The Big Bus Tour, or, the super cheesy, touristy, fun easy way of seeing the city

June 28
Our second full day in London began at 3:30 am. At least, that's when
we first woke up. Happily, we were able to get a bit more sleep before starting our day (Dane more than me; 3:30 to 5:30 was a long stretch of boring, except to discover how many weird noises there are in big cities all through the night).
We decided that it would be most helpful for us to get a handle on the layout of the city, so we hopped on an open top tour bus to cruise around. It was much warmer than we had been expecting, so poor Dane was melting. Once again, I think it is easiest to explain the day with pictures.
The way the bus thing works is that you can get on or off at any of the stops listed on this map.




Dane was so excited to begin planning our day! he chose which line we would take, what stops we wanted to prioritize...




Of course, we sat on top. This turned out to be problematic, but that's ok.








Dane began to be doubtful about how long he would last.




But we decided to go with it, and the tour began! This red-brick building was the first apartment building in London. When it was built, the landlords had a hard time renting them because no one wanted to live in something called a flat. So they changed the name to Mansions, and then they were in high demand. Now, one flat in this building goes for over 2 million pounds.








In addition to the bus tours, our tickets involved a variety of walking tours we could go on. We took the Harry Potter film sites (of course) in London (we,ll check out some others in Oxford later). I 'helped' with a reenactment of a scene from Deathly Hallows Part 1 here. I'm Ron Weasley (can't you tell?) walking down a corridor in Picadilly Circus with Hermione and Harry. We've just escaped Death Eaters, and Hermione suddenly realizes that it's Harry's birthday. See the broken cinema sign? It's broken in the movie, too.








This next one is the "entrance" to Diagon Alley. I'm not sure which movie has it (and I don't have mine with me, or believe me, I'd check) but you should be able to the see 12 on the right in the movie when they go.




This is a tiny little private street that is believed to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. It's pretty cool that the residents tolerate people walking through. I don't know if you can see it in the pictures, but some of the windows are slightly curved and bulge out of the walls.








This awesome window is in the Amnesty International building where Rowling worked before Harry Potter. I hadn't known before that she worked there but with some of the issues of social justice in the book, it makes a lot of sense.




This was a stop on the tour to see where they had built the entrances to the undergoing toilets that served as the entrance to the ministry of magic in movie 7. It was a common design of public restrooms in Victorian England to basically be like underground stations with stairs going down. When they built the t, they had to post security because it looked to realistic that Londoners assumed new toilets had been developed. That story, though, had nothing to do with why I took this picture. That building, Whitehall Palace, was where King Henry VIII lived. Isn't that crazy? It's just there. Crazy monarch from the 1500s lived in this building that is still here and you can just walk by.




Ok, this next part is largely based on folklore and rumors, but I liked it, so I'm including it. You snopes addicts out there, just let it go. Quick history lesson: in the first century AD, England was under roman rule (the list of who wasn't under roman rule at they time might be easier to compile...). there were these Celtic tribes, though, who didn't love it and one queen in particular, Boudicea, led a revolt. it was not successful, she was defeated and killed (or possibly took poison to avoid capture) but her reputation was certainly one of tenacity. It is rumored that she is buried directly under the site if King's Cross rail station (can you see where this is going?). The rumor even extends to say that she is buried between platforms 9 and 10. :) There is also some speculation that Rowling used her as an inspiration for Bellatrix in the books.




These are pictures of the monument to Queen Boudicea.




And this, of course, is Big Ben. It is not as tall as it is in my imagination (I've seen it before and still my mental picture of it is a little off), but the clock is still ginormous.












After the walking tour, we spent an hour looking for a bathroom and an air-conditioned place to eat lunch. It took that long because this things are harder to find in London than you would expect. Then, less cranky because we we cooler and fuller, we got on a river boat and cruised up the Thames. I'll write descriptions for some of these, but if thee is nothing, it means either that I don't remember what it is, or I just thought it was pretty or self-explanatory.

A giant photo/canvas/mural thing from the Queen's silver jubilee.



The Golden Jubilee bridge (they really love their jubilees).




This is the London Eye. It is so giant, and Dane said no before I even opened my mouth to suggest he go on it.



I think red building is the Westminster School for Boys, which I believe is still where you have to go to school to be in the Westminster abbey choir as a child (sorry, no girls.)


Ach! This is the only picture I got of the millennium bridge! I was focused and ready to take a picture of it, you know, for Harry Potter significance, and then Dane distracted me with his whining about the heat! and this is all I got.




***i need to assure you that I am not just a terrible wife; the reason I keep bringing up Dane's bad attitude about the heat is that he wants me to. I think the fact that I will write about it is an impetus for him to have a better attitude about it. Just in case you were thinking I'm a jerk.***

I'm way too far away to see the bird woman, but I'm convinced she's there. (for you non Mary Poppins people: that dome is St Paul's cathedral)



The Globe! or at least something that looks exactly like it. :). This is a replica of the famous theatre, and they still do open air, un-mic'd performances of Shakespeare's plays.











This is not the original, because that is in Arizona. Here's the new London Bridge.











This unique building is basically the set of local government. The building is round. It's kind of cool, but I think it clashes a bit with some of the beautiful old stuff around it.



Tower Bridge, of course. They have to raise the Olympic rings when they open up the drawbridge.



TheTower of London. This was basically a fortress, a prison, and a venue of execution. If you click on the picture it will get bigger (I think) and in the bottom left corner you can see the entrance to traitor's gate. This is where traitors were brought to be executed. Some famous people to have gone through that gate are Guy Fawkes, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and Sir Thomas More (also Queen Elizabeth I, but she was not executed...obviously)























When we finally made it back to the hotel, it was time to find a pub. we settled on The Monkey Puzzle, mostly because I liked the name, but also because it was busy, a good sign for a pub.


I took a picture of the food because it was one of the most delicious fish dishes I've ever had (and I have had some darn good fish). They cooked it in a foil packet with fennel and fresh basil leaves over a grill. so amazing!




That's it for day 2. I'm a day behind still, but I'll catch up eventually.

thanks for reading!

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Location:London

Day one in London, in which we spend hours walking so we don't fall asleep.

Once we got off the plane, we walked. We walked at least a mile in the airport, we sat on the underground (fun fact, much of it is above ground until you actually get into the city centre) and then we walked to the hotel. It was only 3, so we needed to stay awake at least 5 more hours. Sitting down wasn't going to cut it, so I decided we should walk through Hyde park, and we could cross Buckingham Palace off our list (Dane really wanted to see it...) I think altogether we went about 6 miles on foot. So much for easing into it. Here are some pictures from our wanderings. :)
Lunch with dad before we left.




Just touched down in London! We look about how we feel.




Dane's first fish and chips in London. Complete with malt vinegar... And tomato cheese focaccia...




Our view from our lunch table. What I love is that it has layers. Construction mayhem on the ground. Beautiful private garden park (notting hill, anyone?) across the street. And if you look closely, you can see Mary Poppins chimney sweep-esque chimneys on the rooftop.




Ok, so hotels in Europe are different from hotels at home. They are in old buildings, and these buildings often have tiny walkways, doors, rooms, etc. so here is what we have to do to get to our room: walk through a maze of halls to get to this lift (you are seeing the entire thing in the picture). We almost didn't fit with both of us and our luggage.




Open the door by hand to get out.




Walk up these stairs.




Then turn a corner and walk up these stairs, which pitch to the left and have a sharp turn at the top.




I wasn't clear on what was posing the threat to my life here, but the sign worked. I was cautious and did not hang around.




The bus messed this up, but Dane and I thought these buildings together were an interesting combination. Then we found it even more interesting when we realized the middle one is a convent.




Hyde Park! There was a light drizzle falling, and we had just passed a British couple on bicycles who'd had this conversation: "What a lovely, refreshing rain this is today." "yes, it is lovely. It's quite english, isn't it?" and Dane almost cried because he loves Englishy statements in English accents so much.




We'll work on Dane's camera aim. This is the main gate to Hyde park. The lion and the unicorn have some historical significance, but I won't bore you with that. That's what Wikipedia is for. :)




There is an area that has about 6 different war memorials near Buckingham palace. This is sort of the central one.




A kind person took pity on us trying to do the arm-stretch camera shot.




This is still the palace.




I find Buckingham palace kind of drab, except for those bursts of red color from the guards.




Here's my attempt at a panoramic shot with the camera. There's a funny angle thing that happens in the middle that I don't know how to avoid.




Sara wood, I have it in my head that you like mermaids. If this is true, this is for you. If not, it's a picture of a mermaid just because.




Where is this kid's parent?




There are several flower gardens in parks all over London. It's possible that this is actually Kensington Garden, but I'm not sure we were far enough over yet. It might just be pretty flowers. Megan, these pictures are because I thought you would love this place.
















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:London