London (for the weekend!)

I was going to do London in three blogs but decided to do it all in one....
We left Malta on Friday morning at 7:15 for London. We planned to spend the weekend and see as much as possible!! So as soon as we arrived, we took the "tube" to our hotel, dropped our bags off and hit the streets, first checking out the London Tower Bridge, which was just down the road from our hotel,

and the London Tower


catching a bus to the west end of London, we were able to see Buckingham Palace,



Westminster Abbey, where coronations have been held since 1066.


St. Margarets Church, part of Westminster Abbey, where Winston Churchill was married,

Big Ben

Parliament House, originally built in 1100!

and Household Calvary Museum, which Henry VIII used as a tournament ground. Buildings were built in 1755, and



includes the Old Treasury building

We passed Downey Street, although we were unable to enter and see #10 Downing Street,

and walked around St. James Park



We found out the Household Calvary was going to have their changing of the horse guards parade the next morning at 10, so we decided to go back on Saturday morning.




While at the museum, we found out there was going to be a Royal Salute to the Queen
(in honor of her Accension) at Hyde Park at noon. There were 41 rounds from six 13-pound cannons fired off. A calvary of 71 horses charged down the field, picking up the cannons and bringing them back up the field. A marching band then played. It was very impressive!




We also found out that the Palace changing of the guard happens every other day and would be at noon on Sunday. Since we had until noon, we decided to walk across the bridge before heading west again.

Taking pictures from the south side

Notice the "Gerkin" building(so named because it looks like a gerkin pickle!)

When we came back, we could hear bagpipes. They were playing down by the river near the London Tower at the base of the bridge.
We then returned to the Palace to view the ceremony.



Much to our surprise, the music played was a mix of Manilow and Albba hits, including
Copacabana and Dancing Queen!!


On the way back, we stopped at St. Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt in 1675 after a fire. This was the site Charles and Diana married.



The Victoria and Albert Museum was too big for us to see all of it, but we did get to see some.



There were so many beautiful buildings and statutes!





Archways,




And doors.....



Definitely a place to see!!
At least once!