A GRAND DAUGHTER - WELCOME AMELIA

No7 - LONDON AND LAURA (Part 2)

For Laura's second day in London, as a part of the London Pass we had a day on the 'hop on, hop off London tour buses. We did this for the morning and then Nancy and Laura went off to Kensington Palace, Victoria Albert Museum and Harrods while  Bryan went to the Churchill Underground War Rooms. Later we met up near the London Tower for a medieval banquet.
The next day we visited the Globe Theatre, Florence Nightingale's Museum, London Tower, Saint Paul's Cathedral and the Borough Markets.
And then the girls hit the Oxford Street shops........

Nancy and Laura at Kensington Palace. William and Kate were not in -  rather inconsiderate of them!! Ha Ha.

London Tower with the Shard in the background with its top in the clouds.

The low grey clouds returned today however as you will see later in the blog London was not all dull and gloomy.

Under the Government Offices in Whitehall Street were many rooms that were converted to the command centre for the WW2. Here Churchill and others directed the British war effort.

Laura and Nancy stopped off at Selfridges for Hot Chocolate and a cup cake, it was a lovely old department store in Oxford street similar to Harrods but much nicer and friendlier.

On Bryan's way to the medieval banquet, he walked up the Strand and passed St Pauls Cathedral.

The old and the new - A new building towers over an older building in the financial district of London.

The old and the new - The Tower of London with the Shard in the background.

There were plenty of people out enjoying the Christmas lights despite the terrorist attacks here earlier this year.

The medieval banquet - we were served 4 course meal. In between courses we were entertained by some very talented singers and court jesters (jugglers, acrobatics, etc.)

All dressed in period costume. The venue was under ground with plenty of 'atmosphere'.

The replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre lies near the Thames River. We enjoyed a very good tour guide here who explained a lot - especially for Bryan who did not have a very good teacher for this subject at high school. Laura below - with the huge smile.

It is very easy to see how the previous Globe Theatre burnt down with its timber and thatch roof construction. In those days they did not have the sound and light effects that we have today so scenes had to be descibed in words only.

Laura and Nancy decided to spend some time in Oxford Street so Bryan went of the Wimbledon and did the tour. This is the most famous tennis court in the world - Centre Court at Wimbledon.

There were only two on the tour - the Swiss man (left) and Bryan. The guide commented how this was the smallest group she had ever had - so we enjoyed a 'personal' tour. Here we are inside Centre Court.

Centre Court again - with the dull overcast days during winter they have to use these special lights to help the grass grow. Just after each Wimbledon tournament in July the grass is shaved off all the courts and then replanted in August - approximately 50 million seeds per court. All rye grass and they even use some Australian rye grass.

Due to the small group we were able to have our photos taken in the players interview room - all players are required to attend after each match.

Here are the machines that help produce that the perfect lawn surface for the Championships (as the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament should be correctly called).

The ladies Singles Trophy..........

And the gentleman's singles trophy. The names on these trophies represent the who's who of tennis.

On our last evening in London we decide to visit the Winter Wonderland Carnival in Hyde Park which was an easy walking distance from our accommodation.

And we found lots and lots of lights and something for everyone.

A Christmas Tree ride......

There were lots of rides for those looking for plenty of excitement however we elected for a more gentle pace - the Ferris Wheel. It was a very big Ferris Wheel and it provided a great view of the lights in that part of London.

High on the Ferris Wheel. No Darwin heat and humidity here!

Some of the not so gentle rides.

 Winter Wonderland is a seriously big side show ally!

Marble Arche - is located at the north eastern end of Hyde Park. Our accomodation was a few minutes from here and where the buses stop and an Underground Train Station nearby.

Tomorrow we are off to Scotland. And to make things a little more interesting a winter blast is forecasted. Until then take care. Bryan, Nancy and Laura