Thursday February 12, 2009

Our group woke early and had breakfast at the hostel- cold cereals, toast, juice, tea and coffee. Sunny blue skies and cool temperatures outside. We took a ride on the Tube and walked up near the Houses of Parliament/Westminster Palace ,

Big Ben

(which is the chime, not the tower itself) and along the River Thames.

We were fortunate enough that we were able to do a short, unplanned visit to Westminster Abbey. We could not take pictures inside, but it was beyond amazing. Seeing the burial sites of Sir Isaac Newton, The Unknown Warrior and Charles Darwin, to drop a couple of names, was awesome. This was taken at the north entrance.

After that we rode The London Eye.

We could tell by the standard flying that the Queen was in residence at Buckingham Palace.

And somehow, Mickey Mouse managed to show up in London!

For lunch I had tomato, mozzarella and basil panini, DD had a BLT and LJ a chicken salad sandwich. They shared crisps. They got juices and I had tea.

Then we went on a River Thames boat cruise, seeing the Globe Theatre,

The Gherkin,

City Hall (aka The Beehive or The Armadillo, by our cruise guide).

And of course, Tower Bridge

When we were walking across Westminster Bridge to get to the Eye there was a bagpipe player- passersby would throw coins into the case by his feet. When we were on the bridge tour we could hear him playing. It was so wonderful and I was sure to throw a couple of pounds his way when we walked by him afterwards. I wish I thought to get his picture!

Walking via the Houses of Parliament, Whitehall (where the Calvary Guard was)

and Trafalgar Square, we arrived at The National Gallery, London.

Of course getting pictures of the famous Lions guarding Nelson's Column in front.

Seeing original art was amazing, especially genuine Vermeer and Renoir pieces.

In the classroom the children have a painting of the week. Some of the art at the Gallery was their painting of the week. There were several times the kids would say, “I remember that one!” And correctly named it. For me, seeing the Vermeer, well it seemed like enough to make the trip seem complete, though I knew there was so much more in store during the upcoming week.

Back to Globetrotter for overnight. Dinner at hostel was a stew with roasted potatoes. Dessert was some sort of dutch-apple pie. Our weather was clear and brisk all day.

One of the other teachers at school. LL1, also came on the trip.(Her DD would be LL2) She was one of DD's preschool teachers and is just an amazing woman. Her teenage kids travelled with us as well. She truly has raised some terrific kids. They were wonderful with the younger students, and so incredibly helpful in so many ways. Their presence was wonderful and I think a good example to the younger students. When they were the age of the group of kids we were with, they were students at our school. I'm so glad they all were able to come along. It was a last-minute decision, and I'm so glad they did.

The regular classroom teacher is a native of England. His knowledge and enthusiasm for teaching and showing us this beautiful part of the world is one of the best gifts anyone could give to us. I can't imagine what it would have cost to pay someone to plan a detailed trip, then escort us the way he did. We are all lucky to have GB in our lives. All kids deserve a teacher like him. I'm thankful he's a part of our world!