Falling in love with London

The allure of London was lost on me the first time I was there. We took a quickie tour on an open topped tour bus, and the traffic fumes left me wilted and nauseous. We were hurried through Poet's Corner at Westminster Abby and rushed past all sorts of landmarks and historical sites... and it was hard to grasp anything of the city's beauty or charm.

But this summer, we had six days. The weather was fine, and we took our time exploring...

... Trafalgar Square preparing for the World Cup game between Brazil and the Netherlands...

... the gory stories of the Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London...

... a stroll across Tower Bridge and along the Thames...

... to St. Paul's Cathedral.

We got to hear Big Ben strike twelve...

... walk the cloisters (and everywhere else) in Westminster Abbey...

... see museums...

... and ancient artifacts...

... check out the markets...

... a parade near the Palace...

... and some theatre!

We even rode London's double decker buses -- 

way more fun than the Tube!

But we loved the parks best of all...

... these characters, who started playing pelican lacrosse with a chestnut...

... pretty ponds...

and the lovely Diana, Princess of Wales memorial

(a flat, streamlike oval fountain)

where children and parents (including us)

enjoyed a refreshing break from the heat.

Much nicer than a silly statue.

I didn't expect it, but London impressed me.

Just proves that it takes time to get to know and fall in love with the unknown.