On October 31st we flew to London, England. We had reserved an airbnb:
54 Killyon Rd
SW 8 2XT
We arrived at the address and were hungry. The closest and easiest place to
eat was a Macdonalds restaurant. That wouldn't have been our
first choice but when you are hungry and don't know where eating
places are, you settle for Macdonalds.
And then, believe it or not, we once again ate at Macdonalds
the next morning, on Nov. 1st, for breakfast.
We had been told that the Hop on/ Hop off busses were the easiest mode
of transportation and so we had that experience right away.
We rode around and saw some of the sites of London.
River boat tour on the River Thames
Tower of London
Here is a very short history of the Tower of London:
When William the Conqueror built a mighty stone tower at the centre of his London fortress in the 1070s, defeated Londoners must have looked on in awe. Now nearly 1000 years later, the Tower still has the capacity to fascinate and horrify.
As protector of the Crown Jewels, home of the Yeomen Warders and its legendary guardians, the pampered ravens, the Tower now attracts over three million visitors a year. Here, the Ceremony of the Keys and other traditions live on, as do the ghost stories and terrible tales of torture and execution.
But the Tower also has a richer and more complex history, having been home to a wide array of institutions including the Royal Mint, the Royal Armouries and even a zoo.
We were all hungry for some authentic fish and chips and found
some at a wonderful place named Garfunkel's.
And we visited Trafalgar Square
And Westminster
On November 2nd we went to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.
What an amazing sight!!
Precision Drill and bands play stirring music all combine to make Changing of the Guard
one of London's most popular attractions that epitomises the pomp and military ceremony for which Britian is famous.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is the ceremony where The Queen's Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace to the New Guard.
Following a march by a detachment of the Old Guard, with musical support, from St. James's Palace and the New Guard led by a Regimental Band from Wellington Barracks the ceremony on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace and lasts for approximately 45 minutes.
The Queen's Guard is normally provided by one of the five regiments of Foot Guards from the Household Division, instantly recognisable in their famous bearskin caps and red tunics.
Musical support is provided by a Regimental Band or Corps of Drums with pipers occasionally taking part in the ceremony.
Getting slobbered on by the Royal Horses! One of the highlights of the day!!
And then Jed and I had to go find a "Duck and Waffle"
to eat at. It was on our list of things to do in London.
It was a fun place.
November 3rd was our last morning in England before boarding the cruise ship.
We had to have a traditional English breakfast and fortunately there was
a restaurant right down our street that was the place we could find that breakfast.
My breakfast consisted of pork and beans on toast with hashbrowns, sausage,
mushrooms, and eggs on the side. It was actually pretty good.
It was time to pack up and call an Uber ride and head for
South Hampton where we were to board the ship!!
Phillip arrived and picked us up. He was pretty awesome.
We liked him a lot. He looked like Bill Cosby.
He took us to Southampton where we told him goodbye
and got on the ship.
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