London Day 2

We didn't get a lot of sleep with our body clocks out of wack (girls seemed ok!). We had our brekky and headed to the train station, we all had a laugh at this car with its distinct numberplate (well maybe not to the English)...

We caught the train to the Tower of London. This was a very large fortress complete with a huge mote. The wall s were built so thick. We had a very interesting time wandering around and in and out all the rooms. The Crown Jewels are also kept here and they were spectacular.

The Tower Bridge is just next to the Tower ...

We walked across the bridge and back admiring the architecture. The bridge opens periodically throughout the year to let large ships through, Janelle and Sarah are standing over the join where it opens... Some Starbucks for lunch followed with Stawberry Shake being the highlight yummy...

Another train ride to St Pauls Cathedral. This is truly a magnificent church and is now my favourite building in London.

We were inside when we paid for our tickets and its lovely admiring it all then once you have paid you step out into the centre of the church and its WOW so big and beautiful! We spent a lot of time in this church, lit a candle and were fortunate to be there while a priest was speaking and we got to say the Lords Prayer with him, very moving. There are a few galleries with lots of steps to climb to see the church from different angles...

We all went to the Whispering Gallery which looks down inside the church, then we talked Janelle into coming to the Stone Gallery which looks at the view outside (she's not keen on heights). Sarah and I the decided to continue to the Golden Gallery (530 steps) up the dome on very spiral stairs (best not to look down!). Right at the top you can look down into the Cathedral through a little hole, this made me feel a bit wobbly! Then you go outside on top of the dome for a great view over London. We were pretty pleased with ourselves for making it to the top.

We then had afternoon tea , scones with jam and clotted cream which Peter hates.

Our next rain ride was to Notting Hill. We went to the Portobella Markets, admiring the little English houses along the way...

The girls had fun buying a few things at the stalls. Peter and I wandered off to find The Travel Bookshop that featured in the movie Notting Hill with Hugh Grant. We found it and I bought a travel book although there was a Dickens book on the counter...

Then it was back to Oxford Street by train for the girls to do some shopping. We left them in a huge store called Primark and we went in search of the Pandora shop. I bought 3 charms for my bracelet for the 3 countries we would be visiting. Sarah and Janelle finally got to buy a few clothes so with aching legs we trained it back to our unit. We stopped off at our Marks and Spencer shop and cooked ourselves some scrambled egg, salad and fruit for tea. And waited for the sunset...