Abbeys, Cathedrals and Palaces

Well, Talia and Lauren safely arrived on Wednesday, and I left Auntie Frances to join them at ISH (International Student House). We have a room for four to the three of us, and the place has a lot of people from all over staying. In our hallway are a lot of teenage Italian girls, in Britain for an English program. The place is decent, and cheap. Well, our first morning we went to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guards. We got there very early and so we decided to go across the street to walk in Green Park. The park is indeed very green. At the other end of the park there were decorated beach chairs that people could pay to sit in. It was amusing to see so many empty chairs, because really, who would pay to sit in them?

The changing of the guards took forever to start, and there were so many people there to view it. First, the guards on horseback went down the street to the right of us, and the band played. The guards disappeared and then nothing seemed to happen for a long time. Then the bands started filing onto the grounds, and what they played was quite shocking. - they played Star Wars music. It was kind of hilarious hearing people slowly recognizing what was being played, it seemed so out of place for Buckingham Palace and all its British Grandeur. What I found was the event is only worth going to see once, and if you like the music you'll keep coming back. The crowd didn't see much action, and I think this was a little disappointing. There we met up with Talia's new friend Nicole, an Aussie who went on Contiki.

After the Changing of the Guards we went into the Royal Galleries, where we saw some of the art and ornate furniture and objects the Crown has collected over time. The works were beautiful, its so hard to imagine growing up in that life, where one family owns so much wealth and has so much prestige that they can create a whole museum of their wall-hangings. When we finished at the galleries, I was so hungry and went off with Nicole to eat before we went to the Royal Mews. I spent £8 on a plain hamburger and chips. It was outrageous, but I suppose when you own a cafe on Buckingham Palace Road you can charge anything you want!

The Royal Mews is ''living history:'' it is where horses are trained, royal carriages are kept and the people who care for them live. It was cool to see the Golden Carriage, which Elizabeth II rode in for her coronation. It gets quite tiring going through so many museums though, and reading so many explanations for the displays. Everywhere I go there is a display to look at.
We have also gone to Westminster Cathedral, the London Eye, London Tower, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Harrod's, Kensington Palace, and to watch Grease. Everything we have seen and done is so interesting, and since I have four days that I haven't written about everyone will have to ask me questions about them all when they see me, or email me. Maybe I'll have time someday to write about them. I also have lots of pictures that I will add as soon as possible to facebook. So, until next time, Cheerio!