European Escapade Page 1 of 12

	To celebrate our FIFTH WEDDING Anniversary/ 7-year relationship, Lena and I took a 22-day European tour in July. We flew to London and took a TRAFALGAR tour to 10 countries as shown on this map. Our 'whirlwind' tour on a Mercedes bus covered more than 4,700 miles.		We flew to London one day before theTRAFALGAR tour to have an extra day there and tried a local "Pub" for dinner. Prices (as was true for Europe in general) were VERY expensive by American standards. A simple sandwich, fries & coke cost each of us about $22 (US)!
	(Steve is sporting his new Australian suede hat.) One of our first stops was West Minster Abbey and, like many of the churches and museums we visited on our trip, NO PHOTOS were allowed inside the building. Westminster Abbey was founded over a thousand years ago.		It is a burial place of Kings, Statesmen, poets, scientists, warriors and musicians. The Abbey has seen 38 coronations since that of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day 1066 as well as the funerals of Diana Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother.
	One of the "Must Do" things in London is to watch the Changing of the Foot Guard (and the Horse Guard) at BUCKINGHAM PALACE.		We were fortunate to be able to watch this colorful military procession as part of two different tours on separate days. Unfortunately, the crowds were HUGE both days and the weather was heavily overcast (with some rain)...
	... the entire three days we were in London. Also, while we saw the Changing of the Foot Guard twice, we could only get a glimpse of the Changing of the Horse Guard a great distance from our position.		We had never realized that TRAFALGAR SQUARE was so small and situated "right in the middle" of the surrounding area. However, it was impressive to see...
	...the bronze statues and get our photo taken in front of the lion!		Lena was impressed with the "double-decker" buses that were in general service throughout London.
	BIG BEN and the HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT as seen on a very overcast afternoon while we took a cruise on the river THAMES. Unfortunately, due to the miserable weather, we did not take many photos during most of our cruise.		The LONDON EYE (operated by British Airways) is a 450ft tall observation wheel with 32 enclosed capsules (and London's fourth tallest structure). We rode it after our cruise.
	HMS Belfast (with London's TOWER BRIDGE in the background) is a WWII British cruiser that is now a floating museum on the Thames.		If we had more time in London, it would have been interesting to go aboard the HMS Belfast.
	The TOWER OF LONDON/CROWN JEWELS is surrounded by a moat and stone towers.Over the years, this served as a royal palace, fortress, prison, mint and a zoo. This photo was taken as we passed it on our cruise.		It saw three Queens of England beheaded with the axe or sword and the torture of numerous prisoners. This photo was taken as we were entering the facility and the rain showers had temporarily passed.
	Directly across from the Tower of London (in the background) is the TOWER BRIDGE.		This British soldier is stationed directly outside the part of the Tower of London which houses the CROWN JEWELS.
	Needless to say, he is a popular subject for all the tourists with cameras!		The line of people standing beneath the clock are waiting to enter the tower to see the famous Crown jewels. Needless to say, that display is truly IMPRESSIVE!
	As we were leaving the Tower of London, Lena pointed out this colorful antique brass cannon and suggested we get a photo.		Of course, when we arrived at the LONDON EYE for our 30-minute revolution around the wheel, the rain showers returned.
	This photo (and the next) of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (as seen from the London Eye) were taken as we climbed to the top of the wheel.		They illustrate how heavily it was raining during approximately half of our 30-minute revolution.
	As we started down the reverse of the wheel toward the bottom, the rains tapered off and it was possible to clearly see the capsule behind us and the Thames river below.		In this photo can be seen the central train station in London from which the express trains to France leave.
	This impressive gold statue sits outside KENSINGTON PALACE (which is the previous home of Princess Diana and Princes Margaret).		BUCKINGHAM PALACE, the London residence of Her Majesty the Queen, as seen during our walking tour of the palace grounds.
	Another photo taken from the same place on the palace grounds shows London Eye in the background across the lake.		We were both impressed with the huge British flags which hung along the street outside Buckingham Palace. (We were standing on the street waiting to see the Changing of the Foot Guards on our 2nd tour.)