London/Happy 33rd Birthday Patrick!

Today we headed by train from Brussels to London, through the Channel Tunnel (or Chunnel as it is more commonly known).  It's an exciting day because we are in another capitol city, it's NOT raining, oh yeah, and it's Patrick's birthday!!!  Kathie and Morgan stayed at home this day, not wanting to get up at 3:30 to make the trip to Brussels to catch the TGV train. 

The birthday boy, bright eyed and bushy tailed at 5:30 AM showing us all where we were headed!

One of the first restaurants we saw when we came out of Kings Cross station.

This is the Tower of London, where the British Crown Jewels are held.  We didn't go to see the crown jewels because it costs almost 20 pounds (or $31.50 a person) to go in and see them.  We decided that was a bit too steep and said that seeing them on postcards was good enough :)

Tower Bridge.  Often mistakenly called London Bridge, but there really WAS a London Bridge that does not exist anymore.  'Cause it fell down.  HAHA, really, there is a London Bridge.  There have been many; all in the same spot,  the next bridge town the Thames River from Tower Bridge. One of these London Bridges was bought (thinking he was buying the Tower Bridge) and disassembled and reassembled at Lake Havasu City, AZ.

British Horse Honor Guard.  We got to see the "changing of the guard" with about 25 soliders on horseback.  So cool, especially for me since I am a huge equestrian buff.

The London Eye

Saw this painted on most major crosswalks, because the rest of the world drives on the correct side of the road!  A gentle reminder from the Brits to look BOTH ways before stepping out into traffic.

Buckingham Palace.  The queen was home today, denoted by the flag being raised on the top of the palace.  The palace guards were in very drab gray winter coats today, not the usual bright red like the horse guards were wearing.

The British Parliament

Big Ben (on the other end of the Parliament building)

Because we are all big Harry Potter fans, Cecelia had to get a picture of herself taking the "muggle entrance" to the Ministry of Magic :)

Ouside of 10 Downing Street, where the British Prime Minister lives.  When we lived in Europe in the late 90s you could walk up the street and stand pretty much in front of the door.  Now they have the entire street blocked off. 

This is St. Paul's Cathedral, where Prince Charles and Princess Diana got married.  Dad and I went inside and took an audio tour.  What a gorgeous church, with so much history.  The crypt in the basement of the church was amazing.

Our final stop at Picadilly Circus before heading back to the train was M&Ms world (my personal mecca I think).  It is one of 4 in the world and was FOUR FLOORS of M&M stuff, including about 50 tubes of every color of M&M you could think of! 

I think Patrick really enjoyed his birthday in London, even if he didn't get his fish and chips that he wanted (only because the pub that we went in to for lunch didn't sell fish and chips!  I know, who ever heard of a British pub not selling fish and chips?!?!).  Happy Birthday Patrick.  We hope you had a great day.