Afternoon Adventures

When I returned to London from Northampton, I found that they were working on the brickwork outside of my room, and am impact drill is only so tolerable, so I decided to venture out for the afternoon. I found my way down to the Westminster district and came right out of the tube station to see the impressive gave of Big Ben overlooking the square.

Around the block were the parliament houses and the first visible security I've seen on my trip. Lots of security ramparts to keep would-be car bombers at a distance (I assume). The police man with the H&K MP5 sure got my attention!

One of the most impressive sights was the statue of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England from 1653-58. If the purpose of a political monument is to inspire confidence in its subject, this one accomplishes its task. It is regal indeed. The lion is a nice touch.

Across the street is the massive and beautiful Westminster Abbey. It was closed for tours for the day by the time I arrived, but I managed to capture a few photos.

I ended my day with a trip to Harrods. It's massive and it's expensive (and they didn't even give me a family discount - what's up with that?). I did wander through the writing room to inspect a few fountain pens. All I did was wander (no worries, dear).