London, England, Day 4

 

Saturday, May 7th was our fourth day in London.  We decided we wanted to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and then go to Kensington Palace that day. We also wanted to see the famous Speakers' Corner. We took a taxi to Buckingham Palace, getting there just in time to watch the changing of the guard at 11:00am.

The ceremony starts out front with inspection of the horses.

The Jubilee was a couple of weeks after we were there.  It was fun to recognize the palace and the balcony from which the royal family waved in all of the pictures of that event.  We were there!!

The crowd was then allowed into the breezeway entrance to the inner courtyard while the guards prepared for the next phase of the changing.  We then were allowed inside but had to stay behind the white line, leaving the center court open.

It was very practiced and precise.

Those being relieved of duty went inside.

Once this guard got into place in his guard box, people started photographing him like crazy.  Ken told him he was the most photographed man in the world right now.  That elicited a smile.

Standing guards also took up their stations.

After watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and looking around there, we shopped for a short time in their little gift shop.  I bought a very royal tea towel.  

We then walked down to the Hop on, hop off bus stop.  We got on the blue line to take us to Kensington Palace.  Because Ken took pictures from that tour and they are posted on yesterday's post, I won't repost pictures of those same places here, except for ones not shown yesterday. You're welcome.

Hamilton playing here.  I love the ballerina statue on the top of the dome.

I love this picture as it captures so much of what is iconic London.

Resting on a bench

After a not so good lunch, we entered the Kensington Palace extensive grounds.  The park surrounding the palace was beautiful.

This picture doesn't illustrate it very well, but this is a well-used park.  Many people were there enjoying the beauties and nice weather.

The ornate gate and Kensington Palace

Visitor's Entrance to Kensington Palace.  Ada and I went inside and shopped in the gift shop while the men waited on a bench in the beautiful park.

After shopping, we all strolled through the extensive and beautiful Kensington Palace Park.

Statue of Queen Victoria with Kensington Palace in the background

I had just read an article about the playground Princess Diana set up in the Kensington Palace gardens.  This plaque was embedded in the sidewalk.

After a long walk through the beautiful and very crowded park, we found the bus stop to continue our journeys.  We wanted to see the famous Speaker's Corner.  

Beautiful flowers as we looked for the bus stop.

More London pictures.  

We got off the bus at the Marble arch and walked to Speakers' Corner

President Hinckley would talk about speaking at Speaker's Corner when he was on his mission.  

Near the Marble arch is the speaker's corner.

Ken orating at Speakers' Corner

At Speakers' Corner with the Marble Arch behind.

Buses buses everywhere!  London is full of double decker buses.

After getting back to our hotel, Ken wanted to show Don the Regents' Park and get bird pictures.  They walked there and had a marvelous time in that beautiful park photographing birds.  Here are some of Don's amazing photographs of what they saw:

Falcated Duck

Mandarin Duck

Common Eider

Green Finch

Garganey

Red-breasted Goose

Grey Heron

Rose -Ringed Parakeet

Common Pochard

Red- Crested Pochard

Red-crested Pochard

European Robin

Smew

Baikal Teal

White-faced Whistling Ducks

European Wigeon

This was their most productive and exciting birding experience on the trip.  The Regents' Park will forever be known as paradise!

That evening, Ken and Don made reservations at a pub fairly near our hotel.  It was a cultural experience!

We finally got delicious fish and chips with real mushy peas.  This was a delicious meal!

An English pub is a very cultural experience.  Most of the people were not eating, a few were drinking, but most were there to socialize and watch a local football (soccer) game on the big screen televisions. It was extremely noisy!!  Many were outside the pub to chat as well.  It was fun to watch people.

We had the classic English sticky toffee pudding for dessert