A British vacation (but I'm also going to Japan)

[rbjhan]

I heard previously you weren't allowed to take pictures inside St Paul's, luckily now the only restriction is during service only.






Mother was not very impressed.
She likes the ones we saw in Italy, Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano is her all-time favourite. Nothing can compare

 

[rbjhan]

There was a 2.30pm Crypt tour, last tour of the day.
So I quickly took some pictures and joined the tour, mother didn't want to walk the stairs - she decided to stay on the ground floor exploring on her own.

JW Turner


Sir Christopher Wren


1st Duke of Wellington


And ofc Nelson!


Our tour guide's personal favourite.
I find his reasoning impeccable, think about how many lives penicillin saved!

 

[rbjhan]

Out from the underground, up to the sky!

I used to love climbing up, sadly my knees are not good any more
So I only do it if I REALLY want to nowadays...

These stairs were not helping!


Stone Gallery, oooops almost lost my umbrella here.
It was so windy, I decided to not go up to the Golden Gallery.


The view's good enough, I decided

 

[rbjhan]

It was 376 stairs to the Stone Gallery, so over 700 round trip.
Yeah I was quite dead afterwards....

So I just sat there listening to the choir


We left about 4.30pm? Finally the rain stop!


Dinner at Gaucho near the Royal Opera House.
This was their pre-theatre menu.


Unlike mother, I love steaks (okay not the ANA version ).

 

[rbjhan]

Obviously we went to opera that night


£62 for a side seat in the stalls circle. (First row Grand Tier will set you back £250)


I didn't know before but there were standing tickets! The ones near us were £25 iirc.
I won't survive standing 3 hours like that but hey if you can that's a very good price.


What did we see? Magic Flute.


Queen of the Night was my favourite

 

[rbjhan]

The opera finished close to 11pm.
Covent Garden/Soho was heaving！ I waited soem time till this tunnel was empty...


We decided to have some late night snack....KFC chicken popcorn was very disappointing though
We do it much better here.

 

[rbjhan]

Day 7

Oh, look! The Sun!!! in London! Is this real??




Ah yes we went to Natural History Museum.
For the sole purpose of taking pictures of Hope!




I did also go into the room righ next to the stairs...


Look what I found...

 

[rbjhan]

Quickly decamped to Victoria & Albert next door.
I've booked tickets to see the Cartier exhibition.

OMG OMG they were so pretty!













Years ago I was at a Bvlgari exhibition in Tokyo, it was nice but photos were not allowed.
Now I can hardly remember anything....

 

[rbjhan]

Saw this in the gift shop and I almost choke myself - hence the pic lost focus


FYI this is how much a Kaweco Sport normally costs...
https://milligram.com/products/k ... n-pen-apricot-pearl

I'm sure that was a special edition, but not worth £120!

The famous Gamble Room


Nice colous outside too.

 

[rbjhan]

The Chihuly chandelier


Raphael Cartoons


I found their Japanese stuff quite underwhelming.


Jewels, can't compete with Cartier obviously!

 

[rbjhan]

After V&A we went back to hotel as mother needed rest.
I did some quick shopping myself


Then we went to Chinatown for dinner.


Must say I was quite disappointed. I heard good things about London Chinatown, but found the restaurants to be rather, hmmm not good.....so many were like food court level
Melbourne Chinese food is so much better! Was I doing it wrong??

 

[rbjhan]

One last thing for the day, Ceremony of the Keys!

Tickets were difficult to book, but I'm the expert
Details see below:

https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/ceremony-of-the-keys/

We arrived about 9.15pm,


Place was deserted except a few others who looked like might be going for the same thing.
We all waited in darkness outside the gate

Exactly 9.30pm a Yeoman Warder came out with a list of names, about 30 I think?

The Yeoman Warder introduced himself (Andy) then a few rules for the event. Mainly no photos!
But also no wandering off, no eating or drinking....

Then we started to move inside the Tower.

Andy walked really fast, halfway he had to stop and waited for others. This was when the jokes started..."Old people need to move fast, you don't have much time to live!"

"Don't try to take pictures or I'll have to throw you into the river", paused and looked at everyone, "I think I can handle you alright."

"The Jewels are very safe here, we are not the Louvre."

He invited a lady from our group to cosplay Anne Boleyn (he's Henry VIII obviously), "I will love you for the rest of YOUR life!"

Oh Andy, he's a funny guy.

 

[rbjhan]

The Middle Tower had renovations going on, so we entered through a side entrance in Byward Tower.
A brief stop outside the Royal Mint, then moved to the Traitor's Gate facing Bloody Tower, this would be our viewing spot for the ceremony. Andy explained what would happen in the coming minutes.


The ceremony itself was very quick, lasted 7 mins from 9.53 to 10pm!

Halfway we moved through the Bloody Tower towards White Tower, and this was where it concluded.

We stayed there for a bit longer as Andy talked some more re history of the Tower, answered our questions, and posed for photos - after the ceremony you can take pictures.









Although short, it was a fun and unique experience!

 

[VPS]

You take some excellent photos. I’ve been to the natural history museum many times but the angles you have chosen are excellent.

 

[rbjhan]

You take some excellent photos. I’ve been to the natural history museum many times but the angles you have chosen are excellent.

Thanks!!
Getting a bit lazy though, shoulda use the camera more!

 

[elanshin]

The Middle Tower had renovations going on, so we entered through a side entrance in Byward Tower.
A brief stop outside the Royal Mint, then moved to the Traitor's Gate facing Bloody Tower, this would be our viewing spot for the ceremony. Andy explained what would happen in the coming minutes.
View attachment 482365

The ceremony itself was very quick, lasted 7 mins from 9.53 to 10pm!

Halfway we moved through the Bloody Tower towards White Tower, and this was where it concluded.

We stayed there for a bit longer as Andy talked some more re history of the Tower, answered our questions, and posed for photos - after the ceremony you can take pictures.

View attachment 482360

View attachment 482361

View attachment 482362

View attachment 482363

Although short, it was a fun and unique experience!

Oh I think we followed Andy around a little during our time at tower

 

[rbjhan]

Oh I think we followed Andy around a little during our time at tower

Oh lovely!
Was he as funny?

 

[elanshin]

Oh lovely!
Was he as funny?

Typical British dry humour (which i do find funny).

 

[rbjhan]

Typical British dry humour (which i do find funny).

When I was there later during day time, I also followed a few of them (didn't see Andy though), not that many jokes....I think the small group size in the evenings made it special.