Things I Did in London

Ate really good food. Often. We had our priorities.
(Everybody, this is my oft-mentioned friend Robyn. Robyn, meet everybody.)

Walked almost off the plane into Liberty. We ain’t crazy.

Took an open topped bus tour of the city. Hilarious…

…because of our lovely and very witty guide, Samantha from Scotland. Now I know the gruesome history of why we say “God bless you” when someone sneezes.

Went to Portobello Market in Notting Hill. Very good. I recommend browsing with a Belgian waffle in one hand and a big ol’ coffee in the other.

Walked around town and saw random cool stuff. Discussed how much we’d insure our legs for.

Notice the strange quality about this photo? Yes, that’s sunlight in London.

This is the future me and Robyn on our 45th girl trip. Aren’t we cute?

Took a tour of the Tower of London. Lucked into another guide who continually cracked us up. Perhaps there’s a secret Guild of Her Majesty’s Larking Tour Guides they belong to. We saw the crown jewels and found out that the golden spoon is in fact not for a pre-coronation bowl of Wheaties.

Took a lovely Thames River cruise and saw the highlights from the water. Sights of London were once again upstaged by the stand up comedian who was posing as our ship’s captain.

Caught the last part of Evensong at Westminster Abbey. Beautiful house of worship, beautiful music. Beautiful reminder to be still and know that He is God.

Took the bus to Oxford. Wowee. Gorgeous town.

 Took pictures of my toilet in Jamie’s Italian. It’s a Crapper. (snicker) It’s a Venerable Crapper. (explosive snorting behind hand) Oh, yeah, the food was great too.

 

Toured the grounds and tried to imagine what it would be like to actually attend Oxford. Lucky, that’s what.

Saw some really cute handmade crafts for sale there, by Wawaya. Look, their hands are in their pockets. Love the stripey tails. Robyn adopted a couple for her kiddos.

Met a kind woman from Phoenix who was serious about getting just the right shot of us in front of the Radcliffe Camera. (If you read The Historian, you’ll know I’m this close to seeing crucial documents about Vlad the Impaler. So close. But still about 5000 pages away from the climax. I seriously thought that book was never going to end.)

Went to the site of the first coffee house in England and had…yes, tea! It was very very good tea, with hot fruit scones and lots of clotted cream and jam. It was just what we needed on a chilly day. Here’s me trying to get a trick shot in the mirror. Fail.

And yes, another shot of the toilet. But, see, it was funny. Flood. ha.

Laughter that ensued after Robyn’s hair caught fire. You’ll have to ask her about that one. I think she is actually saying in this shot “Thanks for saving my life.”

Luminaries greeted us each evening along the halls at the Charing Cross Hotel. We couldn’t have asked for a better location in central London. Well done, Robyn! I bow to you. Thanks for all the research and legwork.

No, the wind and rain is NOT getting us down as we cross the Millennium Bridge. That’s the Tate Modern in the background there. What an…interesting collection. Great fun to browse.

This is me as I almost expire before getting to the galleries in St. Paul’s. It is not for the feeble or for anyone who gets claustrophobia or vertigo.

Here’s me attempting to take my own picture at Buckingham Palace. I made several botched attempts. Gah. Look really tired.

And this is the picture taken by the Bobby you see in the first picture above. Yes, I was so pathetic that he stepped over the metal car bomb barrier and volunteered. Wasn’t that sweet?

Aw, look at him on the right there. What a nice guy. Thanks, Mr. Policeman!

Then as I was standing there, I dumb lucked into the changing of the guard. How ’bout that for my last few moments of sightseeing in London? Brilliant!

Not pictured:
British Museum (the whirlwind tour)
St. Paul’s (no pictures allowed, besides the one I snuck on the stairs of death)
The 39 Steps (Great show)