Thursday, June 23, 2011

A Quiet Day in London

Today Anita decided to join Linda and Jenny on a tourist bus around London so left me free to have a quiet day in London. I spent the morning taking care of a few chores such as the laundry (serviced washes are good value...), cashing some travelers cheques and some shopping in Oxford Street. In the afternoon, I went and did the tourist thing myself.

First I took the Tube to Charing Cross so I could go visit Trafalgar Square. Here I saw something that isn't very common anymore, an old half-cab double-decker still in public service. A limited number have been brought back into service on a couple of "tourist routes", one being route 15. From here I walked down Whitehall to see the Household Cavalry and got there in time to see the Guard Inspection at the end of the day.

 A traditional London Bus still in public service

Nelson's Column at Trafalgar Square


 The Blues and Royals on guard duty

Guard Inspection at the end of the day

From there I wandered down to the Thames and caught a Tube from Embankment to make my way around the the vicinity of St Paul's Cathedral. The cathedral is in the commercial east of London and the area is not of much interest otherwise for tourists. Looking for a Tube back to Euston, I found myself at Farringdon station in an area that reminded me of West Melbourne in the vicinity of the Victoria Markets. Anita and I were both rather tired from our outings so we eat downstairs again tonight.

 A District line train leaving Mansion House station for Upminster

 St Paul's Cathedral with a modern bus in the foreground

St Paul's Cathedral

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