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Published: November 6th 2009
Looking down the Thames
One can see both London Bridge, the Navel Destroyer on the right and some of the activity on the riverLondon, England -- September 1st & 2nd, 2009
We arrived in London the morning of August 31st, and although we had little rest, never-the-less we signed up for one of those tours where you can jump on and off at different sights within a 24 hour period. It is a great way to get a quick overview. September 1st, we are off first for Buckingham Palace. There are different tours that one can take; we chose the State Room tour. A tour that I would recommend to anyone, unfortunately you are not permitted to take pictures once in the Palace so one can only admire a number of fabulous rooms. After our tour we walked to Westminster Abbey and the Parliament Buildings. On our way we stopped at Westminster Cathedral which is the Catholic Cathedral, quite large but without the history or grandeur of Westminster Abbey which was unfortunately closed when we arrived. We did tour the Parliament Buildings - of the two Houses that compose Parliament, the House of Lords has the more impressive chambers. On Sept. 2nd we had become proficient using the Subway system or as the Brits call it the “Tube”, so a quick run to
Victoria Station to arrange for our rail travel to Leuchars which is the closest train station to St Andrews. The London subway system is terrific for getting around and people were very helpful in giving us directions. Our goals this day were Westminster Abbey again and London Tower. I could have spent a full day I Westminster Abbey there is so much history, but with time passing we had to move at Mare’s touring speed if we were to visit the Tower of London. I don’t know why it is called London Tower when this is really only one of several towers within the fortress that is known as London Tower. One observation there was no discrimination between men and women when it came to being executed with the axe.
One of the features of London that we came to enjoy was the break one can have by stopping into a neighborhood pub. The first was the Old Quebec City pub, my guess is that it was founded by someone from Quebec since t was founded right after the war in 1946. The second was the Three Puns. Both pubs are neighborhood type pubs with locals stopping by. The
latter is Australian with all staff being Australian. Another that we stopped by for lunch was the Albert.
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Carroll Graham
non-member comment
Wow folks, can I hide in your suitcase next trip? I've been living vicariously through your trips. Aren't the pubs in England great. The last time I was there I was on my own and had supper in "my local" most nights enjoying the fellowship of all of the other folks there. Everyone was friendly, had relatives somewhere in Canada and I became hookied on lager and lime. Mare, did Lizzie not invite you in for tea. Ah well perhaps next time.