Queens and Kings and Harrods

It all began today on an old original double decker bus. We drove around Western London (Westminster) and saw some sights. Unfortunately we couldn't get out of the bus to take pictures but we took some from the bus which mostly didn't turn out I'm sure. We saw Trafalgar Square, the Horse Guards, the government houses and then made our way to Westminster Abbey. I don't know how much news is making it back to the US but right now they are having a horrible upset here over some members of parliament and their expenses and it was interesting to actually see the buildings that we have been seeing on TV. So we went to the Abbey and have "adopted" a local expert named Steven (Stephen?) who is ultra knowledgeable and a blue badge guide which I'm guessing is some kind of distinction. So we got a bit of a history of the Church of England (which we knew from The Tudors) and saw a bunch of graves and markers. Interestingly we also saw a plaque for Jane Austen although she is not buried there nor is Shakespeare but he has a huge monument, Sir Isaac Newton, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Mary I ("Bloody Mary"), Chaucer, the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, Christopher Marlow, etc. Then we were whisked away to Buckingham Palace and saw Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and then went to the palace for the changing of the guard. Our guides knew the exactly spot to stand to get some incredible shots of the guard marching to their barracks. You know it's a shame of modern times that all these historical buildings have to be surrounded by fences and barracades to protect them. Anyhoo -- they marched right toward us and had a little ceremony of which I hope we got some good pictures. Then we went to Harrod's to have high tea and we had some excellent tea and scones and finger sandwiches. Then we looked around Harrods and I will say I am not young enough, not thin enough and not rich enough for that store so we didn't even buy anything. It was way crowded and way expensive. So we came back to the hotel on the tube (choob) and then Tom and I took a nap. Now we are off to dinner and The Lion King. More later.