Monday - Wednesday's Events

Since my Internet was not working in my apartment, I got behind on blogging. You will see that I combined Monday through Wednesday's events.

Monday morning, we arrived Heathrow Airport from Little Rock, Arkansas. We hopped on a tour bus and headed for Windsor Castle and Stonehenge before going into London.

Windsor Castle was fabulous! Even though the Queen was in the castle at the time, we were allowed to tour the state apartments and particular rooms in the castle. I was shocked at the dining table! It was so long.... The ornately decorated rooms with gold throughout was unbelievable. We also saw Queen Mary's doll house that is furnished with some duplicates of the castle, had running water and electricity throughout. It was amazing!


Mr. Froggy goes to Windsor Castle


Me standing with a Castle Guard


Changing of the guards at Windsor Castle
The Queen was home!

Our next bus stop was Stonehenge. I remembered Stonehenge from my Art Appreciation class but never in my life ever thought I would actuallly see it in person. It was a definite surreal moment for me.


Stonehenge

What can I say???? Awesome!!! I really liked the sheep grazing on the hills around the area of Stonehenge. There were none close enough to the rock formation to photograph though. I found the nearby burial mounds of interest also.

I had my first pub experience before hitting the sack after a long travel and sight seeing day. We ate a bite at The Arc Pub. Pubs are different than restaurants in that you go to the bar tender to place your order for food and drink. They deliver your food to your table and pick up the dishes when you're done.

Tuesday, we went to The British Library and The British Museum. I saw the Magna Carta and the Glutenberg Bible and I loved the Beatles display of records and song writings on napkins.


Group shot before going in to the British Library


Inside the British Museum


I love the phone booths here!
These were outside the British Museum

In the afternoon, during some free time, my roomies suggested that we visit Kensington Palace grounds which was one of my class presentations. I was absolutely thrilled!!!! In addition to the palace grounds, we had tea, wine, lemonade and desserts at The Orangery which was an awesome experience of its own! We saw statues of Peter Pan, Queen Victoria and Physical Energy. Since adults without children are not permitted to the Princess Diana Playground, we viewed it from the fence. The clock/pavilion steeple "Time Flies" was next to the playground.


Shana pours a cup of tea at The Orangery


The Orangery Exterior


Me with Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens


The Round Pond at Kensington
Candace, Colt & Shana


Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace


Physical Energy Statue


Queen Victoria Statue in front of Kensington Palace


Time Flies Steeple at Princess Diana Playground

We exited Kensington Park and went into Hyde Park. Pictured below is Serpentine Bridge which divides Kensington and Hyde Parks. The Princess Diana memorial fountain was very relaxing and we took a group photo with someone's camera while there. Notice the beautiful snapdragons we came across in Hyde Park.


Yellow Irises ~ Serpentine Bridge on Hyde Park side


Foxgloves in Hyde Park


Princess Diana Memorial Fountain ~ Hyde Park

Tuesday evening, we decided to try to find London's Hard Rock. Check out my photo in the entrance of Hard Rock! On the way there, we came across Wellington Arch. It was beautiful! Without a tri-pod, I wasn't able to get a really sharp photo but the one I took at least shows I was there. We did find Hard Rock cafe but there was 1 1/2 hour wait so we went to The Rose and Crown pub for dinner.


Sign in entrance to London's Hard Rock Cafe


Wellington Arch

On Wednesday, we visited Westminster Abbey . I especially enjoyed the Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey and it was touching to see the grave and monument of the famous composer George Frederic Handel as well as many other composers and poets. It was also an honor to be in the church where Princess Diana's funeral was held.


Westminister Abbey


Westminster Abbey Detail

Next door to Westminister Abbey is St. Margaret's Church. This particular church, the third one at this site, was dedicated in 1523.


St. Margaret's Church

While we were in London, Sri Lanka's military announced the death of feared Tamil Tiger rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. On our way to and from Westminster, we witnessed a protest by Sri Lankans. The protest took place below the statue on Winston Churchill.


Protest at Churchill Monument

We also visited Big Ben.


Mr. Froggy Goes to Big Ben


Close up of Big Ben

As we walked by #10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister lives, we were excited to learn that he was actually leaving at the moment we were there. We also saw the paparazzi at the prime minister gates. There were police escorts ahead of and behind him. It was a pretty exciting moment for us, especially just walking up on it.


Quick Departure

The group split up at this point until later in the afternoon. A few of us stopped by the Horse Guards. Two different squads alternate guarding this entrance. The guards we saw, dressed in red, are known as the Life Guards. The other set of guards dress in blue and are known as The Blues and Royals. Together these guards are considered the Queen's personal body guards. Both Prince William and Prince Harry have served in the Blues and Royals. I posed with a guard (look at my face!) but got nervous when the horse started acting up. There was a sign that read "Beware ~ Horses May Kick or Bite! ~ Thank You" so I already had the fear in me! I didn't know it at the time but this arch leads the way to Buckingham Palace!!!!!


Me and a Horse Guard

We took a Thames River Cruise which was great for lots of scenic photos


London Bridge Beam


The International Shakespeare Globe Centre


Hungerford Bridge


Royal Airforce Memorial
Unveiled in 1923


Westminster Bridge

and then we toured the Tower of London - what an interesting place.... We saw Traitor's Gate which is the Tower entrance from the Thames River. The centrally located White Tower was filled with exhibits of guns and swords and suits of armor. A must see was The Crown Jewels - the crowns and sceptors were fabulous! I loved this section of the Tower. We walked through the Bloody Tower on our way out and viewed the different types of torture that was used on prisoners of the London Tower.


The Queen's House


The Ravens


Tower Guard

Hopefully I'll be in bed early tonight since I'm exhausted from running all over.