Across The Pond #2 - London

From: Monday, August 28, 2006

We had a great night at the Rubens Hotel.

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There were so many "bells and whistles" in the bathroom that we almost couldn't figure out how to make everything work.

^^Almost looks like there's a telephone in the shower.




^^We're not used to faucets that look like these.



^^The shower was great!!!

We went downstairs for their full English breakfast. We should have taken some pictures, that spread was good! It was a rainy morning as we hopped on the HoHo bus.



We went to the Cabinet War Rooms where all the planning went on during WWII. It's an amazing warren of hallways and rooms about 3 stories beneath the ground. This is where Churchill and his people directed their end of the War.



Then, back on the HoHo bus, we crossed the Tower Bridge.


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We passed 10 Downing Street and drove down Fleet Street.

We saw City Hall (it leans a bit!)



and saw the 30 St. Mary Axe Building - better known as The Gherkin. I think it should be called The Egg.



And then got off at the Tower of London. We did a tour, saw a film and climbed up into the Tower. That was pretty fascinating.


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Waiting around to start the tour.


Checking our tickets.


Off we go into one of the towers.



The "Tower of London" is not just one tower. There are actually several towers in the complex. This is the one where the Crown Jewels are kept. No photographs allowed inside.


Something was being filmed in the open space around the towers.



It is said that the English Empire will stand as long as there are ravens at the Tower of London. Here is where the ravens stay. Their wings are clipped, thus insuring that they will stay at the Tower.


But, there were actually more pigeons than ravens!
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Then we took a cruise on the Thames River up to Greenwich.


We saw the Cutty Sark



and the Royal Naval College



and the Royal Observatory




I bought a bottle of water for 65p (that's pence). I gave the lady a coin valued at 1 pound and got back 3 coins. I assume they were for 20p, 10p and 5p. It's really hard to remember which is which so I just depend on the honesty of the salespeople!! LOL


Tonight we had dinner at The Bag O'Nails across from the Hotel. I had Indian food and it was delicious. A curry dish - Chicken Tika, I believe.