Three busy days in London

Monday 30th


Three full days has meant not much time for diary entries so this is just a summary before collapsing into bed (again).
Saturday am: Merilyn spent morning in bed because tummy troubles had kept her up most of the night. Bruce - train to Trafalgar Square, walk down Whitehall then two hours at Churchill's War rooms. Back at 12.30 to wake up Merilyn.
Saturday pm: Bond St for lunch at g/f bakery, St Martins in the Fields, Admiralty Arch, nearby chanced upon changing of the Royal Household Cavalry Guards - 5 riders in full dress on black horses watched by a crowd of several hundred people who were watched by 5 policemen with machine guns. Continued walking to Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Clock Tower - covered in scaffold for 5 year refurbish and Big Ben (the bell inside) not ringing, Westminster Bridge, St James Park, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, then trains back to St Pauls for another Vietnamese Dinner. A good day, feet a bit sore, people everywhere because still mid-term break.

St Martins in the Fields



Buckingham Palace
 

Sunday am: Tower of London - Crown Jewels, White Tower, Torture chamber, The Queens house - only remaining Tudor house after the Fire of London ( Queens House because Anne Bolyn stayed there the night before her marriage to Henry VIII in the  Chapel and four years later she stayed there again the night before she lost her head in front of the chapel).
Sunday pm: Tower Bridge (Merilyn actually stood on the glass floor on the upper level - eyes open but did not look down), Westminster walk - with all the walking poor Merilyn had a 'hypo' just near the Globe Theatre, so we had to sit on the edge of the Thames, in the cold, whilst she scoffed jelly beans. Fortunately we noticed an interesting small house just along from the Globe, so Bruce explored whilst Merilyn scoffed and discovered that former residents had been Catherine of Arragon in the 1500's, and Christopher Wren whilst he was supervising the building of St Pauls - well done Merilyn! A quick walk over the Thames, and a one station train ride got us to the Methodist Central Hall - Westminster, for a special service focussing on Martin Luther. It was excellent. A combination of Dialogues, Choir pieces, Hymn Singing  (four of Luther's and two others), Narrations, Readings, Addresses from Martin Luther by an actor, and an excellent message. Unfortunately Merilyn had two 'hypos' during the Service - too much exercise and not enough food - I was about to go up to the microphone and ask if anyone had any spare jelly beans in their pockets - our supply was almost exhausted. She came good however and after the Service we took two trains to Leister Square (no more walking) for an excellent Pasta meal and got home about 10.00pm - hence no diary writing.

Christopher Wren's House

Monday: Lovely crisp morning. Walk through Kensington Park, past the Palace - I waved to Kate whom I reckoned  saw at a window in her PJ's, into Hyde Park and happened upon an arena where six horse guards in full regalia were undergoing training drills - about 10 people watching and no armed guards - it was great. Trains to the river and then a one and half hour trip to Greenwich - a bit too long and we got quite cold on the top deck. Explored the Cutty Sark ship, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich Gardens and the National Naval Museum. Vietnamese for dinner again and home by 8 for an early night. Only one more day in London and then Rome - feeling a bit nervous.

 

 

One foot each side of the Greenwich '0' Meridian Line