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They haven't yanked our access yet so I'm going to post some pictures of pomp and circumstance.
Showing posts with label Buckingham Palace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buckingham Palace. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
250 more pictures! (Tuesday)
I have to keep is short today, as I am trying to get this posted before our internet hours run out today. Today we went to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guards. Or so we thought. The sign there yesterday said that the ceremony would take place Tuesday at 11 am, so we arrived around 10 to take our place but as we approached, we saw the barricades up similar to the ones at Westminster Abbey yesterday. Sure enough, when I asked a policeman what was happening that morning, he said the Queen was meeting the President of Ghana. As we stood near the palace, overhead conversations indicated that the Queen would have a formal processional down Pall Mall and around the round-about in front of where we were standing. 2 hours later, she did a quick drive by after much pomp and ceremony by her various guards. There were policeman and women on horses, the motorcycle cops that go before and after her car, the guards in the bearskin caps, a marching band, the flashy guards with the pointy hats, and so on. Several dignitaries rode ahead on the Queen’s carriages, but we think she was properly situated in a car that followed. While interesting to see the pageantry, it was probably not worth 2 hours of standing. Did meet some nice ladies from both Toronto and one from Michigan, who shared her gum with us.
The theme of the day is “tour guide.” (this is really a continuation from yesterday, I guess since some kids on the tube asked where the train we were on was headed). It was more pronounced today, I guess. It started in the morning, someone asked me for directions to something (can’t remember what), and lo and behold: I knew the answer! So I shared by wealth of knowledge. Then, as we were waiting for the Queen, someone else asked what was going on, so we told them. One the tube ride back to the hotel just now, a woman approached me in the tube station and asked where the tube was for Sloan Street. Paul and I were on the tube that just passed it, so I told her where to go and that it was the very next station. Finally, as we walked from the tube station to the hotel, a lady and another woman I presumed to be her mother, asked us if we lived in the area. Paul said no, but asked if we could help her find something as we were quickly getting used to the area around the hotel. She asked if we knew where St. Mary’s church was. We didn’t, but we looked at our handy dandy a-z London map for more info!
But I digress. After watching the Queen’s entrance to the Palace, we took off for Westminster Abbey (a quick jaunt down the road). Once there, we paid for our tickets and wandered through the abbey, cloisters, and Pyx Chamber. I was riled when one young man put his foot under the roped off area in the Chapter House. It was medieval tile and in very rough shape. Like it needed his Nike tread marks on it! UGH. Dang tourists. The Abbey is overwhelming in its architecture, history, and size. I saw poet’s corner, Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scot’s tombs. Also: Edward II and III, various Henry tombs and the coronation chair. My favorite is Elizabeth’s. I also like the tomb of the unknown soldier—he was fighting in France, I believe, and his body was brought back to London. He was buried in Westminster “among the most illustrious in the land” because he of how he “served his God and House.”
After the Abbey, we took the tube to Brompton Road to see Harrods, London’s mega department store, owned by the Egyptian billionaire someone-Fayad. (Dodi Fayad’s father---this is the man Princess Di was dating when they both died in Paris). It was interesting, but I wouldn’t go there again unless I had to. Paul had a blast in the audio-sound area of the store and bought a couple CDs. I bought tea for my officemates. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.
After Harrod’s we made our way back to the hotel and I better wrap up in order to get this posted in time.
Tomorrow's plan:Hop on-off bus tour. Will hopefully hit the Tower of London ("off with her head!") and St. Paul's cathedral. Will "see" a lot of other places this way--places we didn't necessarily want to visit (pay to go in) but would like to admire from afar nontheless. Night-night.
The theme of the day is “tour guide.” (this is really a continuation from yesterday, I guess since some kids on the tube asked where the train we were on was headed). It was more pronounced today, I guess. It started in the morning, someone asked me for directions to something (can’t remember what), and lo and behold: I knew the answer! So I shared by wealth of knowledge. Then, as we were waiting for the Queen, someone else asked what was going on, so we told them. One the tube ride back to the hotel just now, a woman approached me in the tube station and asked where the tube was for Sloan Street. Paul and I were on the tube that just passed it, so I told her where to go and that it was the very next station. Finally, as we walked from the tube station to the hotel, a lady and another woman I presumed to be her mother, asked us if we lived in the area. Paul said no, but asked if we could help her find something as we were quickly getting used to the area around the hotel. She asked if we knew where St. Mary’s church was. We didn’t, but we looked at our handy dandy a-z London map for more info!
But I digress. After watching the Queen’s entrance to the Palace, we took off for Westminster Abbey (a quick jaunt down the road). Once there, we paid for our tickets and wandered through the abbey, cloisters, and Pyx Chamber. I was riled when one young man put his foot under the roped off area in the Chapter House. It was medieval tile and in very rough shape. Like it needed his Nike tread marks on it! UGH. Dang tourists. The Abbey is overwhelming in its architecture, history, and size. I saw poet’s corner, Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scot’s tombs. Also: Edward II and III, various Henry tombs and the coronation chair. My favorite is Elizabeth’s. I also like the tomb of the unknown soldier—he was fighting in France, I believe, and his body was brought back to London. He was buried in Westminster “among the most illustrious in the land” because he of how he “served his God and House.”
After the Abbey, we took the tube to Brompton Road to see Harrods, London’s mega department store, owned by the Egyptian billionaire someone-Fayad. (Dodi Fayad’s father---this is the man Princess Di was dating when they both died in Paris). It was interesting, but I wouldn’t go there again unless I had to. Paul had a blast in the audio-sound area of the store and bought a couple CDs. I bought tea for my officemates. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.
After Harrod’s we made our way back to the hotel and I better wrap up in order to get this posted in time.
Tomorrow's plan:Hop on-off bus tour. Will hopefully hit the Tower of London ("off with her head!") and St. Paul's cathedral. Will "see" a lot of other places this way--places we didn't necessarily want to visit (pay to go in) but would like to admire from afar nontheless. Night-night.
Monday, March 12, 2007
God Save the Queen! (Monday)
Today we woke up around 7 :30/8 am and knew we had to get to Buckingham palace by 11 in case it was the day for changing of the guards. We took the tube to ? station and found out that EVERYONE was on their way to work! The first tube stop was PACKED! People were piled in, sitting and standing. Some standing by the door had to duck their heads as the doors closed (they’re curved upwards). We changed stations a few times and walked quite a bit. We then walked by St. James Palace (back side I think). Paul enjoyed watching the guard march. We then walked to Buckingham Palace via Pall Mall (a thoroughfare lined with historic estates such as Clarence House Terrace and such). We took pictures of the Queen Victoria statue/fountain and tons of Buckingham Palace and its architecture. There were plenty of tourists, too, but not packed. We walked around statue a bit. Oh, and the guard changes TOMORROW (drat).
Then we took Palace Road alongside St. James Park. Saw where the Guard Museum was (didn’t go in). We then walked towards Big Ben and Parliament buildings. We then crossed the road to tour Westminster Abbey. Or so we thought. We were first compelled to take a detour around a little Norman looking tower (jewel tour) and realized it was a little gift shop and could also be toured for 5 pounds. We paid and got to go up spiral stone staircase to two levels: first level (2 rooms) was about parliament and such. The second floor was a different display (we can’t remember right now—history overload. The pictures will remind us).
Anyway, after this little tour, we walked to the entrance of Westminster. The one entrance is St. Margaret’s church and a white tent and the presence of bobbies (police) told me something was going on. Sure enough, at the abbey gift shop (remember being there, Rachel?) I asked if the abbey was opened for tours and the young chap at the counter said no. When I asked if it was always closed Mondays or if there was a special event, he answered that it was Commonwealth Day. So no tour of the abbey *yet*. As we shopped, some guy asked if the queen could be coming there and the lad told him that she would at 3:05 attend a service at the abbey. Huzzah! We thought we’d tour the area then come back to the abbey around 2 or so to see if we could see the queen.
Next, we walked down a road by the war cabinet rooms. The Red Lion pub popped up around a corner and since I’ve seen picture of it, I thought we’d stop in. Think again! It was jam packed with bankers, what looked like members of parliament and other yuppie Londoners. PACKED!!! We went next door and I had shepherds pie and Paul had a big slab of pork. Our next stop: Trafalgar Square.
At Trafalgar square, we were not immediately assaulted by pigeons as I expected. We observed the fountain and statuary, and then walked up the steps toward the National Portrait Gallery. Once there, an older Pakistani man struck up a conversation about the pigeons, which now all converge on a small plaza above the Trafalgar plaza. He asked where we were from and as soon as we said Minnesota, he exclaimed “Largest mall!” then he asked Paul if he worked at the mall. LOL. Small talk aside, we then watched a lady sing opera, walked through the pigeons, and decided to peek in the National Gallery. It’s free after all. It was OK, but overwhelming. As it didn’t have Pre-Raphaelite art, we kept it to a very quick tour.
We then walked (by this time I had HUGE blisters on both feet) to the London Eye. That was fun! It was a 30 minute flight and yes, you really get a great 360 degree view of London. It’s amazing. We then made our way back to see the Queen. We walked back to the abbey and found a good spot to settle in. As we waited, a fellow American asked Paul “what’s going on here?” Paul looked at me like he didn’t speak “American” (by now he’s quite adapted to London life), so I explained, “Supposedly the queen will show up here.” The guy asked if the abbey was open for tours, so I gave him the rest of the news. When he asked what Commonwealth day was about, I had to confess my ignorance. Some chummy fellow next to us, though, explained that this is the one day when all the dignitaries from the commonwealth countries (like Australia) came together. Ah! About 20 minutes later, the queen’s motorcycle brigade pulled up to stop traffic, and the car zoomed by (not right in front of us, but we saw it clearly). Then she got out of the car and went in the church. I am not lying though when I say Paul saw the Queen—he got a picture of her backside as she entered. (if I have time to post any pictures from today, it will be this one!) The Queen is in the dress (of course).
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In short, we did not get to see the changing of the guard. We did not get to tour Westminster Abbey. We did not get to eat at the Red Lion. But we saw the Queen's backside. It was all worth it! We will go back there tomorrow to make up the rest!
We then headed back to the hotel after a quick stop at Marks and Spencers for supper food. Now here I sit blogging in anticipation of getting Internet access so we can post this and call home to talk to McKenna.
I will post tomorrow before we lose our access; however, posts after that may be limited . We may go to the café downstairs and pay $6 for one hour every couple of days (so that may give me enough time to write and post). ‘Til then…we’re off for more adventures in London! We’re loving it!
Then we took Palace Road alongside St. James Park. Saw where the Guard Museum was (didn’t go in). We then walked towards Big Ben and Parliament buildings. We then crossed the road to tour Westminster Abbey. Or so we thought. We were first compelled to take a detour around a little Norman looking tower (jewel tour) and realized it was a little gift shop and could also be toured for 5 pounds. We paid and got to go up spiral stone staircase to two levels: first level (2 rooms) was about parliament and such. The second floor was a different display (we can’t remember right now—history overload. The pictures will remind us).
Anyway, after this little tour, we walked to the entrance of Westminster. The one entrance is St. Margaret’s church and a white tent and the presence of bobbies (police) told me something was going on. Sure enough, at the abbey gift shop (remember being there, Rachel?) I asked if the abbey was opened for tours and the young chap at the counter said no. When I asked if it was always closed Mondays or if there was a special event, he answered that it was Commonwealth Day. So no tour of the abbey *yet*. As we shopped, some guy asked if the queen could be coming there and the lad told him that she would at 3:05 attend a service at the abbey. Huzzah! We thought we’d tour the area then come back to the abbey around 2 or so to see if we could see the queen.
Next, we walked down a road by the war cabinet rooms. The Red Lion pub popped up around a corner and since I’ve seen picture of it, I thought we’d stop in. Think again! It was jam packed with bankers, what looked like members of parliament and other yuppie Londoners. PACKED!!! We went next door and I had shepherds pie and Paul had a big slab of pork. Our next stop: Trafalgar Square.
At Trafalgar square, we were not immediately assaulted by pigeons as I expected. We observed the fountain and statuary, and then walked up the steps toward the National Portrait Gallery. Once there, an older Pakistani man struck up a conversation about the pigeons, which now all converge on a small plaza above the Trafalgar plaza. He asked where we were from and as soon as we said Minnesota, he exclaimed “Largest mall!” then he asked Paul if he worked at the mall. LOL. Small talk aside, we then watched a lady sing opera, walked through the pigeons, and decided to peek in the National Gallery. It’s free after all. It was OK, but overwhelming. As it didn’t have Pre-Raphaelite art, we kept it to a very quick tour.
We then walked (by this time I had HUGE blisters on both feet) to the London Eye. That was fun! It was a 30 minute flight and yes, you really get a great 360 degree view of London. It’s amazing. We then made our way back to see the Queen. We walked back to the abbey and found a good spot to settle in. As we waited, a fellow American asked Paul “what’s going on here?” Paul looked at me like he didn’t speak “American” (by now he’s quite adapted to London life), so I explained, “Supposedly the queen will show up here.” The guy asked if the abbey was open for tours, so I gave him the rest of the news. When he asked what Commonwealth day was about, I had to confess my ignorance. Some chummy fellow next to us, though, explained that this is the one day when all the dignitaries from the commonwealth countries (like Australia) came together. Ah! About 20 minutes later, the queen’s motorcycle brigade pulled up to stop traffic, and the car zoomed by (not right in front of us, but we saw it clearly). Then she got out of the car and went in the church. I am not lying though when I say Paul saw the Queen—he got a picture of her backside as she entered. (if I have time to post any pictures from today, it will be this one!) The Queen is in the dress (of course).
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In short, we did not get to see the changing of the guard. We did not get to tour Westminster Abbey. We did not get to eat at the Red Lion. But we saw the Queen's backside. It was all worth it! We will go back there tomorrow to make up the rest!
We then headed back to the hotel after a quick stop at Marks and Spencers for supper food. Now here I sit blogging in anticipation of getting Internet access so we can post this and call home to talk to McKenna.
I will post tomorrow before we lose our access; however, posts after that may be limited . We may go to the café downstairs and pay $6 for one hour every couple of days (so that may give me enough time to write and post). ‘Til then…we’re off for more adventures in London! We’re loving it!
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