Rainy London Getaway

Here are a few pictures while I have a few minutes and some internet of our few days in London. It was so much fun! London proved to be just as rainy as I imagined, but just as fabulous as I had hoped! And, I am going to be in such good shape when I get home! We started out ready for some western food and were determined to head on to Hard Rock from the airport, a feat that we didn't realize what lengths would be necessary to attain. We were such a sight! We had to lug our suitcases and our carry on bags--I personally was travelling in style and didn't pack very lightly, which I regretted every time I had to go up and then down another set of steps wearing my pointy boots that I thought were such a necessity to 'fit in'-- up and down more than a few sets of Metro stairs and across town from London Heathrow to get there and we got more than quite a few stairs in addition to working a few new muscles! Who are these crazy people who drag their bags across London to get to some Western food! I would not have made it if my 50 pound bag had not had rollers!
After Hard Rock, we went to a Hillsong church service the first night and it was so great. There was a 'Welcome Home' sign above the stage, and it was home! To be surrounded by people we'd never met before and feel at home worshipping with other brothers and sisters. Home is definitely being redefined the longer I am over here.
We stayed with a friend of a friend in Wimbledon and it was such a great part of the city. We learned in our few days there to commute on the metro like pros! I loved it! English people are so stylish! The Metro was definitely full of all kinds of people. We learned to ride it like big city girls all over town! We saw Big Ben, the London Tower, went to a service at Westminster Abby, saw the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace--but to my and my mom's disappointment did not see William--sigh, and saw a showing of 'Wicked' at the Apollo Theatre. It's a new musical that has won a few Tony's. It was so great. A spin off of the Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West's story, see it if you have the chance, her story is worth hearing... It was phenomenal. I love a musical. So, we saw the sights, took in a show, and went on a wild goose chase for the Outback that I was sure was in London. I could just smell the steak and I'd already stalked their website and printed out the address! We took a metro, a bus, and still ended up walking for 15 minutes! As soon as we rounded a corner and received word from one of the 'several' people we asked for directions gave us the word that we were close, I sighed and told my friend, 'I can smell it now, can't you smell it? That fabulous smell?'...too bad, we turned the corner to find McDonalds and stop to ask for one more set of directions to find out that they had closed down! Maybe my nose is failing me...I might need to go to the doctor when I get back. There was no steak, but it was still such a great few days of r&r and some sightseeing with one of my favorite friends. Here are a few pictures...


Fun view of Big Ben and the Thames river

The London Eye, the largest observation wheel in the world

Our rainy day view of Big Ben from the London Eye

The bird I shared my lunch with...
while sitting with a view of The London Tower Bridge...

...and an abstract interpretation of the London Tower BridgeWestminster Abby
Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace
The Horse Guards while changing at Buckingham Palace... That's all for now. I'll post some pictures of Paris when I get home!