The Grand Tour Part 1: Londinum, Day 1

On Just 6th, British Airways Flight 226 touched down at London's Heathrow airport at 10:15 A.M. Our group of eighteen could hardly imagine what awaited us. After clearing customs we were greeted be an EF tour director who took us by coach to our hotel, the Ibis London Excel. She gave us a wonderful introduction to The City. After a quick stop at the hotel we boarded the Tube and headed to Westminster Abbey.Westminster Abbey if one of my favorite churches considering all the events that have taken place there and all the people buried there. The Coronation Chair, Queen Elizabeth I's tomb, Henry VII's Lady Chapel, Poets' Corner, were some of my favorite parts of the Abbey. 

After taking pictures outside, we boarded the Tube to Baystown, where our dinner was. We made a brisk walk through Baystown, where the great Winston Churchill once resided, we arrived Mr. Fish. We were greeted by Chris. He was our tour director in 2009. Because we toured the abbey we were a bit late to dinner. However, I must add that the dinner time was 4:30.  Thus, we ate our tasty fish and chips outside on the side walk. After we ate, we took the Tube back to Westminster Station, crossed the Westminster Bridge and boarded the London Eye, one of my favorite London attractions. While riding the Eye we had stunning views of Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, St James's Park, St. Paul's Cathedral, Horse Guards, Westminster Abbey, and of course Westminster Palace, home of the British Parliament. After the Eye, we decided to call it a day and started the long ride to the Ibis. After taking the Underground to Tower Hill, we changed to the Overground to reach our hotel. As we neared the Ibis, a few of our group members were having a discussion of about Sarah, Duchess of York "Fergie" and toe-sucking. They became so engulfed with laughter that Stephen and Toby did not make it off the train. However, since we had already been given instructions on what to do if one does not make if off the train, were proceeded on to the Ibis where they arrived shortly. After we finally got our keys we headed up to our rooms to get some much needed rest.