London
Big Ben and Parliment
Parliment is built right on the edge of the River Thames. I am standing on a bridge that goes over the River Thames to get this fantastic silloetted shot. You can almost make out the time on Big Ben when I took it! They show the proceedings on tv just like cspan at home. The old wig on the Madam speaker is a hoot!
Buckingham Palace
The queen isn't actually here that much, maybe 25%. She prefers Windsor Castle down the road a bit. Lots of official state meetings and dinners are held here. We did eventually take a tour which is only available in Aug-Sept. when she is on holiday in Balmoral Scotland. The inside is really lush. I haven't seen our Whitehouse but I would imagine it's similar. Lots of gorgeous marble, deep carpets, rich dark carved wood, and everything sparkles. There are different colored rooms themes, old china collections from all over the world, and a huge armour collections, even for horses! There's midevil swords, sabers, shields, guns from all periods and of course lots of precious paintings, art, and scultpure. There's one room we don't have and that's the Throne Room!
Queen Victoria Statue
Look a bright sunny day in England! This statue is directly in front of Buckingham Palace and the middle of it has a 15ft.statue of Queen Victoria. The crowd is gathered to watch the changing of the guard. Frankly I couldn't really see anything except a smallish military procession. It would be nicer in summer I suppose in their red coats, but it was cold and they were covered in long gray wool coats, dull and crowded if your limited for time.
Kensington Palace
is more like a big mansion than a palace. It is where Lady Diana lived with her
children until she died. It has some of the most beautiful garden design I have
seen, including lots of flowers and ponds. Kensington Palace used to be the
royal residence. Queen Victoria was born here and got word that she was to
become queen here as a girl in 1834. She became the first monarch to use
Buckingham palace as a residence.
Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens
The Tower of London
Now a museum and the home of the Crown Jewls. It takes up over several large city blocks and much of its history was an object of terror. Most imprisioned here did not come out alive and were cruely treated. This castle was built on the Thames in 1066 by William the Conqueror from France. The English were not happy about this change at all and the rivalry between them exists today.
