Quarter to eight for breakfast in the refectory downstairs. Quite a selection – bacon, eggs, hash browns, beans cereal etc.
Jill and I walked down to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Went via Piccadilly Circus (to visit the Information Centre) and St James Park.
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| St James Park |
The park was lovely – lots of ducks, geese, moorhens, pelicans and squirrels around the lake. We were told to be there to get a spot by 11 (for 11:30). When we arrived about 10:40 we were fortunate to find one of the few remaining spots on the fence so were glad we didn’t arrive any later. Fortunately, there were a few things happening over the next 50 minutes – guards marching around and the band and troops marching into the quadrangle. It was also interesting watching the ‘special’ people who got to watch the changing of the guard from the inside. There was a family with 4 young children (between 4 and 7ish) all dressed up in their ‘Sunday best’. The children were bouncing about a bit after a while – sitting on the edge of the path tossing gravel.
The ‘changing’ was full of pomp and ceremony and we couldn’t get the Christopher Robin song of “They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace, Christopher Robyn went down with Alice” etc… out of our head. It was all quite spectacular.
Walked back to Leicester Square via Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column.
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| Trafalgar Square |
It’s interesting seeing these ‘things’ in reality after all the pictures you see. Had a seafood stir-fry at a Korean café. Then walked back to Mallet Street for a rest before heading back to Finsbury Park on the train to see Kiruna and boyfriend Gareth.
Was lovely to see Kiruna – they had some great advice re our stay in London, what to see, do etc.
Off to another pub for dinner – delicious Thai food (spicy seafood salad and a Panang curry). We have had a chip free day today which is pretty amazing.
Caught up with Jennie and Richard who had been on the Hop-on-Hop-off bus and had been to Greenwich before bed.
