London Wrap-Up (Cornerview up in the Sky)

The view was amazing!

Everytime we would go around and I would see St. Paul's Cathedral

the song from Mary Poppins played in my head.

Feed the birds "Tuppins for the birds"

On our last day in London the sun finally came out to greet us, though it did not bring the heat we so craved (as you can see by our layers), but who is complaining.  London is great in the sun or in the rain.  There is just so much to see and do!  So much history!  If you want to go on the London Eye, you should purchase your tickets in advance and get a scheduled appointment.  This will save you time and can save you money if you do one of their combo tickets with other attractions around the city.  Take time to see the 4 minute 3D movie.  It is a great little introduction to London.  If you are like me, then you are a planner.  I like to plan my vacations out so I can get the most of my vacation; however, word of advice be flexible.  We ended up scrapping our plans to see the Royal Observatory and The Greenwich Meridian because we just would not have had enough time to get out there and back since we had to be at the airport by 5 p.m.  It takes an hour from the city to get to the airport.  You can take an express train for 24 pounds, but you still have to calculate getting to Paddington Station.  I think we would have been extremely stressed had we gone out there.  In the end, our day turned out to be just as fantastic.  After going on the eye we walked over to Trafalgar Square where we had a very healthy yummy lunch at Pret A Manger.  England has come a long way since my last visit 20 years ago.  Yes, you can still get fish and chips or kidney pies, but it seems like the Brits have a love affair with France even though they might call them frogs.  I think we can also thank Jamie, Nigella, and Gordon for bringing the Brits out of the bad food category.  Just a five minute walk from Trafalgar we were at the Queen's gate.  We turned out to be pretty lucky because just as we arrived the changing of the guards ceremony began.  The Queen was home, but I guess too busy to come out and say hello to us.  She is probably getting ready for the big celebration on the 5th of June (Queen's Jubilee 60 years).  The city is totally decked out for the celebration with flags, swags, cakes, and china to commemorate the occasion which really was fun to see.  I bought a cupcake which turned out to be more pretty than tasty.  Of course we had to make a visit to Harrods because the food hall is simply amazing and who wouldn't want to see the ring that may or may not have gone on Princess Diana's finger had she lived (located at the bottom of the Egyptian staircase).  Couldn't miss the photo opportunity either at King's Cross station at Platform 9 and 3/4 (actually not located any more between 9 and 10 platforms, but just inside the station on a side wall). The boys got a kick out of the thought of us going to Hogwarts.  Sadly, it was time to go home.  I could have used another day to go out to the Royal Observatory, Abbey Road, Portobello Road, Tate Britain Museum (home of John Sargent Singer collection) and Notting Hill.  Actually, that sounds more like 2 more days. Have you been to London?  What was your favorite attraction or sight?