It has been a busy week; I've covered a lot of ground, tourist-wise. Here are many 'quick hits.' The tour of Parliament was fascinating. We had a knowledgeable guide (who spoke really, really fast) who took us all around, including both the House of Lords and House of Common rooms where all the Lords and MPs debate and argue. He remarked that the Speaker of the House of Commons makes sure everyone remains civil and I thought ha! that's not how it looks on TV. We weren't allowed to take photos in most areas but here is the main hall with brass plaques in the floor commemorating famous moments. After this tour, I wandered to a nearby "real" pub where I had a pleasant meal, sharing a table with a local guy who ate a hefty plate of bangers and mash, and barely looked up from his phone the entire time I sat there. On Saturday, I walked along Oxford Street ("shopping street") an...
When I was in London ~24 years ago I didn’t ride The London Eye for some reason. I’ve regretted it ever since so when planning this trip, an Eye ticket was my first purchase. Yesterday was the big day, and I’ve finally got this out of my system. It was low-key fun. The wheel rotates at a glacial pace and takes ½ hour for a single circuit giving plenty of time to walk around within the stable pod and take in the views. Before the Eye, I visited the ChurchillWar Rooms which are amazing. It’s a tour through the extensive basement headquarters from which Churchill and his officers and staff managed Britain’s involvement in World War II. Apparently, on VE day, everybody just got up and walked out. The doors were closed and locked with everything left as is and supposedly, that’s how we’re seeing it all today. The visit comes with a well-done audio guide, and there’s a room dedicated to the entirety of Churchill’s life. I spent around 2 hours there and could have sp...