VACATION ~ LONDON ~ PART THREE

(Please remember to click on the pictures to see them larger)

Tuesday June 14, 2011

Win some, lose some:

I was going to take a Bus Tour today but I thought I would pick it up later in the day. I decided to start out at Kensington Palace so I got myself a taxi. I told him I want to get as close to Kensington as I can. I know the tours can drop you off blocks away. So he took me to Kensington but tried to get in a side gate. He said "I'm trying to get this lady closer" and the guard looked at me like "who the heck is she" and told him to go to another gate. Then we came up to another closed area, not even a gate that you could see through. A guard came over and opened the gate and he let us through. So he dropped me off at the back of the Palace. There was a small gate, he said the police will open it for you and took off. So I went over to the three policeman and they said they can't open the gate.

I walked over to the small gate and rang the button. A woman came on and I told her that my taxi driver dropped me off here and left. She said did you want to tour the palace, I said yes and she opened the electronic gate and let me in. That's how my day started!

I realize now that somehow that was meant to be because as I started walking towards the palace I heard a helicopter and it landed in a clearing near that gate I came through. It was a royal helicopter. (No I Didn't See Anyone) Many people came over to watch. The police told us no pictures. Then the woman from the gate speaker told him that we can take pictures. So a woman walked up to the helicopter, the pilots got out and put on their suit jackets, they talked for a little while. About 10 minutes later a small car came out and drove right up to helicopter door and whoever it was got on to the helicopter. We could not see the person but is as very exciting. I call this a win.

So I went over and did what was called The Enchanted Tour, something new to Kensington Palace. It really wasn't that great but I thought I would at least be able to walk into some rooms that maybe Princess Diana had walked into. This tour would be cute if you had young children because you have to play a game guessing who stayed in which rooms! Normally you would enter the front gate and go on a tour of some rooms and Princess Diana's dresses. There is scaffolding up and there was a gate in front of the gate. I managed to take some pictures but was a bit disappointed. The Palace is now closed for renovations because William and Kate will be living there soon. I will call this one a lose.

Then I went to find the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. Well let me tell you that I walked for what felt like 10 miles but it was probably just a couple. This walk was in Hyde Park. Well wouldn't you know that the fountain was closed this week for maintenance. Another loss for me! I took some pictures of some flowers around the area. In doing this I also missed the Serpentine Fountain which I really wanted to see :( Walked around a little more then headed over to were I saw some cars and buses and thought I would then get onto The Big Bus Tour and head over to the Tower of London. (this is where I come upon the most beautiful wild flower patch I have ever seen.) Well I wasn't near any of that so I walked hoping to find a stop somewhere. I did see the Royal Albert Hall. After awhile I walked back to an area where I had seen taxi's. It took a very long time but I finally got one.

So I asked him to take me to the Marble Arch because I know that we caught a tour bus there on Sunday. Well he couldn't drop me off right there so I was a few blocks away! I saw a money changer place and needed to exchange some money, needed some cash for the taxi later that evening to a hotel near Heathrow airport. (see earlier in the day I was checked out of the Marriott and I had them hold my luggage and a car was being arranged for me later in the evening) So I went to change some money and it was $1.99 for each pound. That mean my $100 bill became approximately $50. I also tried another one that I saw that was $1.70 American for each pound which was better but still not great but I need the pounds. When I went shopping on Monday at Harrods I spent something like 94 pounds which I thought wasn't that bad for all I bought but really it was $154. US!

So I went over to get the tour, the guy asked me what I wanted to see and I told him the Tower of London. He said because of the distance (across town) and with their stops I wouldn't get there in time for any tours. He suggested I take the underground. I said no but he said it's really easy and he gave me exact directions. Well I did it! OMG you have to walk down a hundred of stairs. (actually one woman counted them and said it was 123) Then I saw people going up on escalators so I thought I would be okay. So I got on, after several stops I was to get off and get on another line. It was a long walk and more stairs, this time up but I did it and made it to Tower Hill. Well the worst thing was that it was stairs up, no escalator. I knew I wouldn't be taking it back. I was totally exhausted from my day and couldn't do that again.

So I got there bought my ticket and saw the Crown Jewels. I didn't do much else because it's all up hill and upstairs. Then I went out and got some pictures of Tower Bridge. I had seen it the other day but with the rain we didn't get to stop and couldn't take any pictures through the wet bus windows. Got myself some quick fish and chips because I was hungry. I had seen some taxi's by Starbucks to I went over and got one. At this point it didn't matter to me the cost. It was 28 pounds to where I was going. Do the math!

There were some wire animals on display that had placed around the area. During 2011 an exhibition was hosted at the Tower with fine wire sculptures by Kendra Haste. I thought they were cool.

Got back to the hotel and had a glass of wine as they got my luggage and waited for the car to the airport hotel. (this was a 45 pound ride)I think I was there by 8pm, took a bath, put my pajamas on and Mark got in around 10pm. We actually got some food and wine from room service.

A few miscellaneous pictures from London.

Five down 16 more days to go!