Hampton Court, St. Paul's, Museum of London, Southbank, and more.

Thursday was another grand adventure.  We caught a train at Waterloo.  While we waited these guys and Franklin played foosball.  I think it was a highlight of the trip.  Funny right?  

 The train station is right next to the river on the opposite side of Hampton Court.  What a grand old palace.  

For whatever awesome reason the tour came with cloaks.  Super fun to have everyone dressed as Hobbits.

 The kitchens and courtyards are all just super cool.  

The great hall.  So much history.  The US is like a blip on the radar compared to the UK.

 After the Tudor palace we transitioned to the Baroque Palace, designed by the amazing Sir Christopher Wren.

Paper folding extrordinaire.  A future for this boy.

Next up the gardens.  Oh sigh, the gardens. 

 Heading to see the world's oldest and largest grapevine

The tyrant himself, in herbal form.  He's probably lot better as a biological specimen than a human specimen. 

 Lucy shooting with the tennis courts in the shot too.  Old tennis courts. 

 Next was the amazing maze.  Amazed. 

We travelled back to Waterloo where we feasted on pasties. 

Then it was on to St. Paul's.  I have some rage.  It cost a FORTUNE and then they claim there are no toilets so we had to go across to the pay toilets at Paternoster Square.  No toilets?  Yeah right.  Then all the workers were snippy and rude.  No photos allowed.  Well take that you jerks.  

The rage had to subside.  Because look at this place.  Wren's masterpiece.  In latin under the dome it says, Reader if you seek my monument, look around you.  

 We climbed up in the dome.  And others kept going up.  Angry at myself but I got all spooked about winding narrow staircases after several spookouts.  Should have gone.  

 View from the tippy top.

 We went around the corner to the Museum of London next.  Cool place.  Shannon and I were in heaven.  But it closed before we got our fill.  Oh well.  Next time. 

The Lord Mayors coach which still makes it out on parade. 

 We crossed the Millenium Bridge and the walked along the South bank which is totally and completely transformed from when I was there last.  I kinda hate change.  It was a mob.  I was sad. 

At Westminster most of us caught the bus to make it to Cath Kidston in time to make some purchases.  Rob and Clara walked and sadly Rob lost his Oyster card on the walk. 

This Cath Kidston was across the street from Burlington House and Burlington Arcade, home to the royal academy and shopping.  

We tubed back to Queensway and got dinner at Taza which we ate in the park followed by Gelatto. 

This was the day after 2 more inane police shootings in the USA.  The guys that worked at Taza asked Dave, what on Earth is wrong with the US.  So much is the only answer.  

Anyway....another great day.