My Fair Lady

I cannot seem to escape the familiar nursery rhyme: 

London Bridge is falling down,

Falling down, falling down.

London Bridge is falling down,

My fair lady. . .

(For the full lyrics and history of the rhyme, visit here: http://www.rhymes.org.uk/london-bridge-is-falling-down.htm) 

I can now say that I have seen this very bridge, the London Bridge that is, with my own eyes. I failed to snap a picture of this particular landmark, but I managed to photograph many others. 

We all rode into London on a red double decker bus - quite the experience. We then proceeded to go on a driving tour of the city with a nice gentleman from Wales as our guide. He pointed out several peripheral but interesting landmarks; J.M. Barrie's home, the statue of King George the III (the king on the throne during the American Revolution) and the home of Winston Churchill among them. 

A few fun sights around the city:

The London Eye

I don't know what else to title this except "a cool building" so I guess that's what it's gonna be.

Look at that girl go!

This darling cottage was positioned right in the center of the city. It apparently houses the bird keeper of the city. Um, can I please become the bird keeper of London? 

The Big Ben. I found the chiming of the bells are more beautiful than the towering clock itself. 

The gates of Buckingham Palace.

Front view of the Westminster Abbey.

The cloud of witnesses. 

Our day was spent largely on independent exploration but also included a paid (thank you, OSAP!) tour through the Churchill War Rooms. This was a definite highlight of the trip for me. For those not already aware, this museum is located in the actual underground facility that provided shelter to Churchill and his administrative staff during much of the Blitz in London during WWII. Not only was Churchill and his staff housed in this secret venue but deliberated issues surrounding the frightful bombings of the city, etc.

Churchill, we learned, was a very controversial figure before and during the war. At present, the general public opinion of Churchill and his decisions seem to be largely positive. I suppose Churchill himself predicted this outcome: 

"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." - Winston Churchill

Though underground, the shelter itself was not completely bomb-proof. A direct hit to the location would surely blast everything and everyone in it "to smithereens". Therefore, it was imperative that the location remain completely unknown to all above ground. 

The museum included the preserved original rooms and corridors in which Churchill and his cabinet worked and lived. We toured the offices, bedrooms, halls and conference rooms of the underground shelter. There was also an entire space dedicated to the life (personal and public) and impact of Winston Churchill. My personal favorite case was the one dedicated to the relationship of he and his wife, Clementine, or as he affectionally called her, Clemmie. Not to be too syrupy or anything ...

And now, for a few photos. 

For your sake, I will now silence the little history nerd in me and provide an entertaining (I hope) selection of photographs instead.

Enjoy.

The group.

 Frank: "Hey Maddie, can you get some pictures of me running through this courtyard?"

 Monica has a thing with geese. 

 English squirrels are nicer than their cousins in the US. 

Monica and Buckingham Palace  

And now, I leave you with the last verses of "The London Bridge is Falling Down".
(My particular favorites)


Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair Lady.

Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair Lady.

Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair Lady.