London

Another of Grandma's goals was to visit London and see the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace.

We tried to see it, but had a better view of the back of heads than any guards. We could not believe how busy it was outside of Buckingham Palace. It was a beautiful day and thousands had the same idea as us. This was the best picture we got. We couldn't actually see it but raised the camera above the heads and hoped for the best.

By the time this was done, hungry stomachs were calling for lunch so we walked down The Mall and found a McDonalds on Whitehall. Following lunch we planned to go to Trafalgar Square to give some pigeons their lunch. BUT WHERE DID ALL THE PIGEONS GO? We found a few, but nothing like we were expecting. There used to be so many because there were actually vendors who sold food for them and the birds would flock and land on your head, shoulders etc. But the vendors were gone, and so were most of the birds.

Grandma was given an assignment (by a grandson in the States) to see Big Ben and get a picture for him. So our next stop was Westminster to see the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

By this time Grandma had hurt her hip (I think from all the stairs etc on the underground) so we decided to make our last stop the London Eye, but while we walked over Westminster Bridge we managed to lose Nicholas! Thankfully we had spent time that morning discussing what you should do if you get lost in London. Nicholas remembered what we said and we were able to find him in less than 10 minutes. But, as any parent knows that was a very long 10 minutes!!!

The London Eye is like a huge ferris wheel that goes so slowly that it takes over half an hour to go all the way around. There are some beautiful views of London from the top and it is certainly the easiest way to get a view of that great city.

With most of the family exhausted we headed out of London during the evening rush hour. Try being on a crowded underground train and then being informed by one of your children that they need the bathroom - and soon!!! Oh the joys, and inconveniences of young children!!! (but you know we wouldn't change a thing ;-))

Michelle