We awake to the new day. We head to Notting Hill Gate
Station and meet up with the family. Our destination today: Westminster Abbey.
After an uneventful underground ride, we arise from beneath the streets and
make our way to the Abbey. There has been a Church on this spot for over a
thousand years. Finally making it through the traffic (both automobiles and pedestrians), we encounter a long line, but it only takes us 15 minutes or so
to get into the Abbey.
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| Westminster Abbey |
This is a massive, but gorgeous building. The crowd inside is
impressive, as well. The audio tour is well worth listening too. No
pictures allowed from inside the Abbey, so we fall back to being totally in the
moment.
There are several monarchs buried here. I’m glad I listened to the Teaching Company's History of England from the
Tudors to the Stuarts CD Class, as I now have a little familiarity with the royal succession. As we work our way through the Abbey, Eliot points out the acknowledgement of Noel Coward, honored
for his “Talent to Amuse”.
The tour is quite satisfying. After we hand in the
audio-guides, we walk through the cloisters. There I find a tribute to Edmund
Halley, the 2nd Royal Astronomer. I learn from the tribute that he
sponsored the publication of Newton’s Principia. Quite a gesture, as Newton
went to Cambridge and Halley to Oxford!
After so much time inside a church, it’s time for some
fun, so we head towards the Eye of London. We cross the Westminster Bridge. As we walk along the south bank of the river, we saw Bill Nighy. You may remember him as the aging rock star Billie Mack from the movie Love, Actually. He is standing there, apparently waiting to meet up with someone. He is tall and dapper, dressed all in Black. It made some sense that he is where we see him, there just in front of the National Theatre. When we finally get near the Eye, we are
hungry and go searching for a restaurant. The one chosen, featuring Japanese
cuisine, is no longer in business! (Ah the Internet, always up to date a few months ago.) We decide to patronize its replacement, Bao
Fa Garden, serving Dim Sum.
The food is delicious and we are all refreshed as we
head out. One note: the price for this Dim Sum is the highest I can remember. Generally, I have been impressed by how reasonable meal prices have been in London. This is one of the few places where we could have got a better deal
in Seattle.
Our plan for the next hour or so is for Amy and I to
wait while the Kids enjoy the Carousel. That’s not their expectation, as they
convince me I should join them. Amy is wiser and remains on the ground.
The Eye is not particularly scary, but if one starts thinking
that one is in the air and there is very little between himself and the ground,
it starts to get a bit unnerving. OK, I’m a coward. Take my advice: ride the
Eye, but don’t look down!
The views from the ride are spectacular.
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| Thames from the Eye |
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| Shard from the Eye |
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| My Fam Enjoying the Ride |
After the Eye, we decide to step into the Tate Modern
and view some art. The displays are mostly interesting (some are frustrating
and/or don’t seem to make a clear point). We spend a good amount of time enjoying
many of the exhibits.
After the Tate, we visit the Anchor Bankside Pub to rest
our legs and slake our thirst and hunger. The Pub’s food is really good. I don’t
remember the food in pubs in London being very good 25 years ago. It seems they
have really stepped up their game.
We decide to split, going our separate
ways. Amy and I head back to our flat and the kids, who have more energy, head
out on their own. For us, it’s been another satisfying and enjoyable day.
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