MORE OF LONDON

On Sunday we decided to take a river boat tour which allowes you to get on and off at various locations.  This single decision would save us lots of shoe leather and many steps.  Prior to boarding the boat, we decided a trip to the toilet would be in order.  Once again they wanted our money  - 30 pence.  Wearing Depends is getting to look like a better deal everyday.  Of course I haven't priced the cost of depends so maybe not.  Anyway, task accompllished we got on the boat and decided a trip to the turn around point would be wonderful (we'd get to sit ) and we could then decided where we wanted to stop on our way back.  So off we went on a somewhat chilly, windy day in an open boat with super comfy metal seats. If you believe that I do have a bridge... We were dressed of course in our fashionable cold weather gear!

Our classy boat to go with our classy outfits.

The commentator on the boat was very difficult to understand.  I think he spoke English 😊  Lucky for us the brochure had a listing of what there was to see so we woud be able to know where we wanted to stop on our way back.  We departed the boat at the Tower Bridge where we had decided to go on the tour.  There's such a lot of history associated with the Tower and the the tour conducted by the Yeoman Warders is always a good one.  (I have heard it a few times before but Ginger had never heard it so it was worthwhile going again).  The tower itself served as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records ofice and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.  During the 16th and 17th centuries the castle was used a a prison. Only 7 people were actually executed within the tower before the two World Wars.  One such execution was that of Queen Ann Boleyn.  Executions were more commonly held on Tower Hill to the north of the castle.  During the First and Second World Wars the Tower wasagain used   as a prison and 12 men were executed there for espionage. We had decided that perhaps we'd go get a quick look at the Crown Jewels but discovered there were hundreds who had decided to do the same thing.  We told Ginger that she could just google the Crown Jewels.  By this time we were weary.  We had decided a visit to St. Paul's cathedral was in order.  That was our next stop on the way back and we had reserved just enough energy to complete the walk from the boat to the cathedral and walk around a bit.  I guess we missed the announcement that the boat doesn't stop on the way back.  Oh dear.  Well we were weary  - so we decided to just get on the subway and head home.  The subway with our chip card was so easy to use.  A quick way to get from one end of London to the next.  Only problem - lots of steps and sometime long walks undergrouond to the  various lines needed to get to your destination.  

The tower.

Our guide.

A Yeoman Warder charmed by JoAnne into posing for a picture.

Standing in front of Tower Bridge awaiting the boat to pick us up.

The new and the old!

Big Ben.

A view of the "Big Eye" .  We wanted to take a ride on it but we forgot .  It takes 30 minutes to make a complete revolution.  It's so slow you hardly notice that it is moving.  The lines are long to get on it so we had decided not to do it that day but Sharon and I thought we would do it later on.  We should have written a little note to ourselves to remind us we wanted to do it.  Sometimes we forget.  (Remember we are weary)!

Four very weary women ate some dinner, drank some wine and retired for the night!  The following day we were going to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace so it meant getting up and getting going. This was going to be Ginger and JoAnnes last day with us.