On the move

As has been outlined by Amy before (I think...) yesterday was a blur of quick visits. After a semi-late start to the morning we set out towards Westminster Abby for a real tour. Adrian and Dorian joined us and acted as a wonderful tour guide-duo, with Adrian filling our brains with fun little facts about all the royals and more buried in the Abby, and Dorian paving a path for us through the crowds with his imposing stroller.

After the Abby we took over a small deli for lunch, with the thirteen of us using up all but one of the small tables available for dining. I still think Adrian took full advantage of having ten nannies around so that he could eat peacefully while we all kept an eye on little Dorian. But lunch was quick, and we soon set off down the street to the Churchill War Bunkers. It was really quite unreal to be underground and see the tiny rooms where so many people lived and worked, always under the threat of being bombed. The Churchill Museum that was in the middle of the tour was ridiculously amazing, with endless displays and tons of little electronics that we could play with. Stepping out into the sun afterward was refreshing, but the experience was worth it.

We left the bunkers and headed through scenic St. James' Park, where soon we could begin to see glimpses of a strangely large building, peeking through the trees in the distance. Then all it took was rounding one more corner and there it was: Buckingham Palace. After a quick ten minutes of pictures and gawking-a-plenty, we were off again, down the street and through the Admiralty Arches to Trafalgar Square. What a site to see the square without the massive crowds of drunk people and cheezy green outfits. Again we took a quick ten minutes to clamber all over the large lions, taking pictures everything from people riding on the back, and one of me with my head in a lion's mouth. After such pleasantries were exchanged with the large felines, we set off again, this time towards Piccadilly Circus. Though this collision of streets bore a slight resemblance to Time's Square, we were mostly overwhelmed by the construction everywhere the eye could see. Hooray visiting a country that will soon be hosting the Olympics?

We attempted and eventually gave up trying to buy potential theater tickets, and just headed back to the flat where we split up into smaller groups and wandered the streets of our lovely home-neighborhood to find dinner. My group went a couple blocks down and found a cute little Italian restaurant, before heading back to the amazing crepe place for another experience of, well, amazing crepes.

Today we have hesitant plans of "Museum Day" starting with the Tate, then the British Museum, and perhaps a Jack the Ripper tour tonight. We'll soon find out, sprinting out the door now!