Bright Lights of London
Trip Start
May 22, 2005
1
5
107
Trip End
Jan 22, 2006
London,
United Kingdom
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
It is quite an experience when you first emerge from the Tube into London. Almost everything looks like it has some historical significance. The first thing we saw was Big Ben. Paul has always wanted to meet someone at a famous landmark like, "I'll meet you at Big Ben," so Paul crossed the street first and waited there. Mel came around later, thus fulfilling Paul's dream.
We attended the evening service at Westminster Abbey. It was a wonderful service--the pastor did a great job of connecting with the congregation in a personal way, despite the grand and imposing setting
01 - Big Ben
. Worshipping God in the Abbey was very special.We wanted to go to a musical so we went to Les Miserables. (Tip: buy theatre tickets from the TKTS ticket booth at Leicester Square for half price.) It was Paul's first time and Victor Hugo's classic story of grace was powerful indeed. One of the last lines in the musical when Jean Valjean received salvation is that "to love someone is to see the face of God"--how true!
The parks in London are a welcome reprieve from the business of the city - Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, Garden at Russell Square. We spent a few hours everyday sitting, journalling, napping and watching fat, well-fed pigeons chase each other.
There are lots of free attractions in London. The ones we enjoyed the most were the National Gallery and the British Museum. At the British Museum, we almost missed seeing the Rosetta Stone. On our way out, we peered into a room with a big crowd of people and thought, "Hey, isn't that the Rosetta Stone?"
In our wanderings, we also accidently stumbled on Chinatown--different city, same smell.
Final thoughts on London: (1) Londoners are very helpful and courteous and will go to great lengths to explain in detail where things are; (2) the soot that appears in your nostrils at the end of the day is very disconcerting; and (3) for some reason, the monkey insisted that we buy him a brolly.
Mel's sister, Eunice, arrived Wednesday morning so we spent the day with her enjoying brunch and visiting Buckingham Palace. Eunice is off on her own to southern Europe and we are now off through the Chunnel to Brussels. Have a safe trip Eun and remember to heed Paul's advice!
Comments
Brolly?
What's a Brolly?
Re: Brolly?
Yo, Woody. Dude. Umbrella.