Learning, Living, and Loving Life: One Girl's journey to know the God she loves.....: London Day 2

Hello Friends and Family!!!

Today has been a fun day. The weather today has not been as wonderful as it was yesterday, but we made the best of it and had a good time.

Our morning started a little later than planned (someone I am traveling with, who shall remain nameless) apparently turned the alarm clock off when it went off at 730. So..... we woke up about 915 when this person's friend, who lives here in London, called! So. After we got ready for the day, we got on the tour bus (our bus passes from yesterday were good for 24 hours... so they were good until this afternoon) and rode over to visit Evelina Children's Hospital. They were less than friendly.... and more or less asked us to leave. Disappointed we did not get a tour or really even see the hospital, but we made the best of it and went on our merry way!
We decided to walk from Evelina towards Buckingham Palace. Yesterday's tours took us by the palace several times, but had not seen it from the front. So we walked across the Thames River, passed the Parliament and Big Ben (who I was corrected... Big Ben is the bell itself not the tower...), past Westminster Abbey, and on to Buckingham Palace. After many pictures along the way, and many more at the palace, we walked up the long mall towards Trafalgar Square and our hotel. We stopped and had a quick bite to eat at a local deli. While we were eating, it started raining (and of course it was when I forgot my umbrella in the hotel room). So, after that we headed back to the hotel. Lindsay needed to send an email and we also just wanted a little break. We took our short break, ran out for a quick errand and then came back to the hotel for a few.
This evening, we met up with Lindsay's friend Erin, who was SO sweet, to watch her intramural softball team play a bit. She has been sick, so she was not able to play, but we had fun chatting with her! After we left the softball games, we headed to the pub they usually hang out at. We had dinner while the team finished their game. We had great girl chat and enjoyed a good beer and dinner. About an hour and half later, the team showed up. We stuck around for a few and then headed back to the hotel.
I think it is fair to say that today has been a good day, but we are both a bit tired as we are still adjusting to the time change. Tomorrow morning we have an early day as we are meeting with a local architecture firm at 930am London time, which is only 430am EST. After that, it will probably be more sightseeing since tomorrow is our last day in London. Friday morning we will check out of our hotel at about 430am and head to London Heathrow to catch our flight to Amsterdam. From Amsterdam, we will catch the Eurorail to Deventer and then, a few days later, on to Gronigen.

Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure! I Hope that everyone is doing well. Please continue to keep us in your prayers for safe travel. We are having a great time though!!!

1- Lindsay and I on our way to Evelina... over looking the River Thames and the Parliament Building. (The hospital is literally across the river from the Parliament building)

2- After Evelina gave us the boot... we walked across the bridge to get a closer look at this building, the Parliament Building.

3-Buckingham Palace (no sights of the queen... she is off to Balmoral for the summer)

4-View down the mall towards Buckingham Palace and the fountain that sits right in front of it.

5- Evelina Children's Hospital... from the outside.

6- Lindsay on the tour bus heading over to Evelina.

7- Wellington Circle- Side view of the Arch at the circle. The statue on top of the arch is the Angle of Peace landing on the Chariot of War. I really liked it. It overlooks one of the many parks of the city.