We started on one "tube" and had to get off and get on a bus to take us to another "tube" because they were doing maintenance work - so we road a double Decker bus (my first time on a bus, other than a school bus) and boy did it take forever! It was an experience that is true, but it took 10 times longer. Our little trip to London that wasn't supposed to take to terribly long...ended up taking LONG and we missed the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace!
Anyway, we finally get on the second "tube" and we make it into London, although not exactly sure where in London - but we're there. So we do some walking and find the LONDON EYE, the giant Ferris wheel, I would say it's probably the largest in the world. It's very pretty. I want to ride on it, even with my fear of heights - it's just one of those things that I want to be able to say, "I did that!" Make sense? Plus, could you imagine the view from up there? I am rather short, okay, I'm really short and I don't get to see up high very often - so I'd like to be up there and see what I can see. Just one problem that means going back to London at some point and facing all those people again! Oh, heaven help me! I wonder if there is ever a "better" time to go to London than November?
We made our way around the London Eye and over this bridge (not the London bridge), and as you top the bridge you see Big Ben and Parliament - so pretty and it's all right there on the waters edge. However, there are so many people that getting a decent picture of the entire thing is really tricky! I can't count how many "heads" are in my photos, and I don't even know who they belong to!!!
Walking across that bridge was, oh almost more than I could take - I'd bout had enough and I hadn't been in London even an hour yet. You know how some people are claustrophobic? I think I am that way with PEOPLE! I love friends and hanging out don't get me wrong, but surrounded by thousands - I don't think so! Not my cup of tea!! I would be a horrible super-star!!!
And David asked me if I were frustrated! How do you answer that? I don't know - no I'm not frustrated there's a million people around me, I'm in an un-known territory, and trying really hard to enjoy the sites, but all I wanna do is turn around and leave. Is that frustrated? I don't know. I don't do well with giant crowds. It takes everything in me not to ruin the entire trip when we do things like that. I want to go, I do, and I want to see the things and be able to say "I've been there" or "I've done that", but man I think I need a happy pill or something first!
Trying to handle all that, take in the sites, snap some pictures, and keep a hold of my children...ah, okay breathe...count to ten...you can do it...breathe. It's just very stressful for me and I have to try really hard and you'll notice in the photograph that Ashlynn took of me that I'm not doing a very good job at putting on that happy face and enjoying the adventure. I know I'm not the only human with this problem, so what's the name for it? I know it's not frustrated.
Anyway - we got several snap shots of Big Ben, Parliament, and the London Eye - somehow. Then we walked through St. James Park (I think that's it) and there I could breathe a little better (not asthma related....people related). There were fewer people but lots of birds and squirrels and they were not scared of you at all. The would come right up to you to see if you had food. One even climbed on David's leg - I so wish I'd have gotten that snapshot! We were patiently waiting for them to climb on the kids, but they didn't. Bummer! haha
We enjoyed our walk through the park and it was very pretty. Buckingham Palace was off to one side of the park and I was not nearly as impressed with it as I was Big Ben and Parliament. It just looks like a giant square building, with lots of statues, and gold trimmed gates. If anything I feel sorry for the Queen, she has that beautiful park out there, with the funny squirrels and birds and does she ever get to enjoy it? I mean I couldn't imagine her just going for a walk in the park, could you imagine the security she'd have to have? It just seems so sad. I hope she has friends - I just couldn't imagine. Thank God, I'm not royalty I guess. I like my time to myself as much, if not more than anybody, but I'd think being queen would be awful lonely, it makes me want to be her friend.
So after that we walked back to a some "underground" station, not sure which one and got on it and took it to another one, then got on it, then took my first taxi ride to the next one (and man that was not cheap!), and then we finally made it back to our car and home and I was DOG tired!!! I took a bath, looked a magazine, and crashed! And David, the goofy man stayed up and listened to the football game online - he's gonna the one DOG tired today!
Well, that was our first London Experience...praying the next one is better and there might possibly by some miracle be less people to deal with. :) Here is a slide show of pictures for your enjoyment, the initials tell you who took the photo. Big Ben & the squirrels were a BIG hit.
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3 comments:
I love visiting London and try to go at least once a year - as a matter of fact I'm going both this month and next month to see shows, so I'm bumping up the average! But I don't think I'd like to live there. Most people who I know who have experienced it think that living in London is a good experience for a few years but then you need to get away and find a more normal pace of life.
Oh, and I've been on the London Eye, and it was really good. Just make sure, if you go, that it's a clear day, otherwise you'll see nothing! Alternatively, go at night and see London lit up!
Awesome! Lucky!!!!
Hey, thanks for stopping by my blog...and I'm so glad you did!! I can now live vicariously through you! I spent 7 weeks living in London when I was in college and I LOVED it!!!! We took a few trips out to the countryside and did a few weekends in Scotland and Paris...but reading your experience of your London trip really took me back. Thanks!!
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