The Sister Holiday [Part 2]

Let's get this Sister Holiday report on the road! About time - eh? 

Did you know that the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is a big deal? Like -- a really big deal? One tip: don't show up on time if you want to really see it. Show up early, and be ready for the crowds!

Since it is one of the things to do in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, I guess I should've known!

This was our first view of the changing of the guards -- not stellar:

Too many heads?

And with a little trimming I bring you: 

Still not a fabulous view; we wanted to get closer!

Thus, we finagled our way onto the other side of the roundabout. Then we had this view:

Getting closer!

Then this view:

And this was taken with the camera held high over my head --- but we were getting closer.

Then the heavens opened. Magic fairy dust started flying all around, and we got this view:

Wow! Once in a lifetime!

And brief! We had to keep moving, but it was amazing to be that close and get that view. 

Then we were off to a lovely and very fancy lunch at Patterson's Restaurant.

After a delicious lunch of monkfish seated by a real Lady (that's a capital 'L'), we were off to Shakespeare's Globe Theater and the Tate Modern.

We were loving this! History, literature, the Thames, art ..... it was -- as the Brits say -- brilliant!

We then crossed the Thames on this famous little bridge:

And off to St. Pauls we went!

Did you know that St. Paul's was badly damaged during World War II? About 10 days ago marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the blitzkrieg of Great Britain. Just this past week, St. Paul's hosted memorial services to honor those who died in World War II.

We then hopped back on the underground and headed north to Hampstead.

Hilary's favorite poet is John Keats, and to his house we went!

 

 

Look how happy she is!  Keats house remains exactly the same as it was when he was living. Isn't it charming? And check out his old neighborhood:

 

 

 

 

 And of my fav historical sign we saw in London:

 The White Rabbit. Love it.

I'll be back soon with more, more, more of this super fun holiday --- because we chocked it full, and there's still lots to share!

I See London. I See France.

We've just trained into Paris. We're here! It's wonderful! Gare du Nord is not so wonderful! (That's a story for later). Here's a few pictures from our time in London. Now off to the Louvre!

Saturday in London

 

Last Saturday we started out with a stroll in the neighborhood and headed west to Notting Hill. 

  

We made our way to the Portobello Road Market.

  

MBA was a good trooper. 

  

There's tons of interesting stuff to peruse. And there were tons of tourists there to peruse it. 

  

I love all the colored buildings. It's so happy!

  

And then I spotted this ...... what the ????

  

More proof. 

Who walks through the Portobello Road Market with a dog balancing on his shoulders!?!?!? 

Only the Eccentric!

  

Next we headed to St. Paul's for a quick look. 

  

Then we walked north to John Wesley's church and home. 

  

Because he was a Dissenter, his meeting place was outside the city walls. 

  

This is Wesley's grave -- surrounded by Reuters. 

  

Wesley's Home

  

Across the street is Bunhill Fields where many Dissenters and Nonconformists were buried. 

  

Over 120,000 people were buried there from 1685 -- and it's small. It's crazy how many people are buried in four hectares. 

  

Next, we swung by the National Gallery for our monthly fill of Italian Renaissance Art. We couldn't stay long because we were headed to the Westminster evensong at 3.

  

On our way south to Westminster, we passed this protest. Did you know Christians are being killed in Egypt? I didn't. 

  

The evensong at Westminster was splendid. As we were being ushered in, we even passed William Wilberforce's grave. What a hero. He's the guy that put an end to the slave trade in Britain. 

  After Evensong, we met up with our friend Chris in St. James Park for a spot of tea. As a native Londoner, Chris was keen to take us on small walking tour. Here's some of the areas we passed through:

  

West End

Soho

Picadilly 

Even though it was our second trip to London since living here, we're still keen to head back soon. I feel as though we've barely started seeing all there is to take in and experience in that grand town. I'm already itching to see more of what the world can show!

"By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show." - Samuel Johnson

Friday in Kensington, London

Last Friday, MBA and I caught the eastern rail into London Kings Cross. In five hours, we went from door step to the heart of London. Within minutes of arrival, we were purchasing Oyster Cards and making our way across town using London's Underground. We stayed in one of London's most-exclusive and lovely neighborhoods: the charming Hollands Park.

MBA in Holland Park Neighborhood. Kensington, London.

 

While I was still quite ill last Friday (an icky upper respiratory infection), we still enjoyed strolling these streets close to the hotel.

Charming. I absolutely love all the white! It's refreshing to see white!

After a one-course dinner a block from the hotel, we headed back so I could rest.

And guess what -- there was a surprise awaiting me!

BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!!