We had the London full city tour this morning. Our guide was Nigel, a 30 years on the force retired police officer with a fabulous understanding of the history of this town. I took copious pictures of the balcony at Buckingham palace where the Royals often wave from. Nobody out there, today, but the weather was mid-sixties and… and… and sunny, so I could have stood there much longer, soaking it all in.
Within a short distance are all the culturally familiar attractions of London: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, several London Bridges, London Tower, and the relatively new (completed in 2000) London Eye!
After the morning’s bus tour, we were dropped off for an “optional tour” at the Tower of London, where, among other things, the Crown Jewels reside. I was awestruck seeing the progression of the crowns, all the jewels and all the gold. And why anyone would want a large, palace-shaped gold salt dispenser, and gold spoons with which to serve yourself included in the special-occasion Royal Reception Dinnerware, is totally beyond me!
We ate more fish and chips sitting outside and loving the sun. I’ve a feeling there’s not a French fry to be found here—in my imagination it’s a political statement—but there are always plenty of chips! We then took copious photos of every angle imaginable of the “trebuchet” (catapult) bridges, towers, turrets, and beefeaters, (and I’m not talking gin, here) until time to rendezvous with 11 new friends on the tour.
The 11 of us banded together to tackle “The Tube”—one of the most fascinating subway systems in the world—figuring that we could put our heads together and manage, by voting on the correct way to go if necessary, to find our way through the elaborate mess… I mean mass… of tunnels to the London Eye.
“It’s quite easy, really,” said Sue, our travel guide. Most of us stared at her like deer in the headlights.
“You’re not going with us?” I asked rhetorically.
“I mastered the New York Subway,” said Rick. “I’m sure we can do this.”
Leaving nothing to chance, I’d studied the color-coded map of the Tube system the night before and made simple “notes” to help us find our way. Tower of London to Embankment: Green. Embankment to Waterloo: Black. Waterloo to Westminster: Grey. Westminster to Earl’s Court: Green.
The first group decision came when we had to figure out if we wanted the east or westbound train. Fortunately, Rick read quickly down the list of stops, and guided us toward the westbound tracks.
We arrived at our destination without incident, thanks to the escalators helping us exit the system. I don’t think any of us could have climbed all those stairs to get back above ground with out divine intervention!
The London Eye is a 443 feet high enclosed capsule Ferris wheel over the Thames River. Before we left home, I said I didn’t think I wanted to do it. When we got there, I was absolutely sure I was not getting on this gigantic, hopelessly out-of-time/space continuum monstrosity… But I went anyway. My fears were overcome by fascination, and I had a ball as the unofficial photographer of everyone, whether with our tour group or not. (Everyone knows how shy I am.) Twenty-six people (maximum) in each capsule, and it moves so slowly, you won’t even notice!
Another navigation of Tube transferred us back close to the hotel, where Rick and I had Indian food for our first time ever. And it was fabulous!!
A very full day, and ready to head to the Shower; we head to Bath tomorrow!