Westminster Abbey. By the way, it was cold today! We wished for winter coats, but we made it.
A typical Clement boys picture.
The Traitor's Gate.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
We made it to London today and are staying at the lovely Leonard Hotel (same hotel, different room Jan and Jeanine!). We got right on the Original Tour Bus and began our exploration of London. The very first thing we got to see was Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard. Very royal! The funny thing was, right before all the marching began, the guard band was playing that Barry Manilow song, "Coca Cabana". Seemed rather out of place. We went to Westminster Abbey where almost all the Coronations have taken place and where so many famous people are buried. Tucker was awed at David Livingstone's grave. Winston Churchill's grave is there, too. By following a children's activity sheet we found a carved pelican on top of the baptismal font, we saw the oldest door in the country, made in 1050!, we found a picture of Edmund the Earl of Lancaster and learned his nickname was "Crouchback". Wouldn't want that nickname myself.
We went to the Tower of London. We saw the Traitor's Gate where prisoners used to be brought into the prison by boat off the Thames. We saw lots of towers, one where Sir Walter Ralegh was imprisoned. He was allowed to bring his wife, children and servants with him! One of his sons was born there. We went in the Bloody Tower which sorely disappointed Drew Preston because there wasn't any blood.:( The story of the Disappearing Princes is very sad. We also saw the Crown Jewels. SO beautiful. I couldn't believe how simple the security was. We got to parade right by all those diamonds and sapphires and emeralds and gold with just glass between us and it. It must be heavily booby-trapped. It all looked very heavy. We saw film footage of Queen Elizabeth being crowned and there were two men beside her apparently helping to hold her arms steady. She had to hold two scepters plus a heavy crown.
To Craig's surprise (hee hee) I decided to visit the Tower gift shop. Yep, Mom, I got you another mug! Drew Preston is on a quest to buy a key chain everywhere we go but I'm holding him in check.
We got back on our cool double decker bus and came back to our hotel, where we are now turning in for the night. It's 3:43 in the afternoon where most of you are.
Praying for Beverly!
Praying for Ivy and Co.!
We went to the Tower of London. We saw the Traitor's Gate where prisoners used to be brought into the prison by boat off the Thames. We saw lots of towers, one where Sir Walter Ralegh was imprisoned. He was allowed to bring his wife, children and servants with him! One of his sons was born there. We went in the Bloody Tower which sorely disappointed Drew Preston because there wasn't any blood.:( The story of the Disappearing Princes is very sad. We also saw the Crown Jewels. SO beautiful. I couldn't believe how simple the security was. We got to parade right by all those diamonds and sapphires and emeralds and gold with just glass between us and it. It must be heavily booby-trapped. It all looked very heavy. We saw film footage of Queen Elizabeth being crowned and there were two men beside her apparently helping to hold her arms steady. She had to hold two scepters plus a heavy crown.
To Craig's surprise (hee hee) I decided to visit the Tower gift shop. Yep, Mom, I got you another mug! Drew Preston is on a quest to buy a key chain everywhere we go but I'm holding him in check.
We got back on our cool double decker bus and came back to our hotel, where we are now turning in for the night. It's 3:43 in the afternoon where most of you are.
Praying for Beverly!
Praying for Ivy and Co.!
Oh the funness! THis sounds amazingly wonderful! So glad you are staying in the same place! Great breakfast I hope for ya in the morning!
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