More of London....

Westminster Abbey

Detail as we entered Westminster Abbey.  Note the sign.  :(

Such a lovely frieze!

We headed for the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben...

Heightened security and employees standing outside - something was going on.  Maybe we privy to a fire drill.  HA!

The London Eye, just across the street.

I found it interesting that the H of P were constructed right on the Thames River.

John and I getting ready for the clock to strike 3!

Here is Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the Thames River, Westminster Abbey (but only from outside), and the Eye.

Buckingham Palace

Our day in London was action-packed, beginning with our visit to Buckingham Palace (with thousands of other people).  We were able to see the changing of the guard, visit the Mews, and visit the Queen's Gallery.  I hope you enjoy  my photographic highlights of this portion of the day!  

Two marching bands entertained us with some surprising music, including "Billie Jean".  

I have a set of old Beatle collectible figurines with hair just like these hats!

Buckingham Palace Gates

After the crowd thinned out....

Kensington Garden Gates

The Mews residential area (for those who work with the horses, cars, etc).

The coronation carriage, actually used for the procession!

Such beautiful tack on the horses that pull the carriage!

Artistic detail abounds!

A riding lesson was taking place in the ring.  I wonder who takes lessons at the palace riding stables?

Next, the most awesome experience  -  the DaVinci drawings in the Queen's Gallery.  I cannot describe how it felt to look so closely at these small, intricate drawings from nearly 600 years ago!  There were many large posters describing Leonardo's self-education in this time of medical ignorance, which only increased one's respect for this work.

Pages were pressed between two pieces of glass so that both sides could be seen.  

One of his early drawings of the heart, a two-page spread.  The age is visible, as might be the drawings on the back sides of the paper.

DaVinci was left handed, and found it easier to write backwards, from right to left.

One of my favorites.  

A later drawing.  He never did quite figure out the circulatory system, however.

From here we visited several other London sites - I'll share them in future posts!  Good to have you visit!

Ironbridge Gorge Museums

After visiting the rose gardens, we took a trip to the Ironbridge Gorge Museums.  Our visit included the Blists Hill Victorian Town, the iron bridge, and the Coalport China Museum.

The bike store...

pharmacy...

steam power which ran the "lift" that took mine workers up and down...

and we got an awesome demonstration!

candle makers....

doctor's office - within his home...

the kitchen in the doctor's house (this is a pretty fancy one)...

what remains of the iron works...

A two room cottage, which an elderly lady lived in until 

the late 1900s!  No running water or electricity!  ...

Wood working studio, with an artisan at work...

the butcher shop...

the iron bridge...

and a view from the iron bridge.  

It was fun to see everyone reenact what a day in a life would have been then.  The policeman even stopped in the post office and read the daily poem while we were there.  He was a character - he even stopped tourists with their dog to discuss cleaning up after the dog.  I'd better add a picture of him...

Some of the gorgeous china....

Inside the kiln - HUGE!  The first picture is the chimney and the inner furnace, 

the second is the coal pit,

and the third is inside the furnace.

Dishes were stacked in the molded clay containers to fire.

And some beauties in one of my favorite colors...

More information about this area can be found at www.ironbridge.org.uk.

As you can see, this was a chilly day.  Most of the trip was just that - but it didn't slow us down!

More later!