London 2023 - Day 2

Our second day in London we were all set with our hop on hop off bus tickets! We found a little something to eat & got right to seeing the town. We didn't plan on any museum on this trip mostly because I wanted to see sights more, but also because I wasn't sure what the boys' stamina would be like on long museum tours. But the bus worked great! We got the history lessons all around town while getting transportation above ground instead of in the tube. The boys wanted to sit right up front in the top of the double decker bus, but Matt&I wanted to see beyond the roof!

London is truly such an incredible town. Beautiful and historic. Picturesque. Still dirty, gross, crowded like any big city. But really, such a great place to visit. Most places we go, I feel satisfied with the experience and would do something new given the chance. But London made such a lovely impression on me; I'd go back anytime.

Big Ben! (which isn't actually the clock!)

The London Bridge! (that isn't actually the London Bridge. It's called Tower Bridge)

We got out to change over to the boat tour of the middle of London, right in front of the Tower of London. That is one tour I'd want to take if we every go back. (I'm making a list). Family picture with some blue skies even! I haven been told that blue skies in London are rare, and we didm't even have rain the whole week we were there either.

On the ferry seeing what London looked like from the River Thames. Seeing Tower Bridge from the water was so cool, and then it went up!! I've also heard that is rare.

I loved how we had our Florida hats or hoodies on. Seeing it in this setting makes me proud.

London Bridge is falling down.... 

And here we are on the ferry with "big ben" which is the name of the bell, not the tower. The Tower is actually called Elizabeth Tower and it sits next to the Houses of Parliament. 

Well our morning of sight seeing made us hungry, and luckily for us we found the best pub to have lunch. I believe it was the Red Lion, and we had our first fish and chips! and mushy peas! and British beer (I had cider instead which I loved). Overall enjoyed it so much. Whoever said English cooking isn't that great is wrong; I loved it all.

Ah the taxis and the flags! I just love it. We got our family picture on this little street where it is somehow connected to the palace. I don't know all the things.

We walked over to see Trafalgar Square to see the lions. We are on our way to see the Harry Potter show, part 1!

When I decided I wanted to see this show, I honesty didn't know how long the run time was or that it was divided into two parts. The tickets for this were pretty expensive, and it was 6 hours long. You read that right. We saw the first half (split by an intermission), and then had a break and a stretch. Then we came back for the second half (with intermission). It was a bit exhausting, but it was really a great show. The special effects they created were truly mesmerizing. I was really impressed with all of it except the re-write. The original script doesn't make the kid gay, and I resented this change. I think it lost some of the crucial meaning behind the bond of friendship because you add in the romantic component that muddies the water. Go read the play, and we can have an honest chat about my interpretation and what I feel gets lots with this pointless changes. You can tell me what you think is gained or even enhanced if you want!

Stretch break hot chocolate! So good. and a family picture of us in front of the theatre before the sun went down.

This picture has been the lock screen on my phone for the last two years. I just love it.

The other part of our stretch break: China town in London. The lanterns and pennants were so cool.

I had a euro to use so we could rent these little binoculars. David is looking through them backwards! haha. After this show we got some chicken at the only food place that was still open and headed back to our flat on the tube. David fell asleep on Hayden's shoulder; it was an exciting and long day! Two down from my bucket list: Agatha Christie's Mousetrap and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!

Thank you Lord for such a great day seeing new things together.