Our Visit with Ron & Maurene, Part VI: London (Day 1)

Ok, ok, The Old Curmudgeon got things out of order, so for you keeping score at home...what? Nobody keeping score? Right, well then it doesn't really matter that the chronology is off, does it? In that case, we shall proceed to documentation of our first road trip in England. The Old Curmudgeon must here bow to our host and guide Ronald, who drove us to and from London (on the wrong side of the road the whole way, mind you) and deftly got us around town on the Tube, allowing us to cover a stunning amount of territory, while minding the gap as well as any in London.

It was a rainy day in London. Apparently a month's worth of rain fell the first day we were there. We parked at an outlying tube station and rode into central London.

Lauren convinced an officer of the British Transport Police to take our picture in the tube station. We had a bit of time to kill while we waited for our chauffeur and guide to park the car and run through the rain to join us.

This is the sight that greeted us as we came up from the Underground -- Big Ben (which refers to the bell only, we are told). The clock itself is called The Great Westminster Clock. Whatever you call it, it is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world.

Hear Big Ben do his thing!

View of across Westminster Bridge and Thames.

Given the inclement weather, we opted to start with indoor venues. First, to Westminster Abbey, where we stayed dry and were awed all at the same time. The Abbey has been the coronation church for the English monarchs since 1066 when William I (The Conqueror -- (formerly merely the Duke of Normandy)) was crowned King of England. Seventeen monarchs are entombed here, beginning with Edward the Confessor (and wife Edith) in 1066. Poets Corner was a moving section. Buried here are such noteworthy celebrities as Geoffery Chaucer, Robert Browning, Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, G. F. Handel, Edmund Spenser, Alfred Tennyson and the favorite son of the Westlake High School English Department: Thomas Hardy.

Lauren was the only one of us to get a shot of the outside.

Here is an aerial shot done by professionals during nicer weather

It's a pretty good sized place.

They told us that interior photography was forbidden. These stock photos prove they obviously let someone take a picture inside. It just wasn't any of us. But this is what it looks like. Honest.

The Poet's Corner

Roaming around an abbey can really work up an appetite, so, it was time for some lunch. What do the hungry travelers seek out when in London? Why, Chinese food of course. After an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, it was off to the National Gallery, another destination with a roof. We saw works by Van Gogh and Leonardo Da Vinci, among other celebrated artists. And did I mention it was dry inside?

From there, we rode a double-decker bus and did some site-seeing, including Trafalgar Square.

With the rain letting up ever so slightly, we took off on foot and made our way to the Royal Horse Guard Parade Grounds, where, much to our delight, there was an inspection taking place.

Having inspected the inspection to our satisfaction, we made our way down through St. James Park ( I think I have that right) along the Mall to Buckingham Palace.

St. James Park (I think) with view of Victoria Memorial.

The approach to the Victoria Memorial with Buckingham Palace beyond




Memorial details

Nice gate!

It's not just in Bath that these things are spying on everyone. This one operates solo -- without the lion. No I am NOT paranoid! Why do you ask?


Here's another nice gate. The Canada Gate, actually. It's actually considered to be part of the Victoria Memorial and is one of three ornamental gates given by the "Dominions:" Australia, South Africa and Canada. I think we can agree that when Canada sets its mind to make a gate, it makes a heck of a nice one.

Buckingham Palace

Hey! Where are the guys with the tall hairy hats?

Peasants gathered outside of the Palace with no potential for admittance.

Next: London, Day 2