Saturday, April 30, 2016

London - Changing of the Guard, Phantom of the Opera

In front of Buckingham Palace
Memorial to Queen Victoria
View towards the city from St James' Park
England has this thing with rhubarb that I can't get over. So good!!!
Buckingham Palace in the background
Changing of the Guard
Such handsome horses and smart uniforms
I got to see The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. It was so wonderful!

Friday, April 29, 2016

London - Westminster Abbey, British Museum, British Library

First glimpses of Westminster Abby had us both reaching for our cameras.
What you missed between this shot and the stained glass window is the entire Abbey. No photography was allowed in the Abbey. 
Big Ben!
Richard Lion Heart
House of Parliament
Eye of London seen from across the Thames
We ate at Museum Tavern on our way to the British Museum.
Steak & Ale Pie
Chicken & Mushroom Pie
Full English Breakfast
Rosetta Stone
Fist bump with a pharaoh,
Not sure ;)
Balawat Gate - Assyrian
In front of the human-headed winged lion - Assyrian
Assyrian relief of lion hunt.
Lely's Venus
Ancient EpirusRoman Molossian Hound
Mesopotamia Relief
Lewis' Chessmen
Monumental carillon clock, 1598

Thursday, April 28, 2016

London - Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, National Gallery

My first view of the Tower of London
Guarding the Crown Jewels
Where the Crown Jewels are housed. Formerly a barracks to the White Tower.
Our Beefeater (Yeoman Warder) tour guide. He was hilarious. You have to have quite the military career to get this post, turns out.
The Traitor's Gate. One famous traitor, Anne Boleyn, was brought through here for her execution.
The White Tower. Where the royalty lived starting with William the Conqueror (forever ago).
Tower Bridge in the background. The little pedestal is a replica of the chopping block used for Anne Boleyn. She requested a two-handed sword be used instead of the typical axe. Her mouth is said to have continued moving in prayer up to 20+ seconds after her head was severed.
We walked the Line of Kings. This was my favorite combo known as "The Giant and the Dwarf".
This is a dragon made from a variety of weapons and coins.
The combo Axe and Pistol
A fake archer on top of a turret overlooking the moat.
Standing between in the inner and the outer walls
Tower Bridge
St. Paul's Cathedral
Dad and I climbed 500+ stairs to get to the top (Golden Gallery). This is the 2nd stop on the way, known as the Stone Gallery. Gorgeous view of London.
The "canopy" over an altar
The Choir would be seated here
One of the many statues and memorials to great warriors throughout England's history. I just liked the lion part.
A very famous painting of Christ standing at the door knocking.
Down in the Crypt, I discovered a memorial to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. 
Trafalgar Square
The National Gallery
So many lions in this city!
A front view of our hotel. After a long day on our feet, this was a very welcome sight!