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London, United Kingdom

With only three short days in London, as with any big city, there’s one sure way to squeeze in as much as possible. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know whats coming next … bus top tour! For someone who prides herself on an independent travel streak, I’m really not helping my reputation with my eagerness to climb on board, put down the map and let someone else do the work.

After a late start attributable to bad hotel breakfast and trip administration, we set off on the top deck to see the sites. Although we were just one level up, its amazing the difference it makes in a city like London – that extra elevation cuts out the street level that demands your full attention when you’re in it, but just a few meters higher and your focus is shifted up a level to reveal a city steeped in history and unparalleled grandeur.

We went over, under, through, across and passed bridges, cathedrals, squares, museums, palaces, theatres, parks too numerous and significant to attempt to catalogue here, all the while learning the fascinating history behind them all. In some instances, we even got conflicting stories about the origin of certain landmarks and their names which didn’t exactly inspire confidence in the commentary.

We took a river cruise from Westminster Pier to Greenwich, home of the ‘mean time’ and a gorgeous village atmosphere that was only slightly tarnished by the more down to earth public transport bus back to Aldwych.

From there, Mum and I walked up Fleet Street to Ye Old Cheshire Cheese, one of my favourite pubs in London for its cosy little nooks and crannies that have hosted the likes of Dickens, Twain, Tennyson and Samuel Johnson in its very long history (rebuilt in 1667 after the great fire of London). We were joined here my Sophie, Erin and Dan who all came out to meet my mum (and Aunt in at least one instance).

We ate, drank and were merry but now I’m sleepy and mum has already hit the hay!

Mum’s Message:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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