London

London Saturday 20

Breakfast at 0800 hrs then walked to central London to start our day of sight seeing. First up we visited the Guards Museum at Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk with items dating back to 1770 to current time, full uniforms, weapons, paintings and memorabilia. No photos were allowed inside so you can see something on www.theguardsmuseum.com

As we left the Museum we were reminded that the Changing of the Guard was about to happen at Buckingham Palace and they would be forming up in the forecourt of the Barracks. Watched them while the Guard was inspected and the band played quite a different set of music than expected – The Beatles, Monkees and Summer Loving from Grease.




They marched off to Buck Palace and we went to the Cabinet War Rooms & Churchill Museum. The link is www.iwm.org.uk/cabinet This is a must for any military history buff, seen as it was during WW II.






As we headed for the Cenotaph, we noticed that a ceremony was about to start, it was a very small number (about 10) from Ulster Irish accusation lay a wreath in honour of fallen mates. There were also some protests happening that day and the police were out in numbers.

Then we walked around visiting the Horse Guards Barracks, 10 Downing Street, the home to British Prime Ministers, Buckingham Palace, Kensington High Street (where Britney Spears was the day before apparently) Sloane Street full of shops for the rich & famous and of course, Harrods. In Harrods we looked at what to buy when we win lotto and the Memorial for Lady Diana & Dodi al Fayad. Another local pub for drinks and a meal to finish the day off.

London Sunday 21

As we had walked our butts off yesterday, we caught the train to Embankment Station this morning. Our aim today was to do 2 things. First up we rode on the London Eye Flight (ferris wheel) which is 195m above the street level. What a view we had, twice as high as our climb up the Eiffel Tower. Check it out on www.londoneye.com

Paddy even made the ride but it was difficult to take his photo in there so he had one taken on Westminster Bridge and opposite Big Ben.





Then to the LAST national parade & service of the UK “Normandy Veterans Association”. A Service of Commemoration for the fallen of The Normandy Campaign of 1944 on the occasion of the 65th Anniversary at the Cenotaph in Whitehall was held. 600 hundred returned men & women marched led by The Guards Military Band. Wreaths were then laid followed by the Last Post, One Minute Silence and Reveille. We felt so privileged to be present to witness this special event.





We get the train to Barking tomorrow to collect the campervan and the last part of our adventure.

See you on the road.

Cheers