Another sunny, warm day in London. Went on the London Experience tour today and it was certainly an experience.
Our tour started off with being locked in London's peak hour traffic jam. How do these guys drive like they do?! It's crazy!!
We crawled past Westminster Abbey which was full of tourists and had my first view of Gypsies at work, trying to force people to buy small flowers.First stop was a visit to the Horse Guard. They were already setting up to celebrate the Queen's Diamond jubilee. Then it was a short walk down the Mall to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard.
It was just full of people when we finally arrived. No chance of taking a photo of the famous gates - you couldn't see them for the people!! I got a fairly good position when the first soldiers passed through. Then, as not many people are aware that there are actually three "events" altogether, the folks in front of me left and I had a first row view. Lucky our tour guide warned us about that so we were all ready to make a move to get good positions. I had a policeman just in front of me and I managed to hear his radio announcing when the processions were about to occur so I was ready with my camera.Then, it was time for lunch near the London Eye at a Turkish restaurant, which also sold Bangers and Mash - popular with the 5 American tourists in our group.
After lunch - a Thames River cruise over to The Tower of London and the Crown Jewels. This is an experience not to miss. It's absolutely huge and I unfortunately didn't get enough time to see it all.
The Crown Jewels - so many diamonds, so much gold! We couldn't understand why they needed a golden coronation spoon though. Unfortunately, no photography was allowed inside.The Tower of London - The famous White Tower is set up as a museum to all the British military might. It also displays King Henry VIII's armour - from his boyhood to his older, plumper era. There is also the 11th century Chapel of St John the Evangelist inside the Tower. There is no glitz to this Chapel - it is rather basic with wooden pews, high ceilings and the stone walls but it's this simplicity that makes it great to see.
Got a glimpse of London Bridge from The Tower as well.
It was then off to St Paul's cathedral where I admit that I got a little bit emotional. The organ music and the absolutely 
awesomeness of the Cathedral got me a little choked up. It was just too bad that photos were not allowed and the postcards and books available to buy just didn't give it justice. Then again, I have a thing for churches - I find them fascinating.
awesomeness of the Cathedral got me a little choked up. It was just too bad that photos were not allowed and the postcards and books available to buy just didn't give it justice. Then again, I have a thing for churches - I find them fascinating. The work inside the Cathedral is simply stunning, although I felt a bit weird in the crypt part of the cathedral when walking over the crypts of the departed. It felt like I was being disrespectful although there was no way to avoid them - they were everywhere.
Our tour ended with a London Eye experience. You can definitely see for miles, although no view of London Bridge. Took plenty of photos although, at 5pm, the sun was just in the wrong position for some of them.Then I was on my own. Decided to walk over Westminster Bridge, past Big Ben and over to Westminster Abbey. As it was closed, I could only manage to see it from the outside.
Walked past the heavily guarded Downing Street and ended up at Trafalgar Square, where I found a group of people doing Yoga right in the middle of it! Why? I have no clue. I then took a walk down the street and somehow ended up at Piccadilly Circus. To be truthful, I was expecting more but maybe I was just tired of all the walking.
Ended up going down to the Tube Station, buying my Oyster card (similar to the MyKi but way, way, way better - it actually works properly!) and taking my first Tube ride to my hotel where I arrived before 8pm. Who needs a gym - I've done a hell of a lot of walking in just 2 days.
I definitely felt like I was in London today. Even though I was out on my own from 5pm until 8pm, I felt rather safe walking around and also riding in the Tube.
Blenheim Palace tomorrow.
