{"id":156,"date":"2015-07-17T17:11:38","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T17:11:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/?page_id=156"},"modified":"2015-07-19T12:12:16","modified_gmt":"2015-07-19T12:12:16","slug":"london-2006","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/our-previous-travels\/london-2006\/","title":{"rendered":"London 2006"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day 1\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0We started our visit to London with the \u201cBig Bus\u201d tour.\u00a0 We sat on the top in the open air and heard this fabulous guide tell us all about the sights. While this does not provide an in depth picture of the city, it was just what these two jet-lagged people needed for an overview. \u00a0As we rode around we saw the Monument to the Great London Fire, Hyde Park, London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, the Tower of London, St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and many lesser known sights.<\/p>\n

\"Monument<\/a>
Monument to the Great Fire of London<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Entrance<\/a>
Entrance to Hyde Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"London<\/a>
London Eye<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"London<\/a>
London – Elizabeth Tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Westminster<\/a>
Westminster Abbey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tower<\/a>
Tower Bridge – London<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tower<\/a>
Tower of London<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tower<\/a>
Tower of London<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Albert<\/a>
Albert Memorial<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Animals<\/a>
Animals in War Memorial<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A particularly nice feature of the bus tour was the \u201con-off\u201d privileges as many times as you wanted for the duration of the ticket validity. We got off the bus at the Tower Bridge and had dinner (I had great lamb!), then got back on and went to the London Eye, the giant 135 meter Ferris wheel.\u00a0 The plaza around the Eye had a variety of sculptures by Dali \u2013 which was an unexpected treat. Riding the Eye in the enclosed, air-conditioned capsule provided great views and room to walk around to get different views. Very cool.<\/p>\n

\"London<\/a>
London Eye<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dali<\/a>
Dali Sculpture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dali<\/a>
Dali Sculpture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dali<\/a>
Dali Sculpture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"View<\/a>
View from London Eye – Parliment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"View<\/a>
View from London Eye – Big Ben<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"View<\/a>
View from London Eye – St Pauls Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"View<\/a><\/p>\n

View from London Eye<\/p>\n

2<\/strong>nd<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0Day<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 We awoke early and went to the Victoria and Albert museum.\u00a0 But we didn\u2019t know what to go see first!\u00a0 (We didn\u2019t do our homework!) The building itself was the star \u2013 that and the Chihuly glass sculpture hanging in the lobby \u2013 \u00a0oh, and the \u201ccartoons\u201d of the tapestries in the Vatican by Raphael (the drawings Raphael made which were the template for the weavers to use)\u00a0\u2013 and then there were the sculptures\u2026<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
<\/p>\n
Victoria and Albert Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Victoria and Albert Museum \u2013 Chihuly Glass Sculpture<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Victoria & Albert \u2013 Raphael Cartoon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/p>\n

Victoria and Albert Museum<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a><\/p>\n

Victoria and Albert Museum<\/p>\n

We met Judith\u2019s brother for lunch at the Ritz-Carlton, of course we were all dressed for sight-seeing (meaning we weren\u2019t wearing coat and tie) so we couldn\u2019t go into the \u201cdining room\u201d. But we had a pleasant lunch anyhow.\u00a0 Don stressed that we \u201chad\u201d to go to Buckingham Palace, as the Queen is elsewhere and the staterooms are open for visitors (only happens for 2 months out of the year).\u00a0 He was right! It was AMAZING, plus they had a display of her gowns. Now, I usually don\u2019t like that stuff, but it was great (especially the jewels).\u00a0 When we left Buckingham and were walking near Hyde Park, there was a traffic crossing with an equestrian crossing light (wait\/ walk) with a button about 7 or 8 feet off the ground so you could press the button from in your saddle!\u00a0 Great fun!<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Buckingham Palace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Buckingham<\/a>
Buckingham Palace – back yard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Buckingham<\/a>
Buckingham Palace – grounds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Royal<\/a>
Royal Gates to Green Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Horse Crosswalk \u2013 Hyde Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Horse Crosswalk \u2013 Hyde Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then off to Westminster, which was CLOSED by the time we arrived.\u00a0 RATS! (But we still took some pictures!)<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Westminster Abbey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Westminster Abbey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Westminster Abbey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Church of St. Margaret, Westminster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Portcullis House, Big Ben and London Eye<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Portcullis House and London Eye<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then to dinner and the theatre. \u00a0We went to Leicester Square to find a good deal on tickets. We bought tickets to a play that Don had suggested \u00a0and that they had enjoyed, \u201cBlood Brothers\u201d,\u00a0 and we found a convenient restaurant serving \u201cAmerican Food\u201d.\u00a0 All in all a very satisfying day.<\/p>\n

3<\/strong>rd<\/sup><\/strong>\u00a0Day<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0This day we tried to do our homework more thoroughly and hit the Tower of London as soon as it opened.\u00a0Listening to and talking with the Yeomen Warders who act as tour guides was truly fascinating.\u00a0 The history contained within and around those walls!! (Actually, the requirements to become a Yeoman Warder are fascinating in themselves \u2013 read more here:\u00a0\u00a0http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yeomen_Warders<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"P9060421-Large-250x250\"<\/a>
Tower of London \u2013 White Tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Tower of London \u2013 Oldest Wall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Tower of London \u2013 Weapons Display<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Tower of London \u2013 Knight in Armor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Tower of London \u2013 Ravens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Tower of London \u2013 Residences<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
Tower Bridge from Tower of London<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the Tower, we headed to \u00a0St. Paul\u2019s cathedral, which is both a gorgeous building and a favorite spot for nearby workers at lunch!<\/p>\n

\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"OLYMPUS<\/a>
St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral – Grounds at lunchtime<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paul\u2019s Cathedral \u2013 grounds at lunch time<\/p>\n

Next, off to the British Museum and then Westminster.<\/p>\n

A full day!\u00a0 It\u2019s gorgeous weather, we really lucked out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, how small is our bathroom?\u00a0 Well, you know when you are at the dentist, and they tell you to rinse & spit in that little sink?\u00a0 We can do that AND go to the bathroom at the same time\u2026<\/p>\n

However, the shower is superb\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day 1\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0We started our visit to London with the \u201cBig Bus\u201d tour.\u00a0 We sat on the top in the open air and heard this fabulous guide tell us all about the sights. While this does not provide an in depth picture of the city, it was just what these two jet-lagged people needed for … Continue reading London 2006<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":121,"menu_order":92,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-156","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":583,"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/156\/revisions\/583"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/yourpcgeek.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}