It's raining in London - lovely, innit?!
What a lovely, rainy day in London. When I came in 1994, I remember wandering aimlessly, soaked to the skin and completely zombified after 58 hours of not sleeping a wink to get here. I finally noticed a man in a bowler hat stopping to give me a VERY strange look as I staggered past, wet through, bedraggled, my soaked clothes stuck to me, dripping water from the end of my nose and feeling miserable, so I sat on a bus, made giant puddles on the floor, rode it to the end of the line, got off, crossed the road while it went around a roundabout then got back on and rode it all the way back to my original stop, just to stay out of the rain until I could check in to my B&B. Today made me laugh because whilst the flight was great and I slept a treat, I spent Day 1 sitting in the open air top deck of a hop on, hop off bus, soaked to the skin, wet, bedraggled, my skirt stuck to my legs, my hair stuck to my head and rain dripping off the end of my nose. Everybody else went downstairs, but I wasn't budging. I had the whole top deck of a double-decker bus to myself. It was wonderful!
The round trip took 5 hours, but I can safely say I've seen absolutely everything in pretty much all the London Boroughs - except Buckingham Palace. Busses aren't allowed to drive in front of Buckingham Palace, so they vaguely waved in that direction and told us to make sure we don't miss it. OK, I won't, I'm doing a tour and the Changing of the Guard on Sunday. Tick.
I spent the afternoon in St. Paul's Cathedral. It is just such a beautiful place and amazingly peaceful, especially given the crowds. Oh it's just SO beautiful - and it radiates peace and tranquility and is really very spiritual, not just religious. It's also very beautiful. I spent 3 hours in the Cathedral and could easily have spent 3 more, but they closed and wouldn't let me stay😔.
Back to the hotel by about 6.30 and very glad to be having a quiet evening with my shoes off. Not sure what tomorrow will bring. I had planned 2 days on the hop on hop off bus, but I don't feel the need to do it again tomorrow. Time to see things from the inside!
I'll try not to spam, but here's some photos from the day's adventures. They're not photos of me I'd normally want to keep, but I know holiday pics are about the people, not JUST the landmarks, so please excuse the disheveled appearance. I was soaked, bedraggled....well, you know the rest 😊
I love London in the rain!
Feels like home...
SOOOOO many questions. Did you go up St Pauls to the balcony on the dome? Did you find the animals behind it or somewhere else? There are a few of them around London. And in dispute about favourite statue....
ReplyDeleteHi Yeesa! Didn't go up the dome. Not sorry. It's very, very high! And yes, these are the animals from behind St. Paul's. Gonna try and find some more before I leave - and a Paddington Bear bench! Also, you are one million, billion percent correct about the favourite statue. Churchill is still to come. I forgot about that one.
DeleteWow, the Cathedral looks amazing. Sounds like a wonderful start to your adventure. I love how you had the same start in London this time as you did in 1994... that is so ironic!
ReplyDeleteHey Steph, yep I have had an amazing start. Dunno where those 31 years went, I'm right back in 1994!
DeleteI am so glad you are having a wonderful time. What would England be without rain!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBig love to you Eileen. Wish you were here xx
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