be everything she'd dreamed it would be. |
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| Mini-limousine |
Once back in Harpenden we walked to Ben and Chris' hotel to "inspect" their sleeping quarters. Disappointing that they weren't going to be located in the historic part of the hotel, but . . . Crawford kindly picked up Roger and Alison so we could all retire for the night.
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(Chris' observation: I've always related wallflowers to descriptions like rejected, leftover or neglected.
However, these wallflowers gave me a whole new perspective.
To grow in this wall took great determination and resilience.) |
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| Thanks again to Mum for acquiring such excellent accommodations |
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Mum was a little disappointed that we weren't in this older dwelling, but it was fabulous just the same.
(Queen Anne, Mum thinks; glad you enjoyed it!) |
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