Two Tourists Trotting around Town

What a great day in Londontown!  Started with continental breakfast, pics of food to come for those of you who asked for them, then off to the palace to wait a couple hours for the Changing of the Guard.  Met some people from Chicago, small world.  Got to see all the set-up for the Queen's Jubilee, the "famous kiss" balcony from William and Kate's wedding, Changing of the Guard and a sighting of Camilla leaving in a Bentley with one of her famous big hats.

Outside the gates of Buckingham Palace

We got both of us in a picture :)

The famous balcony-- two kisses!

Camilla Parker Bowles' Bentley- I swear I saw her in the backseat!

Changing of the guard

Outside the palace

Queen Victoria Memorial- by far the brightest statue I've ever seen

Carriage heading to the castle- with some important people

Guard band heading back toward Clarence House and St. James Place

Walked through beautiful St. James Park on our way to check out the Churchill War Rooms, closed up in the late 40s and just re-opened in the 70s. Saw the famous 10 Downing Street but couldn't get up close, it was gated off.  One amazing building after another until we rounded the corner and saw Big Ben and Parliament, beyond amazing.

Corner of Downing Street and Whitehall

Outside Big Ben

Then the highlight of our day, Westminster Abbey.  Wish we could have taken pictures inside, it is beyond words.  Over 3000 people are buried there, including kings and queens, writers and artists and actors.  We left there through the entrance that Kate came through on her wedding day in the footsteps of so many before her. 

North Door

West door, where Kate entered for her wedding

Took the tube back to Victoria Station, which is huge, there's a whole mall in there with all kinds of restaurants and yes, even KFC, McDonalds and Burger King.  Proud to say we chose a pub outside the station to dine on local beer and malted baguette sandwiches.  So tired after a full day that we stopped back at our hotel for a nap and a leisurely evening meal and a wind-down.  It was 80 degrees here today, crazy!

Victoria Station

More fun in store tomorrow, pub crawl and the Theatre in the West End, stay posted!

Kelly & Karli