Images of London

London is filled with amazing statues.  This one is a memorial to the British soldiers lost in the Crimean War.  Honestly, I don't know much at all about the Crimean War, but it must have been devestating 
to the British because there are Crimean memorials all over central London.
Right in front of this memorial, there was a statue of Florence Nightengale
and the poet, George Herbert.  Wow!  A statue to a poet!
It does my heart good.

Take a look at those thigh boots!  The Horse Guards Parade Grounds are right in central London, around the corner from Number 10, down the street from the Foreign Office,

 and across St. James Park from Buckingham Palace.  It's the best
free show in town!

I like this picture because is shows Westminster Abby of the left, an iconic London tour bus, one of the towers of the Halls of Parliament in the center, and the beautiful Westminster School on the right.  I shudder to think how much the tuition to a "public" school like Westminster would be.

I took several pictures of this gorgeous building decorated with very detailed bas relief sculptures before I realized that this building is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

I was so surprised to see this statue of Abraham Lincoln in Parliament Square.  I wasn't the only one.  As I stood there taking pictures, several American teenagers walked up, looked to see
what I was taking a picture of, and started discussing him. 
 "Dude!  It's Lincoln, man.  He's like my favorite president!"
 "I know, right!  He's the coolest--Old Honest Abe."
"Hey dude, what's he doing here?"
"Uhhh, I dun know!"

Parliament Square would not be complete without a statue of
Winston Churchill!  I don't know what the red paper horse in the tree
next to Winny is for.  No one seemed to know.

This character was standing on Westminster Bridge, wearing his kilt, and playing his bagpipes. 
Here he is taking a break right after finishing "Danny Boy."  He seemed to be making good tips!
I'm sorry the picture is so fuzzy!  The wind of Westminster Bridge always seems
to be strong and it blurred every one of my pictures.

As I was walking across the bridge, I noticed a clump of tourists looking over the edge and pointing.  Since I am as curious as a cat, I stopped and took a look, too.  Sitting on a set of ancient steps that
lead down into The Thames was this romantic couple.  The man tried to make their moment
as private as possible with the umbrella, but it couldn't stop us, the tenacious tourists.
Ahhhh!  Young love!

This is one of the lions in Trafalgar Square.  They are enormous!  The kids, and some adults, love to climb up on them and slide down the lion's back haunches.  It's cute to watch.

The evening rush hour in London is usually from 4 to 6:30 P.M.  But one night there must have
been a wreck because at 8 P.M. the traffic was backed up all the way to my bed and breakfast
which was close to the British Museum.  I think what caught my attention was the sound of
 buses idling for minutes at a time and then crawling forward a few inches and the absence
 of motorcycles screaming down the street.  I stayed across the street from the University
College of London and the students LOVE fast, inexpensive, LOUD motorcycles.

My home in London, The Jesmond.  Right down the street from the British Museum,

in walking distance to four good tube stations, and close to three train terminals,

the Jesmond's location can't be beat.   And, it could be a serious

contender for a "London's Smallest Bathrooms" contest!