London Day 11 through 13

 DAY 11 - EASTER SUNDAY

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

After breakfast, we walked to St. Paul's Cathedral for the 11:15 am Easter morning service. We had no idea that we would have to wait in line for over 30 minutes to enter the church. At least we got a seat. By the time everyone got in, it was standing room only for the more than 4,000 worshipers.

Another delicious Sunday Roast this time at the Founder's Arms. Virginia had roast chicken and Kurt had roast beef. The Yorkshire Pudding dominated the plate.

TATE MODERN 

Tate Modern, housed in an old power plant, is an art gallery in London, housing the United Kingdom's national collection of international modern and contemporary art.

This art exhibit was a room full of large rocks with a piece of fruit on top of each.

Millennium Bridge as seen from the Tate Modern.

Large spider sculpture.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL ORGAN CONCERT

Tate Modern didn't take us that long, since we lack appreciation for modern art. After just an hour at the museum, we walked back across the Thames Millennium Bridge to listen to an organ recital and the evening Eucharist at St. Paul's.

DAY 12

CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS

The next morning, we took the bus across town to Parliament Square for a tour of the Churchill War Rooms, a historic underground complex that housed a British government command center throughout the Second World War. 

Built underneath the British Treasury Building, we began the tour by descending two flights of stairs.

The Cabinet War Room where British leaders strategized.

This is the closet phone booth where Churchill had a direct line to Washington.

Living quarters provided for the staff members who worked below ground.

This is the original door of 10 Downing Street since 1735. In 1991 it was replaced with a blast proof door during the uprising of the IRA.

KENSINGTON PALACE

Leaving the War Rooms, we boarded a city bus to Kensington Palace, home of the Royals in waiting, currently Prince and Princess of Whales and their children. Within the Palace are three separate tour routes, The King's Quarters, The Queen's Quarters and Victoria's childhood quarters.

Statue of Princess Diana, dedicated by William and Harry.

 The Presence Chamber - King's Quarters

 Visitors would be ushered into this room to be in the presence 

of the King, or Queen who acted as regent in his absence. 

He would sit on a throne as people bowed and curtseyed.

Wearing a Court Gown, required passing through a doorway sideways.

The Jewel Room has a magnificent diamond and emerald tiara, emerald necklace, earrings and brooch given to Queen Victoria by her husband Prince Albert.

This clock in the Cupola Room was created by 

Charles Clay in 1730.The clock originally played music 

by George Handel, Arcangelo Corelli and 

Francesco Geminiani.

The King's Gallery

The Queen's Breakfast Room

The Queen's Bedchamber

The Queen's Gallery

Princess Victoria was born in this room and grew up in Kensington Palace. She moved into Buckingham Palace after her coronation.

DAY 13

On our final day in London, we took a city bus to the British Natural History Musuem which is near the Victoria and Albert Museum. We did resist the sweets in the shop window by the bus stop.

BRITISH NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

The Natural History Museum exhibits a vast range of life and earth science specimens from around the world.

The Museum was built and opened in 1881.

The Dodo Bird, weighing up to 50 pounds, was last sighted in 1681.

Giant Sloth Skeleton

Compete Blue Whale Skeleton hangs from the ceiling in the main lobby.

American Mastodon

A life-sized mechanical model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

CHANGO EMPANADAS

This empanada shop was just down the street from our flat. Great place to get a carry-out dinner.

Ham and cheese and a four-cheese empanada.

TRAVEL DAY

We arrived back at Dallas Fort Worth on Wednesday afternoon, April 23, after 13 days of visiting the sites of London.

London - Day 7 through10

 DAY 7

SKY GARDEN

The Sky Garden, also known as "The Walkie Talkie" building due to its unique shape, features a top-floor restaurant and garden. The building in the back is nicknamed "The Gerkin".

We obtained free timed tickets in advance.

Sky Garden is a three-story glass dome that offers incredible views of the city from the 35th floor.

Building names were conveniently etched on the windows.

Looking to the west and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Looking to the east overlooking Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

LONDON MITHRAEUM

The Temple of Mithras, originally constructed around 240 A.D., in the ancient Roman city of Londinium was discovered in 1952 during the excavation of a WWII bomb site.

Once we entered the temple, we experienced the sounds of what a Mithraic ritual would have been like. Very weird and eerie. Like a trip to the "Outer Limits".

DAY 8

NATIONAL GALLERY AND TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Today we got off the red double decker bus at Trafalgar Square to visit the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and St. Martin in the Fields Church.

The National Gallery with Trafalgar Square fountain in the foreground.

The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square, founded in 1824. It houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. 

Rembrandt Self Portrait

The Red Boy 1825

ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS CHURCH

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church was completed in 1824.

Since it was Maundy Thursday, we decided to attend the 1:00 pm choir concert of Sacred Music.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

We really enjoy learning about the monarch linage, so it was especially fun to put faces with the names.

Portrait of the House of Commons 1833.

DAY 9

THE BRITISH LIBRARY

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the largest libraries in the world. As a legal deposit library, it receives copies of all books produced in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

We decided to visit the library because of its Treasure Room containing original documents and books.

Original manuscript for the Beatles Song "In My Life."

Original Magna Carta 1225

King George III's complete book collection is stored in the central column of the library.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture containing over 8,000,000 historical objects.

The most unique object in the British Museum is the Rosetta Stone. Discovered in 1799, it features hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek scripts, providing a key to deciphering hieroglyphs. 

Nereid Monument from Turkey, 390-380 B.C.

We discovered an entire room filled with ancient clocks, many in running condition. This 1760 Organ Clock contains 32 wooden pipes that actually play music.

One of the statues from Easter Island.

Royal Crown Reliquary is said to contain a thorn from the Crown of Thorns that was placed on Jesus' head prior to his crucifixion.

DAY 10

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

The War Museum has recreations of WWI trenches and the Blitz, many tanks and planes and revolving military exhibitions from both World Wars.

Sherman Tank

Main Lobby