LONDON VISIT

London was a beautiful city that I would certainly visit again. The people were just fantastic. They were friendly, funny and accommodating.  

This was our hotel foyer. The Grosvenor. Great place, located walking distance from Buckingham palace. We were told that sometimes the Queen stops by and if she’s into her cups she will bang out some Jerry Lee Lewis on the ivories. They say her “Great Balls Of Fire” is spot on.

The hotel was right around the corner of Victoria Station. I love these London taxis. I wanted to take one home. They remind me of the French deux chevaux that my French friends were trying to talk me into buying and ship home. But that’s a different story.

Buckingham Palace: I have a similar coat of arm on my gate. Well, not so much my gate as my mailbox, and not really a coat of arms but sticky letters that spell ‘Rose’.

I wanted to venture inside and get a closer look but this guy said that it wasn’t a good idea.

These Palace guards were a trip. During my brief military career I remember standing at attention. I remember that IT IS NOT FUN. These guys do it for a living.

It is probably my age speaking but some of these guys looked young. I swear this is the same kid who bagged my groceries at the market last week. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he could run me through with that bayonet without much problem. .just sayin.   

Here is Buckingham Palace. It kind of looks like a library out front but I’m sure it’s cozy inside. 

The Changing of the guard: Around 11 o'clock the crowds thicken and the fanfare starts. At my job we call this ‘shift change’ and instead of carrying Royal Gurkha rifles the workers march in with large Dunkin Donuts cups. 

At one point my view of the ceremony was obscured by the crowds. When this happens I turn my camera on the spectators. 

I guess it’s the voyeur in me.

The ceremony continued.  This guy was bringing over the keys to the mini-bar to the incoming guards.

The local press was there, checking their blackberries between takes.

In London you have to do a double-decker (hop on, hop off) bus tour. This guys comedy needed a bit of a dust-off. Also, you see the London skies have appeared.
 
Big Ben, River Thames.

London is a very modern as well as a historical city. I loved the architecture. Also ‘Mind Your Head’ is sound advice. 

The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe (443 ft.) Which incidentally was the same length as the line waiting to get on.  

We took a river tour on the Thames which was a great way to see the skyline and the many bridges. . .and bridge workers.

This was the Millennium footbridge also known as the Wobbly bridge because when it opened it had an ‘uncomfortable’ wobble to it caused by the stride of the pedestrians. They closed it for two years and fixed the problem but the moniker stuck.

HMS Belfast. Permanently docked in the Thames. The guns are pointed towards Parliament as an incentive for quick legislation. Sadly, not a bad idea for the U.S. . . Is there a spot open on the Potomac?

London has a great skyline.

Art shot

I got some bad mushrooms in a salad. . .saw this. …it soon passed.

I love these taxies.

Again, ‘Mind Your Head’. . . . great advice for us all.
 
British humor. You have to love it.

and . . another taxi. . .last one.

There was great art.

The sushi was fantastic. . .If I ever have a jazz band I will call it “London Sushi.”
 
I think because of the damp climate the patio plants prosper.

This is the Tower of London built by William the Conqueror in 1078. To the right across the Thames river is London City Hall. I thought it was an interesting juxtaposition between new and old.
I am currently building a catapult  . .Just let the neighbors throw their leaves in my yard this year.

Because I loved the city hall building so much I had to have some Photoshop fun..

If your ever in London on a Saturday you should go to the Portobello Road market. Outstanding. Thankfully, our waitress told us about it Friday night and we took the bus there Saturday morning.

They had street bands

Some were quite good.

Antiques

This guy reminded me of the creepy preacher dude in ‘Poltergeist II’ but he was a good drummer.

The dog was chilling.

Singing

In my mind there was a ‘Pink Floyd The Wall’ thing going on here.

I guess there was some band called ‘The Beatles’ that gained some notoriety. I’ll have to Google that.

There were hats for all occasions .
 
And food of all kinds. This guy was making paella. I remember when I lived in France there were big arguments about the correct way to make paella.

We did not try any (we had just had breakfast) but it smelled wonderful.

jalapeño

Finally – before we left we felt like looking at clothes we couldn’t afford so we went to Harrods of London. Incredible. Expensive. Opulent.