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Day 4: June 28, 2024
This morning, we travelled to The Mall, leading up to Buckingham Palace, in good time, so that we could watch the awesome thrice-weekly Changing of the Guard that takes place there, with marching soldiers in their red jackets and tall, bearskin hats. The crowds soon filled out but we still managed to walk just ahead of them towards the Palace, to get some memorable snaps! We saw a second formation emerge from the adjacent Wellington Barracks.
Returning, on foot, to Westminster, Emma arranged for us to slip in, to see the memorial stones to the founders of the Scouting movement, Robert and Olave Baden-Powell. Crossing the river to London Bridge, on the Tube, we lunched at the bustling and diverse Borough Market, choosing from the many food stalls. Crossing the Thames again, we passed the Monument commemorating the lives of those lost in the Great Fire of London, in 1666. We took photos of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, and then boarded a boat for a river cruise, wending our way up the river, and taking in St Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Footbridge, a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Tate Modern Gallery.
The boat dropped us at our next destination: theLondon Eye or Millennium Wheel. The view from our pod, as we slowly edged closer to the top, was spectacular! We had, by now, seen the likes of the Houses of Parliament from land, sea… and sky!!!
We then walked to Mamuśka where we were served tasty Polish sausage and mashed potatoes, followed by ice cream. Finally, back to our hotel for a final sleep, and to pack, before setting off to Paris early tomorrow morning!