London Calling

Parliament & the Big Ben Clock Tower

NOTE: Wifi is not free here and we run out at 11 PM London time. I will post photos from today tomorrow when we get to France and have free Wifi! Sorry!

Hello! What a fabulous day here in London. Our weather was perfect (a bit on the warm side, but we won't complain about that!) We began our morning with a bus tour of London which made a stop at Westminster Abbey. Bill and I had not been to Westminster Abbey before (it was closed the last time we were here) and it was an amazing sight. 

Westminster Abbey

We split into two groups, and our tour guide, Cas, was outstanding. He knew his history so well and told us fascinating stories about the history. Most English monarchs are buried there (no Charles II (aka the King of Bling), though, who is a student favorite in my class. Elizabeth I was there, buried next to her half-sister Mary I (aka Bloody Mary). This was to be symbolic of the fact that Catholics and Anglicans should live side by side in harmony. Aw. 

Marker at Elizabeth I and Mary I's graves - Westminster Abbey

We had a brief lunch, then went into the Tower of London. Some chose to see the Crown Jewels, some chose to go to other parts as the line was over an hour long! 

The Tower of London

We were able to see the scaffold where Henry VIII's Queens Anne Boleyn (wife #2) and Catherine Howard (wife #5) lost their pretty little heads. 

Memorial at the scaffold where many historical figures (including Anne Boleyn) were executed - Tower of London 

Tailah, Sarah, Lauren, & Sedona make a new friend (a "Beefeater")

We were able to check out the armory and the torture chambers. Bill and I had an enlightening discussion with students about which would be worse - the Rack or the Scavenger's Daughter. Fun times with the Switalas!

Torture device known as the Rack - Dungeons of the Tower of London

Another torture device, the Scavenger's Daughter - Tower of London

We headed across London on the Underground and made our way to Churchill's War Room. I was giddy with excitement - it was so full of fantastic artifacts and had many "hands on" activities, so it was accessible to all. I think I took about a hundred photos in there...

Winston Churchill on the phone! Looking good for a dead man...

Churchill's famous cigar!

Dinner was at an AMAZING Indian restaurant called Masala. Accordingly, we had Tikka Masala for dinner. I must warn you now that a few students who had never had Indian said it was the best meal of their lives, so be prepared to take your kids out for Indian! On Pavit's recommendation (she is Indian and gave us a wonderful education about what we were eating!) I ordered a mango lassi, which was an Indian yogurt drink). It was out of this world. Bill (who hates yogurt) even liked it!

Beautiful Indian masks inside Masala - London, England

After dinner, we split up...some went on a haunted bus tour, others back to the hotel or to shop, and Bill and I took a group to see the TARDIS (a Dr. Who thing) and Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley to Harry Potter fans). 

The Doctor's TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space...aka "Sexy" to Dr. 11)

(L-R) Nick, Bronson, Glen, moi, Gabby, Hannah, Emily, Kayla, Courtney & Pavit...and of course, the TARDIS!

We head out at 8:30 to head to Portsmouth to ferry it across the Channel. I have 1 minute left of internet, so will sign off. Cheerio...more tomorrow!