London – Day 2

Alrighty, last we left off in London we were following a group of men in their Speedos.

You know, typical London stuff.

Onto day 2…Buckingham Palace to start.

Front.

Here’s a picture of the back after we took a tour of the palace. No picture taking during the tour so you will just have to trust me when I say it’s luxurious. The whole time I was there I kept thinking, I wonder if the queen walks through here in her nightgown at night to go get a midnight snack and Is that weird to be in charge of washing the queen’s underwear? Why? I don’t know but that’s what I was thinking.

Inside the gift shop, which just happened to be about the size of Buckingham Palace.

As we were exiting the palace, the changing of the guard was beginning.

We rushed Alex up to the gate so he could get a look.

He found himself a place to climb up on.

“Mom, mom, mom. Give me the camera.”

I like to title this one – Alex and the Japanese Tourists, July 2013 – and then I gave him the camera where he looked exactly like everyone else around him

I would show you a picture of that but I can’t since he had the camera and was taking 754 pictures of the guards.

After eating a lunch at Wagamama, one of my  favorite places to eat in London, we went to the Tower of London, probably my favorite place in all of London.

He was in heaven the entire trip – young jedi of history that he is.

Sidenote: This kid is amazing. Seriously.

 

I, on the other hand, have a rule of no more than 2 museums per day.

I know, party popper.

Thank goodness he had his aunt there.

This was our tour guide, a retired beefeater.

The Tower tour is fabulous & full of amazing stories and tales.

I also like the juxtaposition of architecture you see everywhere in London – very old with very modern.

My son made sure to take pictures (for his brother) of a special exhibit telling about all the animals that were held in the Tower through time.

The Tower of London is also where the Crown Jewels are held. We couldn’t get any pictures but trust me, if you need a little brooch for your Christmas outfit, you might want to see what they’ve got there.

Also at the Tower of London is the White House which displays many of the military pieces of the royal family.

        

No historical tour can be complete without taking a picture of the toilets they once used.

And here are the travel guides checking the map to see where we were headed.

I did not look at a map while we were there and it was great. I just followed them around like a little duckling.

We ended the day walking around a little more and then headed back to the hotel for a well deserved rest.

Next up ..Day  3