Happy Anniversary! #47, 8 December 2014

Today we celebrated 47 years of marriage.  It has been quite the ride filled with opportunity, growth, family, friends, challenge, and love.  It is quite a remarkable thought looking back over the years and all that has transpired in our lives.  We are happy to still be here and enjoy our precious family and dear friends.

We enjoyed this day of celebration by taking the train to London.  We bundled up to stave off the cold breezy air.   We caught the train at Lingfield and the Anderson's were heading into the city as well.  We enjoyed pleasant conversation with them and we both exited at Victoria Station, wishing each a good day.  We walked out with the flow of people at the end of Westminster Bridge and saw the London Eye across the Thames.  The sun was shining but the wind seemed to bring with it a face freezing bite.  Our warm clothes felt really nice.  As we walked on up the steps onto the sidewalk, we gazed up at the majesty of Big Ben.  Sunbeams sparkled off the tips and points that grace his tower.  We captured the time of our arrival on his face.

We made our way across the bridge and over to the Eye.  The sidewalk was full of people and we heard several different languages as they conversed with one another.  There was a feel of excitement among us as we were united in being tourists, seeing the sights of the great city of London.



Our first adventure was riding the London Eye.  It is a Ferris wheel standing 443 ft. high, with a
diameter of 394 ft.  It has 32 sealed capsules and provides a

fantastic panorama view of the city.  It is a 40 minute ride,
allowing plenty of time to take photos and recognize sites.

We then went on a river cruise of the Thames.  The tour guide
was amazing!  He added plenty of personality, opinion, and
spunk to the dialogue in describing all the sites we were seeing.

We ventured back across Westminster Bridge and headed
for the Underground.  We found our way through the maze of
tunnels, signs, and people to the correct platform to catch the
subway to St. Paul's Cathedral.  By this time my train pass was not always scanning properly and I had to seek assistance from an
agent.  That wasn't always easy to do with the throngs of
people everywhere.  I learned quickly to always walk through
the entry/exit gate where the agent was standing.  He
immediately would clear the ticket.

Finishing St. Paul's Cathedral was a feat in itself, having climbed up and down 528 steps.  We thought we were ready for more
fun, but then decided maybe heading home would be the thing to do.  It was a wonderful day!

Bottom right photo is Dad with Adellae's Traveling Lizard.

Dad & I and the Traveling Lizard.  Houses of Parliament & Westminster Bridge.  Side Note:  Westminster is a city inside the city of London.  A view from the top of the Eye, looking down at a boat.  Another view of the city with Charing Cross station in the bottom left corner.

A 360º map of the view from the top of the Eye.  It helped us locate places, etc.

A view each direction on the Thames.  It looks like you can play a game of battleship.

The river cruse on the Thames took up passed famous buildings and notable spots on the river.

The RAF Memorial was unveiled in 1923 in recognition of the men and women of the RAF who died in World War I.  After World War II, the inscription was changed to include those died in World War II.  Whitehall Court, one contiguous building.

Cleopatra's Needle is an original Egyptian obelisk, made in 1460 B.C.  It commemorates the British victory over Napoleon.  A view up the river.  Waterloo Bridge goes to Charing Cross Station.

The famous Tower Bridge.  The bottom level where automobiles drive, comes apart in the middle to raise up for tall ships to enter.  Bottom photo is a camouflage ship used during the war.

The Tower of London is a historic castle and Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress.  It was first built in 1066 and over the centuries it has been added to, mainly the White Tower in the middle, also known as the keep.  The tower was at one time a prison and it was known for some people "loosing" their heads while there.  Anne Boleyn met such a fate for treason against King Henry VIII.  The phrase, "Entry To The Traitors Gate," is at the top of the river wall.  This is where those who went to meet an untimely fate entered, never to return.  Other buildings along the river and the bottom right is of the original Globe theater, the performing stage for William Shakespeare, built in 1599.

Blackfriars Railway Bridge was taken down in 1985, due to it no longer being able to support the modern trains.  The series of columns were left standing.  King's Reach is a monument installed in 1868.  The memorial beneath was erected to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.  Buildings along the river.

St. Paul's Cathedral viewed from the Eye, the river cruise, and then when we walked up to it.  Dad is standing on the famous steps of the cathedral where "Feed The Birds," from Mary Poppins was sung.  The two views across the Thames is from the top of St. Paul's.  We climbed the last steps just at sunset and a beautiful panorama was before us as the cold biting wind blew across our faces.

Inside St. Paul's, we took the tour up the stairs.  We went up 237 steps to the Whispering Gallery, a height of 30 meters, and felt the journey to the top would not be so bad since the stairs were wide with a medium rise to them.  The whispering Gallery is at the base of the dome and there is a walkway all away around and you can look down into the center of the cathedral.  Dad went directly across from me round the gallery, and speaking into the wall, said:  "Raise your hand if you're sure."  And there it was, his voice sounding in my ear!  It was amazing.

The nave, where we first walked into the cathedral.  We were not allowed to take photos inside, so we found some online to include.  The inside is beautiful and is different from the other cathedrals we have been in, in that it has color and is not so stark and bare.

After a rest, we continued up another 119 steps, putting us 53 meters from the cathedral floor. These steps were narrow and had a higher rise.  There were resting places every so often and they came in handy to let others pass, either going up, or coming down.  We came out on the Stone Gallery where we went outside.  Burrr!  The wind caught us right in the face and had a pretty good force to it.  The space was limited so we and the other tourists shuffled back and forth as we made our way around the circumference, seeing different views of the city.

Looking up to the top of the dome from the floor.  The gold ring just above the arches is the whispering gallery.

It was another 152 steps on up to the Golden Gallery.  These stairs were circular metal stairs, and again there were places here and there where you could "turn out" for others to pass.  They stood in wide open spaces in the dome and at times it was a little creepy to be walking in the air as it seemed.  Here was the spectacular view!  It was well worth the climb, the huffing and puffing, and even the cold cold wind!

Our neighbors, Nigel & Denise Rogers, knew we were going to London for our anniversary.  The night before they brought over this card and two pieces of cake.  It was a wonderful surprise and a nice way to start the celebrating.