Here I sit in utter terror as I am sitting in the drivers’ seat without a steering wheel! I am on my way to the Cotswalds and will continue this post should I live.
Everyone will be delighted to know that I am still alive and unharmed and only 36 miles from getting off the M40. However, the small little one lane country roads are probably far more terrifying than the motorway. So, rather than watching the journey and quivering in terror, I will now blog about what I did this morning while Steve was at work.
I bounded off to the Patisserie around 8:00AM to have scrambled eggs, an English muffin, and a chocolate eclair. I was thrilled to realize that the British chocolate eclair is not filled with Boston creme but a delicious thick chocolate cream. The weather, unlike yesterday, was glorious, sunny and cool. My destinations today were Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey.
The park on this gloriously sunny morning was unbelievable! I took many pictures. The park seems to glint back to simpler times with numerous horse trails. People were actually riding their horses here, in downtown modern London! The lake, the lazy lakeside chairs, the blooming flowers, the budding trees, the waterfall, the fountains, the statues, the arched arbors, the many gardens, the many trees and the expansive open fields make this a glimpse of heaven on earth.
Walking from the park to Wellington Arch, just across the street, was a bit of an adventure as this is a large roundabout heading toward to the palace. Expansive trees line both sides of Constitution Hill with Green Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens flanking both sides of the busy road. Again, even though still early Spring, the parks were breathtaking.
When I got to the Palace, something of note was about to happen. Helicopters were beating the air overhead, television crews were everywhere, and thousands of people were all around. I heard one of the television reporters saying on camera, “And then he will come down directly in front of us here.” I don’t know who “he” was or what he was about to do.
From the palace I made my way through St. James Park, with its delightful lake, to Birdcage Walk bound for Westminster Abbey. Again I was disappointed to realize the caretakers were charging £8 to go inside. I paid it. Who could possibly pass this up?! At the door I was further disappointed to realize that I could not take pictures inside. The picture police were everywhere! I snuck one anyway, just before I left. I was less distressed when I left and saw a sign posted which stated what the £8 were used for. Apparently the Abbey is completely self-supporting with no subsidies from the Crown or elsewhere.
The Abbey is amazing. I suspect that most everyone who was anyone in the Empire is buried here, including Charles Darwin. I didn’t realize he was buried here, along with all of the queens and kings. I must read up on this place to learn more. In a hurry to get back to the hotel to pack and head out for the Cotswalds, I had to rush through the Abbey.
