We made it! Mariana and I connected in Philadelphia. We checked in and within a few minutes, it was time to board. The flight wasn’t too bad. We were both able to sleep for most of the flight. Unfortunately, Mariana’s luggage did not follow. Hopefully, the luggage will show up at the hotel before we leave London. Now, checked in… We’ve off to see London!

We took the underground tube (subway) to the hotel. Dropped off our luggage and took off to check out the sights. Our first stop…St Paul’s Cathedral.

We battled the storm. The tube station was packed wall to wall and ceiling to floor with people. We ran from platform to platform along with the masses. We noticed that people don’t seem to dress according to the weather. We noticed some people dressed for a hot summer day while others were bundled up in their jackets and scarves. The weather is pretty hot. I had to take off my jacket and lug it around with me.

We decided to attend the 5:00 pm Evensong services at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The decorations were majestic, although quite dirty. I was not allowed to take pictures. The choir was beautiful. The acoustics – great. The priest read the lessons from the bible and then the choir sung. Beautiful! Very structured. Mariana kept dozing. Her head looked like a bobble head doll. We headed back to the hotel and stopped at a Market Spencer to grab a bite to eat. Mariana’s luggage had not shown up. Shower, over and out!

The next morning, we decided to take the Thames Clipper (hop on hop off water shuttle). Our first stop was Greenwich. We stopped by the Painted Hall, the Chapel and the Observatory. We stood between the east and west of Meridian. There was lots of excitement today as London was having the 20 K Marathon. We hopped back on the Clipper and sailed under the London Bridge. We hopped off at the London Bridge and walked across. Hopped back on the Clipper back to where we began at the Embankment. We walked across the Hungerford Bridge to the park to watch the street artists and check out London’s Eye. Back to the other side of the River Thames on the Westminster Bridge to see Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. We ended the day at Trafalgar Square for some fish and chips.

Although both countries use English, we found there are different terminologies. For examples:

• Take Out = Take Away

• Exit = Way Out

• Restroom = Toilet

• Line Here = Queue Here

• Subway = Tube

• Chips = Crisps

• French Fries = Chips

• Apartment = Flat

I was expecting that England is everything about historical Royal society, unlike America is modern liberal society. However, what we experienced a similar culture as America. We were in the Greenwich which is a Royal area, yet we saw the old churches choirs with due reverence and rock bands playing in the same area.

There are los to see in London. Unfortunately, we ran out time!

Next posting will be about Paris!! See you soon.

Meridian Line

Meridian Line

Royal Navy Symbol

London Bridge

London Eye