London Diaries: Volume II
Big plans today. Woke up rather early for our complementary morning continental breakfast. As our breakfast was free and London is the most expensive place in the world, the three of us stuffed ourselves with rolls, wheat toast, jam, ham, salami, cheese, fruit, yogurt, and orange juice. We ate like eating was going out of style, with an urgency and ferociousness I didn’t think we possessed. After our hearty meal, Sondra and I left for Buckingham palace and Westminster Abbey (St. Margaret’s church).
Buckingham palace was interestingly understated. Styled like the many buildings surrounding it, I wouldn’t have known that it was “the” palace if I wasn’t looking for it. What made it obvious for me that day was the changing of the guards. Throngs of people surrounded the palace while regal British guards did their thing, it was fun to watch.
Westminster Abbey was not as I pictured it in my mind, but it was beautiful. I stood in awe of being in a place with a thousand years of history, where kings and queens have been crowed since the 11th century. There are 3,000 tombs and the remains of 29 kings and queens (including Queen Elizabeth I) within the Abbey’s walls. Loyalty to God, Queen, and Country permeates the abbey and the city, which really captivated me. Before entering the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I a plaque stood bearing the words, “before entering the tomb, remember the protestant and catholic blood spilled during the reformation.” Words like that are everywhere to be found in Westminster Abbey, words that gives you context in history, words that remind you of the importance of what you are seeing. Amongst the famous royal tombs is the “poet’s corner,” with likes of Chaucer, Tennyson, Robert Browning Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy buried there.
Another thing that captivated me in London was the honor they give to Americans in their museums and on their streets. I found this to be very strange yet refreshing. If anything, I’d think that it would be us paying homage to them, being the mother country and all. But walking down the street amongst stately statutes of famous brits was Abraham Lincoln, and in the Abbey and elsewhere were inscriptions honoring American and British soldiers.
After the Abbey we walked by the Thames to the Houses of Parliament. Neo-gothic in style, the houses of parliament was gorgeous, although “Big” Ben to be was really… “Medium Ben” to me, as I was expecting it to be a lot bigger. Guards with big hats and rifles stood by the gates with plaques bearing the words “no entry,” I guess I’ll have to see the Houses of Lords and Commons in action some other time.
Our last big stop on our world wind tour was the Tower of London. The Tower of London was awesome. A fortress of a place, I am convinced that if any place is haunted, this place must be. Climbing up the stairs to the bloody tower, I shuddered as I stood in the chamber of the infamous killing of the two princes, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York (11-12 years of age). The executioner’s block shows a list of victims including Lady Jane Grey (who was 15 years of age, political execution), and Ann Boleyn. The torture room and devices was something to behold, and the crowned jewels so dazzled me that I didn’t want to leave the room! The Bell tower was creepy, as amongst the famous prisoners there (one of them being Sir Thomas Moore), Ann Boleyn’s good friend was forced to watch her die on top of the tower.
After our tower tour, we bolted to Her Majesty’s Theater just in time to get seats for Phantom of the Opera. It was our lucky day! As Tuesdays were student days and we got our tickets for 25 pounds (about 50 US dollars). I’ve always wanted to see Phantom of the Opera, and what icing on the cake to be seeing it in London! Sondra and I stopped at the Spaghetti House for dinner before the show. Little did we know, it was 10 minutes to the start of the show and we were still on our appetizers. In a panic, we ordered them to box our salmon pastas and ran like mad to the theater. The show was fun; although it would have been more fun if I didn’t have to pee in the first half of the show (I can’t even describe to you the pain…). I must admit that I was a wee bit disappointed, for I was expecting Michael Crawford level of phantomness, which I realize it to be an unrealistic expectation. All in all though, the show was a lot of fun, and I am so glad that after a decade of salivating over it, I finally got to experience it.
Back in our hotel room, we updated the sick Maria on our trip while inhaling our salmon pastas, ah, what a fabulous day!
Big plans today. Woke up rather early for our complementary morning continental breakfast. As our breakfast was free and London is the most expensive place in the world, the three of us stuffed ourselves with rolls, wheat toast, jam, ham, salami, cheese, fruit, yogurt, and orange juice. We ate like eating was going out of style, with an urgency and ferociousness I didn’t think we possessed. After our hearty meal, Sondra and I left for Buckingham palace and Westminster Abbey (St. Margaret’s church).
Buckingham palace was interestingly understated. Styled like the many buildings surrounding it, I wouldn’t have known that it was “the” palace if I wasn’t looking for it. What made it obvious for me that day was the changing of the guards. Throngs of people surrounded the palace while regal British guards did their thing, it was fun to watch.
Westminster Abbey was not as I pictured it in my mind, but it was beautiful. I stood in awe of being in a place with a thousand years of history, where kings and queens have been crowed since the 11th century. There are 3,000 tombs and the remains of 29 kings and queens (including Queen Elizabeth I) within the Abbey’s walls. Loyalty to God, Queen, and Country permeates the abbey and the city, which really captivated me. Before entering the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I a plaque stood bearing the words, “before entering the tomb, remember the protestant and catholic blood spilled during the reformation.” Words like that are everywhere to be found in Westminster Abbey, words that gives you context in history, words that remind you of the importance of what you are seeing. Amongst the famous royal tombs is the “poet’s corner,” with likes of Chaucer, Tennyson, Robert Browning Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy buried there.
Another thing that captivated me in London was the honor they give to Americans in their museums and on their streets. I found this to be very strange yet refreshing. If anything, I’d think that it would be us paying homage to them, being the mother country and all. But walking down the street amongst stately statutes of famous brits was Abraham Lincoln, and in the Abbey and elsewhere were inscriptions honoring American and British soldiers.
After the Abbey we walked by the Thames to the Houses of Parliament. Neo-gothic in style, the houses of parliament was gorgeous, although “Big” Ben to be was really… “Medium Ben” to me, as I was expecting it to be a lot bigger. Guards with big hats and rifles stood by the gates with plaques bearing the words “no entry,” I guess I’ll have to see the Houses of Lords and Commons in action some other time.
Our last big stop on our world wind tour was the Tower of London. The Tower of London was awesome. A fortress of a place, I am convinced that if any place is haunted, this place must be. Climbing up the stairs to the bloody tower, I shuddered as I stood in the chamber of the infamous killing of the two princes, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York (11-12 years of age). The executioner’s block shows a list of victims including Lady Jane Grey (who was 15 years of age, political execution), and Ann Boleyn. The torture room and devices was something to behold, and the crowned jewels so dazzled me that I didn’t want to leave the room! The Bell tower was creepy, as amongst the famous prisoners there (one of them being Sir Thomas Moore), Ann Boleyn’s good friend was forced to watch her die on top of the tower.
After our tower tour, we bolted to Her Majesty’s Theater just in time to get seats for Phantom of the Opera. It was our lucky day! As Tuesdays were student days and we got our tickets for 25 pounds (about 50 US dollars). I’ve always wanted to see Phantom of the Opera, and what icing on the cake to be seeing it in London! Sondra and I stopped at the Spaghetti House for dinner before the show. Little did we know, it was 10 minutes to the start of the show and we were still on our appetizers. In a panic, we ordered them to box our salmon pastas and ran like mad to the theater. The show was fun; although it would have been more fun if I didn’t have to pee in the first half of the show (I can’t even describe to you the pain…). I must admit that I was a wee bit disappointed, for I was expecting Michael Crawford level of phantomness, which I realize it to be an unrealistic expectation. All in all though, the show was a lot of fun, and I am so glad that after a decade of salivating over it, I finally got to experience it.
Back in our hotel room, we updated the sick Maria on our trip while inhaling our salmon pastas, ah, what a fabulous day!
posted by J @ 4:57 PM
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