I find the 17th of January to have been quite blog worthy. During the week, Sunday was set aside as tourist day. The biggest challenges to our expectations of taking in the sights, however, were walking and waking. We soon found that 11 a.m. was a rather ambitious start (all of us being occupied the night before with flat parties or clubs). Still, we were on our way at half past.
First stop? Buckingham Palace. Mind you that none of us went into the following attractions, being on student budgets and all, but I will backtrack and add facts (if not from the attraction’s website, then from Wikipedia, I’m afraid) that I am learning now along with you, Reader. The following is a tidbit on the Palace: “Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch.[1] Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. It has been a rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis” (Wikipedia). I have visited the site before for the Changing of the Guard, but due to the crowding the spectacle brings, only now was able to appreciate intricacies that come with royalty. The tip tops of the fence had at one time been dipped in gold and still today had a luster about them. Lions and unicorns adorned entryways and posts, probably signifying nobility.
After posing for the folks back home, we wound our way across a pond (much smaller scale, of course), which was FROZEN! Never had I ever seen this phenomenon, and one of my companions pointed out that the residents (or freeloaders?) of the pond were standing as opposed to floating.
Once across, we ended up in Big Ben’s shadow. Not to say that the sight was imposing. Rather, it was a joy to be reacquainted with the clock tower. And for some concrete facts as opposed to my musings: “Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London,[1] and is often extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well.[2] Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world.[3] It celebrated its 150th anniversary in May 2009 (the clock itself first ticking on 31 May 1859),[4] during which celebratory events took place[5][6]” (Wikipedia).
Cross the Thames and in no time we were passing the Millennium Bridge (the opening scene of the latest Potter film…it was intact, so we can assume that there is no truth to Rowling’s yarn). But at this point, our stomachs made their state known, and we settled down to soup and sammies at EAT (where we did just that).
Revitalized, we turned at St. Peter's Cathedral and ended at the famous Trafalgar Square, which plays host to "rallies and demonstrations, filming and photographic shoots and promotional and performance based events" (http://www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquar). The focal point of the square was guarded by disproportionate lion statues. All of us cooed at the British children atop the brass(?) beasts, as they had three things in their favor: smallness, accents and fashion sense.
The rest of the journey included us making our way home. Detours: Anthropologie stop off and bubble tea refresher. In total, we walked more than eight miles, and I’m still feeling that fact.
