Day 4 - Tourist-O-Rama

The plan was actually to go to the Holiday-Rentals offices today, but my phone still hadn't been straightened out and I didn't have directions to the office yet, so I decided to postpone that until Thursday.  I got up a little late and puttered around a bit before deciding to go to visit Westminster Abbey. It was another beautiful, sunny day and I hopped on the Tube to Westminster.

Westminster Tube Station dumps you right off at the base of Big Ben's tower at the Houses or Parliament. 
I headed across Westminster bridge to get a good shot of the tower and Houses of Parliament with the rest of the tourists and got a couple of decent shots.

Of course you can also see the London Eye across the Thames too.

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Once I had my shots, I had to head back the other way, as that is where the Abbey is.  On the way I walked directly beneath Big Ben's tower which is HUGE.  I don't even know if this can even give you a vague idea of the scale of it:

 I finally got to the Abbey and it was MOBBED.  Still, I had come all this way, so I got in line. Actually, it went pretty quickly and I got my prepaid (thank you London Pass) ticket and my audio guide and set off.  Photos are not allowed in Westminster Abbey, so I can only share some exterior shots

Here are some gargoyles I saw while waiting in line.  I got to spend some quality time in the abbey and saw all of the stuff I had visited before as well as getting to see some things I had missed the first time.  I especially enjoyed spending time in the Poet's Corner, where I found Jane Austen's teeny little memorial plaque and stood over Robert Browning's remains.  The Abbey Museum was something I had missed before, with its funerary effigies of kings and queens.  There are a couple of lovely gardens where I could take photos of the flowers

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After several hours, I headed out of the Abbey...but did head into the gift shop where I got MORE Royal Wedding stuff...including the thingie I think you meant when asking for a program Patti.. I got a Christmas Ornament and a couple of official Westminster Abbey Royal Wedding souvenir pins,

By the way, the Coronation Chair is not in its usual place, but is undergoing restoration, so it is in a glass fronted room at the main entrance to the church.  The shrine of Edward the Confessor is no longer open to the public anymore either as that area has become "fragile."  Still got to check out Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots though.

Took the long walk to Trafalgar square and the National Gallery.  Finally saw Nelson's monument in the distance and I knew I was there

I had to go to the far side of the square to get to the National Gallery.  There were a bunch of buskers and street performers out front...my favorites are always the living statue dudes.

I spent a couple of lovely hours in the National Gallery.  My London Pass got me the recorded tour thingie for free, so I got to learn a lot about the paintings that appealed to me.  I spent most of my time amongst the Impressionists and discovered a new acquisition of a Monet that I really liked...a sunset water lily painting. I didn't take any photos there I think because I was so into squeezing as much into the hour or so I had left before the place closed.  Of course I hit the gift shop where I bought a mug, a magnet, and a small Van Gogh reproduction (not sunflowers).

I then hung out in Trafalgar Square for a bit...which was also undergoing renovation.  An awful lot of the city is undergoing renovation and restoration NOT for the Wedding...but for this

That is the countdown clock for the 2012 Olympics.  Although a lot was fenced off and there was no water in the fountains while they were being repaired, I did see this...

Yes, a giant ship in a bottle...Nelson would be so proud.

I then headed down Regents street. Actually, I intended to head toward Admiralty Arch and down the Mall, but got a bit confused by the incessant renovation and restoration...so I ended up on Regents.

I did detour to Carnaby St. but it was mobbed as it was past time for the shops to close and the pubs to open, so I didn't spend much time there. Stopped once to shop at an H&M where I bought myself an outfit for my birthday.. At this point my back and legs were dying.  Found the Tube station and headed home.  Prepared cheese ravioli from Marks & Spencer was dinner with the rest of my wine.

I really need to get up early as the bus arrives at 7:45am.  Yikes!  Happy Birthday to me.