Day 6- London

Each day in London, we purchased unlimited transportation passes that were good for one day and cost 6 pounds. The only drawback was you couldn't use it until 9:30, but that didn't effect us at all. It was a considerable savings over the normal price of 4 pounds per ticket.

Our fist stop was Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guards. We got there a little early, so we toured the Royal Mews first. It is the palace stables and it houses all of the historical carriages and the queen's vehicles. They don't usually keep the horses on display though; only a few of them were there. This carriage was a gift from Australia, hence the kangaroo and emu on the side.

This is the Gold State Coach and it is huge, weighing 4 tons. It has been used for every coronation since it was built in the 1760's at a cost of 6,000 pounds.

There was a big collection of children's carriages that were made to be pulled by ponies, donkeys and one was even labeled as a goat carriage. Wouldn't it be the cutest thing ever to see a little prince or princess being pulled along in this little carriage?

After the tour, we headed on over to the front of the palace because the ceremony was getting close to starting. It starts at 11:30 and when we got there a little after 11:00, people were already starting to gather. As it got nearer to time, outside the palace was jam packed with people sitting around waiting. 11:30 came and went and still nothing. We eventually walked away around 11:45 with most people still waiting.

I checked their website for dates before leaving on our trip so I guess it was canceled at the last minute or something. When I checked the site later, that day was not on the calendar. I really wish I knew if everyone there was also under the impression that it was going to take place that day. I hope so, otherwise it would seem that I am quickly going crazy.

We had lunch after walking through Green Park and then rode the subway over to Trafalgar Square. One of the great things about London is all of the free museums and galleries. The National Gallery is located at Trafalgar Square, and although we weren't just dying to go there, hey, it's free. Why not? We only stayed a few minutes because both Chris and I felt horrible in there. It felt as though my sinuses were about to explode. You know the momentary painful feeling you get just before you sneeze when your face is all scrunched up and your eyes are watering? It felt like that, only it wouldn't go away. We quickly browsed through two or three rooms and then found a couple of the works that we would recognize, Van Gogh's sunflowers and a Monet (he's my favorite), and called it good.

And here's a mailbox.

And a garden growing up the wall of this hotel.

We walked up Regent Street making sure to stop in Hamley's Toy Store, which is 250 years old and encompasses seven floors. It was impressive and was filled with employees playing with all of the toys and showing the kids how they work. I'm not sure I would've wanted to go in there with the kids. There would have been much kicking and screaming at the mere mention of leaving.

We picked Robert up some die cast cars. He got a double decker bus, a black taxi and a mini and they've been a hit. I found a hard cover copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for Clara as well as a Paddington book. We've started reading Paddinton and he's a hit. She's even letting me read with a British accent! She wouldn't let me when I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or Alice in Wonderland, so I'm pumped. I don't do it in front of Chris though; he's not very encouraging.