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Westminster Walk - Day 2
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It’s 930am and I am ready to tour Westminster Abbey. Sadly no interior photos permitted
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Just before entering. Construction of the existing church began in 1245 by orders of King Henry III. There’s has been a church at this site since the seventh century.
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Since 1066 all coronations of English and British monarchs have been here and there have been 16 Royal weddings at the abbey since 1100
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In an outside stairway looking at one of many stained glass windows
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There are 3000 tombs located in the abbey. In addition to 29 kings and queens there are famous poets, scientists and politicians buried here
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Looking down a glass structure which encloses stairs to upper level of the Abbey
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After touring the amazing Abbey, walked out on Westminster Bridge to get a shot of Parliament and Big Ben which is covered in scaffolding
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I like street lights. This on Westminster Bridge with an end view of the London Eye
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London Eye. Built in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium, it is 443 ft tall. It has 32 compartments holding 28 people in each. One rotation takes 30 min. The cost of $32 kept me off the thing. More expensive per min than my trainer!
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Standing with a selfie in front of the Churchill statue which sets the stage for the Churchill War Rooms just two blocks away.
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This was the main operations room in the basement of a govt building. These rooms were not recreated but are the original room with furnishings. Churchill lived and worked in these rooms during WWII directing the war effort from here against Germany
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Secretaries typing room
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Kitchen where Churchill’s meals were prepared
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There was also an excellent Churchill Museum included with the war rooms. An example of what was included
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The Horse Guards in front of the”stables” on my way to Trafalgar Square just one block away
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Trafalgar Square is London’s meeting point. Admiral Horatio Nelson stands 170 above ground on the world’s largest Corinthian column. Note the red double decker bus which are everywhere
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The National Gallery sits on the north side of Trafalgar Square
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I was there. Selfie time
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St Martin-in-the-Fields church sits on the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square. There has been a church on this site since 1222 while the present structure was built in the 1720’s. This church was the inspiration for steeple over entrance architecture
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Closer view
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National Gallery -Virgin of the Rocks, Leonardo da Vinci
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Description of da Vinci painting
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Typical gallery in the National Gallery
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An Allegory of Love. I liked the vivid colors, not the naked ladies...really
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Info on Allegory of Love
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Golden Jubilee Bridge over the Thames connects the Trafalgar area with the London Eye on the south bank
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Looking downstream from Jubilee Bridge. Late afternoon sun was warm. Note, no rain so far
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South bank of the Thames. The needle like building is known as the Shard. You will see closeups later and see why it is called the Shard. A busy day. Time to get to the Underground and back to hotel to rest