Joly Ole' England - London Dec. 6 - 11, 2015

London, England

Most people know where London, England is, but it's what I do now - the map and the flag, so there ya go. :) 

We were able to see London because Craig was there for a conference. We even went a night earlier than required so he would be able to see more of the sites because otherwise there would be very little time for him to enjoy the city.

First, I will get the bad parts out of the way... London is bloody expensive! The prices are basically double that in Canada. Seeing a movie cost 15 pounds each, so $30 Cdn. each! Also, this was apparently a busy time of year for Christmas shoppers, so there were WAY too many people out and about on the streets and sidewalks and especially in Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. 

The busy sidewalk crowds

 We arrived Sunday night and met up with Jeff & Carroll (former Canadian attache in Moscow) at a pub. I, of course, drank gin & tonic (it tasted even better there) and we ate some pub food. It was great seeing them both!

Monday was our only full day together to explore the city and we figured from past experience that the Big Bus was the way to go. We were staying at the Strand Palace Hotel which is directly across from The Savoy Hotel. It was a great central location for exploring. Just minutes to the Covent Garden Market, which was a great spot to wander around in. It was also walking distance to Trafalgar Square and many other attractions.

Together on the Big Bus Craig & I hit the top touristy spots like ....Westminster Abbey (the huge cathedral steeped in over 1000 years of history and where many royal weddings have also taken place). It's been a coronation church since 1066 and it's the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. I never did go inside... line ups were way too long.You can't even see the rest of the line in this photo, but it went on forever.

Westminster Abbey Cathedral

We also walked around "Big Ben" which really is just a nickname for the great bell within the clock tower at the North end of the Palace of Westminster. The proper name, since 2012, of the tower that holds Big Ben is the "Elizabeth Tower". It was also known as the clock tower. The tower itself was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on May 31, 2009.  

Amazing architecture!

From the Big Bus

  

Monday night after touring we tried the ticket lottery at "Book of Mormon" theatre production, but did not have any luck, so we bought tickets to Miss Saigon, which was awesome! The ticket lottery is done every day outside the Book of Mormon Prince of Wales theatre. You arrive between 5:00 - 5:25pm, fill out a ballot and wait for the draw for tickets at 5:30 pm. 

Going to Miss Saigon!

Tower Bridge - commonly and wrongly referred to as London Bridge. The actual London Bridge is not a very attractive bridge at all.

On Tower bridge with the bus tour and the bridge was drawn for a boat.

Tower bridge from our boat tour

Tuesday was the first day of the conference for Craig, so he was gone the entire day and I was on my own to explore. I used our 48 hour Big Bus ticket to help get me to the places I wanted to see. 

I first walked to Buckingham Place... 

This was the scene out front of Buckingham Palace when Craig & I drove by on big bus....huge crowds gathered for what we imagine was the changing of the guard.

This was that same statue the next day when I was caught in the rain. Hardly anyone around.

Gates beside Buckingham Palace

Gates out front of Buckingham Palace

 It was only about 20 min. walk and a lovely walk it was through Trafalgar Square and then through St. James's Park to the Palace. The forecast called for just a wee bit of rain, so I optimistically thought my rain jacket would do fine. Boy was I wrong! Amateur tourist of London.... About the time I arrived at Buckingham Palace there was a torrential downpour! There was nowhere to hide. I managed to stay fairly dry on top, but the bottom of my pants and my shoes got soaked. The one good thing... there was hardly anyone around at the time because of the weather and because it was a non-guard-changing day. I missed it... it's every 2nd day in the winter months. Still, I saw the palace. From there it got a wee bit tricky (being directionally challenged). I was supposed to find the Big Bus stop nearby, but I didn't see it, so I kept walking and walking and found myself back at "Big Ben". So, I decided to go ahead and keep walking and do the London Eye (big Ferris wheel on the River Thames). The rain had mostly stopped by this time, but it was still a dull, cloudy day. The temperatures, however were quite warm with highs of +12 or so most of the time we were there. The London Eye was a good way to see the city and get a good view of the Palace of Westminster (Big Ben). 

Pretty high up there!

After the London Eye experience I found the Big Bus stop that took me to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. This one was very well done and included a short little ride on a track, but as I mentioned above, it was way too packed for me to truly enjoy it. I , unfortunately didn't get my picture taken with the Royal Family because the line-up was too long.

You can get a wax mold of your hand... pretty cool.

The lovely Princess Dianna

The Royal Family ... +2 lol

Lookin' good ole gal!

Future King/Queen

In the making...

This one is for you Jan... I know you like Hugh

After the wax museum I found my way to Oxford Street where my friend Maureen suggested I enjoy some shopping! Fortunately for Craig, but unfortunately for me, I was tired at this point and did not even feel like shopping! I know! Didn't think that was possible, but it's true. I was really hungry, so I went to Five Guys for a burger, which was absolutely delicious (I hope so for a $13 Cdn. burger on it's own).

Oxford Street shopping playground

Tuesday night I tried again with no luck at the ticket lottery for "Book of Mormon" then we met with The General (at another pub) for dinner. Again I enjoyed another delish gin and tonic and we had fun in this casual setting with one of the US attaches from Moscow. Thank you Jack for the recommendation of this pub "Waxy O'Connor's"!

Wednesday morning I was up bright and early and out the door by 8:30 am to start walking towards Cynthia's hotel. It was supposed to be about a 20 minute walk, which turned into about a 35 minute walk (because I got lost of course). I managed to find it and Carroll arrived seconds after I did and we all three started walking to the London Tower (aka Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress). It was a great walk along the river, but took us about an hour. We arranged for a tour with one of the "Beefeater's" (aka Yeoman Warders). He was a jolly fella and we enjoyed the tour and wandering around afterwards on our own. This area is steeped in history.... SO much history that it's impossible to sum it all up in this post. It has served as an armoury, treasury, a menagerie (a collection of wild animals), home of the Royal Mint, a public record's office and home of the Crown Jewels of England. The peak period of the castles use was in the 16th and 17th centuries when it was used as a prison. Prisoners such as Elizabeth I, before she became queen, was held within its walls. During the 1st and 2nd World Wars it was again used as a prison. Today the castle is primarily used as a huge tourist attraction (trap lol) and is a World Heritage Site (its official name being "London Borough of Tower Hamlets").

In principle the Beefeaters are responsible for looking after any prisoners of the Tower and safeguarding the Crown Jewels, but today they act more as tour guides and are a tourist attraction all their own. They live within the Palace grounds in apparently beautiful old homes at a very reasonable rent. Every year, they are treated to a Christmas party by the Gin company of their name and every year on their birthday given a bottle! 

Every Beefeater must have served in the Armed Forces of Commonwealth Realms and must be former senior non-commissioned officers or petty officers with at least 22 years of service. They must also hold the Long Service and Good Conduct medal. Their names are carved on plaques within St. John's Chapel (the church located within the White Tower of the palace grounds).

The castle/palace, tower, etc. has a reputation for being a place of torture and death. It is said, however, that only seven people were executed there before the World Wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the North of the Castle with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period.

 

Traitors Gate entrance to Palace - picture taken while on the cruise (free with our bus tour)

The poppies at the castle...beautiful! We bought a photograph similar to this one in black and white with just the red poppies.

Random Beefeater walking Palace corridors

Our Jolly (and also cynical & single) Beefeater guide (I cannot recall his name)

Carroll and Cynthia at the Crown Jewels entrance

The Crown Jewels - courtesy of the internet because we were unable to photograph them while inside on the conveyor belt viewing area. I'm sure every piece has quite the story to it!

Heading into the tower to see the carvings on the walls made by prisoners.

some of the carvings done by prisoners of the Palace

Beautiful archway

Beautiful stained glass

Cool architecture

The Burroughs Market after our castle tour and lunch at the pub. It's a nice "foody's" place to go.

Spice store at the market - you're a great sport Carroll posing for photos for me!

Great spice shop!

Cynthia trying to decide which spice to buy

Wednesday night I was exhausted after touring all day with the ladies, but I managed to rest my feet for a few minutes before heading out once again to the ticket lottery for Book of Mormon! Third times the charm?? I happened to meet Craig on the sidewalk, so we went together. They were calling the first 20 pairs that would sit in the front row...no luck. Then they added a few more tickets and they were drawing the last pair of tickets and Craig won!!! We did it! So excited! So the tickets cost 20 pounds instead of 150 pounds! They were excellent seats also. Sweet! The show was excellent, we really enjoyed ourselves and met a nice couple from Australia. After the show Craig was feeling generous. They were raising money for a charity and Craig bought a autographed poster, which we have since framed.

Thursday morning... what did I do? Oh, I wandered around Covent Garden Market... it was a really nice place with live music happening. Craig and I also went there after hanging out Thursday afternoon once the conference was over. 

Covent Garden shopping area

We had lunch at "Honest Burger", which was highly rated. It was a packed little place and we enjoyed the burger, but I actually preferred my Five Guys burger! That night we at a fantastic Indian meal at Masala Zone in Covent Garden area. It was a unique restaurant with Rajasthan puppets hanging from the ceiling. We thoroughly enjoyed the Thali meal, so delicious! That was our last night in London and then we left bright and early Friday morning. It was a fantastic trip! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go with Craig.

Masala Zone Restaurant

Mmmm.... Thali

Here are some random photos from around London that we liked...

 

They still have these telephone booths... cute!

These signs on the road were hilarious, but, also useful since the traffic is opposite what we are used to!

The Canadian High Commission (Embassy) - gorgeous building in Trafalgar Square

Cute building squished between the others

Another cute building

Plaque dedicated to the Queen  -  her birthplace

Having fun on the Twister ride

Statue of Queen Elizabeth just outside St. James's Park

We found it so funny that some of the pubs were so small that people would stand outside them to drink their beer. We didn't get a picture of it, but the smallest pub we saw was The Harp.

This is the floor plan to our floor of the hotel... the most confusing I've ever seen for a hotel! lol