LONDON day 2

Day 2 started with a brisk walk across Hyde Park ( it's the size of a suburb) to meet Chris at Harrods. - opposite Harrods is the shop Queen Lizzie buys her knickers, however I doubt they look like the ones on the shop model!!haha). After a visit to the ladies powder room(very posh) and deciding we couldn't afford anything in Harrods we set off following our trusty guide again, this time by tube for the Tower of London.

If you go to the Tower of london, definitely wait around for one of the guided walks escorted by one of these Beefeater guys. They are all army officers ( this guy had served 22 years in Her Majesty's forces and had studied full time for 2 years with gruelling 100% passmark examinations to become one of these guys wearing fancy dress. It is a post he takes enormously seriously and there is Nothing he doesn't know about the Monarchy/ Tower of London/ British History, in fact probably anything. He delivers his spiel in a very entertaining and robust manner and makes the entry fee well worth the money. The insignia on his front stands for Elizabeth Regina II, so can only be worn while Elizabeth is monarch. I want to know what happens when she dies. Do they already have clothes made up for Charles (who by the way will be King George apparently), or is there some kind of interim wardrobe. ???mmm too timid to ask in front of the crowds..didn't want to seem ghoulish, like I was putting a death wish on the poor old duck - she is 80!!!!!!!!!!

Prisoners were brought up the River Thames under Tower Bridge through these gates -Traitor's Gates- for incarceration/beheading.

Cute little guard guy in his litle house....look how shiny his shoes are!!

Tower of London is fabulous! Loved it!!

19th may,2006

BIG BUS TOUR part 2

Mind you, it was blowing a gale, freezing cold and most unpleasant on the top deck of the big bus tour, however we soldiered on in the way of good tourists everywhere and saw these things:

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey...good venue for a wedding I've heard

St Paul's cathedral

some law courts-- i liked the pretty archways.

and Tower Bridge

Now we travel the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!
18th May,2006

We leave Sydney,

First stop..ICONS OF LONDON

We met Chris at our hotel ( much joyful reuniting in the foyer of posh hotel with accompanying screams, hugs etc),then after our 24hour flight , set straight off to discover London. Followed our tourist guide, aka Chris along Oxford Street, Bond Street - doing well on the monopoly board icons so far- to catch the big touring bus for our "sights of London tour!!" On the way we passed Selfridges - best shop window displays ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the way we saw:

Beautiful parks



Buckingham PalaceBig Ben!