"Is this London?"
"Of course it is. Can't you smell that lovely sooty air?"
(For my family, what's the movie? I had this quote running through my head throughout the first day.)
(L) Watching a movie on the iPod on the plane. The flight was 1 hour. (R) Made friends with another American boy in the non-EU line to check passports entering the UK (long wait, awful experience).
Tower Bridge
Tower of London
(L) Jack inside the gates; (R) A view of Aaron and the kids from the tower. On trips we do a lot of taking turns to see things because we can't take the stroller.
Jack was actually imitating this guard's marching, very funny.
The Tower of London is more like a castle. Inside they had museums on torture, metal armor, weapons, the Tower's history, and my favorite, the Crown Jewels! (Unfortunately, they wouldn't allow photos inside the Crown Jewels exhibit, which was in a vault, but scroll down this link to see some of the crowns.) The whole idea of royalty is foreign to us as Americans, but fascinating to me. Queens are only people we read about in fairy tales. I can't believe there are queens living today, and they wear crowns!
(L) Lunch break: When we go on trips I bring a bag of whole wheat pitas and a small container of peanut butter. The kids can eat that for lunch no matter where we are or when. It can be difficult to find kid-friendly food when you're out in Europe. We bought some bananas to carry too.
(R) When Jack gets tired he'll lie down and start playing with cars...no matter where he is.
Outside
(L) Tired out from sight-seeing.
(R) These iconic red phone booths are not as cute as they seem. They're grimy and dirty just like any big city phone booth, a little disappointing.
(L) Ambulance; (R) anti-war posters
(L) "bobbies;" (R) These adorable black taxi cabs were all over. I want one.
Park stop off: Jack and Lucas each got a new bus, but of course Jack ends up with both of them.
Parliament and Big Ben
We got to take a tour inside the Houses of Parliament. It was very beautiful and enjoyable.
Again, photography wasn't allowed. Here's a photo of the House of Commons you might recognize.
Westminster Abbey
To avoid paying the entrance fee of £18, we went inside during a free performance of the Evensong, a short religious service with music. Although we had the kids and had to leave early because Lucas was crying, I loved the service. I studied medieval music at BYU and gained an appreciation for it then. The readings were also interesting to me. I wish I could have been there without kids. Anyway, we didn't get to walk around and explore the abbey much because the service was going on, but it was better than paying the entrance fee.
Food
We stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in downtown London, near Kings Cross station. It was about the quality and cleanliness of a hostel, but we are cheap. This is what they call a Full English Breakfast. Jack enjoyed the toast with Nutella.
Trains
Kings Cross Station: Wish they really had a train going to Hogwarts.
(This was just a set-up, not to ruin the magic for you.)
For my family: "Basil of Baker Street"
We rode the Tube a lot. It is NOT handicap accessible. At nearly every stop we had to carry the stroller up multiple flights of stairs, and with Jack in it, that thing is not light. I'm sore.
Buckingham Palace
I have to say this was my favorite place of all. While the queen is away during August and September, visitors are allowed inside to view the staterooms. Can I just say...WOW! I was dying to take pictures of every room, which was prohibited, but this video shows many of the rooms we saw. Still it is incredible to me that this palace was built for a monarch...who is just a person. It was more like a palace for a god. This palace and the Parliament both had thrones. Too bad there were about a million people in there with me.
I couldn't help it. I was standing in the royal dining room when I turned and saw this incredibly perfect view out the terrace door; I turned the flash off and snapped this picture.
At right, this is the same lawn and I'm facing the back of the palace.
Incredible. What I wouldn't give to see the rest of the place...
Park Break
British Museum
Tons of cool stuff in here, mostly relating to ancient world history. I think the most popular area is the Egyptian floor. They had more mummies here than in the Luxor Museum in Egypt!
(L) Lucas enjoyed the museum. This is how we were all feeling by that point. Sight-seeing is tiring!
(R) This little girl was too picture-perfect; I couldn't help but snap a photograph inconspicuously. Her blazer with riding pants and boots...and to top it off she had a British accent!
Signs
(R) a friendly reminder for those of us who drive on the right side of the road and may forget which way to look when crossing.
(L) If you put your litter in the can, is it still considered litter?
(R) Instead of "exit," it was always "way out."
Anyone want a "God Save the Queen" pillow?
Oh, and I tried a Cadbury chocolate bar. The German Milkas are much better.
