Connecting From London--Day 3

      Hi, Everyone.  Today we played American tourists in London.  We started the day with a traditional London breakfast: fried egg, fried tomato half, baked beans (in a tomato sauce, not molasses), three potato tots, a sausage, and a cup of coffee--all for L 3.98 (approximately $6.00 American apiece).  Not bad, not bad.  We then took "the tube" (the subway) from Angell Station (the closest "stop" to our apartment) through King's Cross Station to Euston Station, and took a bus from Euston to Trafalgar Square, where we caught our tour bus.  Our bus had a live tour guide who told us about things we were seeing as we went by them.   He was very funny, but also very knowledgeable.

 This tour lets you get off at a place en route which you wish to investigate, and lets you get back on one of their buses to continue the tour. 

Our tour bus had to stop so the Royal Horsemen could pass in front of us.

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While we were waiting for them, a royal carriage passed us on the other side.  I wonder who was inside?!

When we got to Buckingham Palace, there thousands of people there also trying to watch the changing of the guard.  It's a big deal here.  A military band marches in front of the soldiers coming on duty, and they parade from their barracks through the town to the palace.  We heard the band, but couldn't see any of the guards.

 


We did catch a glimpse of the Royal Horsemen coming to replace the ones on duty, though. No guards outside, and no one waving from her balcony!  Bummer!




 Then we got on another of our buses, and headed around Westminster (actually a different town from London, though they touch each other at one point.)  We finished going around Westminster and continued on to London.  It was lunch time, so we got off the bus and walked to Covent Gardens, a swank "mall" filled with little shops and eateries.  I finally had my "fish and chips" London-style, and Richard had chicken pot pie, and Emily had a chicken burger and fries.

We had homemade gelato for dessert!  Yummy! 









We ate outside where we could watch performers play musical instruments, sing, and even dance.  Very different from the cafeteria!

Then we got back on another of the tour buses and headed to the Tower of London.  This is a picture of the famous Tower of London Bridge. 

Many years ago, the Tower of London (fortress) was used to house political prisoners, many of whom died while imprisoned there. 

                             Today, the crown jewels are kept under lock and key in that fortress.
Yes, Shelis, I got to see them close up, but they wouldn't let me touch them! :( 



I also got very excited because although I couldn't SEE the guards at Buckingham Palace, I was able to see one and take a picture of him at the Tower of London.  Isn't he just the cutest?!  The poor guy must have been so hot in this uniform!  I was in a regular shirt and pants, no coat, and got a sunburn on my face!










And speaking of guys who must have been hot, look at these two actors dressed up like they would have been during the time when the Tower of London was operational.  Yes, boys, they are wearing skirt-like "pants" and TIGHTS!!!






Finally, Seth, I did see some British phone booths, but none of them were blue with a flashing light on top.  I haven't seen the Tardis, yet, but I hope to before I come home.

 Okay, on the list to do tomorrow is a trip to Sherlock Holmes's house.  He's a story detective I have loved since I first began to read chapter books in second grade.  His author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived here in London, and wrote about Holmes's adventures from 221B Baker Street, and that's where I'm going tomorrow.  Then we are going down the street to Madame Trussaud's wax museum.  She has all kinds of famous people and characters in there carved out of wax and dressed in appropriate clothing.  There are Star Wars characters in there right now!  Yippee!  And tomorrow afternoon, I am going on "that beast" in the photo above--The London Eye!  Yikes!  I am nervous because I don't like heights!  But I'll give it a go!   I will write again tomorrow night and tell you of my adventures!  Bye.  Be good for Mrs. Cole!