London Tourists

After we finished getting settled in at the hotel, we decided to take a taxi into downtown London, specifically to the London Eye. I could have easily gone to sleep without any problem as jet lag had a strangle hold. The travel expert we used strongly recommended that we get out and walk in order to get our bodies tuned into London time. So I was good and we went for another adventure.

 

London Eye 

 

Our first tourist attraction was the London Eye. We were told to expect long lines and that it was best to purchase our tickets ahead of time. Well, on this very cold, damp London evening, there was no queue to line up in. In England, they line up in a queue, not standing in a line. We were grateful that we had not pre-purchased the more expensive tickets.

Literally everything here was decorated in blue lights...loved it! This is looking up the side of the eye before we boarded.

Scott checking out the sights

Me? I'm resting my poor feet

Steve and Stephanie playing with all the different settings in order to get the best shot of Big Ben

Not too bad...  :)

I thought this was the best of the bunch.

Trying for an artistic view looking at another car

On the way down, looking up the River Thames

 

At the base of the Eye there were several kiosks set up selling all sorts of things. Both Stephanie and Scott bought gloves, Stephanie also got a hat. It really was that cold!

 

 

We are in an Italian restaurant waiting for our food...jet lag has hit them

 

Love Stephanie's grin...the birthday boy is resting his eyes...

 

After a very fine dinner, it was back to the hotel to truly get the sleep we all craved. We stayed at the hotel next door to the convention center, the Excel in the Docklands, that will have the Dr Who 50th Anniversary Event.

 

Around the Hotel

 

Here are some photos taken around the hotel:

 

A  formerly working crane

 

Steve :)

 

Scott

 

This is a statue of the waterfront workers in years past. It's between the hotel and the convention center

The Tube



The old bricks in some of the Tube tunnels makes me think that they have been around since before WW2. I have read novels that indicate that these old stations were used as bomb shelters...I totally believe it.



Scott walking ahead and me in my wheelchair in the bottom right corner. I think as new trains got added to the Tube system that they became brighter. I have to say that I was partial to the old tunnels

Stephanie and her camera



In all the Tube stations, there were lots of decorative touches.

Just admiring the brickwork. Most of the times the lifts were in places tucked away from the crowds, which was the case here,

  Walking Around Town

The iconic red double decker bus :)

Tower of London across the river from us

 

This is where we had dinner one night...Gourmet Burger Kitchen.  YUM!

Scott is being the photographer here. The night lights made it difficult to get good ones.

 

 

This was the last of our official days of being a tourist in London. Saturday was our day for the Dr

Who Event...which I have already done a blog.