Day 19 - Monday, July 1, 2024 - London England Changing of the Guard & Harrod's

 

Wayne and I walked just 10 minutes from our hotel this morning to Buckingham Palace.  The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place at about 11:00 am and we started early in order to get a good viewpoint.

The pomp is all about watching the various units March through the streets to the palace.  It's extremely difficult to see the actual changing as it all happens behind the closed gates of the palace so the key is to find a good spot to see the guards approach the palace.

Wellington Barracks, where one of the group of guards starts from, heading to and from the palace..

A memorial to the British soldiers who died at Flanders Field.

 

One of the side gates to the palace 

Here it is, Buckingham Palace 

Formal gardens & gates surround a monument to Queen Victoria with marble & bronze statues.

Scenes from the changing of the guard ceremony 

I left Wayne after the ceremony and I and my trusted cellphone walked about 2 miles to Harrod's, waling through Wellington Gate and the edge of Hyde Park to get to Knightsbridge road and Harrod's.

I passed the Burberry store just before you get to Harrod's.  No, I didn't go in.  When a simple silk scarf is +$250+, there's not a lot of reasons to enter.

The Burberry store, it's as close as I got to going in

But I did go into Harrod's.  What an immense store...6 floors and everything is compartmentalized.  Prada area, Gucci area, 

Celine area, Hermes area, Rolex, Cartier, etc  etc.

There is so much perfume sold, there must be 5,000 square feet dedicated to perfume.

These are the ceilings as you take the escalators from one floor to the next

I needed to sit as I had walked to the store and then a million miles inside the store, so I stopped for lunch.   There is a good court area like no other!  I wanted a sit down so I had to pick my restaurant inside Harrod's food court.  I chose The Grill.

Tried to eat healthy.  This is just roast chicken but it was presented nicely.

From there, I went back to browsing.  There's a huge pastry section in the food court.  All I did was take pictures.

There was a millinery department, so British, with their hats for every occasion.

De Beers Diamonds department 

 Natural diamonds that can be enjoyed for generations to come.  Their slogan, not mine.  But at the price, one would think they would last forever.

Cartier Department 

This sign gives a hint why you don't really think about stopping to seriously make a purchase.

I did find the 3,000 sq ft chocolate rooms.  No pictures, except what is the shopping bag next to my bed.  I hope they make it home.

After 3 hours of walking, it was time to quit and I was not taking the 2 mile walk back to the hotel.  It was taxi time.  So the Harrod's doorman hailed me a taxi.  The taxi stand is right there in front of the main door.

Some pictures from the taxi on the way back to the hotel.  2 miles took 20 minutes to drive.  Did I tell you that London traffic is nuts!  As an aside, yesterday's taxi from the airport to the hotel, 17 miles, took 1 hours and 5 minutes.

Our dinner spot for tonight, just outside the hotel.  

Wayne and his fish and chips with mushy peas

My lamb shank Sheppards Pie 

A shared Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla ice cream.  Very sweet!

Our dinner companion tonight, At that time, Prince Charles hung right over our table 

Some of the artwork in our hotel.

I tried to get a pedicure in Harrod's. The entire 5th floor is beauty services.  The first available time was 6 pm tonight.   That said, upon my arrival at the hotel this afternoon, the bellman delivered my Harrod's shopping bag to the room and I went off to have my pedicure about 2 blocks from the hotel.  Very similar to the US but they use very little water.  Pricing, about the same as the US.

Tomorrow, the Hop on Hop off bus.  We have a  two day ticket and can get on and off as much as we want.