How do you get to see London in less than a day? Hire David, with David’s Day Tours, give him a map and priorities, and let him take it from there. The whirlwind highlights:
Yes, this is the supposed T.A.R.D.I.S. from Dr. Who. I haven’t started watching the show, but looking at this thing on Google is pretty cool.This was a cool-looking Batman-type car, a cool butcher shop name, and some store in Spanish, all in one picture.
So this famous author lived really close to Portobello Road.Trying to drive on Portobello Road.Having gotten by everyone on Portobello Road.Only person on the sidewalk of Portobello Road (because everyone else was walking on the street) was this busker (I learned that term on this trip, actually… and have heard it again since).They use the softer touch of “Give Way” instead of the US’s stern, forceful “Yield.”We did a quick drive by to say hi to Sherlock. Of course, 221B didn’t exist on the road until a few years ago.And of course, they made a museum out of it.The many unicorns of London. This one happens to be where the Queen lives.A better view of the gates to the Queen’s home and where the changing of the guards takes place. We missed it by about thirty seconds!Westminster Abbey – where Prince William got married.Big Ben is the bell. The tower is now named after Queen Elizabeth.The Brits liked Lincoln a whole lot.And of course they had Churchill.I liked how Horatio Nelson had a VERY tall statue.On this particular day, there happened to be a big blue chicken that also inhabited the square where Nelson is situated.I had to take a picture of a telephone booth. They’re so rare now!Luckily we drove by this store twice, but it’s the best photo I could get – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels suits! Cool, right?!?Like unicorns, dragons were everywhere protecting the city.And the crest was also posted all over.I learned that it takes a lot to get a license to be a taxi driver in London. This guy is still learning all of the ways to get around town the quickest possible. He’ll then have to eventually take a test!This is a monument where the Great Fire of London started.Here’s a pub that needed the help of a comma. Otherwise, I’m not sure what a “hung drawn” is.This is what it looks like when the big red trolley busses collide.This building was built so it would stand out and be majestic.David said it was called The Gherkin by a lot of people. My friend Troy said it looked like a bullet. I think it looks like a Faberge egg.Here’s a piece of the tower bridge that leads us to the Tower of London.There used to be animals at the Tower of London. So they made replicas.Here’s a fuller view of the Tower of London.This was a footbridge built to commemorate the millennium, so they called it the Millennium Bridge. But most Londoners call it the Wobbly Bridge because if everyone walks in unison (like during a parade) the bridge will start to gyrate and wobble back and forth!Sam Wanamaker, the director, wanted to recreate where Shakespeare performed, so he did. This is it. They still do plays here.I loved that they put this on the side of the wall. Very cool.
So seeing all of this all day and being in the car made us feel sleepy and cooped up, so David dropped us off at the theatre and instructed us where to take a walk, grab a drink, and meet him for our final trek to the other airport.
We found this really cool market that reminds me of a very very large East End Market.This weather vane reminds me of Peter Pan and Hook’s ship.
So that’s all of the pictures I care to share. Yes, we saw the Eye, yes we saw Parliament, and no, we didn’t go to where the Beatles walk on Abbey Road – that was more out of the way than Sherlock’s abode. Would I like to go back and enjoy it at a much slower pace? Sure! Am I glad I did what I did? You betcha. Beats hanging out at an airport for 10 hours.
Patti is still learning 