We flew out of England on December 2, 2011. We landed in Seattle on January 2, 2012.
What did we do during that whole month? Lived out of suitcases. Stayed with friends. Ate at Bojangles and Smithfield's BBQ and Cracker Barrel. Visited my mom and John. Went to storytime at the New Bern library. Finished my mom's eBook. Stayed overnight with my best friend from high school, Dawn. Visited Mike's big ol' family in Black Mountain (missed you, Tyler!). Hiked at the Blue Ridge Parkway. Walked in The Oaks. Watched fireworks from the deck of Rocky's house on New Year's Eve. Met baby Jack and baby Jacob, our new grand-nephews. Picked up Skippy the cat in Raleigh from our great friends, Jer and Kara. And then all five of us--Mike, Merrit, Ollie, Skippy, and I--flew to Seattle.
Goodbye to green, green England. Goodbye to the North Sea. The castles and cathedrals. The friends we made and the trips we took. Goodbye to the St. Mary's Lighthouse, to Whitley Bay, to neighborhood friends, and favorite shops. Goodbye to roundabouts, and British accents, and the Sunday lunch. We will miss all of England's winsome ways...
With our first full day in London stretching ahead of us and a clear weather forecast predicted, we grabbed our city map and headed out for a day in the city. We started out at Trafalgar Square and made our way to Westminster Bridge, where we planned to get tickets for the river boat cruise.
Trafalgar Square
We saw a falconer performing with his falcon.
Merrit with George Washington statue.
Ben Franklin's London house is somewhere nearby,
but we didn't get to it.
On the Walk to Westminster Bridge
Outside the Household Cavalry Museum.
"Look Kids: Big Ben, Parliament."
- Clark W. Griswold
Walking along the Thames
Eating Lunch on Board the Hispaniola River Boat Restaurant
On Board the Thames River Boat Cruise
Replica of The Globe Theatre, which was located somewhere
near this area of London in Shakespeare's day.
The Tower Bridge and the HMS Belfast, a British WWII warship.
What I Really Wanted to See:
The Tower of London
Our tour guide, in traditional Yeoman Warder garb.
The Tower Green, where traitors were beheaded. The round glass
monument marks the spot where the block and axe were located.
Three queens were beheaded here: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard,
and Lady Jane Grey. Their bones are buried in the chapel by the green.
In the building on the left, we saw the Crown Jewels, including a scepter
with a 513 carat diamond. Wow.
Armor of Henry VIII and his warhorse.
Traitors sentenced to die would pay their executioner for a quick death.
Down into the dungeon of the Tower.
Back on the Boat for Our Cruise Home
River boat cruise back to Westminster Bridge.
Being Silly on the Boat
The blue lights of the London Eye and County Hall.
Getting some light rain on our walk back to the hotel.
After a good night's sleep and a quick breakfast of cereal and milk at our flat, we grabbed a taxi to Trafalgar Square for a day of sightseeing. We knew we wanted to see St. Paul's Cathedral, so that was our first destination...but we wanted to take our time and take the "scenic route" there.
Wandering Our Way toward St. Paul's Cathedral
Spoiler alert: Someone's getting 100% Scottish lambswool scarves for
Christmas!
On November 30 union members nationwide were striking to
protect their pensions. Many streets, schools, and public services were
shut down. (I was jumpy and nervous about rioting after the student
protests earlier this year got way out of hand, but all was peaceful.)
Heading down the hill toward the river.
Those boys have to walk fast to keep up with Daddy Long Legs.
Two Griffins guard the City Gate.
Here, the boys and Mike pose by one.
Spanish Tapas for Lunch
Legos love bread.
A starter of organic olive oil and fresh-baked
olive bread.
Mike and I each had a glass of a Spanish tempranillo.
Lunch at the River Cafe.
What Mike Really Wanted to See:
St. Paul's Cathedral
We weren't allowed to take any photos inside the cathedral,
which is common in houses of worship. We visited the main
sanctuary, the crypt, the Whispering Gallery, and two external
galleries: the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery.
Black cabs, red double-decker buses, umbrellas...
This must be London.
Occupy protesters on the cathedral steps.
At the Stone Gallery, 376 steps up.
Up the final 100+ steps to the Golden Gallery for a total of 530 steps
to the top.
Not for the faint of heart.
Looking down through a glass window in the floor, 53 meters down to the
mosaic cathedral floor way below.
Sunset over the Thames from the top of St. Paul's.
Looking south over the river.
A stunning view from the Golden Gallery on the very top of the
St. Paul's cathedral.
This was a definite highlight of our trip, made even more memorable
because of the arduous climb to the top. We were so proud of the boys
for making it to the top!
Merrit took our picture from halfway
across the footbridge over the Thames.
From the opposite side of the river.
What Merrit Really Wanted to Do:
Go on the London Eye
We've walked a long way from St. Paul's to here!
It's getting to be dusk as we walk along the south
side of the Thames, on the opposite side of the river
from where we walked yesterday.
Nearly there...
We had to stop and watch these kids doing parkour,
skateboarding, and bike tricks at a skate park.
Ice skating under the Eye.
Getting ready for the 3D movie before boarding the Eye.
Sort of like being in a fish tank. With strangers.
Thankfully our pod wasn't full. There were only about
six other people on with us.
Merrit wanted me to take his picture when we were at the tip-top of the wheel.
Looking down on the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
Mike and the boys: At the top of the world.
What Ollie Really Wanted to Do:
Ride the Carousel
You Can't Plan Some of the Best Things...
Ollie learned all the words to "Yellow Submarine" playing Rockband: Beatles on the PS3 over the last few months. He sings it incessantly: "We all live weyyow sussaween...weyyow sussaween...weyyow sussaween." When we came across this two-man street act, singing Beatles songs, Mike went up and asked if they could do "Yellow Submarine." The guy on the right goes, "Of course. I'm from Liverpool." Ollie's face says it all: He cannot believe that they know and are singing his favorite song!
Destination Sushi
Looking for the sushi restaurant we walked past last night.
It was somewhere around here......?
Sushi and beer go great together.
Merrit says he can eat as much sushi as a sumo wrestler.
It's a short trip from fishtank...
...to table.
A short, delicious trip.
Below, we catch Ollie on film talking about "Summer, Skylar"...the daughters
of our friends that we'll be staying with when we leave for North Carolina
tomorrow morning.
How can these kids possibly have any energy left after all the walking
we've done today? And yet, they do. It's inexplicable.
