Abbeys and Squares

So you ever have the thought that you should go see something, just because everyone goes to see it? I headed over to Westminster this morning to visit the palace. You know, to visit the Queen and have some tea.

Okay, so the queen is away for the summer and I only joined the millions of other people around the the Victoria Fountain to stare at the gate around the palace. Don't tell the queen, but I liked the fountain and the gardens around it better than the palace. And sadly, there was no changing of the guard ceremony today. We had two false alarms--two groups of uniformed horseman came riding up--but no marching redcoats with big furry hats.

Course, there was a sign near the gate that read "NO CHANGING OF THE GUARD CEREMONY TODAY" but apparently, no one out of the huge crowd read it--or if they did, like me, thought it might be a mistake since all these people seemed pretty convinced that this was the place to be. Alas, 11:30 came and went with no pomp and circumstance. A bit of a let down.

But I wasn't too bothered (couldn't take very many pictures anyway...grr--not that I'm bitter) so I headed back up toward the river towards Westminster Abbey. I was supposed to see a concert there with two girls from the Netherlands from my hostel that were leaving today. (as an aside, they were Christians, who had just worked at a student outreach in Cambridge and the one was pretty excited about what I do for a living...might have actually done some work here in London town) Back at the abbey, I saw the signs for the concert, but couldn't find the "College Garden" where it was supposed to be. Not willing to let more time tick by when I could be seeing something, I went in and bought my ticket to see the great abbey.

All my reflections on this amazing place are going to have to wait until I have more time (on the internet and before bed) but oh--it just leaves you gaping, amazed that you can actually walk halls that kings and queens had trod for nearly a thousand years. Since 1066, England's kings have been coronated there. Lots of dead people buried within these walls and floors--but oh the lives they had lived! I mean--Queen Elizabeth is there.. and Geoffery Chaucer and ALfred Lord Tennyson.. and.. well--it was amazing.

I eventually found the college green (it's on the tour) and enjoyed the tail end of the brass band concert, but didn't find my friends. I hope to keep in touch through Facebook at least.

Then it was back in the Abbey--to visit the almost incongruous coffee bar--but they had hot meat pies.. for cheap. I got a water and a sausage roll--for less than 3 pounds! For those of you who have never tried to eat in London, it's very rare that I can eat even simple fare and not spend 10 quid. (which with our deplorable exchange rate, is 20 dollars)

So after the abbey and lunch, I wanted to see the rest of Westminster--the rest of Westminster! that's a bit of a task. I walked from the Abbey to Trafalgar Square. I passed a lot of statues of people I had heard of and some I didn't. I passed the Banqueting House (which apparently used to be part of the Palace at Whitehall that was the palace until... oh, maybe Henry the VIII. Anyway.. it was on the balcony of this palace that Charles I was beheaded) I passed the Ministry of Defense and all these other stone buildings that all looked similar, but there titles sounded familiar because of the books I had read over the years. Even the road--I was walking down Whitehall. Wow.

So I arrived in Trafalgar Square--

Oh--hate to do this to you folks, but I gotta go. The Internet meanies are making me log off--and I'm exhausted besides..just wait until you hear what I did in the fountain...stay tuned.

Only one full day left in London.. then off to Amsterdam.