Who will be the sheepdog? 6/30/13

After jetlag put a kibosh on our breakfast plans, Gracie and I decided to run up to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard. Along the way, we walked through St. James Park, where we ended up being fascinated by pretty much every bird. Apparently, we haven’t adjusted to the fact that we are on a different continent, and things like plants, animals, and even the stars aren’t going to be identical to home.

We didn’t get a great location for the Changing of the Guard, but what we saw was fun. We’re thinking about going back at some point. During the break between the Guards arriving and leaving, we somehow became fascinated by the memorial of Queen Victoria. We ended up examining all of the sculptures in the area, and looking up their various meanings. If anyone is wondering, on the statue itself, Victory, Courage, Constancy, Truth, Justice, and Charity are all represented. I never catch the symbolism of things like that myself, so I love having the information at hand to help process what I’m seeing.

After lunch, a history professor led some of us on a tour of the Westminster area with a focus on the political and military history represented. We learned how Westminster Palace was built to try to escape the stench of pre-sewer London, and how the city grew to reach it. We sat near the statue of Oliver Cromwell as the professor told us the story of how he was tried and executed, after he was already dead. I also now know the history of Trafalgar, so at least I have some context for the square. We tried to see some of the royal lifeguards, but they weren’t at their post at the home where apparently Prince Harry lives. Still, we got to take some photos inside, instead.

When the walk was finished, my arms were well and truly sunburned, so Christine and I tried to find an open pharmacy, to no avail. Who closes at 5:00 pm on a Sunday?! We hobbled back to the dorm on aching feet, before deciding to check out the local Italian restaurant. It was small and mostly empty, but the food was really good. I got chicken kiev, and when it came, it was the largest one I had ever seen. It felt wasteful to not finish it all, but I was stuffed halfway through, and they don’t have doggie bags here, unfortunately!

Waterloo Station is right across from the shop, an luckily there’s a Boots there (which is like a Walgreens). I lucked out, because sunscreen and aftertan is half priced as “Wimbledon musts!” I'm still a lovely shade of red, but at least it doesn't hurt right now.

Overall, it was a beautiful, low-key, summer day, and I’m eager to head to Greenwich tomorrow.