Little things I learned while on tour

 While on tour we were shown skyscrapers. We drove by the Globe theatre where Shakespeare wrote and acted with his group. Our tour guy told us more history about wars, kings, monarchs and anything we never thought we would want to know about England. We saw London Bridge and The Millennium Bridge which was beside the building where Daniel Radcliffe went to school.  Bennie our tour director said there is no violent crime in the US only pickpockets so beware, they are professionals.  However, someone from the group said although there are no shootings, there are stabbings.  I did find out that 95% London police do NOT carry guns.  That alone might make me think London might be safer than the US.  

We passed by the House of Economics where Mick Jagger went to school, but of course he went in a different profession.  At St James Park the concrete is red due to their procession so it will look nice.  The house the Duke of Buckingham lived in was called Buckingham house, once it was sold and royalty lived there the name changed to Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria was the first queen to live there and out front is a gold statue of her.  At Buckingham they have gates given by Canada and Australia but the US never have given gates.  The bear skin hats the guards wear are a gift from Canada.  The guards stand for 4 hours.  After 2 hrs they can walk and stretch their legs.  There is never a changing of the guards in the rain because the bear skin hats get so heavy in the rain. 

At Winsor castle we saw Grace and Favor apartments.  These are for retired workers who used to work there. To be a London taxi driver you must take a knowledge text.  You drive around on an electric bike with a map and find different streets.  Its important to learn the names of roads. License plates in the US are called number plates in London.  There are only numbers on them.  All museums are free here but you must pay for water.  There is still and sparkling.  I always ordered still water.  The chips are unsalted fries.  At the hotel, the staff never knocked on our door, they lightly nail tapped.  We weren't sure at first what the noise was. 

So this is a little about what we have learned here in London.  Off the Paris tomorrow. 

Turns out my age is definitely showing as I was sore that whole night.  Felt like I had run a marathon.  My poor body.  

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