London and Final couple of days

Photo above taken from London Eyes that we when on late in the day

Well the reality that our trip is coming to an end is starting to sink in.

This photo was taken from the London eye at about 6:30pm after a really long queing wait in drizzling conditions. We were patient as you have no choice and it was only light rain, not super wetting.

London is full of tourists from everywhere catching the sites. So much going on from a sporting, cultural and music events in their "summer".

We had a day starting with a bike hire to go thru some gardens, major North London parks and catching up on some old places.

Below is a selection of photos from the day, Monday 8 July. typing this on the Tuesday when we have a quite day planned today , well sort of 😀(we are going to a show in the afternoon and on hop on hop off bus this morning ) and tomorrow at a very sensible time of 1:20pm ish Uk time we depart via LA for home.

We were originally going to come and go via the east and Dubai, but after the lobbing of bombs between Iran and Isreal in May ? we changed our plans and went the traditional route. Came at some cost, but we had a lot invested, a lot of training time, fixed dates for tours that we did want disruption of as couldn't change. I hope not famous last words.

Even saw a changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, me filming it and my YouTube video of it. That me on the right on the wall filming a few photos below.

The Bomber Command Memorial-approx 55k died out of 125k men involved in Bomber command, Dad and his crew were amongst the fortunate ones to come home.

Biking down the mall, a whole lot of caravans were in the place, a big film is coming in three years time. the Rose ?

Horse Guard Parade at the end of the mall being set up for something

At he entrance inside the mall is Captain Cooks statute

The decisive defence of Uk at the early part of the war

Checking out where we are going tomorrow, well today as I type this. just off Fleet Street near Covenant garden

Going over Tower Bridge, again 😀

Tower of London as we go down to get on a river cruise down to London eye

On board London Eye and a few photos in the drizzle. After a long wait to board this "flight"

Updated Wednesday 10 July as at Heathrow with a small delay and waiting for our gate to announced before our flight home via LA.

Sneaky one taken just now:sleeping beauties before a mad rush to gate a few minutes latter

Walking back to Leicester Square for an Italian Meal and back to Paddington watch a great Euro's semi final-France v Spain (2-1 to Spain and great goal by a 16 year old Spanish player- a superstar at 16 !)

Think this one was from just after leaving Covenant Garden-it drizzled pretty much all day today

Went to an afternoon show of Mama Mia on last day in London.

We had lousy seats for until intermission and Lee -Anne ASKED FOR AN UPGRADE. She wanted to pay and lady attendant kindly gave us the great seats for 2nd half for nothing as ticket sales had closed . Tiny Kiwis eh. We felt privileged and such great show. Never fail to tire of Mama Mia and theatre in general.

We are having joke in the selfie below.

Our original seats were in the first level and opposite each other. and only had 60 % views of the stage !.

Oh yes and great show mama Mia. I think I have seen 4 times now. twice in London and twice at home.

Lee -Anne-anne and Anna went to the Borough market when they were in London in early June. I have nearer heard of it, its is 1000yrs old and is huge ( a few blocks at least)and varied and neat. Lots of neat food and as we arrived around lunch time really busy. that stage is for simply eating.