First, a glimpse at Big Ben from a little closer up.
Then the Abbey loomed before me. What a place.
St. Margaret's Chapel to the left of Westminster Abbey:
A quick look across the street puts the London Eye, Big Ben, and a double-decker bus all into focus. What a splendid city.
The choral service was actually quite lovely. I had to be informed later that as a matter of fact, the Royal family has either been "chosen by God" or were "direct descendants of Jesus". I put this in quotations and though the Royalists in the crowd might get offended, really, I don't know this for a fact, so we're keeping it speculative. So when they prayed for the Royal Family and put this strong emphasis on how they are the church, I was a little confused.
Aside from that, I also didn't know that they bury people in the Abbey. Unreal. Here (here!) lies Charles Darwin. As in Charles Darwin. I can't get over it...this place is unreal.
Here is the doorway Prince William and Kate Middleton will walk through before they marry. Isn't that amazing?
Here it is again from a little farther away...
Swooning pretty darn hard, I couldn't help but snap another pic of the same across-the-street view as before dusk.
Feeling full of all the gratitude I could muster, I walked along to get a little closer to Parliament. I found a police officer at the gates who was so kind. We talked a bit about the kids who are involved in the tours at Parliament at school and she offered her insight about them: she thinks that children should get far MORE involved in politics so to be informed as voting age gets closer. Further to that, since she was Asian, she thinks that more females and more Asians (this was the first time I thought of them in this context, sadly) should be more involved to get a stronger female and Asian voice in politics. She said that most Asian students get involved in math, science, and IT, but few get into (or even follow) governments. Cool, eh, the folks I meet in a day? Never a dull moment in London Town, I tell you.
I rode from Westminster to South Kensington, then walked to Chelsea to eat at Phat Phuc. Yup, you read that right. On the way to Chelsea, saw some haunting places...
Then at King's Road, I found the Chelsea Library. Loves.
...turned myself around to see Heal's.
...turned even more circles after not being able to find the noodle bar. Sad face, as they'd say back in Korea Town. But I did find this flower stop and the charming lady who worked there was kind enough to let me know...
...Phat Phuc is only open for lunch. I had to sit down here for a little break ;)
Hopped on a double-decker bus and wound up here again...at the Natural History Museum. Isn't she magnificent? Had me some dinner at Dino's, drank some wine, talked some shop with the teachers sitting beside me, and headed back to the hostel for some resting up.
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