Monday, June 15, 2009

London sightseeing 5/6/09

Day 2 in London - woke up feeling so much better than the previous day thanks to the wonder that is cold & flu tablets. Caught the tube into town again - today Suzie & I were going to watch the changing of the guard! Picked up a £2 brekkie from Subway and headed down the mall towards Buckingham Palace. As we were walking we noticed a whole lot of police cars escorting a few normal cars down the road. We paused, thinking it was probably some form of royalty we wouldn't recognise and who should drive past but the Queen and Prince Phillip! Wearing a nice pink ensomble, if her hat was anything to go through. So that was kinda cool - in London all of 2 days and already seen the Queen!

Was all cold and windy as we continued, not a nice change from the beautiful warm sunny day at Stonehenge. Found a possie in front of the palace around 10.30 and settled in to wait for the changing to start. There were a lot of people milling around, and a lot of umbrellas as it started to drizzle on us. Thank goodness Suzie had her brollie! We happened to pick a spot behind some other Aussie tourists from NSW - man they had Aussie accents! Suz & I sounded positively British next to them! Was good though, as they let us lean around them to get our photos later :) and they were good to chat to while we were waiting.

Around 11.30 a whole lot of guards wearing the black fluffy hats and the red coats with the shiny shoes came marching around, complete with band, but no horses unfortunately. They marched into the front of Buckingham Palace and then we settled in for the show. The band set up right in front of us practically, and then proceeded to play the randomest music - sounded like stuff we would've played in concert band in high school! Not at all what I expected them to play. And then there was confusion when they finished a piece - are we expected to clap?

They distracted me sufficiently to miss the actual changing. I looked over and the new guards were already stationed in the old guards places. Dang it! I did enjoy all the marching around looking important and shuffling of feet to get in line though. Good times.

Walked back into the city and headed to St Paul's Cathedral. Got in at student rates :) and was just getting the old camera out when I noticed the bevy of signs everywhere - no photography. :( Man it was beautiful in there - so I sneaked a couple. I couldn't not! So much detail and so much gold trimming! It positively glittered. So so so beautiful. We climbed up to the upper levels and to the outside lookout parts - we could take photos out there :) Gorgeous views across the whole city. Was still pretty overcast but not raining at least. Couldn't climb to the highest lookout part as it was closed indefinitely for renovations... but probably enough stairs to the first lookout! And very oddly positioned as well - they were hardly even steps they were so close together! And spiral too so got very dizzy by the end of it. Visited the gift shop and bought some postcards of the gorgeousness inside seeing we weren't allowed to take photos - all part of their sly plan I'm sure!

We then went off to find Harrods - after searching for it unsuccessfully earlier in the day. This time we had directions though! Found it no troubles. Man it's spiffy! And very expensive. I did buy some teddy bears from Harrods though - one guard teddy and one british cop teddy - they were just so cute, I couldn't resist! Had a wander through the other sections of Harrods - including the sections where you just don't want to touch anything cos it's all so expensive! Bags for over £1000, scarfes for £500... I did fall in love with a dress that didn't have a price on it - I presume if you're (seriously) shopping in there you don't need to ask prices. Also saw some beautiful gloves that I may actually go back and buy one day once I'm earning money... so gorgeous.

Then - and this I think is one of the main reason I love London - Suzie and I decided to go see a theatre show that night. Just went to the ticket booth place that sells last minute tickets for cheap and got two tickets to Billy Elliot - pretty good seats, £38, you know, the usual. You'd never be able to do that in little Adelaide!! Was an utterly fantastic show. And wow - can the kid in the show dance! It was amazing! Great music, great show.

Great 2nd day in London town!

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