Kensington Palace And The London Tower....Day Two

Today with the help of our trusty google maps program we set out to find Windsor Castle. Before long we found ourselves smack in the middle of a residential area when the map lady told us, "your destination is on the left." We looked over to see the words, "Windsor Castle" perched high above a closed restaurant. We had a laugh and decided on option number two.

Not What We Were Looking For

Since our hotel was close to Hyde Park and the famous Kensington Palace overlooks the park, we headed over to see it. Once inside we felt like royalty walking in the footsteps of so many members of the Royal Family who had been there. The interior is stunningly beautiful yet simple, pristine and stately. Before leaving we were sure to stop in the Royal Loo for a wee before heading outside in the misty, cool weather.

Queen Victoria

Kensington Palace

An Employee Explained....This Room Was Used To House

Large Guiled Gold Bird Cages With Song Birds While Pug Dogs Roamed Freely

It Was Like A Zoo Full Of Plants And Trees To Bring The Outdoors In

After lunch we took the subway to another part of the city to visit The Tower Of London.  Officially known as the home of Her Royal Majesty and fortress, this historic castle sits on the north bank of the River Thames in the central part of the city.

The Tower Of London

The Tower of London is home to The Royal Crown Jewels that are locked up securely by an army of guards. While I had absolutely NO idea what they were or what we were about to see, the collection is truly amazing. From crowns full of diamonds and gems to gold covered punch bowls big enough to bathe in, the jewel collection is used for coronations and royal gatherings. And while there are NO photos allowed I did manage to find some online taken by others.

A Moving Side Walk To View Some Crowns

The Tower Bridge.....Sometimes Referred to As London Bridge

Next To The London Towers, Is London tower Bridge In All It's Grandeur

.

London is a melting pot of various cultures, languages and type of people from all over the world. While British English is still the norm here there is also a vast array of other languages being spoken. From Spanish to Italian, Romanian to Polish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and more the city is alive with various cultures all living and working together.

Tomorrow we'll explore a bit more in morning before heading off to our last house sit here in England. Then we' re off to other parts of the United Kingdom for more fun.....along the gringo trail.

Terry and Clyde are able to "Travel The World House Sitting"  and so can you!  We have created a website to help people who want to learn about house sitting.    Information for both the prospective house sitter and for someone who needs a house sitter.

the New Website                          -->  CLICK HERE

How to Get Your First House Sit -->  CLICK HERE

How to find a house sitter          ---->  CLICK HERE

A Few Days In London.....Day One...

With a few days free in between house sits we headed into central London once again to check out the sights. We made it to our hotel around noon, quickly checked in and took off by foot to explore the city. For something different I thought it might be nice to take in a musical in London's West End theater district.  Once we decided to see Kinky Boots the musical we headed over to the Adelphi Theater for tickets.  Being a Monday night I thought we'd score some good deals.  The girl behind the counter handed me a price list that ranged from cheap up to a few hundred.  I asked her honestly, "so do you think we'd get a better deal from one of the half price ticket agents?" My thinking was that she would immediately offer a better deal but instead she said, "you might," and gave us the name of one of the discount offices. Once we found the place we decided on seats costing just 35 pounds each ($44.00), reasonably located in a great section of the theater.

Our seats were good and the show was brilliant. The story is that of a failing shoe company that tries to play into a niche market of women's shoes built sturdy enough to accommodate even the biggest man. Targeting the male drag queens who see the world better in six inch heels it's a hilarious romp of zany characters featuring song, dance and dialogue. For two and a half hours we were entertained at the sight of colorful costumes and sparkly boots that transformed a chorus of male dancers and singers into believable females.

With time to spare before our night time performance we strolled the streets of London enjoying the sights around every corner. We stumbled into China Town that was decorated for the Chinese New Year.  And as always the lively Trafalgar Square radiated with music from street performers with hoards of tourists standing by.

Since we have been in England we've heard more about American politics than ever before.  The Brits seem fascinated with our new President, although not necessarily in a good way. Last night we saw loads of protesters armed with signs that were getting ready to protest near the House Of Parliament. Groups of Police headed over to make sure things didn't turn ugly as we headed in the other direction before they realized that we were Americans.

After the show we made our way back to the hotel by 11pm tired from a long day of exploring London by foot and subway.....along the gringo trail.

Terry and Clyde are able to "Travel The World House Sitting"  and so can you!  We have created a website to help people who want to learn about house sitting.    Information for both the prospective house sitter and for someone who needs a house sitter.

the New Website                          -->  CLICK HERE

How to Get Your First House Sit -->  CLICK HERE

How to find a house sitter          ---->  CLICK HERE