Last Day....off to London.......

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford. -Samuel Johnson We got up early to catch the train into London. Its so nice having public transport. I think those who do, can not realize how difficult it can be without it. We started the day at the Tower of London, we wanted to try to avoid the rain. So decided we would do all the inside things first and dodge the showers. If you have not been to the Tower its a must for history buffs. If you don't know about it I will let you read up on it because there is just so much history in that one place. Suffice it to say it was started by William the Conqueror.For nearly 1000 years the Tower of London has stood in its place on the Thames, serving over the centuries as a royal palace, prison, place of execution, stronghold for riches, and the symbol of the monarchy in England Tower Bridge from the Tower of London The guards....They look so young. The Yeomen........and they are real soldiers not just tour guides. Always on duty and always watching and yes they will give you information and spin yarns for you. No pictures in here...........The vaults for the Crown Jewels and other treasures. Magnificent. This was new for me............the place of execution. Prior visits just had a plaque on the green. This is nice. Ann requested a sword "I have but a little neck and I hear the swordsman is very good" The rest got the axe and if they were lucky a good headsman It's very moving to see the carvings in the stones on walls in the tower rooms where the high born's were kept. Thinking of them as they waited not knowing sometimes what their fate would be. Traiters Gate............damp,dank and mysteriously threatening. Very intimidating. The access from the river is now bricked up but does not detract from it on the inside. In the tower there is a museum with just so much to see its a place to keep going back to. There is armour worn by Henry VIII and I could go on there is just so much to see. We next stopped at the British Museum. Again there is way too much to show here but my favourite is always the Egyptian exhibition. Although this time I was thrilled with the Persian and Assyrian Out and about here is a British Icon........... Trafalgar Square still had stuff up from the Olympics. We walked a lot but this day we took cabs too. We did pass this shop and drooled Here are some street entertainers. Another thing I love about London. The way that the people interact on the streets. We saw some people with really good voices singing in the area around Covent Garden but this was not in that area. Anyone seen the Mall this empty? The barricades still up and no traffic (from the Olympics and Jubilee concerts.) This is the Palace. Buckingham Palace that is. Isn't she beautiful? These are the gates to St James park and the flowers in the gardens outside. It was raining so we missed walking through the park So very tired, we took the train back home to Mark and Maries. What a great day out. So much we did that I have no space to write it all. I know I will remember things and probably add things to they posts as time goes on. Meanwhile none of this could have been possible without Liz and Rodney, Mark and Marie and of course Jason who bought the tickets and got me involved. I hate to fly but I have to say it was not that bad................could have done without the 8 hour wait at Chicago on the way home but everything went well. This last picture is of the trip over as we came in to Dublin Ireland.

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......