London In A Day

London is a city of 6 million and on bank holiday weekends probably another 6 million visitors. The sidewalks and roadways are jammed. No problem we have our big bus passes. We leave the Doubletree for another five minutes, I mean 15 minute walk. We are told cut through the Victoria station and the bus stops are on the other side. Right, all of the buses stop are there. We walk up and down trying to find the the big bus stop. One mate says up there and the next mate says back there. Finally we find it about 200 feet from the door we exited at Victoria Station.

It is early, about 9 AM, and still chilly. So we get on board and stay down below. Now the big bus Red tour is the only one with live commentary. Our guide is Jasmine and driver Chris. Jasmine is excellent, pointing out many interesting points. The first area we go through is Belgrave, luxury homes to the rich and famous. Also once the home of Thomas Crapper, the man who invented, that's right, the toilet.

We head Northwest and go past the Marble Arch. Story is it was presented as a gift from France

but Queen Victoria could not get her carriage through it so she had to move it to its present location. Continuing on we passed Madam Tussauds wax museum. Long lines, no thanks.

Turning back to the southeast we reach Mecca for Sandy, Oxford Street, the shopping district. Again it is early and nothing open yet. Sandy makes notes, drop Buster back at the hotel and come back. At the end of Oxford Street we drop into Piccadilly Circus. People climbing all over the statues and large electronic signs like Times Square. A real circus!

Angling to the east we arrive at Trafalgar Square. Story one from Jasmine: This was the home to 30,000 pigeons. They made such a mess they had to be driven off. A man in a white van comes out at 5 AM and choose them all away. There is now 1,000 GPS fee for feeding the pigeons.

Story two: Trafalgar Square is home to Nelson's column. Lord Nelson is credited with defeating the French Navy at Cape Trafalgar, Spain in 1805. Jasmine says: Lord Nelson was killed and they needed to preserve his body for the return trip. So they stored a body in a barrel of rum. The crew did not know it and when they reached home the

barrel was empty. Yum!

Story three: At the base of Lord Nelson's column are for stately lions. The designer did not have access to lions to do his sculpting. He did have a black lab dog. So the lions are posed as his dog, but they really do not sit like that. Have I said Jasmine is great!

As we left Trafalgar Square directly in front of us is Parliament and Big Ben. Big Ben is actually just the clock and Bell. The tower sits in is St. Stephen's tower.

There were two events that were important in the Westminster area in 1665 and 1666. The plague ravished the area in 1665. The song Ring around the Rosie's commemorates as the bodies were surrounded by posies to cover up the smell. When you listen to the song and think of the plague they go together. We all sang along with Jasmine.

The 1666 event was the great fire. The fire raged for three days and destroyed the area. It is the reason they did not know rats cause the plague because the fire killed them off. It wasn't until years later they figured it out. Also, they enacted a law that banned wooden buildings and that is why all are brick and stone.

Left turn and head over the Westminster Bridge. Off to the left is the London Eye. A huge ferris wheel that does not stop. There are 25 people per pod that load and unload at the bottom. It takes 30 minutes to make it around. So if you want to get in the six block long line and make 24 new friends this is the spot. Sandy said not interested.

We turned north past Waterloo station and recross the Thames on the Waterloo Bridge. St. Paul's Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London for the Church of England. The church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Jasmine says if you asked who designed and ornate buildings in London you should guess Christopher Wren. You will be correct the majority of the time. Being Sunday it was only open for services.

Next area was the finance District and the tallest monument in London. The monument is for the great fire and was built in 1670s.

Back across the Thames on the London Bridge. This is a very simple concrete arched bridge. If shown a picture you would not pick it as the London Bridge. You would pick the Tower Bridge which was next. The two tall towers suspend the bridge Tower Bridge was opened in 1894 so it really is not that old.

On the left after crossing the Tower Bridge is the Tower of London. The original castle of the king and queen dating back to the 11th century. Later turned into a prison in the sight of many beheadings including Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey. Today it houses the crown jewels is hosted by the Beefeater's. No one knows why they are called Beefeater's?

The bus followed the Thames West Bank back to the Westminster Bridge where we crossed again. This time we went south and passed the Florence Nightingale Museum. Sandy was surprised that she was from there and noted may be something to come back to. South and across the Lambeth Bridge and we arrive in Westminster Abbey. Jasmine checks and finds out it is not open today. Buster says we must come back Sandy says we'll see. There were lots of people wandering around the area.

A little further and we get a glance at the end of Buckingham palace. People were swarming over the area as it was time to change the guard. We decide to stay on the bus and watch the YouTube video.

We arrived back at the tour start and Jasmine points out the Hard Rock Cafe. It is the very first Hard Rock built because the rock 'n roller's could not find a decent burger. Sandy says let's go and we hop off. The entrance is directly across the street but we have to backtrack

a block to cross safely. We think we are there and Buster hikes up three steps to find he is in the gift shop. Fook! The café is across the street. We get there and get a table and have lunch surrounded by memorabilia of the legends of rock 'n roll. Pretty cool and good eats.

We get back on the bus with a different crew. Our guide is a dude from Australia. I should say not as entertaining as Jasmine but has a few interesting facts. We do the entire loop again and arrive back at Victoria Station and hop off the bus for the last time. This truly was the best way to experience London!