Thursday's day in London

Last Thursday morning we headed off to London by train a second time. Once again started the day on the banks of the Thames, this time to see the Houses of Parliament. Across the river from them is the huge London Eye which we marveled at but did not ride. While strolling along, Kendra was approached by a man who began politely chatting us up and as he brought out several strands of yarn and wrapped them around her wrist, it was soon obvious that he was going to be selling us something. In a matter of a minute he had skillfully knotted a little braided bracelet, with an intricate pattern of black, red and yellow yarn. He was from Tunisia and he said this was a traditional African thread bracelet. How true this was I am not sure but he certainly had the technique down. He claimed that most people paid him ten pounds ($15) or so, but I shrugged and offered him two pounds fifty which he seemed satisfied with. There are certainly worse ways to part with four dollars and I didn't mind passing a little money on to an enterprising fellow like him. 

Westminster Abbey

Houses of Parliament
 (the bell in the clock tower is
 called Big Ben)

After wandering around the area we walked over to Westminster Abbey. It is a beautiful building to see and although we would have liked to go inside I wasn't ready to pay the approximately $75 for the three of us to enter (maybe if we were planning to be in the city for a longer time it would be worth it as I would have liked to spend an afternoon there).

Museum of Natural History

 Our next stop was the Natural History Museum (free), which is housed in a gorgeous Victorian building, decorated with terracotta plants and animals. Had a snack in the museum cafe and spent a couple of hours here enjoying skeletons of dinosaurs, animal displays, crystals and meteorites. 

Then we went to Hyde park, to sit and enjoy the sunset, and to wander down the treed walks being well used by joggers and bicyclists of all shapes and sizes. Despite seeing hundreds of bikes we have yet to see one person in the typical Vancouver spandex bicycling uniform. London is a spandex free zone. Cyclers wear suits, dresses, jeans or dress pants, and helmets are rare.

Sunset done, and just enough time and energy left in us to take the Tube one more time to see the Tower Bridge at night. It was worth the trip as it and the Tower of London are beautifully lit up.  

We caught a fast train back to MK and were home well after 10 pm, tired but happy with our day.