This morning we awoke feeling groggy, perhaps fighting the last bits of jet lag. We got online and checked on a few things. On our way to the Underground, we stopped in at a Sainsbury Grocery for some milk, croissants, bananas, and a baguette for later. We had some time to kill before it was 9:30 so we ate our food in a McDonalds (sad) with some orange juices we bought.
Our London Pass let us right in and we (following "Ricky's " advice) made a beeline for the Crown Jewels. We didn't have to wait in any lines at all, although from the path they make you follow in the building, the lines must be outrageous normally. The crown jewels.... were... shiny. To be honest, it was a little bit sickening, but they are steeped in their tradition here, and the diamonds are amazingly huge.
We toured through the White Tower Museum which was laden with swords, armors, battle-axes, you name it. It was interesting, but I wish we would have spent more time poking around the grounds. The museum took us a long time. We ended up choosing not to do the Beefeaters tour, which I regret. I hear they are pretty funny.
If you exit the Tower on the Thames, the Tower Bridge is right there. Many people call this bridge the "London Bridge", which is actually a boring little crossing up the river. Our Pass included this as well, and we took the claustrophobically full elevator to the top. Seriously, they should have a sign saying they are going to pack you in like sardines. . . not that I have a problem, I'm just sayin'.
The exhibit was a little underwhelming, but the video on how they built the bridge is cool.
Since we had crossed the river, we were on the "Bankside" ready to do the Queen's Jubilee walk. It's a nice, smooth journey on the bank with lights and restaurants. I bet it's very festive in the evening.
Dusty is really interested in contemporary architecture and loved the way these buildings came together.
Here's a nice view of the Parliament building upstream from us.
We stumbled upon a.. Pirate Ship? That was unexpected.
The Globe Theatre is on this side of the river as well. Since we have been lucky to see many of Shakespeare's plays in a similar theater, we didn't feel the need to go in and take the tour. I forgot to mention it, but quite a few of W.S's original plays are in the British Library as well.
Our walk ended with the London Eye. Since we had seen incredible view just the morning before, we chose to forgo the *ahem* pricey ticket and pass by. I'm sure there's lots to observe on this "observation wheel". To be clear, the London Eye is miles down from the Tower Bridge. The Queen's walk technically ends way before this. But we continued walking and saw lots of neat parts of the city we wouldn't have otherwise. From the Eye, you can cross the bridge and be at Big Ben.
And no, this day isn't over. Up next? The incredible British Museum of course! This place was very crowded. We had to fight to see almost everything. But I hope that doesn't make it sound horrible. It wasn't. Just lots of cute school groups with matching hats and others hoping to enrich their minds.
Excuse the blurry photo-- we probably got bumped. :) Here's the wondrous Rosetta Stone. It's amazing to me that someone could read even one of these languages, let alone two, so they could decipher and learn the third.
My favorites from this place? The friezes "salvaged" from the Greek Parthenon, (which you see some of below), Egyptian statues, the "Peat Bog Man", Greek ceramics and statues, lots of Roman gold jewelry. They had good taste.
Dusty liked the Assyrian war bas reliefs, the Easter Island Head, the mummies, and all things Egyptian as well. There also lots of paintings, namely, a few Van Goghs we liked.
At the end of this visit, our poor feet were threatening to give out. We found a charming/bohemian little pub just a block down called Munchkins complete with Wizard of Oz murals in the restrooms. We treated ourselves to some fish and chips and some much needed down time.
Believe it or not, we still had a few hours to find something to do. Alas, no West End Musical for us, we settled for Kensington Gardens, which were near our hotel. Those who know me can see the slight panic in my eyes as Dusty finally talked me into renting bikes. I am a country biking sort of girl. Not a London, crazy people who drive on the wrong side of the road, going to hit me, sort of girl. But for the most part we stayed in the gardens.
After our biking adventure, in which we crossed far to many street lights for my taste, we walked through the Kensington area. We passed lots of embassies and even stumbled upon an LDS church! We walked into the lobby and it is sort of a visitor's center as well. Very cool. Our walk took us past the Victoria and Albert Museum and Natural History Museum, which I desperately wished we had time for. Unfortunately, everything seems to close at six.
Completely tuckered out, we hobbled back to our hotel. We face-timed my parents and talked to the boys. (7 hours behind us) They seemed to be doing well. Lots of smiles and good sleeping happening. Such a relief to us. While I took a cool shower, Dusty did some laundry at the place a block away. And finally, sleep.
Eventually we got to the Tower of London. It was an old, impressive, thick thing. The signs and entrance seem new with lots of languages- getting ready for the Olympics I imagine. It was a drizzly day-- already my hair was a frizz disaster. And it wasn't going to get better soon since I was taking a break from my hair products. :)
Our London Pass let us right in and we (following "Ricky's " advice) made a beeline for the Crown Jewels. We didn't have to wait in any lines at all, although from the path they make you follow in the building, the lines must be outrageous normally. The crown jewels.... were... shiny. To be honest, it was a little bit sickening, but they are steeped in their tradition here, and the diamonds are amazingly huge.
We toured through the White Tower Museum which was laden with swords, armors, battle-axes, you name it. It was interesting, but I wish we would have spent more time poking around the grounds. The museum took us a long time. We ended up choosing not to do the Beefeaters tour, which I regret. I hear they are pretty funny.
If you exit the Tower on the Thames, the Tower Bridge is right there. Many people call this bridge the "London Bridge", which is actually a boring little crossing up the river. Our Pass included this as well, and we took the claustrophobically full elevator to the top. Seriously, they should have a sign saying they are going to pack you in like sardines. . . not that I have a problem, I'm just sayin'.
The exhibit was a little underwhelming, but the video on how they built the bridge is cool.
Since we had crossed the river, we were on the "Bankside" ready to do the Queen's Jubilee walk. It's a nice, smooth journey on the bank with lights and restaurants. I bet it's very festive in the evening.
Dusty is really interested in contemporary architecture and loved the way these buildings came together.
Here's a nice view of the Parliament building upstream from us.
We stumbled upon a.. Pirate Ship? That was unexpected.
The Globe Theatre is on this side of the river as well. Since we have been lucky to see many of Shakespeare's plays in a similar theater, we didn't feel the need to go in and take the tour. I forgot to mention it, but quite a few of W.S's original plays are in the British Library as well.
Our walk ended with the London Eye. Since we had seen incredible view just the morning before, we chose to forgo the *ahem* pricey ticket and pass by. I'm sure there's lots to observe on this "observation wheel". To be clear, the London Eye is miles down from the Tower Bridge. The Queen's walk technically ends way before this. But we continued walking and saw lots of neat parts of the city we wouldn't have otherwise. From the Eye, you can cross the bridge and be at Big Ben.
And no, this day isn't over. Up next? The incredible British Museum of course! This place was very crowded. We had to fight to see almost everything. But I hope that doesn't make it sound horrible. It wasn't. Just lots of cute school groups with matching hats and others hoping to enrich their minds.
Excuse the blurry photo-- we probably got bumped. :) Here's the wondrous Rosetta Stone. It's amazing to me that someone could read even one of these languages, let alone two, so they could decipher and learn the third.
My favorites from this place? The friezes "salvaged" from the Greek Parthenon, (which you see some of below), Egyptian statues, the "Peat Bog Man", Greek ceramics and statues, lots of Roman gold jewelry. They had good taste.
Dusty liked the Assyrian war bas reliefs, the Easter Island Head, the mummies, and all things Egyptian as well. There also lots of paintings, namely, a few Van Goghs we liked.
At the end of this visit, our poor feet were threatening to give out. We found a charming/bohemian little pub just a block down called Munchkins complete with Wizard of Oz murals in the restrooms. We treated ourselves to some fish and chips and some much needed down time.
Believe it or not, we still had a few hours to find something to do. Alas, no West End Musical for us, we settled for Kensington Gardens, which were near our hotel. Those who know me can see the slight panic in my eyes as Dusty finally talked me into renting bikes. I am a country biking sort of girl. Not a London, crazy people who drive on the wrong side of the road, going to hit me, sort of girl. But for the most part we stayed in the gardens.
After our biking adventure, in which we crossed far to many street lights for my taste, we walked through the Kensington area. We passed lots of embassies and even stumbled upon an LDS church! We walked into the lobby and it is sort of a visitor's center as well. Very cool. Our walk took us past the Victoria and Albert Museum and Natural History Museum, which I desperately wished we had time for. Unfortunately, everything seems to close at six.
Completely tuckered out, we hobbled back to our hotel. We face-timed my parents and talked to the boys. (7 hours behind us) They seemed to be doing well. Lots of smiles and good sleeping happening. Such a relief to us. While I took a cool shower, Dusty did some laundry at the place a block away. And finally, sleep.
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