Monday in London

Monday was a day of learning experiences. We bought tickets on the Big Red Bus. My suggestion is that you not do this if ever you go to London. I'm sure others would say that it was wonderful but it is an expensive way to get commentary as you move through the city. The travel time is extensive because you can't move from route to route as there is basically only one. You can't go direct to anywhere. My suggestion is that you take the tube or regular surface transport instead of the Big Red Bus or the other line that does the same unless you want the commentary.

We took the Big Red Bus to the Tower of London. This was a very nice place. We got to see the Crown Jewels but you won't unless you go there because photography is prohibited. The tower really is a moated fort with a keep inside. The moat is no longer in operation. The keep is no longer used except as a tourist attraction and is in the middle of renovation. There are still guards housed at the "fort" to guard the Crown Jewels which are kept in a vault that you walk through to view them. My personal opinion would be that if you have to bypass something the Tower of London would probably be something to take off you list. The Tower Bridge is a much better use of your time and money. St. Paul's Cathedral would have been much better I'm sure and we passed that by to go to the Tower, an error in judgment. Westminster Abbey was closed on Monday because it was Commonwealth Day and Queen Elizabeth and a host of dignitaries were attending a Commonwealth Day event there.

From the Tower we took a cruise back to Westminster Bridge to try to get to St. Paul's before they closed. We arrived with only about 25 minutes to see this huge structure. Decided we could probably come back in the morning but we never were able to make it.

I did get a couple of cool shots of Parliament and the clock tower known as Big Ben and will get them posted.