UK & Ireland - Summer 2006

Day 1 - Overnight Flight and London Preview by Bus
Day one is actually the combination of June 23rd and June 24th. We left Dulles, Virginia on the evening of the 23rd and landed in London, England very early in the morning of the 24th. After breakfast and a nap at Hotel 41, we had our first look at much of the city via a hop-on bus tour. The walk back to the hotel was followed by Afternoon Tea and more naps before another adventure into the city for dinner.

Melissa watching TV before bed. "I'm trying to sleep here." "Honestly, I am going to sleep." "Fine I will get up for one picture." Tina and Brad are ready for bed too.
Sleeping on the plane sounded like a good idea. Some of us had no problem... ... we just drifted off the dreamland. Entering the round-about in front of Buckingham Palace. Westminster Abbey bus stop from the "Hop-On" city tour bus.
The front of Westminster Abbey's Great West Door on sunny Saturday afternoon. The building of Westminster Abbey begun in 1245. The towers themselves were completed in 1745. In the light of the large window lays the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. Chris and Melissa on the bus tour...
... trying to get a good photo with Westminster Abbey. One last try, but no Abbey. The London Eye from Lambeth Bridge. A clear shot with no bridge, but plenty of traffic on the River Thames. The British Airways London Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the world.
The wheel moves 10 inches a second, completing a full revolution every 30 minutes. The first sight of The Houses of Parliament through the trees. We may not know what the building is, but at least we know the time. Spires of parliament peaking through. The Victoria Tower segment of the Houses of Parliament from across the River Thames.
The Millennium Bridge. Victoria Tower from the Lambeth Bridge. Big Ben starts to appear. The whole of The Houses of Parliament with Westminster Bridge beyond. Another chance to take it all in.
Parliament from Westminster Bridge. Big Ben with the bus trying to creep into the photo. Ben against the blue sky. (Actually the bell is Ben) The clock tower and Big Ben have kept the time since 1859. If we were British we would be able to climb all the way up - all 334 steps.
Melissa with a different view of Westminster Abbey. Sidewalk art. The Union Jack across from the hotel. Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery beyond the fountain. People and pigeons at Trafalgar Square.
It is illegal to feed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. St. Martin-in-the-Fields... ... or the National Portrait Gallery? Either way, we once again at least know what time it is. A row of the stone and brick buildings that line the city streets.
Every building seems to be a memoral to someone or a few people. The West Porch of St. Paul's Cathedral, with another clock. It appears that an important event was going on at Paul's. We were not invited so we had to continue on our bus tour. The base of the Monument to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666.
The Tower Bridge in the distance from the London Bridge. Once again you can see how busy the River Thames is. Docked in the River is the HMS Belfast that was used in WWII. The HMS Belfast with the Tower Bridge as a backdrop. A few of the newer buildings that make up London.
With all the glass in view you almost forget that the city is so full of brick and stone. This was way to scary for all of us. One of the archways that makes up the Tower Bridge. The upper level of the Tower Bridge where the walkways are accessable. The walkways from the roadway.
Chris and Melissa on the Tower Bridge. The approach to the Tower of London. The Tower of London with the top of the White Tower pushing its way above the walls. More of the White Tower showing. One final look at the Tower of London for the day.
Another random monument in one of London's many parks or maybe this is a green? This statue seems distressed by all the construction that was going on. We took a vote, none of us wanted either of job - however guy with the water appeared to be having more fun. Another clock! Are you keeping track of the time? Here she is again - clearly more than one camera does have its disadvantages.
Did we say that we were in London during the world cup? This was a sports shop, but that is not to say that most every other building was not wearing the colors of England. The Admiralty Arch. You can almost see the flag lined Mall that leads to Buckingham Palace. We had decided that the bus was no longer for us, and Melissa stand by the arch on the way back to the hotel on foot. Here is the flag lined Mall, bordered on one side by St. James's Park and the other by The Green Park.
We do not know the type of car, but it looks like it would be a lot of fun. Can you see the Palace yet? We made it to the Palace and the light says it is Ok to go. Buckingham Palace with the statue of Victoria in the front. One lone guard stands at his post.
He gets a few visitors. The queen was home (see the flag) but she did not invite us in for tea. The guard looks pretty small against this backdrop. The statue of Victoria. The statue with the sun still bright in the sky.
Chris and Melissa at Buckingham Palace. Another attempt and this time we got a smile out of Melissa. The flags along the edge of St. James's Park. They are voting on which pub to watch the football game at. Do you think the one guy feels left out?
They really are taking their time... .. really how many pubs are there to choose from? Ok - we got some action! Tina at Buckingham Palace. The gates of Buckingham Palace.
Brad and Tina stand at the gates to the Palace. Melissa looks to catch a good photo of the guards. Also back to the hotel, the Buckingham Palace bus stop. Tina and Brad in a black cab on our way to Covent Garden to find shopping and dinner. The streets leading to Covent Garden.
An entrance to the underground on the busy streets. Every city has a China Town Archway. Not our dinner, but you know you are in China Town. A street performance, which we never did figure out. Another performance, this one involved a song about being kick out of his house.
The bathroom with two showers.