London day one.............

London.....city of my heart and of my youth. I love that place. I love the exuberance, the life, the diversity of cultures. People of all colours and nationalities, the shops, the cafe's where you can sit and watch the world go by. The History and for me the connection I feel to the past. I lived for a time between Wimbledon and Putney and spent many evenings walking around the city at night and through the night. Always a safe place in the 1960s. I have sat on the platform at Tower Bridge at 3am and felt no fear. I am not sure I am that naive any longer but it still seems to be a friendly city. I wanted my son to see the hustle and bustle so unlike Detroit or American cities. People lay in the parks dozing, courting, reading or eating lunch and just watching the people go by. There are street musicians and entertainers along the Embankment and around the theater district. There are painted walls with poems on them, artists at work........always something to see and do and as back in my day, it does not cost you a thing to wander and just look. We spent two days in London. Not enough time but we made the most of it. This day saw us at St Pauls. As always, no pictures of the inside but what a beautiful place built to the Glory of God. The taxi's are a bit different Then there are still the traditional ones of course. Then we have Big Ben..........look at that sky. Bodicea is right where I left her guarding the Embankment. We went into Westminster Abbey. Its changed a bit. I didn't realize that they could actually move things around. It was tough going with so many people around but what an awesome place. The English Throne is there. No longer holding the Stone of Scone because that was returned to Scotland. I guess we can borrow it though when its next needed. There are just so many great people buried there and memorials. Poets corner is also interesting but even though so many kings and queens lay there amongst the greatest of the land, the most impressive one is that of the unknown warrior. The Olympics were only just over, so I was able to get this picture right before they were gone forever We took a boat along the river to Greenwich...........very interesting. Again I was glad to see so many people just sitting in the parks enjoying the out of doors. The Cutty Sark, the last of the Clippers. They worked the tea trade and later wool from New Zealand or Australia. This one was the fastest and was retired somewhere around 1922? On the way back the river was pretty.The Shard from the river Dusk The Tower Bridge The Tower of London, how beautiful it is. How imposing. Traiters gate enters through the river but they have blocked up the outside entrance now and just the name remains. The inside is the same though and you can just imagine. Shudder......