wow!

ok, i may have gotten a late start today, but i still had a completely full day.

i made my way down to the river area to ride the London Eye. well, me and my directions i took the "scenic" route from the Tube station to the Eye itself. *rolls eyes* found it and found the line ... very long, but quite efficient. i don't know how long i waited and walked around like a snake, but it didn't seem as long as it probably was. the things you ride in are like giant pods or something. they're big and you can walk around or sit down in the middle on a bench. there were probably 15 or 20 of us in this thing and off it goes. very slowly. all around in a circle like a ferris wheel.

it wasn't worth it at all. it was cool and everything, yes, but i couldn't see as much as i thought i would. the best thing you could see was Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. otherwise it all looked the same, small and crammed together. i was slightly disappointed, but whatever. it cost me 15 pounds, so over $30 ... a bit of a waste, honestly, but so be it.

once i was done there i went to a chinese buffet restaurant and had lunch. it was ok. that plus a bottle of water cost me 8 pounds and some change. that wasn't worth the money either, but it filled me up for the rest of the day.

then i started walking. i went to Westminster Abbey, paid 10 pounds to get in, and toured around on my own. they have audio tours, but they weren't working today or something. anyways, the only word that can some up this place is "WOW". it really is amazing and words can't even begin to describe it. i was in there for a long time walking around amazed at the beauty, detail, and royalness of it all. it really was quite something. only problem is that they don't allow you to take pictures inside, so i had to buy a couple of postcards in order to remember the inside.

then i started walking ... i found the Guards Museum, St James Park, and eventually i found Buckingham Palace. yes, it's as big and wonderful as you would imagine a palace being. outside were four guards, two each at two different stations in front of the palace. every couple of minutes they changed the position of their guns. and then, as if i had actually planned it, they changed guards. now, seeing as how i've never seen the actual "changing of the guard", i doubt it was the thing that happens at 11 a.m. every day, but still, it WAS a change and it WAS quite official. my opinion ... they march weird. but they stand there all day and don't even scratch their noses, so you have to respect them even if they crawled. *L* i got video of it, but the video filled up my memory card ... luckily i have two cards.

then i walked to the nearest Tube station, which was still quite a hike, and rode almost home. i stopped off to blog and get breakfast for in the morning. now i'm going to go back to the hotel and rest. my feet and legs are VERY tired. and i need to focus on my day tomorrow. the plan is to ride the bus all around the city and hopefully see the official changing on the guard at 11 a.m. but i have to plan it all out carefully or else i'll mess up and miss it completely.

anyways...

this is a pretty cool place, but oh my, i can't imagine living here. it's so busy and bustling all the time. i guess i wouldn't make it in NYC either then. well, ya never know. :-)