The day was gorgeous. the sun was out, sunny and bright. It was suppose to rain today but so far the morning was a perfect summer day. We left our flat at about 10 to make the 11 am Changing of the Guard. Can I just say I love the Tube, public transpo at it’s best. Granted it was scary fast, tiny (compared to NYC subway), and hot (London is a no AC town) but it got us to our destination and that’s all that mattered.
Of course getting an Oyster card was interesting. That whole can’t understand people because of accents and then they talked through a glass window pane and they mumble. I’ve learned to read lips, badly but it gets the job done. :)
So we (my flat mate Megan) got off at the Victoria Station and make our way to Buckingham Palace (about 10 minutes away). the walk is so weird, all these really old buildings (at least 200 years old or older I’ll have to double check on that), as we walked I felt so very Jane Austen-ish, almost wished I had on an 18th century dress... then I realized “it’s freaking hot!” no way I would’ve survived in one of those dresses in this heat!
On to the Palace.... and it’s freaking crowded and HUGE! And so beautiful. We didn’t know where to stand or what to expect, and with so many people it was a little confusion. there where people on the side, front and across the street. All waiting for the Changing of Guard to begin. But it’s more than the men in red coats in tall fluffy black hats we’ve come to see. The Guards change but that’s the beginning. There are two parades that come through the gate and the whole thing took about an hour. We left before it ended so for all I know it was longer than that. we’re going back later and getting there at least an hour before so we get a good spot to see everything. But in the mean time, see below some of the pics I managed to take.
**WARNING THEY MAY BE BIG**
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL ACROSS FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE
THE PARADE (can you see the London Eye in the background?)
MORE PARADE
Back to Victoria Station we go but before getting there we stop by The Queen’s Gallery - Buckingham Palace. It’s not only a place where you can get suviners (post cards of the royal family and little crowns!) but they have an exhibitions from the Royal Collection. “The Art of Italy: Renaissance and Boroque”. We didn’t have enought time to go in (there are 90 paintings and 85 drawings from the palaces and royal residences from across Britain on display), but the collection is suppose to include works by Giovanni, Bellini, Caravaggio and more. We’re going back later this week to see the Guard, the parade, and the collection, i’m so excited!
So Victoria stations to Oxford Station... all I’ve got to say about Oxford is: OH MY GAWD!!!!!!! THE BEST STREET IN THE WORLD!!
Virgin Megastore, TWO H&M stores (YES TWO!!), Urban Outfitters, Nike, HMV, and French Connection (Two of those on Oxford St too). But that’s not it.. on Bond and New Bond Street (just off of Oxford Street) there are high end stores like Armani, Burberry, Donna Karen, Louis Vitton, Jimmy Cho, Chanel and so many more! Unfortunately, no time to shop, we made a quick stop into Borders (yes they have a Borders!) to reserve a copy of Harry Potter (double yeah!), then had to book it back to school so I could make my first class, Megan only has class on Tuesday and Thursday (lucky her). By the time I made it to class I was so freaking tired! And I just knew I had developed some blisters... ouch! but no time to check, I’d have to wait until I got home to see the damage of the morning.
I’m taking 2 classes during this program, Survey of British Museum (Monday to Thursday 2-4pm) and History of London (Tuesday and Thursday 830-1pm). So Monday it was British Museum class and can I say it’s going to rock! Not only do we get to study great art but most class meetings are going to take place at the actual museum. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, we’ll be visiting the Wallace Collections (which is said to have on display The Swing by Fragonard - one of my favorite paintings). The collections has the best in Sevres Porcelain, Rococo Art, Boulle furniture, and armor. Wednesday we hit the British Museum, Thursday Victoria and Albert Museum, next Tuesday (7/17) National Gallery and next Thursday (7/19) the Natural History Museum. My feet can already feel the pain of all that walking and standing. lol After class I was even more excited. One of my flat mates is also in my class and our other flat mate joined us after class for some shopping. Nothing major just some food and blister stuff for me... my feet by this time where beyond hurting. So we get home but before I could assess the damage on my feet my flat mate Alisha, who has the BM class with me, wants to go to the bookstore to get our book for the class. Ignoring my feet we head off. By this time it has started to rain, we couldn’t find it at first, Alisha couldn’t remember the exact name of the street so after several times of wrong turns we finally asked someone and were pointed towards the right directions. And on the way we came across University College (gorgeous red brick with lots of pointy turrets in this odd shaped building) I didn’t have my camera or I’d be showing you this amazing building. I’ll have to go back and take some. We finally arrived at the bookstore only to discover it had just closed not 5 minutes before - yeah totally sucked. Walking in the rain and me with wet blistered feet. On we go, heading back to our flat.
On the way back instead of heading towards the main, heavily congested Euston Road we decided to take a route less traveled and explore. We head east and end up walking past beautiful old buildings, cobble stone roads, and a wonderfully gothic church. I think the church was located on Tavistock Square. We get a little turned around trying to find Upper Woburn to get back on Euston when we find ourselves in from of my all time favorite kind of building.... THE BRITISH LIBRARY!!!! IT. IS. MASSIVE!! They have a huge picture of Shakespeare on the front. Again, another building to go back and visit. By this time I know where I am at (on Euston) and how to get back to the flat. Soaked, tired and in pain I slowly make my way to the 3rd floor to take care of my aching feet.
Yeah, I shouldn’t have gone out again... THREE blisters on my right foot (right below my big toe) and TWO on my left foot, same location. OH. MY. GAWD! I so need a drink.
Please let me be able to walk tomorrow!!!
2 comments:
On your walk from Victoria Station to Buckingham Palace, you passed the hotel Matt and I stayed at during our honeymoon. We spent much time in Victoria Station b/c we went there everyday to catch the tube. I totally have pictures like you do of the Changing of the Guard. We left before it was over too...it was hard to see and too long!! Sorry about the blisters!!
I meant to ask you about the hotel you guys stayed at.. i totally love the area even though they have so much touristy like places.. but then again that's where i'll be getting most of my gifts from :0
and feet are doing so much better!
thank theLORD! lol
Post a Comment