Nice Monday 8th Sept

 Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th London days 

Well up early after a good sleep, and out to have a look at London, firstly by Hop on Hop off. Caught it down by Marble Arch a twenty minute walk away, past poshness and little parks which are private gardens like on Love Actually. Marble Arch doesn’t feature as it is covered in hoardings of Ralph Loren or similar, probably being restored but did they not know I was coming?? Firstly went through Knightsbridge shopping area, Harrods features here, from the outside only. apparently has been under scaffolding until recently - at least they realised who was on her way!

and then on past the Natural History Museum and V & A then back to where I started where I changed routes and went past Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, that’s Mr Nelson up there

Houses of Parliament, close up with Richard the Lionmheart. And then Westminster Abbey

over one bridge and back over another - its a bit like India without the tooting, double deckers, taxis and fancy cars (mostly) 

I got off and walked back to Houses of Parliament, had a look at entering Westminster Abbey, but already sold out for the day, there was a man trying to rid the world of plastic

So walked up to Trafalgar Square, past some famous people and monuments, Winston, Monty and Charles number one, apparently looking towards where he was executed.

Once in Trafalgar Square I Looked down a grate or two but didn’t see Dad’s shilling he lost there after the war, probably lost it whilst they were drinking London dry! 

Decided to go into the National Gallery, because I was there and they usually have good toilets, and it is also free to get in. 

Had a wander around there and enjoyed the Art, beautiful horse painting by Stubbs, who is renowned for painting horses

From there I had something to eat, over 10 pounds for a salad and a soft drink, but it was nice, kind of in an upmarket McDonalds called Prêt a manger. Ready to eat. Caught the bus again because thought it would be faster than walking, wrong, but got a second look at some things

Decided to got back to the V& A for a nosey, but time kept ticking by whilst the traffic was negotiated, and other bus was waited for, then it decided to wait 10 minutes, so well after four before I got there, it closed at 5.45pm. So a look around but not long enough, Fashion, jewellery, metal work, sculpture, so much to see will try to go back again, as it’s free.

A half hour walk back to the hotel along the serpentine in Kensington gardens.

Spent the evening organising a rendezvous with Ronda for when I’m back in London, she is going to come down and we are going to visit Kew Gardens together and then she will stay the night at my hotel, so should be good fun and lovely to catch up with her.

Tuesday morning I braved the tube again to go to St Paul’s, I decided last night to go there instead of Westminster, I’ve seen lots of Gothic Cathedrals so bought a ticket on line, It was a great choice, a most tasteful cathedral. Well done Christopher Wren! Got a free audio guide with the ticket and it gives you options of how long you want to be there.

I ended up staying a full two hours, walked up to the top, 576 steps but in three stages. First up to the whispering gallery that you can see around the base of the dome on the inside, not allowed to take photos and then up to the stone gallery to take photos outside,

 I thought about it for a while and decided to go up to the golden gallery, it was mostly a wire spiral staircase, but great to get to the top , wee bit windy but worth a selfie, pretty pleased with myself!

Can you see the little cars and double decker buses! I know really high up, back down the spiral staircase

I then went down to the Crypt , that was pretty interesting, such notable peoples in there. Sir Christopher hiumself 

Artists, Reynolds, Turner also Millais and Holman Hunt. I think the Light of the world belongs to the Cathedral as there is a big reproduction there and a note saying it is being restored. Again, didn’t;t they know I was coming? I had that picture in my bedroom when I was little.

Then I photographed this one because I thought it was pretty, and it was a musician, then found out it was Sullivan from Gilbert and Sullivan, and did you know that he wrote Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before ……? I didn’t know that!

it was really fascinating down there,, Horatio was down ther and upstairs as well

Wellington had a big fancy memorial upstairs 

George Grey an Freyberg, ex NZ Governor generals, Florence had her own little plaque

Back upstairs agains, Sir Henry Lawrence, a favourite of mine who died in the defence of Lucknow in India, read stories about him.

A few pictures of the Quire and the pretty mosaics on the ceiling 

Then outside there was some food stalls so bought some lunch and joined the London workers eating lunch on the lawn around St Paul’s 

The Tate Modern was just over the river so made a quick visit before catching the tube, back to the hotel collecting my suitcase and moving to the hotel for the Tour and that evenings meal.