London

LONDON BABY!!!!

If you don't understand this picture please go watch Friends 

Double Decker buses!

Orangina Taxi!

London Phone Booth

We got in Thursday night jumped right in Friday morning. I went with Ashley and Lanae was there too for the first two days.We took the double decker touristy bus around, which was a nice way to see the city.

We went into the St. Paul's cathedral. It was amazing and there was an incredible view from the top. It's where Diana & Price Charles got married. There were mosaics on the ceiling inside of animals and nature that I loves, but pictures weren't allowed inside.

St. Paul's Cathedral

From the top

We walked across tower bridge & made our way to the tower of london. We saw the crown jewels, which were magnificent! I wouldn't mind wearing any of the crowns, any day of the week.

Tower Bridge

Tower of London

 We got back on the bus and rode around seeing different sites. We ultimately got off at Harrods and ventured into there. They had a nice food market inside, where we bought fancy sandwiches for lunch.

Harrods

After we stopped in the British museum, saw the rosetta stone, and a few other things before it closed. Then I went with Lanae to meet up with one of her friends from back home. We had delicious fish and chips for dinner.

Saturday Lanae and I went on the changing of the guard tour. The first stop was the changing of the horse guard. On the way we went through the arch leading to buckingham palace. Fun fact: there is a nose on it that appeared during the 90s. There are two theories. 1-when cleaning the statue of Queen Victoria the scaffolding fell and clipped off here nose. 2- it was put there so when men on horses rode by they could rub the nose. Also the arch was recently rented to a spanish company and it going to be converted into a hotel.

The Arch

The nose

At the changing of the horse guard all the current current guards lined up, and then we had to wait for the new guards to arrive. They stood across from each other for a little and then the new guards proceeded to take their places. 

The Horse guard

Guards lined up

Then we went and saw part of the guards leaving from one area, and then walked around to the other set of guards leaving from the other area. They both had bands followed by the guards going on duty. There were so many people at Buckingham Palace to see it. The Queen was not home when we were there, but she was coming in soon since she attended Margaret Thatcher's funeral on Wednesday. We saw the Ritz where she died.

The guards

Buckingham Palace

Guard

We went to Westminster Abbey. It was beautiful inside! It's where Kate & Will got married. From watching their wedding at 5am, the abbey looked bigger than it was, even though it was still huge.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

We stopped by Kensington Palace. It's huge, but doesn't look very special from the outside.

Kensington Palace

We walked down Portobello Road. There were lots of stands out, even though it was raining. My favorite part was the different colored hours lining the street.

Portobello Road

Had afternoon tea. It was delicious.

Afternoon Tea- YUM!

Met up with a high school friend and went to Platform 9 3/4. And we had pad thai for dinner! It was nice to have something different!

Off to Hogwarts

Platform 9 3/4

Sunday was a beautiful day in London. It was sunny and pretty warm. Lanae left for Dublin, so Ashley and I went to Regents park to walk around. We stopped by Abbey Road, and attempted to take the picture (Ash has it). Then we rented bikes and biked around, making our way to Camden. We walked around the area a little and then biked to covent gardens, where we walked some more. We stopped into the National Portrait Gallery. I saw Kate's new portrait and a nice one of Harry and William.

Ash and I with our bikes

Later I went out at sunset (but it was too cloudy to see the sunset), and took lot of photos of Big Ben and the river.

Big Ben

Big Ben & Parliament

Monday Ash and I biked around. We walked though Borough Market and down the river. We saw the globe theater and stopped in Tate Modern. I walked on the millenium bridge. We didn't do too much, since we had to catch the train to Paris in the evening.

Millenium Bridge

And that was London! I loved it! I could definitely live there!