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Today I will be using my London Pass and considering it cost me $70 so I'm going to try and do as much as I possibly an in one day. The Pass is actually worth it because if everything goes to plan it would have cost me about $140. Let's hope my feet can last the distance, thank God I'm start my driving stage tomorrow.
But of course, as the way this trip will go, all did not go to plan. As per usual I'm not running on time but I do manage to find the Globe Theatre after getting extremely lost once I got out of the Underground. The worst thing was that there was absolutely no-one I could ask for help and my iPad Wi-Fi wasn't connecting. So I went in the general direction I think it should be and miraculously found my way as well as passing the original site of the Globe which is now a block of flats.
The museum was very interesting and had some of the original costumes on display. It also showed the different preparations for a play. The actual Globe itself was colourful as it was magical. They built the Globe as per the original with a thatch roof although the original Globe burnt down and rebuilt with a tile roof. They also painted the stage the same as it would have been in its day. You can actually go and see a Shakespeare play for £2.00 in the standing room area, I must see if I have time to see one.
Once I left there I walked 0.5 mile to the London Bridge Experience and about 2 hours behind schedule. I have learnt a lesson though, when planning always double your expected time. Once I waited in line I entered the London Bridge Experience which is a walking tour through the history of London Bridge & London with live actors explaining the different periods. I think I upset the actor discussing Jack the Ripper as he asked if we knew who the Ripper was and I replied a relative of the Queen, whoops, the English take their Royalty seriously.
London Tombs was awesome. You walk single file on a winding path and it's dimly lit and you have scenes like a mental institution, haunted houses and mortuaries. There are cobwebs everywhere and strobe lights going with people jumping out at you. The best part was when a man jumped out with a chainsaw chasing people. It was hysterical listening to the screams. Good fun had by all.
Next stop and another 0.6 miles and I'm at the Tower Bridge Exhibition. What an incredible and colourful bridge. It takes you through the history of the bridge, including the designing and building of it. You then take the elevator up to the high-level walkways, which I learnt used to be opened aired and a haunt for prostitutes and pickpockets back in the day, now it's glassed up but shows a panoramic view of London and the Thames. As the Olympic Games had just finished there was a photographic history of cities that had previously hosted them - good shot of Melbourne. It's worth visiting just for the views. I also visited the Victorian Engine Rooms which houses the original steam engines that lifted the bridge so ships could sail through.
By now my timetable has been shot to pieces with waiting in lines, waiting for tours and tours going longer than expected so I had to make a choice - Westminster Abbey or Tower of London. Of course I made the wrong decision and headed off to Westminster Abbey, not that the Abbey was a mistake it just was closing 2 hours later than stated so I could have done both.
Impressive Abbey. One of these days I am going to learn what the difference is between an Abbey, Cathedral and Church. I must admit I am learning lots of new things this trip and the next thing I learnt was to read brochures and signs. The again if I did read the brochure or sign I wouldn't have got a photo of Westminster Abbey's Stain Glass Window. Got a great shot of the window and in the bottom corner the lady coming to tell me I'm not allowed to take photos. I also learnt I'm getting a little bit over Abbey's, Cathedral's and Churches... Although it was kind of special walking the same passage way that various King's, Prince's & Princesses have walked since 1100 starting with King Henry 1.
Well on to a pub near the London Eye and wait for Janelle. The city looks beautiful at dusk and I can't wait to see it from the London Eye. Once Janelle arrived we went to see the 3D Experience but it was lacking compared to the one at Madame Tussaud's. Once the video was finished we hopped on for the 30 minute rotation. We met some lovely people in our carriage and as expected the views were spectacular. There was a ride across from the Eye that was like the kiddies swing round-a-bout, the only difference with this one is that it nearly went as high as the Eye. Janelle and I made the most of the photographic moments while in the area and then headed towards Aldgate East Underground Station.
We get to Aldgate East, East End early for the Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. As we sat to wait I decided against the tour as it went for 2 hours and it was already 9.30pm. That and the fact they I have walked my feet off today I just didn't think I would have the energy to survive. So I said my farewells to Janelle and headed back to Higham Park and Jessie's & Chris's. These late nights are starting to get to me a little now, or is it the belated jetlag. However I wouldn't change a thing J.
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