Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Our second day began early with a nice breakfast at the communal breakfast room. Then it was a quick change of clothes, and off into the city, but not before the first memorable quote was uttered:

"Ah, London. City of English people and many stairs."
-- Danny

Well, it was true. Since getting off the plane we had never went up and down so many stairs! Comes from living in Florida. In any case, off we were, walking down the streets of London towards our destination, Buckingham Palace, to see the changing of the guard.

The incredible gates to Buckingham Palace.
Day 2: May 30, 2001

The ceremony was cool but long, and frankly a bit too touristy and boring towards the middle (we had no idea the Star Wars Imperial March had become part of the royal repertoire). However, it was a really great spectacle to watch, especially for 4 people who the closest they've been to royal pageantry has been in classes and books, and perhaps the parades at Disney.

Lari (in back), Yvonne & Danny at Buckingham Palace.
Day 2: May 30, 2001

After a quick stroll through St. James's Park, we made our way down into the tube towards our next destination, the biggie for the day: the Tower of London. Our first real castle awaited just on the other side of the Thames.

Yvette and Danny (top picture) and Yvonne and Yvette,
both at St. James's Park
Day 2: May 30, 2001

We decided to walk into the Tower, crossing Tower Bridge (what a marvel); there are little words to describe what we felt as we saw the massive Tower of London stretch out on the other bank of the river Thames, waiting for us, beckoning us. We crossed the bridge, we made the line, we paid our ticket and then sat to wait for our guide, but not before making an iconic friend...

.Yvette & Lari with their new friend, Mr.  Beefeater!
Day 2: May 30, 2001

Visiting the Tower was awesome. We got to tour the compound, see the Crown Jewels (it was just surreal to see so many precious stones all in one place) and wandered inside the White Tower, the keep in the midst of the castle, where for centuries royalty have lived, visited and incarcerated those who they decreed. It was in this keep that Richard III had the the Princes in the Tower killed, or so the story goes as Shakespeare told it.

All around the tower you are constantly reminded of England's royal history, from the spot where Anne Boleyn was imprisoned, executed and then buried, to the ever-present Yeoman Warders--the Beefeaters--and the royal guard, standing in attention statue-like, not moving even when in personal discomfort.

Danny & Yvette pose with a royal guard. This poor bloke in the back,
stuck in his fancy uniform and furry hat, was horribly sick.
Day 2: May 01. 2001

We left the tower feeling refreshed and incredibly pleased with our visit. For four history junkies, it was an awesome experience. But alas, not even the giddiness of being in London could shut down our tummies, so we decided to find a place to eat. Trying to figure out where to eat and what, and walking up and down the area around the Tower, before we knew it, we had decided to take a trip in a quintessentially-English double-decker bus, hoping to find some place to eat somewhere along the route. Bad idea...

Yvette, Lari and Yvonne enjoy the scenery from the top deck of
the Double Decker Tour to God-Knows-Where in London.
Day 2: May 01, 2002

We ended up taking the bus to the end of its route and having absolutely no idea where in London we were. The bus driver saw the look of tourists we had and offered us a free ride back into town, where we found some food, and eventually our way back to the hotel.

We visited the St. George's again, feeling like "regulars" this time around, and turned in for the night. We had to get up early to catch the train north, to York.

To Day 3: York