Last look at London

As many of you know, our assignment has been changed and we are going to be taking a new assignment in Philadelphia.  So we took a last look at London on an open bus tour.  I took a lot of pictures, many of which I can't remember what they were.  Here are a few highlights:

This is the kind of bus we  rode on.

Jerrol is looking over Green Park near Buckingham Palace.  We didn't need to get off the bus this time.  They have a fleet of buses that come around every 15 minutes so you can get off and look around, then get back on.  

Intersections are confusing here.

They have a popular shopping area with big name stores here.  I'm glad we didn't get off here.  

Many of the streets are quite narrow.  That's why you don't drive around London if you don't have to.

Yes, Harry Potter fans, the students over here wear uniforms.

 I wanted to see the old Scotland Yard.

This is the theatre section of town.  Want to see the Lion King?

 

 How about Phantom of the Opera?

At Her Majesty's Theatre?

They call this building the "Cheese Grater" for obvious reasons.  It's the tallest building in London.  the architect didn't take pay when it was built, he took the penthouse instead-which turned out to be worth over a million pounds.

This is a foot bridge over the Thames.

The Thames

We took a tour on a river boat like this one.

Waiting on the pier-

I'm not sure just what this building is.  I like it.  If you look closely you can see a spiral inside.

The Tower of London

 I thought it would be taller.  This is where the crown jewels are kept.


You have to wait for low tide to get in this way.

The Tower Bridge.  They said a lot of people think this is the London Bridge. They guy from Arizona who bought the London Bridge probably thought he was getting this one.

This used to be the tallest wheel in the world.  Now the tallest is in Las Vegas.  I saw them both within one week.

Each car can hold up to 20 people.  You can arrange your wedding on one if you want.  They will stop it at the top for the ceremony.

Ah, Westminster Abby and Big Ben

 This is a view from the back.

We learned that the clock isn't Big Ben, it's the bell.

Well, good-bye London.  We really enjoyed everything except driving on the wrong side of the road.  And parking the car in the insanely small garage.

We will miss the dairy products, tiger bread, biscuits (cookies), and digestives (graham crackers), crumpets, and fish & chips.
And we will miss some wonderful people.  I didn't get pictures of everyone I wanted to.

This is Jean Rainsley, a member of our ward (the North London Ward.) She is the happiest person I have ever met!  she is so friendly and always smiling!

I got a picture of a couple of Elders at their best.  The missionaries are so awesome.  Loved anytime we could spend with them.

 Love the Sisters!  So sweet and hard working.  We gave them our trolley and extra food we had.

This is our trolley that we took to the store so we didn't have to carry our groceries.  A lot of people use them.  The Sisters were excited to get it.

The YSA are eating right before our last night teaching the institute class on family history.

Elder and Sister Phillips are the YSA missionaries.  Talk about enthusiasm! I wish I had a tenth of her energy!

Elder and Sister Ohlman who worked in the visitor center.

 Elder and Sister Abbott who were in our ward and also worked at Kew.

 Elder and Sister Larsen in the mission office.  We would not have been able to function without them and Elder and Sister Davis.  They were amazing!

I still have many more pictures.  I could do a blog on riding the tube.  I may do it sometime.

I have so many memories for such a short time there.  I have learned a lot about people, myself, and especially the Lord.  He is my strength, my rock, my song!  I love the gospel of happiness and peace.  I love my family.  I am grateful for the time I had to work on family history.  I had the time to find 117 names while there.  So many blessings, so much learned.
Now on to the next phase!

We will be training in Salt Lake for 3 weeks in record preservation, then we will be going to Philadelphia. Get ready to index!  We're going to add to the supply!

Buckingham Palace

This way to Buckingham Palace:

From the tube station it's a walk through the park. If you get tired or just want to hang out, you can rent a lawn chair for a pound and a half for the first hour.

 These are the gates between the park and the palace.

 And here it is!

There is a fancy gate and fence in front, so I had to put the camera between the poles to get the following pictures.

 You can't get any closer to the guards than this so you can't try to make him laugh.  Jerrol thinks they look like toy soldiers.

 Time for a change of the guard:

 I wonder if the queen uses these doors?

 This young man from China asked us if we would take a picture of him with his camera in front of the Palace.  We obliged and visited with him for a few minutes.  He is traveling and had just been to Scotland.  He had to tell us how he loved the bagpipes there.

He returned the favor and took a picture for us.

These are some FANCY gates!

This monument is in the center courtyard.

I don't know why they were marching by. They just went by, not going into the palace area.  We were caught a little off "guard" so I wasn't ready to get really good pictures.

 I think . . . well I just don't know quite what to think about this guy.  LOL

On the way back through the park there was a place to get a bite to eat, but it was WAY expensive.  We went to the one on the other side near the tube station and it was half as much.  We got ice cream cones.  They have the best ice cream here! 

Heading back across the park to the station.  

Back to the tube and home.