We started the day by continuing with the hoppa .. instead of using it a sight seeing vehicle, we used it as conveyance. Our first stop was Buckingham Palace. We were hoping to catch the changing of the guard. Enroute to the palace, Mom struck up a conversation with a nice British man.
As we were discussing the possibility of guard change being cancelled on account of the rainy weather. Mother, who rarely holds back, addressed no one in particular regarding the manliness quotient of soldiers who allow a little weather to interfere with their appointed duties. I think she bluntly used the word 'pansies'. Her new British friend responded by stating ... 'well, they lost to your country'. Funny guy!
Alas, the rain prevailed and the guards did not do their thing .. but we did get a few photos in front of the palace.
This is the Victoria Memorial Fountain in front of Buckingham Palace.
Here's a picture of the Queen in her coach. As much a I would have loved to really see Her Majesty .. this is really nothing more than Pa's creative photography.
We then decided to make our way to Westminster Abbey. As we approached the Abbey, I was distracted by the British Bobby and I just had to get my picture taken with him.
After the picture was snapped, my Bobby asked us if we would like to attend a session of debate at the House of Commons. This wasn't noted in any of the guidebooks ... what a rare treat!! We jumped at the offer.
After passing through the security check points and receiving our visitors passes, we entered the hall and then into the gallery. Here's a picture in the Parliament House Garden, sorry no pictures inside.
We were able to witness Caroline Spelman, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, address the members of Parliament. We even saw one of the MPs get a little feisty with Ms. Spelman and Speaker John Bercow called him on it. The MP then withdrew his previous statement, only to be chastised by Speaker Bercow who demanded an apology on Ms. Spelman's behalf.
Standing in the shadow of Big Ben is a statue of Oliver Cromwell.
Oliver Cromwell was one of the commanders of the New Model Army and played an important role in the parliamentarian defeat of the royalist forces in the English Civil War. After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, Cromwell dominated the short-lived Commonwealth of England and conquered Ireland and Scotland. A treasonous act if there ever was one...
His actions in his Irish Campaign (1649-50) against Irish Catholics remain highly controversial. He was subsequently invited by his fellow leaders to rule as 'Lord Protector', or head of state, from 1653 until his death in 1658.
Located along the River Thames is the London Eye. The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel that measures 443 feet and 394 ft wide. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually.
In the afternoon, Mom scored a ticket to see War Horse at the New London Theatre with her friend Suzann Sime-Wade, a theatrical agent. She loved it and described how the life sized puppets tell the story of a boy and his horse. How I would have loved to see the performance too!!
Jeff and I spent the afternoon at the Tower of London. Our tour was led by the cutest Yeoman Warder, better known as a Beefeater.
We saw the former moat, now a garden, that surrounded the fortress and the ravens that are kept on the grounds. The ravens are maintained there in the belief that without them, the kingdom will fall. Our guide discussed the Tower's previous history as a zoo, an armory, and most famously, a prison. The Tower of London was the site of some pretty brutal acts of justice, including the beheading of Anne Boleyn.
The Crown Jewels are also housed here .. they were glorious to say the least.
