For the second day, I had planned Westminster Abbey. Since it was a Friday, a lovely walk from Paddington through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guards was a perfect plan. We didn’t get any rain, but the lovely sunshine and blue sky had disappeared. Instead a gray sky and cold wind followed us.

After the pompous guard show, we meandered through St. James Park, grabbed a sandwich and headed for our time slot at the Abbey.

We have visited churches all over Europe. Catholic churches have their own flavour, but Westminster Abbey is in a class of its own. I have never seen so many tombs in a church. Unlike continental Europe where famous figures rest in cemetery monuments, Westminster packs centuries of British achievements under one roof – scientists beside monarchs, poets near politicians. I find it quite interesting.

After the Abbey, we crossed the road and took a look at the supreme court and sat down and had a break. With the compulsory attraction behind us, we could wander along the Thames, through South Bank all the way to the Tate Modern museum. I had wanted to come here, since they have a free balcony at the top. Unfortunately we couldn’t go outside and had to photograph through the windows. We also walked through some of the free exhibitions, and decided that we aren’t modern enough and will stick to other museums. Or maybe we just have a traditional view of what constitutes as art.

One piece in particular made us wonder. The end result was OK, flower- looking plaster. But the process was also documented. Peeing in the snow and letting it freeze. Then making a mould and casting your piece. I’ve seen art made of feces and other excrements, and it’s just not for me.

Our route continued over the Millennium Bridge and in the darkening evening into the lights of Chinatown, Soho and Piccadilly Circus. What a contrast to the starry, quiet nights of the Baltic archipelago. By this time, we had been on our feet for almost twelve hours and it was time to get some well earned rest. The next morning would be pretty tough: 528 steps up to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Saturday morning started early for the weary. I had been able to secure the first entry time at 8.30 in the morning. And we were the first in line. The dome of this cathedral is truly impressive and the crypt had some truly interesting people enshrined.

Being slightly out of shape, the 528 steps to the top, took wind out of us. But it was worth it. The view was spectacular. A bit crowded, since the top level is quite small. After the trip upstairs, it was time for a short break and some snacks.

They say the early bird gets the worm. It was still early morning and all our compulsory visits were over. So we wandered off to St. Dunstan in the East and Leadenhall market. The UK is not a 24h society. And Saturday mornings aren’t the best times for shopping at markets. So everything was closed at Leadenhall. 

I had dreamed of making it to Greenwich and seeing the Prime Meridian. Plenty of other things to see as well. We opted out of the Cutty Sark experience and went to the National Maritime museum instead. It’s free. And they had just opened a new exhibition on pirates. In general, I was a bit disappointed with the whole museum and the pirate exhibition. 

Since we were in Greenwich, I decided to pay for the Observatory and do the whole experience. And for me, this was one of the best museums ever. All the different clocks and timepieces that have been perfected for navigation are quite amazing. Not bad standing in the east and west at the same time either. I did have one special observation. My iPhone and the Prime Meridian were not totally synchronised in the direction.

We left the observatory at closing and headed back to the city. We decided to hop off at the Tower Bridge and have a look around. We were also quite hungry after a long day, but finding a restaurant in this neighbourhood proved somewhat difficult. So we took what we could find.

We rounded off the day by walking around the Tower of London and gazing at the Tower Bridge before heading to Leicester Square. We saw Mary Poppins, but the garden was closed, so we couldn’t find Paddington.

After another tough touristy day, it was time to head for the hotel.