(Not so Foggy) London Town

London, we meet again!

About two months ago (end of March), one evening
I was on my computer and I came across some travel
deals to Europe. I always have the travel bug and these
were deals not to be passed on. I went into the living room
to complain to Brittany on why she didn't have more vacation
days so we could plan a trip. Well, my other roommate Anna
chimed in that she would be willing to be my travel companion,
if I would have her. Of course I would have her as my travel buddy!

So a week later the airline tickets were bought and accommodations
were made and just over a month later we were off for a jaunt across
the pond...first destination London.

Hello Anna! London welcomes you.

After a failed attempt to visit Westminster
(we'd visit our last day), we headed over to
St. Paul's Cathedral. During our tour of the
church, we went up into the dome where we
then could go outside and enjoy
wonderful views of the city.

Millennium Bridge.

Anna still looks good even after the red-eye flight over.

This is the courtyard in front of the cathedral.

Anna said it smelled like New York inside
the phone booth...meaning it smelled like pee.

After St. Paul's, we headed over to the
Millennium Bridge. We came across these
beautiful tulips along our way. In fact, we
would see lots of beautiful flowers in bloom
throughout the city. Awww Spring!

View of St. Paul's from the bridge.

Again, not bad for having not showered for over 36 hours!

Globe Theatre (well the remake anyway).

We would come by again to take a tour of the theater.

Hanging out on the South Embankement.
Hmmm dinner! It was very yummy pizza.

Sunday, after a failed attempt to attend church,
Anna and I spent most of the day enjoying the parks
and some of the museums.

At the Serpentine at Hyde Park.

More tulips!

Hyde Park Corner...

...plus a visit to the Apsley House
(Duke of Wellington's home).

We stopped by Buckingham Palace.

We soon realized that the London Marathon was
going on that day. A beautiful day for a run indeed.

Flowers at St. James Park.

Anna enjoying some flapjack desert after lunch.

Trafalgar Square...

...with a visit to the National Gallery (as well as the
Portrait Gallery...not pictured).

The rest of Sunday was spent wandering around.
We went by Picadilly Circus (pictured below), Covent
Gardens, and some other places in the area.

Monday was our only really rainy day in the city
(Tuesday rained only part of the day). It seemed
somewhat appropriate to visit the Tower of London
with the weather so gloomy.

Waiting to buy our tickets.

First we took a Yeomen guided tour...

...and then we would follow up with a audio
guided tour. I learned a lot about the building
and it's history and couldn't even begin to
tell you about it all, let alone try to
remember it all!

The white tower and main building.

Traitors Gate...where Anne Boleyn
and others entered into the tower complex.

The Chapel

The tower green...people still live in these buildings too.

A memorial to those executed at the tower green,
as opposed to most prisoners who were executed
in the public square outside the tower walls.

The Ravens!
According to legend, there must be 6 ravens at
the tower at all times, or else it would fall to the
ground...and so would fall London. Apparently
they keep two extra ravens on hand, just in case.

Tower Bridge

The cages for the ravens.

After our tour and a delicious lunch at the Tower
Cafe, we headed over to the British Museum.

Rosetta Stone anyone?

This picture sums up our trip...audio guides.

This one's for you Mom.

There was plenty more to see at the museum,
but it was time for closing. As it was still fairly
early, we headed over to Harrod's and enjoyed
some delicious gelato at their gelato parlor.
Seriously, that store is amazing!

Last day in London...

We headed first back to Westminster to take
a tour, but once again there was an event going
on, so we had to wait until later in the day.

There were lots of people gathered around looking
at the building and waiting for something. After
talking with a police officer, we discovered it
would be wise to stick around for a bit.
Why you ask? Because they had just wrapped
up the Queen's Birthday Mass and she was
getting ready to come out any minute.

The Queen's men...

...and here is the queen herself
getting into her car!
That's right, I saw the Queen!

The Queen waving from her car.
What a cute little old lady.

We would head back to Westminster Abbey in
the afternoon, so in the meantime, we decided to
go take a tour of Globe theater.
But first a photo op.

The museum at the Globe...

We could not take any pictures inside the
Globe itself as they were currently rehearsing
Romeo and Juliet, one of this season's productions.

On our way back to the tube, we walked
by the original site of the Globe Theater.

Big Ben!

After our tour of the Abbey and hanging out for
a bit during the rain, we went and rode the London Eye.
And wouldn't you know it, we got right on and the skies
cleared up. London must really love me or something.

Anna on the London Eye.

It's me!

Views from the Eye

After our trip on the Eye, we found ourselves
on the South Embankment again, where
we grabbed a bite to eat and enjoyed our last
evening in the city.

Good bye London...for now!

Next stop...Italy!