June 20, 2010 - London!

The day started off with a ride on a double-decker bus (yes, we sat on the top level in the front row) to Piccadilly area where we picked up our London Pass at the London / Britain Visitor Centre. Then we hopped on another bus for a quick trip to Parliament Square so we could attend the 11:15am service at Westminster Abbey.

The service was a sung Eucharist and we were fortunate enough to sit with the Choir in the choir stalls by the high altar. That's right behind where the Royal Family sit.

Words can't describe how large and magnificent it is, and we were enthralled with all the memorials we passed as we made our way to the front of the church. As it was a Sunday there were no tours. But what an experience to be there for a service!

Then we visited Methodist Central Hall (below) across the street and had lunch in the café beneath the church.

Here's a video of the view we had walking from Westminster Abbey to the Jewel Tower next door. Look closely and you'll get a glimpse of London's famous Roadmaster double-decker bus. Their withdrawal from service in 2005 was so sorely missed by Londoners that the Mayor of London was forced to bring them back on "Heritage Routes".

Then it was back across the street, past Westminster Abbey, to the Jewel Tower. Built in the 1300's the Jewel Tower is the oldest remaining part of the original Palace of Westminster.

Of course, there's the obligatory stop at the quintessential British telephone booth!

The phone booths are everywhere, just like the double-decker buses.

We visited the Churchill Cabinet & War Rooms which are underground (one could spend an entire day there it seemed).

We walked across Westminster Bridge and paid our respects to Queen Boudica (the statue) on the way back.

And did some birding in St. James Park (amazingly we saw lots of life birds while sitting on a park bench!).

We ended our first day on Westminster Bridge, by the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and were reminded of Wordsworth's poem "Ode Composed Upon Westminster Bridge"

Earth has not any thing to show more fair:

Dull would be he of soul who could pass by

A sight so touching in its majesty:

This City now doth like a garment wear

The Beauty of the morning; silent, bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky;

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

And at that point Big Ben signaled the time for us to return to our hotel by chiming 5pm.



And here's a quick video of us riding the Tube back to our hotel.