out and about

Day 22

I feel like I'm getting behind here. Things keep happening. Okay, here's forgotten Globe Theatre pictures.

This is my attempt to take a picture of Westminster Abbey. It's huge. And amazing. And beautiful. Every monarch has been crowned there since the Norman Invasion. Most of them are buried there. The place is absolutely packed with statues and monuments, filling up all the recesses and side rooms, and spilling onto the floor, and a lot of the floor has memorial plaques as well. And of course, Poet's Corner. That was cool. Some of the poets are actually buried there, and many more have memorial plaques. They've started making memorials in the stained glass, because they're running out of floor and wall space. Wouldn't it be something to make it into Poet's Corner.I went for a random walk around the Victoria Embankment (north side of the Thames, east of Parliament) and Whitehall. The Embankment has all sorts of cool statues and memorials. Here's a relief that I really liked, for WWII.

I think we should play "guess what country this sky is from" because with the lack of clouds, no one would ever guess England. The weather the last two weeks has been stunningly beautiful (most unseasonably so--I like it).Most of the government buildings for executive type things are on Whitehall, and have been for the past few hundred years.
And of course, the notorious horseguards. They're very nice about letting you take pictures and pet the horse. Just don't try and touch the reins.

Cool ivy-covered building.This is where the Prime Minister traditionally lives, 10 Downing Street. Unfortunately, there's now an imposing wrought iron fence out front for security purposes.

This sign pretty much speaks for itself.The British certainly know how to do things right. This impressive archway, Admiralty Arch, was built as the start of the parade to Buckingham palace. Notice how red the ground is...

Apparently it's the red carpet idea. The road from Admiralty Arch to Buckingham Palace has red stones in the paving.
Buckingham Palace, as seen through it's gate.

We also went to this awesome old church of St. Bartholomew the Great. It boasts itself as being the oldest church in London.

This guy was really cool looking and wearing a top hat, so I took a picture.The building is absolutely beautiful though.Note the unique orange and yellow tiled floor. If you've ever watched Amazing Grace, Shakespeare in Love, or The Other Boleyn Girl, you may recognize this church. Apparently it's a very popular film spot. They're going to be filming a new Sherlock Holmes in November.We also went to see a panel of three mystery authors speak at the Picadilly Circus Waterstones. Kate Sommerset, Laura Wilson, and Anne Perry. They all write around the Victorian Era. It was pretty cool, actually.