Saturday, September 24, 2005
Day 121: London to Birmingham
September 24 - Saturday - AFL Grand Final Day:
Wish I was in Melbourne just for today, but unfortunately I am not.
Writing this in advance so not sure who won the match...?
Will be seeing changing of the guard and the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace today... will also try to see Westminster Abbey beforehand if I have time.
Then catching a train north to Birmingham to see Luke, and stay with him for the weekend.
-----
Now what I actually did.
Didn´t sleep well as was totally nervous about the match - and was delighted to hear that the SYDNEY SWANS won the premiership (after a 72 year drought) and won by a small 4 points. Still, they won!
Went and saw Westminster Abbey in the morning, including graves of various kings and queens, a monument to William Shakepeare and other famous Englishmen, the coronation chair, various chapels and the tomb of the unknown WWI soldier.
Then headed to Buckingham Palace (glorious sunny day) to see the ´changing of the guard´. Too many people to see it actually happen but heard the marching band music and got a great view of them on their way out.
Did a self-guided tour of the State Rooms inside the palace afterwards. They´re only open in summer so it was very ´exclusive´... so they say. Very pretty inside. Grand staircase, tapestries, paintings, sculptures, marble hall, drawing rooms, ballrooms, exhibition on the White Wardrobe (from the royal visit to Paris in 1938), displays of various medals the Queen awards eg Victoria Cross and Commonwealth ones too, including the Order of Australia.
The state dining rooms were amazing, so too, the gardens and duck ponds leading up to the castle. Magical experience, happy I went. Could talk for ages about this and I´m not even a huge fan of the royal family!
Rushed back to the Luksenbergs afterwards to collect my belongings and catch a ´Virgin´ train from Euston Station north to Birmingham. Easy 90 minute journey.
Great seeing Luke at the other end... and walking through the Bullring shopping centre and Selfridges were fun outings themselves.
Had a lazy night, watched ¨The Machinist¨ DVD.
Wish I was in Melbourne just for today, but unfortunately I am not.
Writing this in advance so not sure who won the match...?
Will be seeing changing of the guard and the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace today... will also try to see Westminster Abbey beforehand if I have time.
Then catching a train north to Birmingham to see Luke, and stay with him for the weekend.
-----
Now what I actually did.
Didn´t sleep well as was totally nervous about the match - and was delighted to hear that the SYDNEY SWANS won the premiership (after a 72 year drought) and won by a small 4 points. Still, they won!
Went and saw Westminster Abbey in the morning, including graves of various kings and queens, a monument to William Shakepeare and other famous Englishmen, the coronation chair, various chapels and the tomb of the unknown WWI soldier.
Then headed to Buckingham Palace (glorious sunny day) to see the ´changing of the guard´. Too many people to see it actually happen but heard the marching band music and got a great view of them on their way out.
Did a self-guided tour of the State Rooms inside the palace afterwards. They´re only open in summer so it was very ´exclusive´... so they say. Very pretty inside. Grand staircase, tapestries, paintings, sculptures, marble hall, drawing rooms, ballrooms, exhibition on the White Wardrobe (from the royal visit to Paris in 1938), displays of various medals the Queen awards eg Victoria Cross and Commonwealth ones too, including the Order of Australia.
The state dining rooms were amazing, so too, the gardens and duck ponds leading up to the castle. Magical experience, happy I went. Could talk for ages about this and I´m not even a huge fan of the royal family!
Rushed back to the Luksenbergs afterwards to collect my belongings and catch a ´Virgin´ train from Euston Station north to Birmingham. Easy 90 minute journey.
Great seeing Luke at the other end... and walking through the Bullring shopping centre and Selfridges were fun outings themselves.
Had a lazy night, watched ¨The Machinist¨ DVD.
# posted by mishij @ 12:17 PM 
