Thursday, May 27, 2010

Mom's last day.

Today, we tried to pack in as much as possible. First stop, Buckingham Palace. We arrived in time to get a great spot on the Victoria Memorial.

Victoria Memorial up close.

From here, we watched the new guards march in from down the Mall, while the tired guards prepared to leave.


the new guards processing in.

Buckingham Palace.

After spending the dreary morning outside watching this old tradition, we headed to a nearby pub for a classic British lunch. I had a steak and ale pie with mashed potatoes and carrots; Mom had chicken wrapped in bacon with a creamy delicious white sauce and cauliflower. And of course, we both had a half-pint of ale. This warmed us up quite well.

Feeling revitalized, we toured the National Gallery and saw work by Jan van Eyck, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Monet, Seurat and Van Gogh. We took a guided tour that was very informative. While she only focused on four pieces, it was great to learn about the art work from an art historian/teacher's point of view. While obviously not nearly as large as the Louvre, this is another museum where one could spend hours. Plus, it was nice to stay warm inside.

By the time we left the National Gallery, the sun had peeked around the clouds! We spent the rest of the afternoon walking up and down Regent Street between Piccadilly and Oxford Circuses, stopping now and then for a snack, such as soft serve ice cream. :)

We arrived back at the hotel earlier than normal to get Mom packed and try to figure out my next few days. While I don't have a plan yet for tomorrow or Saturday, I am heading to Bristol on Sunday to visit my host family from summer 2006. I am very excited to see my girls! Any ideas for the next couple of days in London?

No comments:

Post a Comment