Of course, on our first day we stopped for lunch at a little pub and had to get some traditional fish and chips. Truthfully, though, I am not a big seafood person and I was not impressed.
One of the first places we saw was Buckingham Palace. Our hotel was just a few blocks away. At first, we couldn't figure out why so many people were just crowded around the gates. Then, we realized they were waiting to see the changing of the guard. That happens at 11:30 every day and they were lined up like this by 10:30. It was nuts!! We didn't stick around for the official changing because we couldn't see much anyway.
Next, we headed over to Westminster Abbey. No pictures were allowed inside, but I snapped a few of the incredible facade. It was somewhat reminiscent of Notre Dame in Paris!
One of the next things we saw was the iconic London landmark, Big Ben. We learned (on multiple occasions) that the name, "Big Ben," actually refers to the bell in the clock tower - NOT the actual clock.
Although this picture was taken on a different day, this is the Parliament building to which Big Ben is attached. It is very near Westminster Abbey and, obviously, on the bank of the Thames River.
I have to throw this one in. We went into a little grocery shop to grab a drink one day and, lo and behold, there was this little piece of Americana!
Our next stop was Trafalgar Square. We were there just around lunchtime and it was very busy with people and a couple street performers!
The picture of Trafalgar Square was taken as I was standing near the entrance of the National Gallery. We toured it briefly - long enough to catch a glimpse of this famous Monet painting. Recognize it?
(We found it very interesting that all of the British Museums have free admission. They have large receptacles inside for donations, but no fee is required!)
I don't like heights and was very hesitant to go on the London Eye. However, tickets could be purchased as part of a combo with a Thames River cruise, so David convinced me. The Eye wasn't as bad as I had anticipated and, since I had agreed to go up, I convinced David to join me for our one and only selfie of the trip!!
We also walked through Harrods which is absolutely amazing and overwhelming! We didn't buy anything except this yummy treat in the ice cream shop there!
On one of our days, we spent almost the entire day touring the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge! While there, we got to view the Crown Jewels, but, of course, no pictures were allowed.
Do you see that walkway between the two towers of the bridge? Remember my fear of heights? Well, this is a picture taken from inside that walkway where they have added GLASS FLOORS!!! You can look down on the cars driving across the bridge below and get an amazing view of the Thames River currents - IF you are brave enough to stand on the glass and look down! (David took this one!).
On our last day, we toured the Royal Mews - the stables and carriage house of Buckingham Palace.
We also attempted, once again, to view the changing of the guard and once again it was far too crowded to get a good view, but we did have a great view of the beginning of the procession.
Of course, these are just a few of the over 300 pictures I took - there is just no way to include them all! Some other highlights of our trip were the boat tour down the River Thames and the nighttime tour we took on a double decker bus. We walked through a couple parks that were absolutely gorgeous with bright, blooming spring flowers everywhere. We also visited Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown (I didn't even realize London had a Chinatown!), and Covent Garden. As with most trips like this, there were a few things we missed including The Churchill War Rooms, The Shard (although we saw it from many vantage points), and The Globe Theater (although we saw it from the River Cruise and the Tower Bridge). There is also (from what I hear) a fantastic Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio tour and experience that we didn't do.
One other caveat I will share - Thanks to Facebook, we knew that some our former neighbors would be visiting London that same week with their two sons. We kept up with each other through Facebook and seemed to frequently be following one another around the city, but our paths never crossed until the very last moment. The final attraction David and I visited was St. Paul's Cathedral. As we were on our way out, they were on their way in!! We saw them and stopped to chat for a few minutes about all we had seen and done. We thought how ironic it was that, even though we still live just 15 minutes from each other, we had to travel 5,000 miles to another country to see each other!! :-)
It was a great week and a really fun trip. I highly recommend all couples getting away by themselves once in a while. It doesn't have to be somewhere big and I know it can be difficult to juggle kids, schedules, and life in general. But, we need to nurture out marriages just like we need to nurture ourselves and our kids!
Have you ever been to London or another city in a different country? What is the furthest you have ever traveled from home?
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62 comments:
Loved getting to see the pics from you trip and again just really glad you both got to go alone together 😉
I LOVE those fish and chips. I used to have my favorite places to get them but man....I miss that. Looks like you had a great trip!!!
My husband and I went there almost a year ago for our 20th anniversary. Your photos gave me a nice little walk down memory lane, as we did many of the same things.
What a great trip! I'm glad you have an excuse to share some pictures!! Ken and I haven't had a vacation away from the kids...ever! We've had breaks where they've been at my parents' house, but usually we were still working. It would be really nice to be able to get away, just the two of us!
I was impressed with you on the glass floor then laughed when you said your husband took it. I could barely even look at that picture. I wouldn't have been impressed with my meal either #1 picture and I like seafood. That meal just looked boring. But your ice cream treat was too cute and much more exciting. It would have been neat to bump into your friends if you didn't even know they were there. Thanks for sharing bits of your trip. Who knew to Chinatown?
We haven't either Rabia. We've had time alone at home but not a vacation. I'd feel bad to leave him now. He says, "No fair" to pictures of us different places before was born and I have to remind him that we didn't leave him, he wasn't even here.
London is my dream destination! i am sooo jealous! One day I will get there. My parents are going over in September to visit family. My Mum is from Leicester.
Me too, Janine!! 😉
It was wonderful! Although, the fish and chips weren't my favorite.
Lisa I cold slap you!!!!! YOU NEVER GET FISH & CHIPS from a PUB!!! Pubs are for drinking and Sunday roast dinner, they do those things fabulously!!!! You get fish and chips from the local chippy bar. This is an establishment that just sells fish and chips, and it is a take away, there is no where to sit. So next time you go, do that and you will be amazed. Also ask a local where the best chippy is.... Ugh!!!!! I so miss my home town and love that you got to see so much of it. I used to work around the corner from Harrods, and bumped into Princess Diana a couple of times..... We lived in Notting Hill :) My favorite place to be is Covent Garden, I just love it there..... Beautiful thanks for the tour ....
Glad it brought back some memories for you, too!
Seriously, you two, don't feel bad! You should go. Every time we've done it, I have felt guilty, but I have also thought, "Man! I didn't realize how much I needed this." It's great to get away from the kids, but it is greater to get away from everything! You should really try it sometime if you can. Sure, the kids will be mad, but they'll get over it! 😉
Yeah - that fish and chips didn't have any seasoning whatsoever. We had some really good food, but that wasn't it! And, that glass floor was not for the faint of heart. 😵
You will get there, I'm sure!! It was lots of fun and totally worth the trip.
Well, now I know and if I ever go back I will take your advice not he fish and chips! We had a lovely evening in Covent Garden. We had dinner on an outdoor patio at a pizza place with a great view of some street performers and the crowd. Unfortunately, we didn't bump into anyone famous at Harrod's, but ti was still fun to see!
Wow, what an amazing trip! I don't have a fear of heights, but just looking at that photo of the glass floor make me a little nauseous. While we won't get to London on this upcoming trip, it is definitely on my list of places to visit in the future.
I would totally have to get fish and chips. It's a British thing! Even if they weren't impressive..
I've never been to London but I'd want to do the Harry Potter thing and the Doctor Who experience. And of course, all the things you did! I don't have a fear of heights but the glass floor in the CN Tower freaked me out when I visited Toronto!
Aw, I love your list of joyful things and definitely have so much to be thankful for 😉
Thanks for the memories. I visited London in '09 and your photos are really perfect. I was especially awed by Westminster Abbey. Oh, and, no London Eye for me. But I enjoyed the walk along the river with the live statues. Did you see them? You had to look for awhile to watch them move it was fantastic. The English always serve peas with dinner.
that post was just lovely - so many little things and I could feel them too :)
Such a great list of joy, Lisa - and a wonderful reminder that happiness can be easily found in life if we simply choose to see and appreciate it. :)
Beautiful! I really enjoyed your take on it with the different sense. It is so important to take a moment to appreciate all the little joys in our life.
London is a great city! I was last there in 2003, so many years ago. Looks like you two had a wonderful time and how awesome that you were able to get away just you and your husband :-)
I always find it funny when I run into people I know far away from home.
Thanks, Janine!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, Marcia!
Thanks, Bev! Something we should all do more often - including me!
Lovely, what a great reminder to find joy in the the daily moments. IT's so easy sometimes to focus on the annoyances.
Ahh.. the feeling of the sun on my skin after breaking through the clouds. It's like an audible sigh of excitement.
And what's Sun Drop?? I Googled it but I can't say I've had it.
It is easy to focus on the negative, isn't it? I need to do this more often.
Sun-Drop is a Southern soda. It's kind of like Mountain Dew, but better. :-) I try not to drink k caffeinated sodas, but when I go home to my parents', they have Sun-Srop because my dad loves it and I allow myself a little treat. It is soooooooo good!
What a lovely post. There's something so expansive about joy and paying attention to it in all the wonderful ways it shows up is such a beautiful practice. I love all the things you've noticed and appreciate.
This is beautiful, Lisa! I hope that it's something you can come back to and re-read over and over again whenever you need it!
This is absolutely lovely Lisa! Joy is a wonderful word and so many things bring me joy. I'm sure as you write them done there are more and more things that come up.
The picture of your daughter sniffing the blankie reminded me of how both of my girls do that. *sigh*
Thanks for sharing.
xoxo
This is what brings me joy - Seeing my children playing together and using their imaginations to create games or go on adventures.
Thanks so much!
Me too!
I love that picture, too! So sweet! :-)
That definitely brings me joy, too!
Loved reading this, especially "Sophie howling hello" - I get the same joy when I greet my doggie!
Oh gosh this is just soooo beautiful, Lisa!! I just stopped my quick hurried rhythm and soaked it all in...deeply inhaling those powerful moments of joy, that I too can embrace. I needed that. Thank you!!!
Thanks so much!
You're welcome! So glad it was helpful!
This is the first thing I'm reading on this Saturday morning, and I'm letting it set the tone for my weekend. I fear I often miss the small joys, and I want to change that!
So beautifully described. May you continue to be joyful, Lisa!
love love love all of the perfect now-joys.the here, and the relishing the moments. But I don't know what Sun-Joy is.
Such a beautiful list of joyful things … I love that you've touched on all the senses … Thank you for this lovely challenge :)
Aw! Glad it started your weekend on a good note!
Thank you, Corinne!
Thanks, Kristi! You need to head just a little further south and get you some Sun-Drop to drink! :-)
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed reading it.
It was a great trip! I'm sure yours will be awesome, too, and I can't wait to hear all about your adventures!
We're not Dr. Who people, so that wasn't on our list. We hear Harry Potter was awesome, but since we didn't have the kids we skipped that crowd. The glass floor was totally freaky!
We didn't see the live statues! That would have been cool. It was so incredibly crowded, though. Westminster Abbey was amazing.
It was a great trip and great to get away as a couple for a while.
Fabulous list of all the joy!
This is lovely! We must never forget to count our joys :)
Thanks!
Here's to counting our joys and not our troubles! Thanks for the reminder today when I'd really rather be sleeping!
Today was a very sleepy kind of day!
Ah, I love taking a "joy break" to think about the things that make me happy! <3
😊 something we should all do more often!
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