Day Five: A Sunny Day in London Town

THE MONDAY ITINERARY: Two and half hours at Westminster Abbey, quick peek at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, lunch at Trafalgar Square, a thirty-minute RUN through the National Gallery to see Van Gough and Rembrandt, an exciting double-Decker ride passed St. Paul's Cathedral, another two hours at the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels and torture chambers, an hour at Cvent Garden shopping for presents and listening to street string quartets and a ride home with rebellious feet.

The most beautiful church in the world.

Three friends in an Abbey.

Amazing service she got out here.

What time is it?

WE'RE ON A DOUBLE DECKER BUS!

Passing St. Paul's

Tower Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down...

Gabrielle is all set for the Bloody Tower.

Madeline has never seen the shopping like Covent Garden and it makes her HAPPY.

Madeline: We are all so very tired after our day in London. It's wonderful, but the heat is absolutely horrible. We managed to go all over London, and there is still so much to do. It's just all very exciting. Realizing that you are standing on top of George Frederic Handel's grave is probably one of the weirdest feelings ever, only in Westminster Abbey will you find monarchs buried next to musicians, scientists, and authors (to steal Gabrielle's quote). There is so much more to say, but my mind is fried. so tired.

Gabrielle: Tourism here is really like attending a funeral. You wear special clothes (grungy sneakers, ugly shorts, enormous purses and confused faces), visit the graves of those who have passed (Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Henry the Confessor, Shelley and Keats, for example) and offer presents (money to the ice cream vendors to support the present economy). In all seriousness, I started tearing up in Westminster Abbey. I was standing on the floor that housed the graves of Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, George Friedrich Handel, Robert Browning. I have read and listened to these works of art most of my life and here, next to the most important political figures of Western culture are buried their greatest artists. The reason we do this pilgrimage to everywhere is to, really, honor their effect on our lives. Poets' Corner houses many of my influences, and I had to resist the urge to kneel down and pray. Have got to go: Madeline is wearing her pajama pants on her head.

Revie: Wow, my poor legs are like jello and my feet feel non-existent. I feel like I went on a city wide tour in a day(come to think of it, I did{LOL} hahaha) I am tired, I definitely need to pace my self with shopping, their was so many things I wanted.(Do not worry, I still have plenty of money). Daddy you must watch Wimbledon, the Swiss Vs. the British guy(Maury) was one of the best matches I have ever watched, Maury kept on going and going but i wont spoil the ending for you if you have not seen it. Westminster Abbey was absolutely wonderful( quite crowded, stupid tourists...wait.. o ...me) LOL. Love you all, Rev. Fact of the day: Double Decker Buses are awesome, especially when you're on the second floor, front row seats, nothing beats it as little humans scurry for their lives as we come charging their way(It's almost like jousting, except for the lance.)